Look out Paul Huge/Paul Tobias

Anyone know exactly why Slash didn’t like the idea of Paul in the 90’s?  Seems like he was always meant to be temporary anyway, but had a huge hand in continuing Guns in the 90’s and on CD creation.  
 

I know the “sympathy” story and have seen interviews about it, but anyone ever heard the real reason(s)?  Clearly the dude was around as far back as Appetite in some form and prior.  Obviously not just a writer issue, as GNR had several writers on songs over the years.  So can’t see slash getting mad about that.  Especially when a few writers were not in band etc.  

I’ve always wondered if Slash had someone else in mind to join the band. It always seemed like Axl had control of who came in as replacements, so maybe Slash wanted a pick.

I believe Paul was mostly just unlucky to get between Axl and Slash. That being said, there were others who disliked him, too.

It’s probably because Slash didn’t pick him or had a say with his involvement and less to do with his guitar playing. Temporary or not, it wasn’t goin to vibe because of the back and forth relationship/lack of communication with Axl at the time. Paul was an extension of Axl and his relationship with him/frustrations with the band, so that’s how he related to him 

Duff didn't want him either. They thought he couldn't play and didn't like him as a person as well, if I remember it correctly from their books/ interviews.

Why are you threatening Paul?

My chapters on Paul: 

EARLY 1994: TRYING TO REPLACE GILBY, PAUL HUGE IS CONSIDERED

SLASH DOES NOT LIKE PAUL HUGE, AT ALL

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1996: THE LINEUP, PAUL IS STILL OUT IN THE WINGS

JULY 2002: PAUL IS REPLACED WITH RICHARD FORTUS

1 minute ago, UYI4 said:

I still have never understood why Gilby wasn’t kept.  That pawnshop guitars record was so good.  He clearly could’ve written with Slash as shown in the side projects.  Makes no sense.

Was Pawnshop Guitars anything like Chinese Democracy? If not, there's your answer. 

I guess it didn't help that the guy looked like a douche who should work in a bank

Who knows. Maybe he was a jerk like Slash implied. Maybe Slash just didn’t like that he was “Axl’s” guy”. Maybe it was because he did the overdubs on SftD (surely at Axl’s direction)

It was weird if Gilby was truly sacked by Axl because he didn’t like his writing. Why did it matter if Izzy’s replacement could write or not?

Anyways, it doesn’t matter, that band was doomed at the time

1 hour ago, UYI4 said:

Anyone know exactly why Slash didn’t like the idea of Paul in the 90’s?  Seems like he was always meant to be temporary anyway, but had a huge hand in continuing Guns in the 90’s and on CD creation.  
 

I know the “sympathy” story and have seen interviews about it, but anyone ever heard the real reason(s)?  Clearly the dude was around as far back as Appetite in some form and prior.  Obviously not just a writer issue, as GNR had several writers on songs over the years.  So can’t see slash getting mad about that.  Especially when a few writers were not in band etc.  

Some could argue that he had a big impact in why the band fell apart.

2 hours ago, SoulMonster said:

My chapters on Paul: 

EARLY 1994: TRYING TO REPLACE GILBY, PAUL HUGE IS CONSIDERED

SLASH DOES NOT LIKE PAUL HUGE, AT ALL

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1996: THE LINEUP, PAUL IS STILL OUT IN THE WINGS

JULY 2002: PAUL IS REPLACED WITH RICHARD FORTUS

 

This made me realize that Slash has played with every single rhythm guitar player in GN'R, if you consider Robin and Bumble/Bumble and Ashba as co-lead players that is.

I find that pretty cool to be honest!

There was a similar thread last year with more information and opinions. You may want to have a look there, too @UYI4

Based on Slash's book I always got the impression it was a combination of Slash just not vibing personally and musically with him mixed with perhaps some territorial power struggles.  A guitarist being told he has to work with a guitarist he doesn't want to, will never end well lol

Slash was in a bad place at the time and I think said a lot of shitty things about him. Others were loyal to Slash and also slagged him off to be on Slashs side. That gave Paul a bad rap. Okay Axl put him in a hard position but the guy was trying to help, and going by nu guns comments and other reports he held everyone together and was an important part of the writing process. Also his solos on Think About You and Rocket Queen were pretty great I think live. I don't mind him, we just gave such little info of him which makes it hard to know what really went down. Aside from Slash off his tits at the time. 

1 hour ago, Blackstar said:

There was a similar thread last year with more information and opinions. You may want to have a look there, too @UYI4

 

 

Lots of good examples in this thread about Slash saying stuff like "he couldn't play" was just a way of trying to badmouth Paul. And try to have everyone on his side. He never wanted to give him a chance. From 97 onwards the public and casual fans took Slashs side and believed every word he said. 

4 hours ago, El Guapo said:

Duff didn't want him either. They thought he couldn't play 

Not sure about his personality, but the "he couldn't play" thing is bullshit. It truly is. In only 2 live concerts we have recordings with him, he played way closer to Izzy's original parts and with better handling than Gilby ever did it. I'm saying from a technical standpoint - he was more than capable. 

Then again, Slash also said the Chinese Democracy solos didn't have melody. 

Also if Paul was such a bad guy, why did he turn down the chance of the 2002 tour, which could have earned him serious cash I'm sure. He's the Yoko of gnr that's for sure, and hopefully one day we'll know what went down. Generally I'd take Axl's taje on things over the rest of the guys who drugged up and drunk at the time. 

1 hour ago, Voodoochild said:

.In only 2 live concerts we have recordings with him, he played way closer to Izzy's original parts and with better handling than Gilby ever did it.

You do know that is bullshit  with three guitar players in the band at the time and only 2 shows with Huge you could even say (or hear) that it’s pretty ridiculous to say that

2 minutes ago, ruttu69 said:

You do know that is bullshit  with three guitar players in the band at the time and only 2 shows with Huge you could even say (or hear) that it’s pretty ridiculous to say that

TBF - @Voodoochild appears quite knowledgeable on this kind of stuff so I wouldn’t put it past him to ‘have an ear’ to be able to call that out.

1 hour ago, ruttu69 said:

You do know that is bullshit  with three guitar players in the band at the time and only 2 shows with Huge you could even say (or hear) that it’s pretty ridiculous to say that

We have a great quality recording in the HOB 2001 show, I agree, it's clear Paul was closer to izzy in style than Gilby who really wasn't my cup of tea. 

Paul was a political football. He represented the conflict between Axl and Slash for control of the band in 94-95.

I don't know about his guitar chops.

But regarding his songwriting abilities, he's credited for 10% of the music on Prostitute, for about 25% of the music on I.R.S., and the other CD songs he has a credit on it's along with 3 or 4 other members (besides Axl.) He hasn't written a song (the music) all by himself or for the most part and it's unclear what his small contributions were on the other songs, so I don't think he can be evaluated as a songwriter. And the Mank Rage stuff is pretty bland.