J.James

ohyesindeed Posted Today, 02:32 AM

it is not uncommon for bands to tour on the eve of a major release.

this helps accomplish the following:

1. it warms the band up. after a stretch in the studio (particularly a 10 year stretch!) a band can get a little rusty. live shows leading up to the release help the band get reacquianted with the old material, and figure out which new songs work on stage when played in between older songs.

2. it creates a buzz around the band and their new songs/record. live reviews, interviews, secret shows, and fights with security personnel get people talking about the band in magazines and on the internet.

you'll notice that their have been ZERO u.s. shows save for NYC in may. the hammerstein shows were VERY small in comparison to the huge venues they will be playing if/when they tour america. since america is the biggest market in the world, you don't neccesarily wanna blow your load playing huge shows here before there's a record on the shelves, as the whole point of touring is to SELL FUCKING RECORDS. there is a better chance of the record selling big if:

a. the band is delivering the new material on stage in and really kicking ass live.

b. there is a buzz around the band prior to the album hitting the shelves.

so, you apply numbers 1 & 2, and VOILA the band is playing huge shows everywhere but america until the record is out or about to be out.

axl is a really good business man, and he owes his label a TON of money for this mythical record. the name of the game now is to take every precaution to ensure that they sell the shit out of it.

as far as axl's personal reasons for touring that have been speculated upon here, i would try not to think about it that way. the dude is CERTIFIABLE!!! just hope he keeps his shit together long enough to get the record out and not embarass himself, the band, or his label bosses. well, the label people probable deserve to be embarassed

I feel this way also . The only thing I will add, is that GnR was/is one of the hardest ROCKIN bands out there with an extremely loyal if not obsessed fan base . There are alot of people who have a hard time "LETTING GO" of the first line up . I can find atleast 10-20 topics posted ever other day of comparisons like, whos better slash or ron or bucket or whoever for that matter . Look what happend to Van Halen. Roth got booted they made an album with Hagar, (no PRE tour) & it took damn near 10 years for some people to accept him & by that point hagar got booted . My piont is that with a "PRE tour" or warm up they will play the older stuff. Songs wich people have sentimental attachment to and can't LET GO of . If Axl can get die hards to like the new line up singing & performing these songs then imagine how much they'll like the new stuff. Same songs, same lead singer,same sound (alittle different), New line up . I have been listening to guns since about 86 & will admit I was skeptical @ first . But after seeing about 2 hrs worth of video & how god damn hard they're playing in europe I'm sold . Can't wait for the album & would prolly sell a kidney or somethin to get tickets to the U.S. leg of the tour. For those of you who just can't let go of Slash and the guys. Just close your eyes and imagine Fink with bleach blonde hair & CBGB's tank top(ala duff), And project the COUSIN IT hair cut, blue jean blazer vest, and busted top hat onto bumble and you 'll feel much better . Millions of men do it every day , Not every women is a supermodel .

Nuff said/ End rant.....

100% on point . I couldn' agree more and it keeps getting better . Slash and "old" guns will always have it's place for me and in time, but they just killed any question I had of them "fitting" together .