MarlaHooch

Waiting for Ticketmaster to release some GA or Floor on Slash's side. They always come through. But I'll be there!

Great performance by a great band. Everyone kills it.

Axl says it's "the hardest one they do" and he obviously doesn't have to do it. Never say he doesn't care!

Newspaper headline: "AXL ROSE MURDERS PROSTITUTE LAST NIGHT IN LAS VEGAS"

Thank you Axl, if you're reading this!

I was there, and at night 1. Sorry OP, you're incorrect in that Axl was NOT this solid for all of 2006 (you say "back when he could go with the best of them"). He built up to this performance. He was of course much better than 2002 and yeah it'd be great if every show these days was this good, but that's not how it works. Very few singers in this vocal range are that consistent from night to night. They're human.

Does he sound this stellar these days? Not quite even on his best night. But it's eight years later, and although I haven't been there myself yet, I'd imagine 52 is at least slightly different than 44 for this type of singing style and stage performance. He was also in better physical shape then. He's getting there lately, and viola, his voice is also getting way better.

So yeah, I agree this show was quite awesome, but let's not get carried away with some myth that this was the norm standard at one point. The guy has some killer shows, and some very not killer shows. I'd imagine it's what comes with this type of material, doing very lengthly sets, and staying in the original keys unlike the majority of high screaming singers his age.

Um, misleading thread title, much?

Last time I checked Axl Rose's manager was Beta. I read the headline and had to remind myself that this is the internet.

This would be a quote from a FORMER manager...who has a book out.

I mean, I totally agree with him and believe a reunion will happen sooner than later, but yeah. What we have here is a trolling thread title to get attention and a trolling quote from a likely well-meaning dude trying to sell his book.

Nobody here cares much about how Axl looks or sounds (he is undeniably "much better" on both fronts lately).

They care that the list of songs they are reading from a three hour show they are not at is pretty much the same.

Priorities are a funny thing sometimes.

Yeah, it's pretty stupid. Don't see why people moan so much about the setlist, it's pretty much perfect, in my opinion. I'm a fan of everything on it, what would they drop? There are some decent songs they haven't played in years, but they're not as good as the ones being played in my opinion, and the fans in attendance would probably be disappointed if something was dropped. I'd probably throw in You're Crazy a little more, and There Was A Time, maybe a bit of Think About You, but that's about it. Don't really want anything to get dropped for those either, and i don't know what I'd drop if we did get new music.

Sorry about the double post, this site on mobiles is f'n awful lately!

I agree it's a pretty damn good setlist for anyone who is a big fan of the band but maybe hasn't seen them multiple times like some of us have.

Honestly I'm always in favor of swapping covers and solos for more UYI material, or even something new if Axl's in good form (which he is at the moment). I even said recently I probably wouldn't go to any more shows until the set changes significantly. But I've also been to I think seven shows in the past seven or eight years, and it's a preference/not a complaint.

Fortunately, I'm probably going to have to go back on that and check out a Vegas show next week so long as he's sounding as good as he is, coupled with the rumors about the current lineup winding down. May as well see them while they're at their best!

Nobody here cares much about how Axl looks or sounds (he is undeniably "much better" on both fronts lately).

They care that the list of songs they are reading from a three hour show they are not at is pretty much the same.

Priorities are a funny thing sometimes.

Mark me down I will drive 10 hours to attend!

So to sum things up:

Axl sounds great. So long as folks want new material, which is supposedly due to happen in the next month, maybe they should be grateful in hindsight that he didn't debut anything new with his "Golden Gods" voice. Just a little patience can be good sometimes, folks (SORRY!). Fuck. Double pun in one sentence.

New complaints about how his clothes are too baggy because he has clearly lost some weight. Sounds like a good problem for him to have!

If we get to hear new material with THIS voice, I say bring it!

Cheers.

Why do you care so much about what a few random strangers think on a rock n roll forum?

You also spin a lot of things in your post. Attendance at shows are declining. There is a reason for that.

