ZoSoRose

That is awesome, did you attend one of the 2010 Brazilian shows? That 2010 SA tour was incredible to follow. Even in Michigan, I was excited for all the fans there who hadn't gotten a GNR show in what seemed like an eternity. Seeing the band play these massive, packed stadiums seemed awesome. For my 2010 show, they played a small arena. Pretty sure the upper bowl was open but not full. I distinctly remember the 2011 Michigan arena show being pretty sparse and them not even selling out the 2012 theater show a few months later. I still enjoyed those concerts a lot, of course. Getting songs like Estranged and Civil War in 2011/2012 was pretty surreal for me, too. UYI live material was almost as exciting as the prospect of new songs because they were so far and few between in 2001-2010. I remember there was this Twitter account in around 2009 that posted all sorts of rumors and alleged leaks. It was about a year or two before the MSL email saga, and I don't remember if they were credible, but it was really fun to follow. One of the rumors it posted was that the band was rehearsing more UYI material for 09/10. I was pretty happy about that. It is still kind of crazy when they whip out stuff like Pretty Tied Up, Coma, Bad Obsession, etc. all these years later. It is also crazy how starved we all were for CD 2 even in like 2011 considering that was over a decade ago. Every time the band had a new tour leg there was hope on here that maybe something different would happen. Even though we got Estranged at Rio 2011 (which was awesome for me), I still remember being really disappointed no new songs were played (and that is all without getting into the show itself). The Village leaks did seem like an epilogue to the entire CD saga, it was crazy hearing at least the bones of all of those titles.

I really do wish I could have seen a 2002 or 2006 show. I was too young for 2002, but seeing Bucket in the band would have been killer. Love the Vegas, RIR, and Boston boots from that era. I saw Bucket solo in around 2011, though. I also would have loved to have seen 2006. I was close... it could have been my first concert (that ended up being Rush in 2007, so not a bad choice). Axl looked and sounded killer and I still have not seen Robin in person, sadly. I think that tour was fucking sweet. The 2007 Japanese shows are highlights for me to listen to. It’s been years since I have, but I should track them down for old time’s sake. Loved all the little guitar jams like Beautiful, Endless Rain, and Bumble’s Don’t Cry. Still, that 2010 London Ontario show was a perfect first GNR show for me. The memory of that trip, anticipation, and show itself were amazing. I saw a few 2016 shows with that same buddy and I remember him turning to me and saying “imagine if this was our first time seeing the band” but I don't really agree with that. I do think 2016 was overall the best, but I’m still glad that Ontario trip was my first GNR show. Good memories. Got a good showing of Chinese at that gig, too. If The World, Scraped, Shacklers, Sorry, Better, Street of Dreams, Chinese Democracy, TiL, Madagascar all in one show. I still haven’t gotten TWAT at a gig, but that was pretty cool getting all those songs. I doubt ITW, Shackler's, and Scraped will return and those actually kicked ass live back then. Really felt like they were touring a “new” album, which they kind of were and weren’t.

Fuck man, sorry. Hope it passes asap!

