invisible_rose

On 9/10/2023 at 2:49 PM, AxlSlashthebest said:

the last album "4" was a disaster. not even one good song

Agreed. It's a train wreck of an album. I get they wanted to try something new, but it just didn't work in any way.

As for GNR taking a break - it's logical. I suspect the promotor is using the break as leverage to sell more, but I think GNR will be off the road for at least a year, maybe more. There's nothing left after this run. All the deep cuts have been toured. Axl's ability to perform much of the back catalogue is diminished, and people won't be turning up year after year to see the same thing.

They have three options from here

- take a break, go back out in 18-24 months and hope for the best - probably having to accept smaller venues or potentially average ticket sales

- take a break, record new tunes, put out and album and tour it

- take a slightly longer break and then come out with a finale, goodbye tour and call it a day

1 hour ago, Arnuld said:

They really do need to put the Chinese Era to bed once and for all. It will be a shame if songs like 7, Soul Monster, Cuban Skies ect….never see the light of day. 
 

But really they need to comeback with a new album and a fully branded tour like Metallica if they want to continue doing stadiums for the long haul. 

I concur. If I was in their shoes, I'd put one more single out and then an EP featuring the released tracks and anything left over that's worth while, and be done with it.

It's interesting that Richard & Slash think Axl has interest in recording and indeed is even vocally capable. I wonder how much they have discussed as a band/business. 

On 8/27/2023 at 4:13 AM, Original said:

They were shit “musicians” just happy to soak off of GnR’s teet.  Literal no one’s before and after (and during) their stint as hired musicians in AxL’s solo band.   Stinson had a little bit of cred.   The rest just shit.   

Yeah, I mean Bucket could hardly even play guitar! 

(yes, I am being sarcastic)

I think some were more talented (by some margin) than others. The likes of Bucket, Finck et al had no interest in being hangers on - that's why they bailed when new music became virtually impossible to put out. I think if you look more towards the likes of Ashba - then I'd agree with you.

On 8/27/2023 at 12:18 AM, janrichmond said:

I don't think it'd make any difference to the general audience numbers. I love the AFD 5 but it's too late now, they're older and we're older. I've never seen GNR with Steven and tbh I doubt if I'd go to see them again with or without him.

 

This made me sad to read, but then realised, I'm most likely in the exact same position. I think the only potential changes to get me back to seeing GNR is a much small venue tour (arena tour - and closer to home, not London as per), or Izzy AND Steven back. 

As for the general ticket buying population's interest in Izzy & Steven - no one cares enough to make a decision on a ticket because of those guys. It's only the hardcore fanbase that does. As someone said earlier in the thread - Axl and Slash are what 90% of the audience cares about. Who the fuck cares about a rhythm section anyway  (JOKING!)

Axl, and the band, probably just liked how it sounded. I guess there would have been mixes with and without and they went with that mix that had it in. I really can't see there being much more to it than that.

8 hours ago, Tom2112 said:

There's nothing really on Chinese that sounds like a first take, spur of the moment solos... It's all so orchestrated and edited together. Very much thought out solos,even the crazy ones in Rhiad/Scraped etc.

I think if he was asked again, he'd have a different answer and might disagree with what he said back then. I don't take that quote all that seriously these days

I didn't mean anything on Chinese was a first take - Chinese was procrastinated over and redone to infinitum, but that's exactly why it doesn't sound like an album of songs that flow. It was done, redone and done again. Which is why the songs, IMO, deviated probably from what they once were. I mean just look at the drumming and solos we have lost along the way (Brian May on Catcher to mention just one). I've thought this since hearing it, so Slash saying it, really just means I agreed with his view (at the time). Don't get me wrong, I love Chinese for what it is. There Was a Time is Top 3 GNR for me. 

Hope that clarifies what I meant?

Let's be fair, this is what you get when songs are made by copy and pasting layers on layers on layers on layers (you get the idea), and what appears to be sloppy mixing or indecision. 

I think what Slash said about "sounded like they were making it up" kinda sums up Chinese as a whole due to the revolving door of musicians and years of tinkering. Many of the songs don't feel like songs now. They feel like parts of songs pinned together. That works on some - not so much on others. And that's pretty much why Slash has struggled to do anything of real significance on Absurd, Hard Skool or Perhaps. Slash has wedged in solos and licks the best he can without having to rewrite half the song. Slash & Duff probably did a handful of takes, sent them off and let Axl and whoever else procrastinate for months and then rush to put something out.

