BangoSkank

1 hour ago, Ratam said:

I was bit dramatic 

hahah no, I know - I was referencing the OP's question.

Eh, no. I don't even really know what that means. 

Am I disappointed in some things? Yeah. But they're one of my favorite bands and Axl is one of my favorite frontmen ever. There's no way I'll stop listening to them. And if I can afford it I'll of course see them in concert. 

And though I suspect a new album may not come and it would be underwhelming even if it did, that's just my personal take. I'm of course going to buy it and play it if it comes out - it's a new GNR album, how could I not?

I've told this story here before, but here it is again:
 

This took place outside of Brooklyn Bowl in 2013. I missed the ticket on sale, but live close by and was just going to go to try and get a ticket either outside or on a drop. Two of my friends were inside already. I left work early for it.

I also wanted to try and meet Axl, shake his hand and say, “You’re awesome,” or something. He’s one of my favorites and I’ll likely never get this opportunity again because the venue is so small. 

It’s not hard to figure out where the talent entrance is, but I see a guy who works for the venue, looking official. I ask him is there any way you can tell me where Axl is coming in from? I let him know I'll be cool and I’m trying to look as chill as possible. I ask it quietly, I have no merch to sign, just want to see Axl come in and hopefully shake his hand.  

The guy leans in like he has info. and says "they’re actually letting him out over there," and points to a spot across the street by another building. I’m with a very harmless-looking South American fan too.

So we wait across the street, thinking this is odd, but sticking with it because we had word from an official source this is where it was happening. 

Well, of course Axl’s car pulls up in the original spot where we were, next to the venue's talent entrance. We race across the street to try and see him, but the door shuts and we miss him.

I look at the dude and I say, “I thought you said he was being dropped off there?” He shrugs and starts walking away. 

I then ask him, “Do you know if there are any extra tickets at the box office?”

He says, “Uh, yeah, there’s some! I’ll be right back!” 

Of course, he never comes back. 

I find out from someone outside that this motherfucker was Fernando, a name I'd always heard as a GNR fan, but never knew what he looked like. And after looking at pictures I can definitely confirm.

Now of course he doesn’t want fans bombarding Axl as he goes in or ticket scalpers trying to up sell on the street. But I was very obviously not that. And he could have just said, “Sorry, can’t help you,” instead of giving phoney information and treating us like an annoyance. I’m there to support the new GN’R project, something that has been critically lauded and made fun of by the general public. I stuck with Axl after he no-showed in Philly (I was in the riot), went to plenty of shows where he came out hours late, and still stayed a fan. I defended Chinese Democracy to all the detractors I ran into and this guy outright lies to me twice. It's just so fucking dismissive. Don’t be hostile towards people like me, try and make more of us.

So it’s not what, but how. I in no way felt I deserved meeting him or a ticket, but also, don’t be a dick about it.

Luckily I eventually got in because I bought a ticket off of a guy who was being thrown out - only missed four songs.

Also, saw DJ standing outside Brooklyn Bowl, but he did not look approachable at all. Met Frank outside The Apollo and he was as cool as ever. I also met a very hammered Tommy after a solo show in Jersey City.

Will the new album really be that great anyway? 

8 hours ago, The Holographic Universe said:

I’m with you, there are huge creative differences within the band. That’s the number one reason for no new music in my opinion. Also, the creative differences could be seen as something that could cause tension within the band if a album was forced,  and fuck up the unity the band now has achieved. 

Exactly - they may be thinking that that was a big source of tension in the '90s and they are walking on egg shells with is.

On 11/16/2020 at 3:17 AM, Tadsy said:

I think this is a very real concern. 

Yep - everyone wants a new album, but with Axl's voice sounding like it does, plus the fact that I still think there are big creative differences within the band make me kind of nervous to what it may sound like.

I voted new album, but I'm scared of what the quality will be.

I like that they're doing the videos and they look awesome, but it's hard to hear Axl's voice being so high and clean. I hope they keep coming, but I wish they would only use clips that highlight the rasp. 

The lockdown will be a reason to delay recording and releasing anything. There will be legitimate reasons for it and it will also be an excuse to delay and be disorganized.