Time is a circle... or something It is no secret that I am a huge Slash fan. Every time I see a reunion show, I end up leaving with a huge smile on my face. It is great to see him back in the band (Duff, too). It is as it should be. Hooray! That being said, I have that nostalgia- thing for all of the memories I had made with NuGNR. With The General finally coming out, I thought it might be nice to reminisce for a bit. Here is an unnecessary wall of text as an ode to the 1999- 2014 lineups. Thanks to everyone who played in the band in all the different lineups. Despite the controversies, those lineups still made a lot of people happy (and frustrated) on here. I became a GNR fan in around 2005. My intro to the band was thanks to Youtube. For some reason, I went through a "The Godfather" phase freshman year of high school. I mean, 1 and 2 are incredible movies. Some of my favorites, in fact. But what a weird fucking thing... maybe it was because I liked the music so much, especially the main theme. Well, that was around when I started playing guitar. Youtube was brand spanking new and I decided to search "Godfather Guitar" or something. What do you think came up? So I had discovered Slash. I didn't really dig further, funny enough. That year was that weird "only OLD rock music is good" phase some idiot teenagers go through. I guess I thought 80s bands were too new? I was a moron. Anyways, the following year or so I was listening to my iPod (remember those?), the one with the clicky- wheel, and I had all sorts of pirated rock music I was discovering on there. "Sweet Child O' Mine" came up and then the solo came up and FUCK. I remember it vividly, I was doing yard work and then I went inside to listen better. I was hooked then, it all clicked, and I started going down the GNR rabbit hole. I soon picked up my first GNR album- Use Your Illusion I on CD and I played the shit out of it. I realized GNR was as much the Axl- show as it was the Slash- show with that record. My favorite part was the outro to Coma and that was all Axl. Wikipedia and Youtube were my friends and I learned and listened to all sorts of stuff related to the band. I was so bummed to find out I missed their 2006 stop in Detroit at the time (I also sadly missed the 2007 VR show in Detroit, as my mom didn't want me going into the city alone with my teenage friends... well, they went. Lame). So how does discovering them tie into NuGNR? Well, as a fresh GNR fan in 2005/2006, there was only NuGNR and Velvet Revolver. I dug VR, but wasn't into Scott's voice as much (at the time, I liked high- pitched singers like Plant and Axl. In hindsight, Scott was excellent with STP and VR. RIP), but then I read about Chinese Democracy. A mythical album that was supposed crazy- Axl's magnum opus with this crazy new band called GNR but it wasn't really GNR except it was? Sounded really interesting. Then, holy shit, there were songs from it out?! Then I got into the leaks, and you know what? I thought those songs fucking ROCKED. I loved The Blues, TWAT, Better, IRS, etc. All of them, really. It wasn't an old band vs. new band thing for me, I just liked all the music. And there were so many songs that were leaked. It felt like I had the album, already (we basically did). Buckethead and Robin Finck weren't Slash, but I didn't care because their guitar playing fucking (and Ron's) worked for me. I still firmly will say Chinese is a kick- ass guitar record. Then I discovered the forums. The first forum I discovered was Chinesedemocracy.com which led me to finding NewGNR.com and then of course, this forum (pour one out for CD.com and NewGNR.com). I read them all pretty regularly and MyGNR eventually became my most visited website. Crazy to think that was closer to 20 years ago than not. GNR became one of my favorite bands during the last 2 years of high school along with my Led Zeppelin obsession. I wanted to see them so fucking bad and was worried 2006 was my last shot. Its funny thinking that now, since they tour so fucking much, but in the 2000s Axl really only did the 2001/02 and 2006/07 tours, so him coming to town was still a rarity. Finally, in the start of my senior year, Chinese Democracy was actually released and my interest in the band soared. I remember the Axl chats pretty vividly. I had lurked here for a year or two prior, but made an account when he was on here. It was pretty cool, and it put the Chinese takeout songs to the forefront since Chinese was sadly released as a single album- "Atlas Shrugged", "Oklahoma", "Checkmate/Jackie Chan", "Soul Monster", and the big grail for some reason: "The General". Dreams of ChiDem 2 coming in 2009 with these songs and Robin Finck SRV solos were fresh in the air. Oh well. It was fucking dumb in hindsight we all hyped these songs so much without even knowing wtf they were. Its all part of the fun, I guess. A year went by and there was still no tour. There were rumors and little tidbits (orchestra, Van Halen, Azoff blah blah blah, reunion talk, Robin drama, DJ coming in). DJ was announced as the new guitar player (everyone rightfully thought it was a bad choice from the get- go on here), so surely that meant a tour was coming. Finally, right at the start of college, they announced the Asian tour and then the Canadian tour. The 2010 Canadian tour was surreal for me because there was a show relatively close. I was from metro Detroit, and going to school in Lansing. A show was announced 3 hours away in London, Ontario at a smaller arena. My friend who is not on the forums, but who got into GNR and grew up with them this way the same way was also hyped. I bought two tickets (I didn't drive or have a car), and luckily, his mom agreed to drive us and got us a hotel room. I remember the Taiwan kick- off show like it was just last night. That was absolute peak- GNR fan craze for me. The reunion was close, but I was older and wiser for that. I was a stupid teenager with misplaced priorities in 2009. Of course a Guns N' Roses concert with 1 original member across the globe would be the most exciting thing in the world to me at the time. I followed the show on here, it was a blast. Everyone was at peak hype. The setlist was exciting with "new" Chinese songs in the set, DJ got