In a rare interview, GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose spoke to Edna Gundersen of USA TODAY about the classic GUNS lineup, the band's next album and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. A couple of excerpts follow below.

On the next GUNS N' ROSES album: "All the guys are writing, and we recorded a lot of songs over the years. We'll figure out what we feel best about. 'Chinese Democracy' was done in piecemeal with one person here and one there at different times. 'Appetite For Destruction' was the only thing written with lyrics and melody fitting the guitar parts at the same time. After that, I got a barrage of guitar songs that I was supposed to put words to, and I don't know if that was the best thing for GUNS. I do want to lean more toward lyrics and melody."

On 2008's "Chinese Democracy", which was reportedly in the works for 13 years: "I had to deal with so many other things that don't have to do with music but have to do with the industry. There's such a loss of time. It was more about survival. There wasn't anyone to work with or trust. Someone would come in to help produce and the reality was they just wanted to mix it and get it out the door. They had a different agenda. (The next album) will come out sooner."

On how the original GUNS N' ROSES lineup might have survived: "Maybe if we could have worked together in the way 'Appetite' was put together. I was really naïve. I thought the success of that record would bring everyone together more. It did the exact opposite. They got success and wanted to run in their own directions. I thought they'd go, 'Whoa, it did work.' But they wanted to do their own huge bigger success off of GUNS."

On the possibility of a GUNS truce: "I feel that ball's not in my court. I'm surviving this war, not the one who created this war."

On his decision to skip GUNS N' ROSES' 2012 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction: "It wasn't painful to not be there. It was a beating to deal with all the pressure of feeling I was supposed to be there and deciding what to do. I try to be respectful about getting an honor or recognition, but I don't really know what the Rock Hall actually is. In my experience with the people who run it, I don't see it having to do with anything other than them making money."

Read the entire interview at USA TODAY.