On 4/7/2020 at 3:04 PM, allwaystired said:

Let people know about the tour dates that are 5 weeks away and what is happening in regards to the large sums of money spent on tickets? 

Something will for sure come out. Think we can bet those are not happening. They'll either be rescheduled or cancelled. If they're cancelled, people will be reimbursed. If they're rescheduled, they'll be reimbursed if they can't make the new date. 

They'll announce something soon. Any lack of info. I'd chalk up disorganization before greed. 

EDIT: I just noticed they sent out an email advertising flannel - maybe I should eat my hat.

What exactly are they supposed to do? They don't have answers or information? They're a rock band, not international ambassadors. 

I really wonder what happened between December of 2010 & October of 2011. Night and day, really.

That said, especially after hearing the leaks of 2000 Intentions and everything else, you can really see that Axl, indeed, had a vision and was actively recording.

I think he lost a lot of steam after dealing with record company interference, band members leaving, producers making him overdub everything, the press being vicious at times, tons of lawsuits, etc. 

I was there - total blast of a show that I couldn't believe we 3 hours.

I was bummed to hear his voice sans rasp on the broadcast when I relistened though.

Personal plug: I hope they're using the fan interviews outside.

It will most likely be postponed - hard to see the big stadium shows all moving forward now. 

56 minutes ago, allwaystired said:

You're Crazy I'd wager....

Or a cover.

This will definitely be a domino effect. My friend just mentioned that to me, but I think he's right. Wondering if Bonnaroo is next. 

I also think individual shows go on, but festivals are cancelled.

I was just looking through that reddit thread the other day, thinking that the six months is almost up.

I bet he actually meant it, but, of course, plans changed as they always seem to do in GNR world.

20 hours ago, dontdamnmeuyi2015 said:

Every band that is touring this year in a big venue is charging over $100 a ticket. There are some for under $100 but they are playing smaller venues. I paid $150 a ticket for GNR this time around. Last time it was $250. I feel they are well worth the money. 

Most bands now have those VIP tickets for over $1000 to meet them or whatever. I think that's a rip off for any fan. I have a friend who paid that much to meet the Crue this year. She's treating herself, so okay, but it's way too much money. She did get seats in the front though. I'm happy for her, but I can't afford that much money for a 5 minute meet and greet.

Yeah, I agree then it's parking which in some venues here can be over $100 for stadium parking. Food is so high and a damn burger and fries. I usually get one water which is over $5. Drinks are crazy high. If you buy a shirt it's going to be over $40 now. Any other merch can be higher. It's just crazy these days.

My mom saw David Bowie in 1973 for $16 in Radio city Music Hall and she was in the 6th row. lol

Exactly - I think we're reaching a point where tickets for these big tours are going to have to go down a bit. 

2 hours ago, tsinindy said:

Interestingly, tickets aren't priced on what you think is ridiculous.  Nor are they priced on how many shows YOU may attend.   They are priced based on the analysis of someone or a team that says, "this is the price where the most amount of money can be made".    So, in theory, even if they sell less actual tickets,they will make the maximum amount of money they can based on that ticket price.  Most bands now, big name bands, are selling tickets at well over $100 for the best seats (not counting the TicketMaster platinum BS).  

I am perfectly aware that they are (regrettably) not priced on what I would want. 

And yes, the prices are the result of a large team who have put this together. This team is also a confluence of influences and each influence has their own stake in it - the artist, the manager, the promoter, the venue, possibly the merch company, and more. Now, though, the record company is getting involved, seeking their stake since no one buys albums anymore. All of this is driving the costs up. And it maaaay even be making a bit of a bubble. Competition is also tight with many huge acts on tour in the summer and, at these prices, a lot of working class people can do maybe one or two. This is also based on many conversations I've had with several people who earn decent livings, are big GNR fans or have always wanted to see him, but just can't justify the cost at $250 + fees for an okay seat. Especially if they want to take their wife and kids. Ends up being close to a grand for one night. This is risky for a band that also has nothing new to promote. 

