LesPaul_Player_91

We got Better

Awsome! My favourite song off CD. Hoping they play it in Birmingham.

Same 'ol setlist then.

November Rain

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Nightrain

Madagascar (maybe)

Paradise City

blahhh

We almost got Better at Reading

Each time I hear the ballad of death it makes me hope for someday to hear a longer version of it or a version made into a song with guns n roses.

Or at least a studio version. been learning it on guitar today.

My last words off-topic in this thread: Stating and agreeing that Slash could be replaced in GNR with another guitar player whereas Axl could not be replaced by another singer, does not count as dissing. Not in my eyes, at least.

It is a proven fact, it has been done - with the resulting sound being unmistakingly GNR. However, without Axl's unique voice it would always sound like a cover, even with all the other AFD line-up members playing as a band again. (I am open for proof of the opposite.)

Axl, please tweet something today, so we have some new topic-related material in this thread, will you?

I'd have to say I agree whilst Slash and Myles at Download were awsome, Myles just isn't Axl however I preferred him singing GN'R stuff to VR stuff as Scott has such a unique voice. At the end of the day its down to personal preference.

HAHAHAHAHAHA..... GREAT avatar LesPaul_Player!!! I just noticed that you have the picture with Axl and the megaphone. Classic!

Thanks. Was a truly awsome moment!

I will never understand how people call themselves Guns N' Roses fans that diss Slash/Axl/Duff/Izzy/Steven/Sorum/Stinson/Fortus/Bumblefoot/Ashba/Brain/Dizzy/Frank/Pittman/Buckethead all the time.

People really takes sides in this?! The way it SHOULD be is that whoever was or is in Guns N' Roses past or present should be well liked and RESPECTED.

I support this band NO MATTER WHAT, and I support Axl NO MATTER WHAT, but to the people that say stupid crap like "Slash was/is just another guitar player", "Slash who", "Slash had no pressence or aura", "Axl ruined everything", Axl Rose is to blame for everything", "Axl owes me wah wah wah", "Steven is a drug addict (which is true, but he has tried damn hard to clean up his act) that was subpar", then these kind of people have the audacity to slag the new band/lineup. "DJ looks like a freak", "Fortus/Bumblerfoot/Ashba don't come close to what Slash was/is", "Brain, and Frank's drumming is better than those other two nobodies ever was".

People, do any or some of you (is becoming most now) ever listen to yourselves talk or read what you type?!

This is Guns N' F'N Roses, and people shouldn't be spending their time taking sides or slagging the new band. People should be supporting Axl, or the band NO MATTER WHAT, or no matter what the lineup is.

These people are becoming parasites, and i'm not gonna say they're not true Guns N' Roses fans, because i'm sure everybody has a passion for this GREAT band past or present lineup, and that wouldn't be fair. But the ones that take sides, say stupid outlandish things, diss past or current members, and slag the new band, I seriously laugh at these people, and wonder to myself how they could call themselves Guns N' Roses fans. Again, i'm not questioning their passion, but I am wondering how that can call themselves fans at this point.

I support Axl, whatever he wants to do, or no matter what the lineup is because this is the GREATEST and the BEST band i've ever heard/seen, NO MATTER WHAT. I would still support the band or Axl even if they came on 2 hours late, and there was a riot all at the same show I was at and STILL go to the next Guns N' Roses show the next time they're in town. Because I understand, and i'm sure i'm not alone, that that's the deal with Guns N' Roses. I understand that things don't always go according to plan with Axl or the band. Take it or leave it.

I'm more in the middle, and I certainly don't take sides, although I lean towards more Axl's side, and think Slash has become a media whore (because it's true), but I will never diss him, throw insults, at him for no reason out of nowhere, or at any past or current member. The guy was in Guns N' Roses of course, and is one of the GREATEST GNR members and guitarists EVER! I most certainly will never diss Axl. Because all these people/musicians were or are in Guns N' Roses!!! My or our favorite band! It's time to start acting like it is to a lot on this board or GNR community. I'm not saying you shouldn't be able to disagree, criticize, one of them when something goes haywire. I'm just saying people should support tjhis band no matter what, no matter who the members are, and no matter if Slash is in the band or not.