That all might sound negative, but it's just my summary what I feel has happened. I'm glad we have the songs. I like them - especially Hard Skool. Perhaps is very cool too. But I would have loved to hear the originals, as they were intended, and have this incarnation of GNR doing their own thing. 

21 hours ago, CaioAKR said:

The hilarious part is, if a version of those tracks with AI vocals gets enough traction, it might mobilize Axl to release the real thing. lol

The only thing it'll mobilise are his lawyers...sadly.

19 hours ago, Skamos66 said:

I have a document i've made with all the requests from youtube comments, here, etc. I'll try to get to them eventually im just focused on the CD2 Project at the moment.

Appreciate that dude. Good luck with the the projects.

5 hours ago, rumandraisin said:

Bucket was never involved with the AFD rerecording. It was prior to him joining, late 98 to early 99 with Axl laying vox down in that brief period in the second half of 99 that a big percentage of his vox come from. 

Ahh I see. I wasn't sure of full timeline the alleged rerecording. That's a huge shame, but it isn't like we would be sampling studio versions, they would be generated (in theory).

AI commands and the software producing this stuff blows my mind. It's an incredible skill in itself. Obviously a very contentious skill if used in a dubious way. We definitely seeing some boundaries crossed.

@Skamos66 - Slightly off topic, and fuck knows how you would do it, or if it's even remotely possible, but I'd love to hear an AI take on the SCOM Big Daddy rerecorded 2nd half applied to the 1st. So, essentially re-record SCOM in the style of the Big Daddy studio parts. Hell, could you possibly even reimagine AFD using AI to generate the mythical rerecorded 00's version? I'd die a happy man to hear a full studio version of Nightrain with Bucket's live solo...

Maybe I'm off in fantasy land...?

1 minute ago, chris3535 said:

Super Bummed out im not seeing them live again, im guessing after this week they wont be in the UK again, is this kind of a farewell tour?

I think they'll be back. I suspect an arena tour at some point. Or maybe just a few dates at the O2. That will piss me off, but I'll still trek to London to see them in a smaller setting. I can't see them not coming around again - even if it's a couple of years away. Whether it'll be worth seeing at that point is anyone's guess! 

So, hands up...I was one of those who feared for Axl's voice when this show was announced. And while I'm sure it could have been a total car crash, Axl and the band made me, and many others, eat our words. Maybe the trip Columbia worked some magic.

Yes, Axl hit Mickey at times. Yes, there were 'questionable' drops in Axl's mic levels (at times when Axl's voice probably would have struggled. Coincidence? Probably not), but...BUT...the vast majority of his vocals were fantastic by the standards of the last 20yrs. As someone who doesn't really watch too many recent live videos, especially if I'm taking in a show on a current tour (I won't even look at the setlist), this is the best I've heard Axl for years. This is absolutely the best we could have hoped for. Setlist was pretty cool too. I LOVE they did Absurd when it would have been so, so easy to drop it. A big FUCK YOU to those who think Axl doesn't have any edge left.

Slash was superb. He's been guilty of going through the motions at times, and being a little sloppy, but even Chinese sounded banging. My other half noticed Slash drooling. Hope he wasn't out of it. But wherever the fuck he was, he sounded amazing. 

I'm still glad I didn't get tickets for Hyde Park or Glasgow because of the type of shows they are, I'd be all over an arena tour. 

The band nailed it. Well done GNR.

6 minutes ago, Stay.Of.Execution said:

They're leaving for Glasgow tomorrow afternoon. Possible they'll be at the site today. There was an insta story from Vanessa earlier that showed Axl being at the venue I think (it's in the unofficial social Media thread)

You have to assume that Axl would love to see Elton's UK Swan Song. 

6 minutes ago, Lio said:

That's too bad. Same as Belgium then. Very odd that now the forum seems positive, the reviews seem worse than ever. I often thought in the past the press was quite mild, while the forum was very harsh. Now it seems to be the other way around.

The novelty has gone now. They've been round the world a couple of times now and the setlist, while it's somewhat changed up with some deep cuts, not many casual fans really care to hear these songs. If Axl isn't ripping through the popular singles every night, it's gonna wear thin for most. I suspect this is why they've done more festivals this year, they suspected some of the large venues, especially open air, might not sell amazingly well. This is the first tour since 2002 I haven't gone to at least one show. I've never been one to really watch videos of shows, especially if I'm attending a show in the current tour, but what I have heard is hit and miss at best. It's just that we've come to expect that.