And obviously they will make the maximum amount of money based on their current structure, however, that maximum seems to be diminishing. I just looked at the Ticketmaster listing for ten North America shows. Most are at 50% capacity. Interestingly, Seattle has the nosebleeds priced at about what I said they should be and they're all sold out. What I'm basically saying is: lower these costs and they may actually make bank and be able to play more nights in the same cities. 

I personally think anything over $100 is ridiculous. There is no universe where things should cost more than that for one rock show. If it's a VIP Package with a meet & greet, a buffet, and a stupid lanyard, fine. The record industry is dead and live performances are the main way that people make money, so go for it.

But $250 before fees for floor & lower level seats is way too much. If it were $100ish for floor, $75ish for lower level, and $50ish for uppers, you'd sell it out quick and ironically you could probably book another date based off this price tier.

I've made this point before, but at this price structure you'd likely see me at three or four shows. I can justify the cost for this amount. But $300 for one night before I pay for parking, merch, beer, whatever, pass.

So when can we reasonably expect costs to come down?

Looking at the Ticketmaster listing for MetLife there are loads of tickets available. This is the show I'd go to, but not for these prices, especially the nosebleeds.

When can we realistically expect prices to come down? Week of?

4 hours ago, RussTCB said:

I do, but I don't. I feel like it would be really hard to follow plus we kinda already know that the bulk of it would essentially say "everyone was wrong about everything except for me" 

That's true, but it'd be also be interesting to hear him lay out his thoughts on everything post '96 - the new band, VMAs, cancelled tour, radio silence for three-four years, Buckethead leaving, Chinese Democracy coming out, the reunion, etc. 

But also, any time I hear his perspective on old stuff that I thought I understood it's usually pretty surprising. For example, the myth was that he refused to go on stage unless they signed the name over. Then in '08 we finally hear his defense that that was impossible because it would be "under duress" and he'd have been liable for that. That put it in a whole new light for me.

Similar thing happened in '02 when he said (I think on stage) that "Izzy was always complaining that he could never hear himself - that's because Izzy was so fucked up! He'd be high playing another song so we unplugged his guitars when he wasn't looking." 

All of that just adds new dimensions to things. He'd stay silent for a while on them probably fearing backlash, but I think it'd shed a lot more light on what really went down in GNR and what ripped the old band apart (my guess is it has more to do with addiction than anything else).

I want an Axl Rose autobiography more than a new album. 

Hasn't he said he doesn't sing with the rasp because it's harder for him and bad for his voice? I think he did it for AC/DC because that was a short run and he wanted it to be great for him.

4 hours ago, Jordan Rose said:

I didn't. Completely the opposite. And I really hated it when many of the most ardent detractors and reunionists like Diesel and Magisme would go into every every. single. solitary. thread on anything to do with Chinese/Axl/the new band(s) to shit all over it saying the same things over and over. 

Then the reunion happened and I was pretty peeved after supporting and defending Axl/New Guns for years whilst waiting for CD 2 and 3 and going to fuckloads of shows and now having to swallow a reunion with Cancer with zero explanation. 

Then I got on board and started enjoying it and loving Slash playing Twat, Sorry, Prostitute etc. Towlie was already getting bored by 2017 and was adamant there'd be no new album and I totally believed it was coming soon. 

At this point i'm as pissed and disillusioned as those other guys were during the New Guns years and totally get their point of view. I'm not even bothering to go to a UK show without new music because I know that BORING is the exact word i'd use to describe the show if I was there.

I was talking mostly about Rolling Stone and the general press. Every article, every review mentioned Slash & Duff, no matter what Axl did that's all people wanted to know. Now it comes around and it's just soooooo boring. 

But in a lot of ways I'm with you, I was a huge New GNR fan and I'm still way more interested in CD 2 & 3 than I am in an album by the original lineup. I defended Axl like crazy and still do. But now the setlist are still the same, no new music, ticket prices are gross, and it's all kind of disappointing. I'm also not going to the NY/Philly shows. Maaaaaybe if I can get a cheap ticket. I'm kind of shrugging at it. 

But I'd also venture to say this - the shows are anything but boring if you're there.