ARX77

Beyond his voice being off that night... it was clear Axl was out of shape physically and vocally. It was disappointing to see and I wondered why when the stage was so big does Axl come up short? Why not be mentally, physically and vocally prepared for such a huge event? It honestly looked like he sat on his ass for a year and did nothing.

I'm by no means a vocal expert but it seems to me that Axl was singing an octave lower in 2010 than he is now. I know he was definitely raspier back then than now but it also seems to me that he is singing very high pitched. I let a friend of mine which is just a casual GNR fan listen to Rocket Queen from the Malaysia show and he said Axl sounded fine just high pitched - Then I played Rocket Queen from Philly and he said that sounded more like classic Axl.

Also, does it make a difference to your enjoyment(more crazy fans is more enjoyable, or maybe fewer the better)?

Do GNR play as hard/energetic if there are few people?

Most was Toronto 20K... least at an arena was Jacksonville, FL 2006... only about 400 floor tix were sold and about 2K in the seats. Tickets were given away day of show so that increased the attendance some-what. Close 2nd would probably be Grenville, SC in 2011 I would say about 5 to 6 K were at that show. The attendance of the Jacksonville show I would say definitely effected the show, we didnt get an encore... they just went straight info PC... The Greenville show seemed great to me and Axl was in a great mood. A cool fact both Greenville and Jacksonville were on Halloween

Wow, would suck to other people who paid for the tickets. lol. And how weird was it when floor seats wasnt full?

Yeah it did suck I bought four tickets so I was a little ticked but would rather the promoter give tickets away and have a show than not have the show. That's was the first time I saw GnR. Floor was pretty empty so it was easy to be very close could feel the heat from the pyro. The show was good and all the people I went w/ loved it but it was odd the place being so empty. When Axl threw his mic he threw to the side seats instead of the floor.

Also, does it make a difference to your enjoyment(more crazy fans is more enjoyable, or maybe fewer the better)?

Do GNR play as hard/energetic if there are few people?

Most was Toronto 20K... least at an arena was Jacksonville, FL 2006... only about 400 floor tix were sold and about 2K in the seats. Tickets were given away day of show so that increased the attendance some-what. Close 2nd would probably be Grenville, SC in 2011 I would say about 5 to 6 K were at that show. The attendance of the Jacksonville show I would say definitely effected the show, we didnt get an encore... they just went straight info PC... The Greenville show seemed great to me and Axl was in a great mood. A cool fact both Greenville and Jacksonville were on Halloween

I'm a 2010 nutswinger like anyone else, but he started off that leg sounding like shit, had some shitty shows here and there. Reading wasnt very good, from what I recall. Taiwan and most of Canada wasnt that great, ACCORDING TO MY PERCEPTION, BASED ON YOUTUBE VIDEOS.

Glad to see Axl sound somewhat good this leg. Still lots left to be desired, though.

Btw, that Nice Boys I thought was really good. Yes he's singing higher but he has command of his voice and isnt gasping for breath. Thank God.

Toronto 2010 is the best I've seen/ heard Axl sing

I remember hearing on the radio in the early 2000's that Axl had suffered a botched hair transplant surgery... Then he shows up with the braids... I think he had to have something done because its pretty obvious he had hair braided in... Natural corn rows typically have scalp rows between each braided row... Axl's hair looked glued on.

I think he his hair would be better now if he grew it out a little more. It was longer during the USA tour in 2011... he cut it around the UCAP shows.

In the end his hari hasnt been right since the corn rows, whatever the reason only he knows but one would think with his money he could do a little better

Seriously... Fucken epic... The rasp, power, movement, mannerisms, energy, power, enthusiasm. I find myself watching the 06/07 videos much more than the 2010 videos which most people think is Axl's best since the early 90's. He was fit in 2006/07 too. What you guys reckon? Feel free to post videos, discuss, compare etc.

Singing was maybe a little better or at least consistent in 2010 but Axl was in better physical shape in 2006. I never liked the corm rows so I give a slight nod to 2010

Yes absolutly.