most everyone's approval (crazy, looking back, but he did exceed expectations in 2010. That quickly died off...), and then the band went on to play crazy marathons in Tokyo. Plus, a great soundboard of the last Tokyo show leaked which was amazing to listen to. Finally, the excruciating wait for the London show ended, and I got to go with my friend to see them. That experience is probably one of my favorite memories. I was also going through my first heartbreak at the time (now I am engaged to the same chick) and I didn't know how to deal with that. GNR was the perfect remedy. We had the quintessential GNR experience at that London show. A long wait, a rowdy crowd where I almost got into a big fight with a low- rate UFC fighter that wanted my spot, girls getting naked in the crowd during the wait for the cameras, Sebastian Bach and Danko Jones opening, and finally, GNR. It blew my fucking head off. We were really close to the stage, and let me tell you, those 2010 shows were magic. Axl sounded fucking amazing and moved around a ton. Now that I think about it, that still might be my overall favorite concert because of the sheer joy I had seeing them. You can't really replicate that when you get older. Priorities change, and even though you still get excited about things, it isn't the same. The show ended super late (because the band went on super late), and we just didn't care. We met people from here and other diehards who shared stories of attending the Vegas 2001 show. At the time, I would have loved seeing them with Bucket and I thought 9 years seemed like an eternity, but now I can say that 2010 London show was 13 years ago. Almost 14. What in the fuck? I can attach a lot of my memories throughout college to following the band and this forum. I wasn't some loser, I swear! I had a great college experience with a great circle of friends. I should have studied more, but meh, who cares? I had fun! All throughout it I was on this site every day. Meeting people on here, arguing with internet strangers, following shows, pining for new music that wouldn't ever really come in the way we imagined, and even speculating on what a reunion would look like. Rio 2011 was a shift, but hearing Estranged was magic. I saw them in Detroit that winter and getting that live was sublime. That show didn't match London 2010 because it wasn't my first time and because we sat in the stands, but getting Estranged live that first time meant the world. Then, my same buddy and I saw them a few months later on the Up Close and Personal Tour and holy shit, we were so fucking excited to see them in a small venue. We were front row and there was like no barrier. Ron met us before the show (I've had the pleasure of hanging out with him several times, and he is a great dude) and let me play his guitar and signed autographs which blew my mind, and I caught guitar picks from everyone and a drumstick that show. Even high- fived Axl a few times. For 21- year- old- me, I was pretty stoked. We later attended the Hall of Fame, and that was an awesome trip and show, but it didn't match the high of that theater GNR show. We also got to meet Slash at one of his gigs, that year. Not NuGNR related, but 2012 was killer, overall. I always liked Slash and NuGNR, it wasn't a versus thing for me. One of my favorite years and it had lots of Guns- related memories attached. All- in- all, I saw that lineup three times. 2010, 2011, 2012. After 2012, they didn't come back to Michigan until the reunion. From 2012-2014, I still followed them on here, but the frustration of diminishing venues and a lack of new music took its toll. There was still fun to be had when things weren't great. For better or worse, this place was pretty fun during things like Bridge School and the Golden Gods. It was nice Duff helped the band out towards the end and I am glad 2014 ended on a high note. Those final Vegas shows seemed pretty cool with some deep cuts and Axl sounding good. I would have liked to have been at the last Vegas show in 2014. It was also cool they put Appetite for Democracy out. It might not be the best NuGNR show, but it is a nice goodbye to that era. Either way, I think the reunion came at the right time. Ron seemed frustrated in the band for years, DJ had become a complete caricature, Tommy was perhaps checked out and focusing on The Replacements reunion, and the project did seem to have run out of gas. 2016 was GREAT. I wouldn't trade that year as a fan for even a new album. It was a dream come true for a GNR fan born in 1991. I never got to see the real- deal, and even though Steven and Izzy were sadly not there, that Vegas trip was incredible. A high level of hype like when I was excited for the Taipei show, but different at the same time (I had other things to care about than GNR in my mid- 20s). The two stadium shows I caught that year were fucking insane. The band may not be as good now as they were in 2016, but I'm still glad they pulled their shit together for this juggernaut. Still, I have a lot of incredible memories that NuGNR was a part of, a lot of the best years were when I was really, really into that band. and lineup. I can also say the same for 2016, and someday, this era too to an extent. It won't be around forever. I'm excited for The General with Slash and Duff, but it is still a NuGNR- song at heart. It is crazy we are finally getting it. Even if it sucks, it will be something just to have it out. It can't live up to the hype, but I am hoping it is at least a kick- ass tune. I would have been far more excited for it in 2010-2014, but better late than never! I also totally get why NuGNR was not for everyone. If you grew up while GNR was active, I understand why Axl and a cast of Bucketed and Bumbled characters is not GNR to you. That is cool. It's all just a band name to me, and for me, music is music. A lot has changed over the years, in my life and with the band. It is interesting that some people tie music to stages of their life, and that really sticks. I definitely do. I've met a lot of cool people on here. Some still post, many don't. Either way, I am thankful for the ride and everyone, even the bad stuff. It's a real gas. Thanks, GNR! TLDR- What I thought was beautiful is only memories

