Huge fan Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 (edited) http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/features/2014-05-30/the-night-axl-had-to-be-arrested-to-get-him-to-the-gig-on-timeWhat do you do when you're supporting the Rolling Stones and your singer doesn't show? Call the police. 1989 hadn't been good to Guns N' Roses.Axl Rose had sent much of the year publicly defending the band's song One In A Million against accusations of homophobia and racism, while behind the scenes things were falling apart. Axl was missing rehearsals, Izzy Stradlin had been arrested for urinating in the aisle during a flight to LA before being punched by Motley Crue singer Vince Neil at the MTV awards, and heroin was a growing problem.Then the Rolling Stones came calling, offering the band the main support slot on their US dates. Feeling that Guns N' Roses wouldn't be able to complete an entire tour, the band's then-manager Alan Niven negotiated a million dollar fee for a four night stint at the LA Coliseum.280,000 tickets were snapped up, and by the day of the show ticket brokers were selling single seats for up to $700. As showtime approached, the tension grew: not only was there the usual air of danger around Guns N' Roses, but the press had been amplifying the Stones/Roses rivalry, suggesting it was time for the old guard to pass the torch onto the new. Only problem? Axl Rose, disenchanted by his bandmates' behaviour, was nowhere to be found.Alan Niven takes up the story:"The day of the first show [October 18], Brian Ahern [the Stones’ production manager] comes to me and he goes: “Your guy’s not here. Tell me what I’m supposed to do.” I said: “Do you have a contact in the LAPD who is an absolutely no-questions-asked guy?” And he said: “I do.” So the guy came in and I told him: “I’m going to give you an address.” And it was Axl’s apartment. I said: “I want you to immediately send two no-questions-asked uniforms to this address, get the occupants out of that condominium in any which way they can, and bring them right here – in handcuffs if necessary.”"They went and got him, and the band arrived on stage a mere twenty minutes late. I’m standing in the backstage feeling pretty damn clever. And that’s right at the moment that Axl announces this is going to be the last show and he’s going to retire." Edited November 22, 2014 by Huge fan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Who Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 And it's happenings like these why Axl felt he had to get the GN'R name in his own hands to protect himself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowOfTheWave Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Why didn't Axl just threaten the cops? He could have buried them in litigation, they'd never survive even the legal fees on an officer's salary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stella Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 What gets me about this is that it was the STONES. One of the bands Axl really looked up to. One of the bands they covered (Jumpin' Jack Flash). He said later that it had been a lifelong dream to open for them. And with all of that, he couldn't show those gigs and the band he idolized enough respect to show up on time? They had to forcibly bring him to the show?! I really don't get that at all. It's one of those things that makes one realize that he just doesn't, shall we say, perceive the world and interact with it the way other people do... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinyrobot Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Who were the other people in the appartment?Now this is what we have to do to make him deliver CD2. Great idea. Someone call the cops and have TB kicked out of the house. Put Axl in handcuffs behind a microphone and don't release him until he's recorded 21 songs.Where is Alan Niven when you need him!!?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estranged Coma Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 You know we rly have no clue what goes on in axls life and why he's always late even to huge stuff like opening for the stones! I honestly don't understand how yiu can miss/forget to be on time to these things I can't even sleep when. I have something due the next day... You know axl has been known to be a bit of a pot head right? Maybe this guy just gets so blown (he has access to some great shit I'm sure) that he's couch ridden. Combine weed with prescription drugs (or whatever else) and he probably had no Fukin clue what time and maybe sometimes what day it was. Cellular devices weren't what they are now people didn't look at phones 24/7 like today.. Maybe he just got constantly caught up in his own life/ brain stuck on the couch.. I know I've been at a point where I could give 2 shits about any contact with the world no clue what time it is or day and just stuck on the couch for who knows how long.. And I'm not a rockstar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinyrobot Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 It is not an uncommon problem. Many people suffer this condition and I don't think it is related to drug abuse, it's just a personality trait.For example, Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo is more famous for her "arriving late" scandals than her work at the search engine: http://www.businessinsider.com/marissa-mayer-has-a-bad-habit-of-being-late-all-the-time-2013-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Broue Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 This is the day when the band died as a "band" and a collective effort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowmass Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 People read too much into this....all it was was a dick move by an immature person (Axl). The band/mngmt shoulda let him hang and miss show. Then he woulda been put in his place....he'd a been a joke....like the "band" is now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LyndaRose Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Axl announces this is going to be the last show and he’s going to retire."? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Comstock Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) Axl announces this is going to be the last show and he’s going to retire."?He said something along the lines of "If certain people in this band can't stop dancing with Mr Brownstone, these will be the last Guns N' Roses shows you'll ever see".edit:10.18.89 - Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CAopening for: The Rolling Stonesset: It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Out Ta Get Me, Move To The City, Patience, My Michelle, Rocket Queen, Sweet Child O' Mine, Welcome To The Jungle, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Paradise Cityaudio/video recording?: audio, video [incomplete]notes: Before the 1st song, Axl gives his famous 'One In A Million' speech. Before 'Mr. Brownstone,' Axl says that unless some people stop dancing with 'Mr. Brownstone,' these will be the last GN'R shows (referring to the opening dates for the Stones). Axl falls off the stage during 'Out Ta Get Me!,' later he says it was due to bad footwork. The 'Suicide Horns Section,' featuring Duff's brother Matt, play horns on 'Move To The City.' Edited November 23, 2014 by RickRoses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Ridiculous. To the lengths they had to go just because he was such a prima donna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
combos Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 And it's happenings like these why Axl felt he had to get the GN'R name in his own hands to protect himself.If you ask me, it's things like Axl not showing up and pouting at home that should have forced the OTHER members to secure the name to protect THEMSELVES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoNobodyToldYaBaby Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 If this was about any other person i wouldn't believe it but because it's Axl im not even the slighest bit surprised. What a fascinating human he was/is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowmass Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 If this was about any other person i wouldn't believe it but because it's Axl im not even the slighest bit surprised. What a fascinating human he was/is. So true....ya wonder what is going on inside his head....'small town white boy (hick)' , multiple issues growing up, has been raped/molested, makes it to LA/Hollywoood and becomes the greatest (top 5) singer/frontman of all time....and mix in more drugs/alcohol/users than one can imagine....its a wonder he can still function....seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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