Dizzy was interviewed right as CD was being released and he said he hoped his parts made the album and he got called when it was time to tour. Meaning he no idea or say as to what was happening

At the end of the day this isnt as bad as some are making it out to be... This happens with a lot of notable bands, sometimes ticket sales are slow but people end up showing up the day of the show. GNR will still play to a decent crowd make some decent cash for the promoters and themselves and move on to another market. I just hope Axl is taking this time off to at-least get in shape and work on his voice. I really want to attend the Gov's Ball in NYC but dont see myself making the investment to fly and stay in NYC if Axl sounds like he does now.

I know you've seen this one, but go to the 7:50 mark and hear Corey Taylor tell his story...

From what I could tell Corey was just attending this show, not playing? A lot of the stuff he made fun of Axl for Im sure he gets with Slip Knott when they headline big shows. AC dressing room? Thats the big deal he's making fun of Axl about? Also the stage set up, it is like that for EVERY headliner, I have heard from countless openers that are grateful for the amount of stage space GNR gives them, even allowing them to use the ramps. Also i seriously doubt he dared GNR/ Axl's personal security gaurd to move him. Maybe an event staff person. Makes for a great story but Im sure his tune would change if he were to see Axl. Just my thoughts

I will say this: I have no idea if this story is true or not. I always thought they were late hitting the stage for this show due to the storm and the stage having to be rebuilt and gathering new gear.

Anyway at the Orlando arena show GnR hit the stage at 11:30... they sent out emails prior to the show advising of a later than expected start. Axl was in the air flying to Orlando. I was getting a beer and the bartender heard over the radio the show would start in 30 min Axl had landed and was on his way. Low-and-behold the show started 30 min later. My point is who knows what the truth was/ is fact is Axl likes to come on late, I would like to believe he's not leaving 40K people in SA waiting while he has dinner in another city but who the hell knows. Why fly in the day of the show in Orlando when the rest of the band had been there for a week? Probably because he's Axl Rose and thats the way he rolls

now i cant decide attend Gov's Ball or this?

I worry about their ability to sell tickets in NA. I mean the UCAP was really cool, but after the 2002 Tour, the 2006 Tour, Sporadic US Shows and the 2011-12 Shows can they actually sell out Arenas? Maybe Small theaters could be the way to go.

I'm not trying to rank on them, I'm just worried.

Its all in how you look at it. They will not sell 20K tickets per night in the USA... But they will sell 5-6K in medium markets and 10K plus in large markets. bottom line is will it be profitable for the band and the promoter? My guess is if they book the tour then the answer is yes, other-wise promoters wouldnt line up the shows. IMO the last USA tour seemed to go well, add the UCAP, Vegas residency and now they are headling a huge festival in NYC things are looking up in the USA which in the end could help the record company want to help with a new album. Its all a process

In regards to a new album I see it as a very difficult situation. Take the fact that albums dont sell like they use to and the fact that Axl has recorded a bunch of songs with musicians that are no longer in the band and its the perfect storm for disaster. BBF wants to put out an album of all "new" material (I assume) but in reality thats not likely to happen. the next album will be like CD with a melting pot of musicians and pieced together.

As for the HOF: I think it would have been cool if Axl showed and played with the classic guys... I see no reason why the HOF couldnt have recognized CD as part of GnR's history and allowed a performance of Better with the new guys and SCOM with the classic guys then bring the house down with PC with everyone on stage. Not saying BBF deserved to be inducted but he could have been part of the preformance. Lots of options that were not done, probably due to egos and the HOF wanting to take credit for getting the classic line up together again. Sad really

I think these guys know their place in the band. That is why they all have stuff on the side away from GNR. If u think about it GNR is no different to them than all the other stuff they do, it's just probably their highest paid gig.

Listen to their interviews they say stuff like "touring w/ Guns n Roses" does Lars say I'm going on your w/ Metalica?? Axl is GnR in today's world no one really cares who else is in the band as long as their name isn't Slash, Duff or Izzy.

So to answer your question no I don't think they could force Axl to do anything.