Lol new album where? Not there hope for Detroit

It still does sadly

So I ordered a bootleg CD/Blu-ray set of Glastonbury and am pretty impressed. No, he doesn’t sound as good as 2016, but it’s pretty damn good to have as a set. Great mix and picture quality and they sound killer

I thought the name was dumb but I just listened and these guys are awesome.

Its a great song and so is HS

That litho rocks

Zing! Good to see ya! Lens disappeared before, hope he pops up again

I’d freak out for a 2016 show on Blu-ray and a live album. Best tour of my life. Would especially want Detroit

When I met Axl, it was after a show and he was tired. It'd have been dumb to grill the guy on the status of new music. Instead, I just thanked him or whatever and said welcome to wherever we were. I'd imagine a lot of fans would do the same What?

I think it was 7 weeks in between Absurd and Hard Skool. The 6th is the 7th week since Perhaps, and happens to be when they play Powertrip Just sayin'

Great post

No way

Saw Royal Blood again. Fucking awesoem

Literally everyone freaking out over nothing. I’ll bet a pack of franks it’s digital

Still haven't gotten it and don't care at all about rona, anymore. Its good we have shit to fight it now so I don't have to. It was good to be cautious and mindful in 2020-2021, but with meds, weaker strains, shots, etc., I truly think 99.9% of people are good now (knock on wood). My fiance has nutty friends that still won't leave their house, I think that is beyond rona and crossing into mental illness. Anyways, fuck corona. Live yo life

I'm a legit business insider Idk, common sense?

It'll be digital, too. Just like Absurd and Hard Skool

Royal Blood tonight

I’d love to get Locomotive, TWAT, Catcher, and The General at a show sometime but other than that, no real complaints for me Maybe a new opener? Nightrain or Jungle would be nice

I feel like people haven’t been complaining about the setlist with PTU, AG, RL, BO, and 2 new songs being played every show