As far as people not wanting a reunion goes, I laugh at those people too, because I think we know that if there ever was a reunion, most of them would be the first in line to buy tickets. Would I love a reunion? Of course! But until then, I wont be holding my breath on it, or banking on it. It's all up to Axl. He does own the name afterall. He could do what he wants. Of course people just like to forget that fact. Until then, I and most other people will be SUPPORTING Axl, and the band, Guns N' Roses, as much as I/we can. It's certainly better than 99% of the music out today or now. What are you gonna listen to? That POP crap?, Rap/Hip Pop (it's no longer Hip Hop as I used to like Rap, or like anything old school). You're certainly not gonna be listening to any EMO CRAP.

Anyway, just enjoy the band, Guns N' F'N Roses, that you love. You're a GNR fan, just act like it, that's all! (ok, I so totally ripped that off from Axl's One In A Million rant from L.A. from 1989, "your'e in america, just act like it that's all! LOL".

To those going to see the band tonight, or in the future, have a good time! There's no other better concert to go to. Now if GNR would just come back to New York, and tour the states. I will DEFINITELY be getting my tickets the next time they do.

+1

I do however say on the subject of a reunion that, sure I'd be the first to buy tickets, (if they play the UK) but I still maintain that you'll see a better performance out of the current band. Why? Too much has been said and done by different parties. Take Pink Floyd for example. Their Live 8 show was great but you can see the awkwardness on stage. After that I saw Gilmour and Waters live and on their 'solo' tours (I say 'solo' because Gilmour toured with Rick Wright and Waters had Nick Mason guest) they seemed far more into it and having a better time.

Now, if Gilmour and Waters can set aside their differences there's hope for a GN'R reunion but I doubt it would be a tour, it would be like the Floyd show - a few songs at a big event.

IMO because of all that's been said and done over the years if old GN'R get back together the great vibe they had won't be there. There certainly won't be interaction between Slash and Axl like there is between Ashba and Axl.

I really hope they show past Nightrain they probably won't of course but it would be cool to have this great bit of rock history pro shot! I mean the footage must exist. Unless of course when the speakers got cut so did the cameras.

Of course the Slash fans are in here moaning about DJ Since when are piercings gay? If I'm not mistakes Slash has a belly botton piercing! You really wanna get into this?!

And about looking like Slash, what? DJ had his style and hat before he even got in GnR.

DJ stood up for Axl, he did the right thing imo. And how do you know the promoter didn't have a grudge against them? He can't be lying? But you're so quick to think that DJ and Axl are lying? Give me a break. DJ has nothing to be embaressed about, he's a great guitarist and a really cool person who truly cares about the fans.

Maybe it's just me, but everyone I've known with a piercing like his have been an over emotional emo chick. That, and DJ looks like he would be covered in a very fine mucus layer.

Take a joke people

So you're judging him based on a piercing? That's mature and openminded.

I only like funny jokes

I'm judging his appearance by his piercing, and his tats, and his hair...Which is generally what you judge someones appearance on.

As a guitarist, imo he's meh. I wouldn't know as a person.

He still reminds me of an earthworm

You just mad cuz he plays in Guns N' Roses AND he is better than Slash.

DREAM ON MUTHAFUCKER DONT MAKE ME LAUGH LMGDFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!No matter how u butter up nugnr it will NEVER be the same as old gnr with slash and duff and izzy.Im not saying nugnr is bad cuz i actually love CD but to say Ashba is better than Slash u gotta be tonedeaf mate.He cant play Slashs solos well or even Robins hes a fucking overated poser who cares more about wot he looks like than his actual guitar playing.The guy NEEDS lessons.He aint got 1% of the feel in his playing that Slash has thats my opinion and u know im right

Dude forget your OMGZ SLA$H RULZ attitude and listen to the music. The new band sounds 10 times better than old guns. You know what? i'll throw this at you: OLD GN'R SOUNDED LIKE SHIT LIVE.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, Slash has been playing the same old pentonics scales all these years LOLLLLLL

You're both retards!

