GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson is featured in a new interview with Thomas Conner at the Chicago Sun-Times. An excerpt from the story is available below:

The current lineup on stage features keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman, drummer Frank Ferrer, bassist Stinson and three guitarists: Richard Fortus, D.J. Ashba and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal.

“Do I think we’re better than the old band? Not necessarily,” Stinson admits. “Do we have more fun? Definitely we probably do. It doesn’t sound like they had any fun.”

Stinson’s claims of fun are measured, though — note the “definitely” quickly downshifted to a “probably.” Things are “going really good,” he assures, before adding, “for the most part.”

“We’ve been having a lot of fun with these shows,” he says later, and again adds, “though that hasn’t come without its f---ing speedbumps.”

Stinson has threatened to quit before. In 2006, he allegedly threw down his bass in anger after Rose denigrated one of GNR’s opening bands, THE EAGLES OF DEATH METAL, which Stinson had handpicked for the tour; Rose called them “the Pigeons of S--- Metal.” Stinson later had to release a media statement smoothing things over, saying of his relationship with Rose, “We have no problem communicating.”

“It’s not like ‘The Partridge Family,’” he says now of his status with the notoriously difficult bandleader. But he gives Rose props where he thinks they’re due.

“Axl is a great producer,” Stinson says. “He doesn’t give himself credit for it. Sadly, of course, it took forever to finish the f---ing record (Chinese Democracy), but the reason why is because of what he expects out of the band. He likes to actually collaborate with the people he’s playing with. He doesn’t bring them a song and say, ‘Here’s my song. Sing it.’ It’s kind of a strange, old-school, songwriter-producer thing. I don’t think he realizes that. He’s really good at getting people to write something that inspires him.”

Click here for the complete interview.

G'N'R recently confirmed two more live dates: December 21st in Los Angeles, CA at The Forum and New Year's Eve (December 31st) at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.

Upcoming Guns N’ Roses North American tour dates are as follows:

November

17 - East Rutherford, NJ - IZOD Center
19 - Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre (with SEBASTIAN BACH)
20 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (with Sebastian Bach)
23 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center (with Sebastian Bach)
25 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center
26 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
28 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum

December

1 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
2 - US Bank Arena - Cincinnati, OH
4 - Bridgstone Arena, Nashville, TN
5 - Desoto County Civic Center - Southaven, MS
7 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Center
8 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
17 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
31 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint At The Hard Rock Hotel

As previously reported, guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal is featured in a new interview with Engl Amps' artist relations director, Michael Berger, conducted during the band's recent rehearsals in North Hollywood, California. Check it out below