"Stale" setlist and hits...........can anybody point out where people have said that GnR needs to change their entire setlist? We would just like to see something change. Hardcore lifelong GnR fans want to hear their favorite singer's newest creations. Axl has released one album in the last 20 years, there is NOTHING wrong with fans wanting new music. Why is it OK for you to say the shows are stale and you aren't going....but not OK for other people to say that?

LOL. You really think that GnR shows are "aimed" at people who have never heard of GnR and not for long-time fans?

It's weird how people like you have to twist everything so much.

Personally, I'm extremely thankful for the Mods and the entire organization that is Mygnrforum.com. GnR fans are allowed to share their opinions and the site isn't made up of mindless drones who praise everything Axl does. Why people complain about this is beyond me. At least the "haters/cupcakes/etc" are talking about the BAND that the forum is dedicated to, and not just writing rants about other posters. Think about that.

********

Amir has effortlessly moved into the Top Ten posters of the forum. Well done.

No offense, but did you even read my post? I very clearly state, in like paragraph #2, that criticisms/hopes/desires/etc. are all good in my book. It's the threats to quit the forum or the claims that the band will be over if they don't change things around that I find funny. I'm not sure that is fairly construed as "caring so much" as you put it, I'm just amused that people can consider themselves THAT self-important and be that entitled about things.

And yes, I really do think GN'R shows are aimed at casual fans. Speaking of people twisting things, where did I say the shows are aimed at "people who have never heard of GN'R"? Because that's what you claim I said. That'd be, uh, an interesting opinion to have, but you appear to have just made it up for no reason. But yes, the shows for the most part are aimed at casual fans, not die-hard message board fans. Isn't that quite obvious by now?

Absolutely nothing wrong with fans wanting new music. You're correct. I'd like some too. There's also technically nothing wrong with throwing hissy fits about the lack of said new material. I just find it funny

...the people at the shows pay for the shows. They certainly pay more than the whiny children posting on the (free) message boards.

Can I ask you something?

I've had this exact conversation with Jarmo. Of course, in Jarmo's eyes, I've never made a valid point in my life (not even by accident) but perhaps I will have better luck with you.

- It's a shame they didn't play any new songs. That would show they are at least thinking about moving forward.

- Heard some of the clips from the show. Axl sounds real hit or miss, and to be honest, more miss than hit.

Now...how do you hear either of these and process it as :

- Man, what fucking morons those people in the crowd are. I bet they had one terrible time last night. What a bunch of fucking fools.

In other words, what does one have to do with the other? How does vocalizing an observation about the lack of a new song or Axl's vocal quality have anything to do with the people in the seats that night, and if they were singing along and having fun?

Help me help myself. I need to understand.

Hmmm, well for one thing, I guarantee 99 out of 100 people in the crowd aren't going to say afterwards, "I'd give that a B. Had they done a new/unreleased song, I'd give it an A." Those types of fans really just don't exist outside the boards. In fact, to 99 out of 100 in the crowd, the CD songs are "new" to them anyway. Concerning Axl's performance, it's hard for me to say to be honest. I've seen him have off-nights (Hollywood Palladium in 2013 comes to mind) but the people I was with thought he sounded great, then I saw YouTube clips and it sounded even worse than I'd originally thought. I think in a nutshell, people are stoked to see Axl Rose perform, and Axl on his worst night is still a better experience than most other rock shows out there (unless it's REALLY bad like Bridge School or something).

Don't get me wrong, Axl's performances have seen better days and the set is stale as shit the past year or so. Personally, I probably won't see them in the US if nothing changes between now and whenever they come back around here, but that's more just me saving money than some angry protest or something.

Criticisms/hopes/wishes/desires/etc...all fine and dandy in my book. It's this whole "They BETTER change their set or I'M LEAVING and this band is DONE" hissy fit tantrum type stuff that cracks me up, and that's where I get into the whole 'people who aren't at the shows whining and crying' thing. Like, really? They're pulling 4-5 digits' worth of people in every city, yet 50-60 particularly loud and entitled folks on a message board spread throughout the globe think their voice is the one that should be considered?