Come on, as guitar players and appreciaters, it's beyond me that you have to burry one guitarist in favour of another. All the guitarists that GNR had/has were/are fucking GREAT. Slash rules and is of course the best that GNR ever had, DJ rules and is a better showman than Slash, Finck rules and helped making awesome solos on CD, Buckethead is a monster, come on stop this meaningless war, GNR is the BEST band ever in terms of guitarists, no other bands has had as many talented guitarists.

End of.

You make a alot of sense. But out of all the great guitarists that band has had, cancer boy has contributed the least to the band. Robin was a member much longer than he was. The whole band has been GN'R longer than the original line-up.

And if CD is four albums long as Bach said then that's more original material he contributed as well album wise. [Lies was an EP and The Spaghetti Incident was a covers album)

Thx LesPaul_Player_91

I heard some more, if I'm correct

so it would go like this:

"You want some more music or not? Because every time we come play, like we played Leeds before there's fucking piece of shit going in the organization .....always ruins the show. Am I right? You want couple more songs? No? You can't tell..."

and a minute later power is cut off, maybe this rant was the last straw? They were late, promoters were already pissed off, and then Axl

told the crowd what he thinks about the organizers. It was too much. What do u think?

We couldn't hear (or at least where I was) what Axl was saying. They pulled the plug after Nightrain so all I could see was him speaking into a mic. I thought he was joking around but then I figured they pulled the plug. From what I gather looking at the videos the big speakers and the festival sound system were turned off but GN'R's amps weren't. So they obviously thought everyone could hear them at first. And if you look at the Paradise City footage taken from people standing on the stage you can hear Ashba's distorted guitar. Of course with an audience that big/loud and being a bit of a distance from the stage even in the front row not many people (if any) would have heard them.

anyone Know wether this will be leeds or reading? Im Hoping leeds, cos it was a better and smoother show, and i would expect it to be because there were no major problems.

I think most (if not all) of the other footage has been Reading, but I could easily be wrong about that. It certainly would make sense to show Leeds considering there weren't any major problems.

Do the BBC even record Leeds though?

"You want some more music or not? Because every time we come play........some fucking piece of shit.....always pulls the show. You want another song?"

Dots are for what I can't make out. The thing is I don't know whether Axl was mad at the promoter or some of the audience or the promoter so the 'fucking piece of shit' could refer to an audience member or the promoter.

Ashba was pretty much escorted out! Security were none too happy with him .

Ugh, they're the guys who had that rooftops song I hate.

Edit: Oh god, speaking of a joke check this out

Haha, that SCOM was the shittiest one I have ever heard.

You didn't hear the one they did at Reading Lostprophets are nothing compared to GN'R.

Must really piss off the guys in the band, they do a great show, give 200% and the press and other people do nothing but slag them off.

Who are these guys?

Short answer: utter shite

Worst band I've ever seen, only was watching them so I'd get a good spot for GN'R. They did a truly horrific cover of Sweet Child which of course all the indie kids loved. They should have left it to the professionals!

I notice in that video they said :"If I were a proper GN'R fan I would have been gutted having spent all that money." Well let me tell you it was worth every damn penny. I mean the gig and hotel cost me over a hundred quid but it was sure as hell the best show I've seen.

Of course the Slash fans are in here moaning about DJ Since when are piercings gay? If I'm not mistakes Slash has a belly botton piercing! You really wanna get into this?!

And about looking like Slash, what? DJ had his style and hat before he even got in GnR.

DJ stood up for Axl, he did the right thing imo. And how do you know the promoter didn't have a grudge against them? He can't be lying? But you're so quick to think that DJ and Axl are lying? Give me a break. DJ has nothing to be embaressed about, he's a great guitarist and a really cool person who truly cares about the fans.