59 minutes ago, ShadowOfTheWave said:

I think ITW is fantastic but it's obviously not everyone's cup of tea.

I agree, If The World is brilliant. I'm a huge fan. 3rd or 4th favourite track on CD for me. But then again, I can't stand November Rain. So perhaps I'm not the best judge of these things ha! 

What I will say, is, IMO, the locker leaks will almost certainly suffer by having Slash and Duff do their bits over the likes of Bucket et al. I mean, I'm cool with that so long as we get the music. But I'll always wonder how the original would have sound - if it was ever even finished with the line up around that time. The reworked Absurd was improved. However, the reworked Hardskool was a disappointment. I hope there's a longer version with the original intro on any EP we might get. That said, I still think it's a great track.

16 minutes ago, D4NNY said:

Guns covered Sweet Emotion?! 

I'm kinda turned on right now...

I'll probably wonder how much better it would have been with Finck & Bucket on it.

On 6/3/2023 at 6:40 PM, Ratam said:

Maybe i Colombian clinic help he too.

If it's possible, I'd definitely say it's likely. However, remember when he walked with a cane - I'd suggest it's probably more related to that. A lot of athletes are seeing great results with stem cell treatment. Who knows, it might be both. It isn't uncommon for athletes to have treatment on several joints.

Well, I've just caught up on this and it's great to see that the band looks like they're back out and mean business. Axl definitely looks prepared and in better health than he has for years. Great setlist - especially for those who are more than casual fans. I can't bring myself to say Axl sounds great, but he definitely doesn't sound awful and it's a marked improvement on what we've seen. This is as good as it gets these days. Let's hope now for some new music being drip fed out like they did with Silkworms/Absurd and Hardskool, but hopefully it's more than just a couple of songs.

1 hour ago, Spoon87 said:

I increasingly get the impression that they all don't really care at all. They're all individuals who share a common past and happen to be in a kind of financial endeavour again, but apart from sharing a stage a few nights each year, rubbing shoulders and acting like it's the most rock n roll, punk as fuck thing to do, they go seperate ways, so I'd be surprised they keep each other in the loop with everything they do, exceptions would be things like Duff recording and playing with Iggy, so he invites Slash over for some good punk vibes.

Exactly this. We all think they care as much as we do. Invariably, they don't. GNR is a cash cow and they rehearse, tour, pick up the cash and then get on with their lives when they're not touring - that is all very likely to be completely separate from each other, apart from a text or call here and there, which is probably about something to do with the 'business' aka GNR. It's like thinking company directors hang out with each other because they happen to run a business together. They might have once upon a time, in the early days, but now they all have their own lives.

1 hour ago, smokingarthur said:

What would be the result of them returning? Returning to what? Axl’s diminished vocal abilities and Slash’s slop? That old band during the hunger era is long long gone. Never to return.

tbh, it's the only way they'll get any more of my cash - aside from perhaps seeing them in a much smaller setting - which I just don't see them wanting to do. I won't pay another penny to see them in a stadium that I have to travel hours to see and drop a load of cash on in the process - for exactly the reasons you've mentioned. 

On 12/3/2022 at 10:01 PM, VampireSoul said:

I'm in the minority but I couldn't care less if they come back or not 

I'd say a tiny minority and probably not old enough to remember the OG line up? (that isn't a dig btw, just an assumption). 

I think for most, it's the pure nostalgia of the original line up - taking them back to their youth - while clinging on to the minuscule hope that somehow, if it was the AFD 5, the magic would somehow return. Ultimately, it will end the same way as the threeunion I guess. But I'd love to see it. 

9 hours ago, bumcheecksmcghee said:

Nope

Unless the bucket an finck are playing it live.. just nope..

Great song, but slash will butcher it

Sadly, the whole band would butcher it, especially Axl.

3 hours ago, Spaghetti4twenty said:

Goes to show that it’s near impossible to take a Nu-GNR song and make it truly sound like a Slash gnr song. I do appreciate a lot of things about the new Hardskool but overall it is hard to stump the Nu gnr version for me. Love or hate em, they were seriously talented 

I think that's a very fair statement. Just hoped Slash could do to Hardskool what Bucket did to the Nightrain solo - which was sublime IMO.