The fact that I probably won't see this tour as it is now, just like I chose not to see Tool last week because they've been playing 80% the same 90 minute set for the past 8 years (yeah, that's right, 90 minutes, like I said earlier, try being a Tool fan!).....in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean a whole lot. GN'R and Tool will go on as touring entities regardless of the fact that one particularly die-hard fan may choose to stay home because of setlist complaints.

Bottom line - for every one of me (or someone on the board) who stays home because of a setlist gripe, another 10-15 will go and discover the band for the first time, and frankly, I hope they get the "stale" set because it has all the hits! The show is obviously largely aimed at them and not potential repeat customers, and that's GN'R's right to make that decision as far as which part of their audience they choose to cater towards. More power to them.

Because there are a bunch of whiny self-entitled spoiled bitches on this forum who for some reason believe Axl works exclusively for them and not for the 99.9999% of people in the audience who, you know, pay money, and don't care whether or not The General is played.

Some of you really should try being Tool fans if it's the same set every night that bothers you.

So who does Axl work for? Who pays for the shows? An increasingly small number of people. Even the South American venues are smaller than 2011, and struggling to sell out. Buenos Aires tickets are on Groupon. Do you think people in the audience are dying to hear La Bella Vita instead of a new song? Or seeing Axl walk up to the mike for hard-rocking songs like Nightrain and YCBM?

What about those of us who have been positive over the years and supported this band? We're "whiny and self-entitled" because our support has gone unrewarded? Sorry, I didn't realise this was the BendOverAndTakeItFromAxl forum.

Look at the recent debacle with the South American VIP downgrades. Zero word from management about this, I had to e-mail groundctrl about it and got a nonchalant response. Real professional. Axl can throw a hissyfit and throw the mike if one of the stage crew makes a mistake with the sound setup, but we can't criticise him for not doing his job to the best of his ability? Sorry, I didn't realise he was above criticism and we are unworthy.

If the audience shrinks, that's on them and not your concern. Seems to me if they keep getting booked, the disgruntled opinions of some spoiled children on a message board won't be their downfall.

BTW - would I like more varied sets? Yes, of course. Do I feel I'm owed more varied sets bc I've been a fan for well over half my life and seen this lineup over a half dozen times? Hell no. They don't owe me any more than a performance if I've bought a ticket or an album of good songs if they sell me one. End of debate, really.

Because there are a bunch of whiny self-entitled spoiled bitches on this forum who for some reason believe Axl works exclusively for them and not for the 99.9999% of people in the audience who, you know, pay money, and don't care whether or not The General is played.

Some of you really should try being Tool fans if it's the same set every night that bothers you.

So, uh, yeah. You "hardcore fans" all remember that a lot of the "new songs" they've done on tour don't get played right away on the first night, right?

Civil War = middle of the tour.

TWAT = middle of Vegas.

What's all of this nonsense about about them lying? Where did they promise 2-3 new songs during the first show? I missed that part.

Uh... TWAT was played for the first time in 2006 in NYC at the Hammerstein show... the first night of the 2006 tour. I was there. And... uh... Civil War is not a new song. It came out in 1991 and was played earlier than that.

Playing a song that's already been released on an album, or worse, someone else's song that's long been released (a cover), does not constitute a new song. A new song would be a previously unreleased original song that nobody's heard before... barring any leaks. I almost wouldn't even consider something that's leaked a new song, either.

...you realize that playing a 6-8 minute song that hasn't been played in 2-15 years (take your pick) requires prep, right?

Typically the first show of a tour you don't want any unpleasant surprises that you can avoid. I have to assume you're just trolling/missing my point on purpose.

So, uh, yeah. You "hardcore fans" all remember that a lot of the "new songs" they've done on tour don't get played right away on the first night, right?

Civil War = middle of the tour.

TWAT = middle of Vegas.

What's all of this nonsense about about them lying? Where did they promise 2-3 new songs during the first show? I missed that part.

Ahh, it's 11:40 p.m. on the first night of a tour and Axl hasn't shown up yet.

GN'R fans live for this shit and they know it!!