Maybe it's just me, but everyone I've known with a piercing like his have been an over emotional emo chick. That, and DJ looks like he would be covered in a very fine mucus layer.

Take a joke people

So you're judging him based on a piercing? That's mature and openminded.

I only like funny jokes

I'm judging his appearance by his piercing, and his tats, and his hair...Which is generally what you judge someones appearance on.

As a guitarist, imo he's meh. I wouldn't know as a person.

He still reminds me of an earthworm

You just mad cuz he plays in Guns N' Roses AND he is better than Slash.

DREAM ON MUTHAFUCKER DONT MAKE ME LAUGH LMGDFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!No matter how u butter up nugnr it will NEVER be the same as old gnr with slash and duff and izzy.Im not saying nugnr is bad cuz i actually love CD but to say Ashba is better than Slash u gotta be tonedeaf mate.He cant play Slashs solos well or even Robins hes a fucking overated poser who cares more about wot he looks like than his actual guitar playing.The guy NEEDS lessons.He aint got 1% of the feel in his playing that Slash has thats my opinion and u know im right

Dude forget your OMGZ SLA$H RULZ attitude and listen to the music. The new band sounds 10 times better than old guns. You know what? i'll throw this at you: OLD GN'R SOUNDED LIKE SHIT LIVE.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, Slash has been playing the same old pentonics scales all these years LOLLLLLL

:xmasssanta: You're both retards!

Come on, as guitar players and appreciaters, it's beyond me that you have to burry one guitarist in favour of another. All the guitarists that GNR had/has were/are fucking GREAT. Slash rules and is of course the best that GNR ever had, DJ rules and is a better showman than Slash, Finck rules and helped making awesome solos on CD, Buckethead is a monster, come on stop this meaningless war, GNR is the BEST band ever in terms of guitarists, no other bands has had as many talented guitarists.

End of.

Amen

Ashba is awsome, listen the Sixx AM record. And he is one of the best showmen around. Him and Axl make a great double act. DJ joining is one of the best things that has happened to GN'R.

Melvin Benn is a decent bloke and I think there's been a bit of mis-communication going on. He doesn't really deserve any shit from Axl, as entertaining as that was last night.

Colin Murray made a bit of a dick of himself though. Trying to get Benn to say that Axl's behaviour would lead to higher ticket prices for fans, and essentially calling Benn a liar because he didn't toe the media line about the shows being a disaster/everyone leaving ect.

I like Colin aswell, but he let his own opinions get in the way of actual reporting there.

I like Colin too, he's a Liverpool fan! But saying Axl's skin looks bad and he looks like Mickey Rourke etc made him look really stupid. I think he formed his opinion from the gutter press.

Unfortunately it seems bashing Axl and GN'R is now what's seen as cool. In fact saying you like the new band is pretty odd. Everybody I know still says 'but they're not really GN'R etc and seems surprised when I say 'who cares? They're still great musicians.'. Saying the new band is good just isn't done for some reason.

It's also interesting to see that this negativity doesn't also resonate as loudly in regard to The Smashing Pumpkins of whom Billy is the only original member. Reviews of the shows have been far more positive than those of GN'R shows. I know the lateness is also an issue but at the end of the day that should be a throwaway line in a review and should focus on the music and the show!

I also find it interesting that Classic Rock Magazine once were hugely supportive of GN'R (even naming Chinese Democracy album of the year in 2007 based on the leaks) and now as shown by the Sweden Rock review have changed their tune. It's also interesting that they were promoting Slash's album and selling an exclusive version of it earlier with a magazine in newsagents. Maybe they feel they can't be nice about GN'R if they're promoting Slash's stuff which is stupid IMO.

If they do review Reading/Leeds I'll be interested in what they say.

ust got home from leeds, amazing show! Poor Festival!

Firstly this is my 5th gnr show and 2nd of the 2010 tour, this performance was outstanding. I was in Helsinki earlier this year and they were just as tight and appeared to be enjoying themselves on stage.

