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James Bond

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Everything posted by James Bond

  1. I'm a Slade fan but there's no way he could cut it for a full show, let alone a tour, now. Even by the end of 2016 he was pretty gassed. He would try to play some of the more upbeat songs like Let There Be Rock or Whole Lotta Rosie with those steady eighths as he did in 1991 but couldn't keep up. He nearly gave those songs a shuffle feel! Listen to basically any Rosie from the American run and you'll hear it. Let There Be Rock he'd switch to singles during the mid-section to give himself a rest. It really stood out to me at the Buffalo gig I attended. Sure, they're all getting old but there's just something disconnected about Slade's playing now. I can't fault the guy for still doing his thing post-stroke, but the band certainly sounded tighter with Laug on the kit.
  2. I unironically enjoyed this (and the Brian Johnson song for that matter) more than The General.
  3. Seems fitting in a certain respect to have Slash and Brian Johnson team up after Axl got to have his fun with Angus.
  4. There's a decent quality bootleg of the Buffalo show - in my opinion the best (or most consistent) Axl sounded on the North American run.
  5. Seems like he got lost in the middle of the solo, but overall he definitely kept to the structure and main bits more than I would have expected based on Don't Damn Me.
  6. I think the only way to truly capitalize on novelty of the Appetite five would be as a farewell. Otherwise, I really don't think the general public would care or eat it up any more than any tour post-2016. If it were to be truly the last Guns N' Roses shows ever, then I'd even say don't take it on tour. Let Axl rest up the voice as best as possible and do a residency somewhere (be it Vegas or otherwise). Keep the shows powerful but concise and film it. Realistically, it would probably also end up being the Appetite line-up plus Dizzy. A residency also opens up some easy guest opportunities if it is truly the last hurrah. Perhaps get Matt and/or Gilby out for a song or two. Celebrate the legacy of the band as it existed in the early run. Setlist: 1. Welcome to the Jungle 2. It's So Easy 3. Mr. Brownstone 4. Don't Cry 5. You're Crazy (Lies Version) 6. Out Ta Get Me 7. My Michelle 8. Think About You 9. Anything Goes 10. Slash Solo/Rocket Queen 11. November Rain 12. Knockin' On Heaven's Door 13. Nightrain 14. Patience 15. Sweet Child O' Mine 16. Paradise City I think that order gives Axl enough of a breather here and there while keeping up the momentum of doing everything from Appetite plus the obligatory November Rain (a stripped down version would be fantastic, like the 1993 versions). Maybe rotate in another Illusions song here and there depending on Matt/Gilby appearances. Civil War could probably also slot in somewhere. I'd say 18 songs maximum. Keep it around the two hour mark for a high energy celebration of the final Guns N' Roses shows.
  7. Todd has been phenomenal fronting Bruce Kulick's band too. Way better than KISS has been in years, and better set lists.
  8. Cool to hear Gilby's take on the Izzy solo again. I like that he sticks to the original structure but makes it his own. Refreshing after hearing Fortus do his shred version for so many years.
  9. Slade can't keep up with it post-stroke. It's sad, and hey, I admire that he goes out with his timeline band and still does his thing, but he's also much older too. His tempo is all over the place. I'm not surprised he didn't get the call this time. I really like Matt Laug. He nailed it at Power Trip. It'll be interesting to hear the backing vocals too. Cliff's voice was pretty high in the mix in what I saw from Power Trip, which was most welcome. Stevie also seemed to improved a bit from 2015/2016. If Chaney's got a voice, then we could arguably get the best live backing vocals we've ever had from the band.
  10. I will admit - given that Laug and Chaney have a history together, I do expect that they'll both be nothing but consummate professionals who learn and play the songs as they are meant to sound. Laug nailed it at Power Trip (if I closed my eyes I would have thought it was prime Phil up there). I'm not overly familiar with Chaney's work but I'm sure he's more than up to the task. Still, it'll be a bit strange. Literally an entirely different rhythm section. I'll be eager to see the early tour footage. At the very least, Angus seems to like varying up the set lists with new blood around so that part is exciting.
  11. I doubt Duff was ever even considered. I think it was a narrative spun from the humor of having another Guns N' Roses member fill in. The supposed insiders leave much to be desired. Funny how their elite knowledge didn't include Matt Laug.