Here's a concept - when 97% of GN'R's audience consists of MyGNR members and 3% of their audience consists of casual fans who actually go to shows and buy tickets, and not the other way around as it is now, perhaps MyGNR fans will get exactly what they want in a GN'R set.

Happy Birthday Axl!!

Wishing you good health and good times this year!

@MH

If you think it's cool that this band 'makes an effort', you should check out almost any other big rock band's fanclub. Get ready for the rapture!

From what I've seen, Nightrain pretty much offers a fan-only website, guitar picks, keychains, onsale privileges for shows, and "exclusive video chats" that folks on here for some reason chose to interpret as "video chats where band members must tell us an album is being worked up for release".

It shouldn't surprise anybody that their fan club is bare-bones in terms of features. Axl has said he abhors the idea of charging people money to meet him. Good for him, I think it's stupid too. Metallica and Kiss do that. Good for them. Not every band does, it's their choice. Not sure where in the fan club literature it offers fans the opportunity to pick setlists, dictate when they record albums or where they tour, or when they choose to release news about their endeavors.

Neil Peart from Rush is notoriously not fan-friendly. 99% of Rush fans could care less because he more than delivers when he's obligated to - when he's making albums and playing shows. Of all the bands I follow, I find GN'R fans are by far the hardest to please. I'd be stoked if any band I'm into put out news like GN'R just did.

GN'R fans in a nutshell:

RELEASE CHINESE DEMOCRACY!!!!!

(They release it..........eventually)

GO ON TOUR!!!!!!!!!!

(They go on tour...for a long fuckin' time)

CHANGE THE SETLIST!!!!!! PLAY CIVIL WAR AND ESTRANGED!!!!

(They play a 3+ hour goddamn set with both of those tunes and a ton of others)

STOP PLAYING THE SAME 3+ HOUR SETLIST!!!!!

(They start playing the same 2.5 hour setlist instead. Hey, technically they listened)

STOP TOURING AND MAKE NEW MUSIC!!!!!!

(They stop touring. Then announce some touring that will feature some new music they made)

THIS MUST BE BULLSHIT!!! AXL HATES HIS FANS AND NEVER GIVES THEM WHAT THEY WANT!!!!!!! UM, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHATEVER YOU JUST SAID YOU'RE DOING!!!!

...anyone have anything to add to that? I rarely post but thought I'd sum it up nicely for some of ya'll who have clearly never read "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie..."

In one hand I agree with you, but in the other hand I don't. While I do feel like Axl has been trying more within the last few years to please the fans, then he has at any point in his career. Which I have to give him credit for. But on the other hand, when a fan base is as divided as this one, their are going to be varied opinions. A reunion is really the only thing Axl can do to really make the fans happy. But then of course the nugnr fans would be pissy. But they (myself included) are the minority. Because at the end of the day, 90% REAL guns n' roses fans want to see the band we all fell in love with. I don't complelty blame Axl for the break up of the band, but he did play a role. And he also seems like the most unwilling to try a reunion. So it is what it is.....

To summerize, yes he has been trying harder than ever to please the fans. Which He deserves some credit for. But it's really hard for some fans to forget about everything that happened from 1995~2008. They have a right to feel the way they do.

I was definitely one of those fans between 1995 and 2008. Here's the thing - of course fans can feel frustrated. I'm disappointed every time an album gets delayed or every time Axl has a bad night (they always just happen to be the gigs that are streamed internationally). It's like watching your favorite sports team lose a crucial game or something.

At the same time, my whole point is, bands don't "owe" their fans anything other than their moneys' worth when money is involved. They don't owe their fans changing setlists, reunions, news updates, new albums, etc. If Fernando or DJ say to expect news and then hypothetically there's no news, so? It's not like they stole anything from anyone. It's a gratuitous promise and not their responsibility if people are that emotionally invested in their business.

That said, I agree with you in that I think it's cool the band makes an effort with things like this news (exclusively for their hardcore fans), Axl's chats, etc. They certainly don't have to. Some bands do more than this for their fans, and some (Van Halen, Tool, Eagles) do a hell of a lot less.

No band owes their fans information. No-one gets to have expectations.

You really are a nutter.

