stella Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I honestly didn't pay much attention to them. The band and the shows had gotten so much "bigger" at that point - nobody expected them to play in the gritty style they'd had at the Troubadour in the 80s, I think - and the backup singers seemed to go along with that. The only place I ever remember really noticing them was on "Knockin on Heaven's Door." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay410 Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 They were a small part of what made the band seem less rock n roll, particularly in the context of Nirvana. Instead of 5 guys playing gritty rock n roll, there were two keyboardists, a brass section, back up singers, etc. It looked more like an Elton john production than a rock show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Drama Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I actually liked them. They had more of a purpose than Pitman/Dizzy/Zigzag/horns/"insert third nipple member here" has ever had.Tarnish......you mean more or less than the spawn of Liza Minelli & Criss Angel that is currently managing to fuck up solos that Slash did while completely wasted? Oh shit, that was my outside voice, wasn't it?Liza and Criss Angel?! HAHAHH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GivenToFly Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 They worked on some songs but they were a bit overused adding backing vocals at times when they weren't necessary at all (particularly on AFD songs) and sometimes they were too loud in the mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDemocracyRose Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 No at the times GNR was the new Stones... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droezle Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Everything in GNR became huge in 1992, just like the ego's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trqster Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 As a pure Rn'R factor, Tracy and Roberta sucked…but imo during some live songs like KOHD they actually added something to the show... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lio Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Didn't like them. I didn't think they fit in and I didn't think GNR needed them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aranrod Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 (edited) Tarnish......you mean more or less than the spawn of Liza Minelli & Criss Angel that is currently managing to fuck up solos that Slash did while completely wasted? Oh shit, that was my outside voice, wasn't it?Well I think it's apples to oranges really. When I first got to know GnR, it was the original 5. So the addition of ballads, soft-rock songs, and Tracy & Roberta kinda tarnished the rock n' roll vibe. DJ tarnishing the band is a different thing. And because I'm Axl worshipper #1, I would remind you that Slash fucked up a lot of his own solos back in the day too. But I get what you're saying. I still say it's a different type of tarnishment and therefore can't be compared. Think About You, Sweet Child, Patience - all came before the addition of Tracy & Roberta. All were on the softer side and the original 5. Also, most of the songs on UYI were written when it was still the original 5. So....not sure what that has to do with it?Sorry I mistyped that and didn't proofread it. I meant that Tracy & Roberta were the straw that broke the camel's back. The icing on the cake. They detracted from the hard rock energy of the band. They chipped away at the band's edge. Hey that's fine if you want to mention DJ, and question how he tarnishes the band in comparison to T&R. But I made the thread about Tracy & Roberta: I didn't make the thread about "who is the greatest tarnisher of the band of all time?" I didn't really notice T & R all that much to be honest. The backing vocals were good, especially live for Don't Cry because someone had to cover Shannon's falsetto. I don't think they made a big impact on the tour for better or for worse. They were just there. It added depth to some of the choruses that Axl overdubbed harmonies to. I would always prefer live backup singers to a recording of Axl's own harmonies, as so many artists do.True. I guess a lot of people judge by watching the videos and DVDs with all the zooming in, but standing there at the concerts you didn't notice them all that much. They did add depth to some of the choruses, like you say. I had no problems with them being there. Edited January 25, 2014 by aranrod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illusionone Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Never saw them live but from all of videos I've watched I was never really a fan. I always thought they overshadowed KOHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GivenToFly Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 How were they not rock'n'roll? Black female backup singers have been used in rock'n'roll from very early on by many different artists. It took away from the metal and punk aspects but not from the rock'n'roll aspect. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeMeHome Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 They only bothered me on Pretty Tied Up, I think they made it sound like a cheesy pop song. Beside this, they were alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreshFromDetox Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I saw them for the first time when the Concert for Life aired. Tracy, Roberta, and all of a sudden ANOTHER keyboard player (Teddy) were very much in the foreground. I hated it. I didn't even like Axl's beard If the term was popular then, I would have said that they "jumped the shark" but I was only 13 and I've grown to love that performance and not mind the additional players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetness Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Teddy Zig Zag was lol. I mean who the fuck was that guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR DOOM Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 They only bothered me on Pretty Tied Up, I think they made it sound like a cheesy pop song. Beside this, they were alright.Yeah same here, I love that song but hate it with them on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Drama Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Teddy Zig Zag was lol. I mean who the fuck was that guy?He was the Pitman before that was like an actual position in the band..... I'd rather had him around as a touring keys than Dizzy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I don't think it's grand pretensions, I think it's more of common touch. It's a big show, it's a spectacle. Not were a gritty rock n roll band that is too cool for stadiums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droezle Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 What about the 976 horn section? They were totally unnecessary imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselDaisy Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I think it was the wrong decision to include the backing band on that tour. The 1992 shows are my least favourite of the touring years, 1985-93. Still, generally they are not that much of a hindrence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IncitingChaos Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I always liked them on KOHD. Never really noticed them outside of the song. The shows are still awesome either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvH Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Pure cheesiness, but 92 GNR was exactly that.Nice asses, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One.In.A.Million Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I think they were cool, and were a nice addition to the live shows. I agree that it kind of tarnished the rock n' roll aspect of Guns. But with Axl at the healm, Guns N' Roses were never going to be a straight up rock n roll band anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTCB Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Their addition didn't matter much to me. I thought the whole thing was a bit bloated, but I wasn't angry about it or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yourcrazy Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 At the time it wasn't a big deal and didn't bother me. It was just part if the scene back then for bands to be over the top on just about everything. Looking back now, I do wish they would of stayed truer to their more raw Hard Rock roots, but it was the 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wfuckinga Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I prefer them to Sorum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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