  12. Yeah this tour well sell well regardless. As long as Angus is up there calling it AC/DC, and especially now with Brian - it'll sell. It's a shame though. I'm totally fine with Stevie - part of the family, part of the history. It worked out great in 2015/2016 when at least Cliff was still there to soften the blow of no Malcolm, and then Slade to soften the blow of no Phil since it was another legacy member. A respectable line-up. However, launching a tour with two session guys kind of feels all for nothing. I'm glad Brian got his time at Power Trip. He deserved that more than anybody. But no Cliff and no Phil? I really wanted Power Up (album and tour) to be a proper last hurrah for as much of the "classic" line-up as possible since it all fell apart during the Rock Or Bust tour. As I expect this will be the last tour, it's a shame that we'll get a soft ending for the band once again. Playing well past the prime with a couple of younger guys is just a direction I never expected or wanted for AC/DC. Personal preference of course. I'm sure the audience won't care at all. I just think a brand new rhythm section is going to change the sound and dynamic of the band. It feels cheap. Laug was great at Power Trip, but Cliff was still there. Now it'll be Laug and another new guy - be it Chaney or not. Cliff has a busier and more distinct style than I think many realize. He's a very important asset to the sound.
  13. While "Are You Ready" undoubtedly makes for some good tour promo, I can't help but be amused by the fact that it also hasn't been played since 1991.
  14. @Powerage5 had invited me to that 2016 show but I passed since I already had tickets for Buffalo (which in itself was the best Axl has ever sounded to my ears). Big mistake in retrospect since I inadvertently passed on meeting the band. But I agree. I saw three Black Ice shows so I've seen the line-up. I saw Rock or Bust twice with Brian and once with Axl. All in, that's 6 shows and a decent selection of tunes I've been able to see. It was cool being able to see the Back In Black line-up and then later see Slade back in the fold for some Donington nostalgia. I'd like to say I'm good, and I feel like I am. I'll see what the prices are like.
  15. Now I believe it. That said, I don't think I'll be able to swing it. Power Trip was amazing for Brian (he truly deserved that), but I worry about his sustainability for a tour. I'd settle for Matt Laug but having no Cliff will be a buzz kill. AC/DC means so much to my life but I expect it'll be more than I care to spend this year.
  16. And then when February 12th comes with no announcement, we'll hear about how something else behind the scenes happened to postpone it. Then we'll get a new rumoured date and repeat the process again. Not trying to be negative so much as to be realistic. No use in getting wrapped up in rumours and hopes. If a tour will happen, it will get announced in due time when there's something concrete and official. At this point it all feels very much "my distant relative knows the mayor of a small town in Nebraska and he said AC/DC is scheduled to play 87 shows in Nebraska alone on their 400 date world tour. And Bon and Malcolm will be there!"
  17. Slash improvised a lot in the UYI days too but I feel like he never strayed too far from the essence of any given solo. He was always hitting the chord and melodic changes even with flashes of pure improvisation. This solo starts off fine enough but then he seems to just stray off in both meter and melody. It's not the worst thing I've heard from how much he noodles these days, but still a little disappointing considering how perfect the original solo is. Still, it's a fantastic overall performance. Todd is truly a great vocalist (as he is with Bruce Kulick doing the KISS stuff) and it's way more interesting than anything Guns N' Generals are doing.
  18. I remember having a bad case of food poisoning once where the abdominal pain was so unbearable that I felt a brief moment of not fearing death as it would at least end the pain. I had a very similar experience watching thos travesty.
  19. Remember how much it was "100% confirmed that Simon Wright was back" which later became "he rehearsed with the band but was unfit." Generally bollocks when it comes to their drummer speculation. Matt Laug was never even hinted at.
  20. Yes. Someone on the forum bought the issue and nowhere does it actually provide that quote or proof. The problem with running away with headlines. Slade can barely get through a song post-stroke. Why wouldn't he have been at Power Trip? It just doesn't make sense. It was a reworking of this: https://rockcandymag.com/blog/post/theyd-just-look-each-other-and-wed-go-it-was-angus-and-mal-could-read-each-others-minds-ive-never-seen-anything-it https://sleazeroxx.com/chris-slade-did-not-realize-thunderstruck-would-end-up-being-acdcs-biggest-single/ From a semi-recent interview where he talked about Thunderstruck.
  21. Slade won't be back. From what I saw it was repurposed quotes from an old interview. Pretty easy for the supposed "insiders" to keep shifting to "no, tomorrow is going to be the day instead" and then claim to have known all along when something eventually does materialize. I think it's better to just wait for the AC/DC camp at this point. Lots of going in circles on the AC/DC forum. Lots of predictions getting muddled with speculation from local news and so forth.
  22. To be fair, the song was never going to live up to the mythical proportions that have been bestowed upon it for years. However, when I'd hear things like "big guns" it was hard not to expect another There Was A Time or something. I now firmly believe we did indeed get the best batch of songs we could have on Chinese Democracy. Everything has just been okay to me so far. Absurd was the highlight because of how, well, absurd it was to be the first "Slash and Duff are back" song. The humor of that wasn't lost on me. Easily the one I enjoy the most. Hard Skool and Perhaps are enjoyable if not unremarkable. I'd probably give Perhaps the edge. The General though? Eh. I honestly think it's terrible. I don't think a better mix would have changed anything.
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