Yeah, well, anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing the new material and looking forward to seeing the band again. I think it was cool of them to put out an update - though it was by no means "owed" to me.

Hehe. Sorry I didn't spot the trolling sooner.

I know what cassettes are, but what has this got to do with the value of my opinion? If anything, you seem a little insecure about your right to comment. Why are you listing your music collection? Why are you talking about your closet??

If we could stop talking about you and maybe get back on topic, I'll ask you a question. When in the past have you felt guns have been 'obligated to deliver'? A superfan like you must have felt they have been on a few occasions.

And honestly, where is the 'satire' in your original post?

Not insecure - your post more or less says that because I'm "in the minority" with my views and because you think I'm an easily pleased fan, perhaps I should post elsewhere. When it's suggested that because I have a differing view and therefore I should go elsewhere because I don't fit in or something, it's just a little rich is all. I had no comment on your opinions concerning the band, only that you seemed to suggest I go elsewhere due to mine.

I had originally posted a satire suggesting that GN'R fans are never happy no matter what the circumstances are. In an earlier post, I outlined when I feel they're obligated to deliver - basically when money is involved/when they're selling me a product such as an album or a concert ticket. To that end, I thought Chinese Democracy was for the most part a masterpiece. Every time I've bought a ticket to their shows since 2006 (7 times, I sat out 2002), they've put on a fantastic, 3 hour show and given it their all.

My original post satirizes what Axl once referred to as folks' false sense of entitlement. No band owes their fans information. Tool and Van Halen get a lot of crap from their hardcore fans for the same thing. As far as I'm concerned, when they come at me for my business, they've delivered every time. That's all they owe me. I don't think anyone gets to have expectations as far as how folks manage their business whether its music or anything else.

You made your post about me, so I responded back accordingly. Hopefully I've answered your question. Peace.

If you don't want to hear dissenting voices, you should either be more realistic or post elsewhere.

If you don't think guns fans have had a raw deal, I can assure you that you'll be in a minority on any board that allows free speech.

The well-practised naivety of the nutters simply doesn't fly around here. Check any thread. And yes, for someone who claims to have been a fan for so long, you come across as either easily taken in or easily pleased.

Either way, don't expect the rest of us to be the same.

How old are you? Seriously. Yikes.

On the one hand, I'm a "minority on a board that allows free speech", on the other I should "post elsewhere"? On a board that has free speech, per your words?

I'll post wherever I want and say whatever I want, thanks. I've seen the band seven times and own all their records and most of their solo records. I have followed them for 20 years now. I have enough shows on VHS and shows and demos on cassette (remember those?) to fill a small closet. It's my right. Who are you to tell me what to say and where to say it?

I could give less than a rat's ass if you or anyone else agrees with me. The band delivers when they are obligated to and that's all I have a right to expect. I didn't ask anyone to agree with me. I said what I wanted to say. My right. I have no clue what you're going on about me "not wanting to hear dissenting voices" (I posted satire, I could care less about what people on a message board say or think other than...poking fun in this instance). If it bothers you that much to read an angle you don't agree with, perhaps YOU should go elsewhere.

Oh, and Merry fuckin' Christmas.

Should probably remind you we were saying 'please release cd' for longer than some posters on this forum have been alive.

If you can't acknowledge the glacial pace that guns moves at, you're a certified nutjob.

I've following these message boards in some form or another/in varying degrees since the AOL message board days in the mid-90s. I remember "I'm not sure if soon is the word", "March 6", etc.

It's their band/Axl's band/the pace is up to them or whatever powers that be in the business. It's the fans' choice to spend money on whatever product they put out or tour they book. To that end, so far, the record they put out was well worth my money as was every time I've seen them live over the last seven years. So I'm not complaining.

If you think the band owes you anything more than a good album if they sell it to you or a good show if they sell you a ticket, you're a certified nut job

PS - the post a couple above this one..."getting kicked in the nuts that much harder"? Jesus. I remember being a teenage drama queen but that's quite a figure of speech regarding what a band does or doesn't do. I'm guessing you've never been kicked in the nuts and I hope it stays that way.