Axls voice was spot on. Album perfect. Far superior to 2006/2007 in my opinion.

We stood at the front, 10m or so from the barriers. The crowd was extremely mixed, lots of gnr fans and lots of little 16-18 year old pricks with little or no interest in doing anything other than causing shit. I have never experienced mosh pits before during sweet child of mine! They really pissed me off tbh. (during the whole festival and the show)

Crowd started getting restless after about 15 mins of waiting, pricks around us chanting who the fuck is axl rose, we want slash etc.. booing... the usual shit! There was a lot more of it than at the other 4 gigs i've been to.

As for the band coming on late, the stage was not completely set up until at least 9:20. The band came on at 9:30. This isn't fucking late! GNR has a complicated stage set up never mind just the tuning of instruments etc...of course it is going to take nearly an hour to get things going. QOTSA were done just before half 8.

CD went down well but Jungle made the place go fucking mental, mosh pits crowd surfing etc... mental. After the first few songs all the haters that were chanting slash etc had shut the fuck up and were well into it for the entire gig.

The sound mix was better than the Helsinki show this year, Axls voice appeared higher up in the mix but this may have been just where i was standing. My mates were stood half way back in the arena and said the sound was great.

All the hits were well received, the crowd went mad for kohd, scom, ycbm, rocket queen, nr etc..... the new songs were also very well received. The solos also went down well but they do slow the pace of the show which some people find annoying, especially when time is an issue.

Axl had some serious energy throughout the show, running back and forth like a 20 year old. Vocals were awesome! Dj really is a star, the man is all over the place, loved the climbing of the stage rigging during PC. Ron tried to say something to the crowd before and after his solo but the mic did not work. Tommy looked very drunk! Frank is a real character and the crowd loved him, the coolest mofo in the band apart from axl of course!

Loved Axls rant at the end prior to the encore and after PC. The crowd were chanting we want more and booing the promoters both after Nightrain and PC. The show really did go down very well even with the idiots at the front chanting for slash etc at the beginning.

I didn't hear or speak to anyone last night or this morning that didn't enjoy it.

The arena was very busy for guns, busier than for QOTSA.

Overall an excellent GNR show, great atmosphere and a full set apart from short encore due to time restraints. AXL and the band were on top form. Anyone who did not enjoy the show was never going to, they must have a serious grudge against axl and quite frankly should not bother to watch if they hate him so much!

So far i haven't read a good review which is no surprise to me! The press in the UK are totally biased and literally are guilty of false reporting. Unfortunately most of the people who write and review music do not appreciate old school rock. The headline on radio 1 was Guns N Roses forced to end show early again because they went on late. The times reporter claims the reading show was the worst headline act he has ever seen. Due to this false reporting people seriously misjudge Guns N Roses and AXL. Fuck them, 10/20 thousand people at the front chanting for more is a good enough review for me, strange how they didn't hear that. There was literally nothing bad you can say about last nights show. I can understand some people being negative about Reading but certainly not leeds. My Wife and my friends girlfriend both thought GNR were the best act of the weekend and Axl the most impressive frontman, this is coming from 2 people that were more excited about Dizzy Rascal.

Due to the false reporting some people i spoke to on sat / sun at leeds actually thought axl only played 10 minutes at reading then walked off. Total nonsense.

Out of the 5 shows i have seen this one was certainly in my top 2 along with Rio Lisbon 06. To be honest i haven't seen a bad GNR show, they are all great. But i will always remember this one due to the Reading issue and wondering if they would or wouldn't turn up etc! Then pulling off an awesome show with a big Fuck You to the promoters and cops, Axl is the man! This was a proper Guns show! This was proper rock and roll and what this band was and is all about.

In my eyes after this weekend, they have absolutely proven they are still the most unpredictable, dangerous but fucking awesome band in the world and will go down in history as such.

