DeperilsofrockNRollDekednz Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Can someone explain to me why there is so much Ashba hate? I admit that I have no problem with the guy. I like his live and studio versions of better where he adds his own take. I also like his GNR solo spots and the extra rev he added to the live version of This I love. I can see some people finding his marketeering a bit crass. I don’t listen to his other stuff as I’m a Slash and Finck fan. The guy’s interview bravado is a bit annoying too, not to mention some stupid posts from his wife. I rate Bucket, Slash & Finck over the other lead guitarists. Though Bumble is a nice guy, great player and arranger, his intended contribution to a GNR record seemed a bit naff. Admittedly I’ve not heard what Ashba wrote but Axl seemed keen and I rate Axl’s gut instinct over the other members. I’m a basic guitarist, who loves music of many types, and has played a lot of instruments and sang over the years. I’ve not heard anything in Ashba’s playing that I fault. Are his critics musically literate enough to knock him? I’m not looking for a debate from any keyboard warrior, but if anyone is happy to discuss and clarify I’d greatly appreciate this please? I also admit not to reading reams of posts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mansin Humanity Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 have we come so far that the pendulum has come back around on ashba? oh hell yeah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ZoSoRose Posted August 26, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 26, 2019 Cause he sucked 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgina Arriaga Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Ughhh...dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megaguns1982 Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 He was shit, but he had a genuine enthusiasm about guns as a fan and a member so there's that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhazUp Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 28 minutes ago, DeperilsofrockNRollDekednz said: Are his critics musically literate enough to knock him? I doubt any of us are musically literate enough to decipher the pure non-conformist atonal blob of notes that is DJ Ashba's Patience outro solo - except for Tommy Stinson who was so amazed that he had to stop what he was doing to clap on stage when DJ brought that moment of pure genius out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soon Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Hogan ears. And also not being a very exceptional guitar player. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
default_ Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 I prefer him over Bumblefoot any day. Ashba is a cartoon, not that different from the original guys. Thing is: he tries way too hard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tourettes2400 Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 7 minutes ago, default_ said: I prefer him over Bumblefoot any day. Ashba is a cartoon, not that different from the original guys. Thing is: he tries way too hard. That is taking it too far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Bob Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 what the fuck guys... he's better than slash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tourettes2400 Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) Just now, Uncle Bob said: what the fuck guys... he's better than slash Shitttttt!! You have to be trolling! Edited August 26, 2019 by Tourettes2400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Bob Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 4 minutes ago, Tourettes2400 said: Shitttttt!! You have to be trolling! No, I'm not. Haven't you seen my signature pic? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson87 Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 As someone else said, he tried too hard. People liked BBF and Tommy because they were chill and didn't try to be cool. I personally never minded Ashba though. In the end, he was a fan who was trying to do justice to the music. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdinan Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Short answer; he's not Slash. I personally preferred him to Robin Finck, especially on the older material - notably November Rain, where Finck was just an absolute shit show(in my opinion). I don't think classic songs like that are open to interpretation. Ashba played it a bit more by the book. All of the guys had their ups and downs. I was lukewarm on Ashba, but never particularly liked Finck. I guess Music, just like everything else is an acquired taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seely Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) I don't think he was all that bad at all. He was always very enthusiastic and quite good at keeping in contact with fans to one level or another (Bumble was probably the one one who did more on that front out of the whole NuGn'R cast). While cheesy, he did keep the live shows entertaining and made an effort to really engage with the crowd. For the first year or two, he seemed to be pretty serious about his role with the band and kept the 'Swag' stuff pretty low. I figure that after 2011 or so, he probably realised that it was just going to be a case of more endless touring with no chance of new music being made, so he figured he might as well try and get something else out of his being a part of GN'R. Hence we got the 'Swag! Ashba water!' stuff more heavily in those final years. To be honest, I couldn't blame him. Also, Ballad of Death and Mi Amore are great solo pieces and I would not have objected at all to them being given official releases had Axl bothered to put an album out during those years. Edited August 26, 2019 by seely 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amir Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) 27 minutes ago, WhazUp said: I doubt any of us are musically literate enough to decipher the pure non-conformist atonal blob of notes that is DJ Ashba's Patience outro solo - except for Tommy Stinson who was so amazed that he had to stop what he was doing to clap on stage when DJ brought that moment of pure genius out Had a moment of panic when I thought I'd lost the links to the gifs I made, but looks like they're still on my Imgur account: And I agree with @seely; in 2010 he wasn't that bad (apart from butchering the TIL solo). He kept things simple, and got the crowd engaged. But once ASHBASWAGTM took over, and he started trying to do... something with the Patience outro solo, yeah, I wasn't a fan any more. Anyway, best of luck to him in his new ventures. Edited August 26, 2019 by Amir 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gackt Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdinan Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 I personally thought Ashba was a guy who always seemed generally thrilled and enthusiastic to be in Guns N' Roses. Maybe that wasn't necessarily "cool" to some people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick85 Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) Hoo boy, where to begin? In short, he was just awful in every way imaginable and represents the worst, most creatively bankrupt, era in GNR history. That’s all I got. Edited August 26, 2019 by sofine11 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-W.A.R- Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 He wasn't a great player and his "image" was more suited for emo teen girls - hard for the middle aged men that make up the GNR base to take him seriously. Also welcome to the forum, Ashba! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YourMother'sDruthers Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 I don’t usually care about a musicians “image” or “style” but his was embarrassingly laughable in gnr. That ridiculous faux top hat that he wore (notice he ONLY wore it in gnr, not sixx am)... was that meant to mock slash? Or to mimic him in some way? That ridiculous intro to WTTJ with the hogan ears? He was also, talent wise, the worst guitarist gnr ever had. When Finck left and was replaced by ashba, it was, to me, the end of nu gnr and any excitement I had about it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holographic Universe Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Its the internet. They love to hate and people feed off it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney Fan Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) If he was a fan of the band he should have declined when asked to join the band. Ashba suits any emo band but stylistically not guns. Edited August 26, 2019 by Sydney Fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Comstock Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Honestly, when DJ was announced as the new guitarist in 2009 I was excited to hear what he'd bring to the band. And for the most part he was 'good enough', at first. I thought he was good at the 2010 show I saw. But in 2011-12, and especially after that, he playing became sloppier and his marketing/social media presence became insufferable. It was like he stopped practising guitar, and only practised how to sell ugly hats and bottled water. And of course, there's the Hogan ears, Patience solo, SCOM intro, etc. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdinan Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 49 minutes ago, sofine11 said: Hoo boy, where to begin? In short, he was just awful in every way imaginable and represents the worst, most creatively bankrupt, era in GNR history. That’s all I got. I don't personally think he was that awful, but do agree with the last part. That entire era was a bit of a mess. Mostly because of Axl himself. I think it yielded some of the most embarrassing Guns performances of all time. Given Axl's performances, you have to wonder if the musicians around him even gave a crap. the 2006 era was a wasted opportunity. The band was a machine, and Axl was on fire. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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