From RIR 2011. I think even Axl was taken back by his voice. U can hear Tommy over the mice at one point saying something like I haven't seen u in a year and I think u sound fucking great.

The main problem w/ Chinese era GnR is you had so many years of nothing and members comming and going w/ no material to show for it. How can one accept a band that barely tours and doesn't release music?? I think the current band is mildly accepted because they finally gotten out there and toured properly. Will see what happens new music wise

Ive recently upgraded my XM to include Howard 101... His show is entertaining, he always seems to have decent guest on his show. Axl would never do it because Howard would bagger him with questions about why doesn't he do reunion tour and make all the cash that comes with it.

I dont think Axl would have an issue discussing the old band I just thing he would also want to discuss current happenings and Im not sure if that would interest Howard.

You have to remember that in 2009-2010 Axl was motivated by the album failing. He called 2008 the worst year of his life.

He probably had a lot to prove to himself.

I would like to believe that Axl isnt mailing it in every night. Although it seems to be there when he wants it there. I cant understand why they chose the O2 show to put on pladia. Cool show w/ Izzy and all but not one of Axl's best vocal performance.

During Dont Cry at one of the Russian shows, Axl talks about some Russian guys asking him why he doesn't sing dont cry anymore with the same powerful rasp like he use too... Axl said he had no idea why he couldnt but then proceeded to sing the end of the song with some pretty good rasp.

That's kind of huge. Any idea which show? Is there a video/bootleg?

I think it's not from Russia, but Dublin:

Yep that is what I was referring to. I thought it was huge as well... at the time I thought it woudl go viral on the message boards but I guess it was overlooked

There is no doubt 2009/ 2010 Axl's voice was on fire... I wish I knew what happened from Abu Dubai to Rio. Rio seemed like Axl sat on his ass and did nothing prior to the show and hoped to just show up and be OK. To me when comparing the years take YCBM from 2010 and YCBM from anytime since 2011 and you'll notice a HUGE difference when it comes to rasp, same for RQ or PC. Songs like Jungle always seem to sound good.

During Dont Cry at one of the Russian shows, Axl talks about some Russian guys asking him why he doesn't sing dont cry anymore with the same powerful rasp like he use too... Axl said he had no idea why he couldnt but then proceeded to sing the end of the song with some pretty good rasp. IMO there is no doubt Axl is not in tip top shape and IMO at the Vegas shows it looked like he his physique was heading south again. Im not saying the guys is still not a great performer but he could do a better job of staying in shape. does that effect his voice, I have no idea. he may need to get back with a vocal coach to get things back in order.

All in all he still sounds good live and people seem to enjoy the shows, so I guess thats all that matters.

you may be right. If true Azoff put his career on the line. What artist would work w/ a manager the purposely sabatoged an album release??

If the best buy deal paid for chinese democracy why would the label not want Axl to release whats left?

I've heard people say the public has no interest but certainly the overseas market alone would justify releasing a 'free' album. Even the promotion costs don't explain them blocking a release.

anyone got any ideas?

What makes you think it is the label that is preventing a new release?

A well-known longstanding joke about Axl & Guns is the perpetual lateness arriving on stage for gigs. A few months ago, Axl n' Jimmy Kimmel joked about the timeliness issue several times during the interview (including at one point Kimmel produced a framed quote from Oscar Wilde, which Axl has in his home ("Punctuality is the Thief of Time")). In regard to being late, Axl told Kimmel that "We've been doing a lot better lately."

Since it's the end of the year, I thought it might be interesting to run the numbers on this topic and see if Axl's right: How many times was Guns n Roses late for a gig this year? Do any intrepid GnR statisticians happen to know?

UCAP show in Orlando didn't start until around 12:15 AM but they played over 3 hours. If I remember correctly the openner was done for over 2 hours before guns came on.

For a few brief moments, we could answer the question of "Where's Izzy?"

IMO this is really cool... Izzy playing with Axl and now this... Then the supposed rumor Axl and Izzy did some recording. Makes one wonder what the future might hold.