A quick note about the festival itself. I was there for 4 days, it was not for me. I've done download and various other 1 day festivals in numerous countries over the years and this was not for me. Mainly due to the crowd it attracts, out of the 60k plus people i'd say 30k were between 16 and 18. They were mental, to the point of being unpleasant. I've never seen so many people in a mess and acting like total wankers in my life. I'm a big drinker, we got through some serious booze this weekend and had a great time but the behaviour of some of these people started to bother me big time after a few days. just to anyone thinking of going to reading or leeds in the future, bare this in mind before going. The tent burning and general idiots were out of control last night. Thankfully the marshals etc were pretty spot on, they needed to be!

The other acts: blink were entertaining! Limp Bizkit was good, QOTSA poor, very dull band live. Biffy clyro attracted a big crowd but are not really my thing. Pendulum were good, like a modern prodigy! Enter shikari were better than i thought. Paramore were disappointing, an extremely dry performance.

Right, off to read more negative reviews of another awesome GNR show!

edit: forgot to comment on the curfew issue. Thursday to Sunday every night the festival has a massive party with huge bass blaring until THE EARLY EARLY hours of the morning. They also have DJ tents around the camp sites that are fucking loud, again with huge levels of bass. I can't imagine why they are allowed to have these organised parties etc and for the smaller stages to continue playing sets way beyond the main headliners curfew, it just does not make much sense to me. Leeds really is in the middle of fields miles from anywhere. Reading is a little different. I general, i find it strange that we have curfews prior to midnight at a rock festival. Sums up a lot of what is wrong with the UK today!

+1

Download this year had a much nicer vibe and the people that went were really, really into music! At Reading it seemed as though people were moshing for the sake of it and at a Slayer or any other thrash gig I can understand it but for Lostprophets!? People also seemed to have no respect for one another. At Download if there's moshing people will look out for you and when Rage Against The Machine played this year it was completely mental but the vibe was great.

In my experience people go to Reading/Leeds for the sake of it and just to get away from home/parents and get wasted. I was quite surprised when it was announced GN'R would be playing as I see them as more a Download (although maybe not after '06) or Sonisphere band.

It's also funny that the people who are most vocal in regards to "where's Slash" etc. are around my age who weren't even old enough to know that much about GN'R back in the day anyway. I didn't get into Guns until around 2003/4. Also, at Reading those types were the ones who only knew Paradise City, Sweet Child, November Rain and Jungle so they're not huge GN'R fans anyway.

I was the only texter he read out, he had the promoter on the phone who bashed Axl a bit but still insisted it was a great show.

I thought the promoter was almost too kind too Axl, it would have been so easy to slag him of big time, but credit to him he didn't

I think if anyone's to blame its the city councils not the promoter. He could not have booked GN'R after '02 and even said he'd book them after the drama this year and the craziness about other music being allowed but not the main stage is in the licence. Which again is due to the council.

Now, for my money I'd say the festival won't get cancelled due to curfew breaking as it brings so much money to the areas but I could see why the promoter didn't want to gamble. After all English local government is insane!

And at the end of the day GN'R could have come on stage on time. That's the sad truth. I personally think the curfews are pretty pointless but the fact remains Axl knew the restrictions and was late anyway. There may of course have been a technical hitch up, which is always likely with a stage set that big.

'just letting everyone in the uk know guns will be shown on friday(via the red button) the whole set'

that came from htgth.

Great news!

Dunno about GN'R but when I go to big standing gigs in arenas I usually take some water, some food like some cereal bars or something in case I get hungry.

I usually turn up around an hour before doors open.

This presenter is a douche.

I think Axl should phone in. Would give them quite a shock!

Some people will have made up their minds beforehand. 2010 looks way better than 02 in terms of the show

Really? I haven't seen this version of the band yet live (seeing them in October) but judging by yesterday I'd say Axl sounded a lot better in 06. Was this just an off night for him? Admittedly in some parts he sounded awesome but overall thought he was weak and shaky.

I'd agree vocals wise he was better in '06 but the band as a whole is a lot better now. I think that's in part due to DJ replacing Finck. Now don't get me wrong I'm a huge Finck fan I loved the stuff he did on CD and played a major part in shaping how good it sounded. But, DJ has huge stage presence and can play the old GN'R stuff a lot better. I think someone said on another thread that Finck would be awsome if they played mainly new material with a couple of the old songs but the point is they don't. I agree with this and I'll take Ashba over Finck live any day. Also Ashba gels will the whole band. Putting Ashba in the band was the spark this band needed.

Not even close! Axl in 06 was good, but Axl this tour is on a whole different level. 2006 Axl had his moments of power, but he is killing almost every song in 2010. The 2006 versions of You Could Be Mine and Paradise City weren't nearly as good as they are now, because he has brought the power back to the songs. I've seen stuff from almost every show in 2006(Saw them live 3 times) and 2009/2010, and without a doubt he is much better now.

I'd say at Reading he was on fire and better than a lot of the '06 shows although the Rock AM Ring show from '06 I think is his best vocal performance. The thing with vocals is however that generally they're the hardest thing to get spot on live. If a guitar player has a cold/sore throat etc. it doesn't effect his playing greatly but for a singer it does, that's the thing with live performance.

Don't get me wrong. I was pretty into the 2006 shows, especially seeing them live. I saw him in Vegas in 2006 and he was in pretty top form there. I just find that he's got his power and rasp almost fully back. To get back on that level at his current age is really impressive. He sings This I love to perfection live, and it completely kills the album version live in my opinion.

I think a lot of it has to do with when on the tour and how warmed up they are. Towards the end of the 2006 tour in Los Angeles they were really on fire. The South American tour this tour he was singing amazing. Hearing him sing parts of Don't Cry he was singing it like it was the 90's again. Sometimes it blows my mind seeing what he came from in 2001/2002 to what he is doing now.

I haven't seen one review yet by someone who obviously didn't have a vendetta against them though, so I guess it's not so bad. One critic even flat out said they Axl shit on him in his review, so I don't think you can take him too serious. These are the same kind of people who give rave reviews to bands who are friendly, and aren't nearly as good as GNR is live. Bands like AC/DC and Motley Crue. It's a total joke if you ask me.

+1

I think now that Michael Jackson is gone Axl has taken his place in terms of who the music press dislike the most. A lot of the press said MJ's performance in the This Is It film was terrible when in fact it was fantastic and all the people I know who saw the film say the same. Same with Axl at Reading/Leeds.

Some people will have made up their minds beforehand. 2010 looks way better than 02 in terms of the show

Really? I haven't seen this version of the band yet live (seeing them in October) but judging by yesterday I'd say Axl sounded a lot better in 06. Was this just an off night for him? Admittedly in some parts he sounded awesome but overall thought he was weak and shaky.

I'd agree vocals wise he was better in '06 but the band as a whole is a lot better now. I think that's in part due to DJ replacing Finck. Now don't get me wrong I'm a huge Finck fan I loved the stuff he did on CD and played a major part in shaping how good it sounded. But, DJ has huge stage presence and can play the old GN'R stuff a lot better. I think someone said on another thread that Finck would be awsome if they played mainly new material with a couple of the old songs but the point is they don't. I agree with this and I'll take Ashba over Finck live any day. Also Ashba gels will the whole band. Putting Ashba in the band was the spark this band needed.

Not even close! Axl in 06 was good, but Axl this tour is on a whole different level. 2006 Axl had his moments of power, but he is killing almost every song in 2010. The 2006 versions of You Could Be Mine and Paradise City weren't nearly as good as they are now, because he has brought the power back to the songs. I've seen stuff from almost every show in 2006(Saw them live 3 times) and 2009/2010, and without a doubt he is much better now.

I'd say at Reading he was on fire and better than a lot of the '06 shows although the Rock AM Ring show from '06 I think is his best vocal performance. The thing with vocals is however that generally they're the hardest thing to get spot on live. If a guitar player has a cold/sore throat etc. it doesn't effect his playing greatly but for a singer it does, that's the thing with live performance.