thunderram

We’re all well aware of the split between AXL and SLASH and most the reasons why. But they have obviously patched things up.
 

They may not be as close as they once were, but to suggest AXL has a closeness with DJ freaking Ashba over a lifelong friend and current band mate that he’s known and made memories with for close to 40 years is just delusional.

I’m willing to bet AXL still is closer and more fond of IZZY than anyone else (sans team Beta) because of their history. 
 

The only reason it might appear AXL was close to the new guys was because he was fully in charge and didn’t have to listen to any input. There was nowhere near the same level of friction.

Even if SLASH and DUFF are taking a passive approach nowadays, they still founded the band with AXL and have deep history with AXL. 

The idea of this thread is wishful thinking and seeing what one wants to see. Unless AXL has specifically said something, it’s just nonsense.

On 10/24/2020 at 8:51 PM, DownUnderScott said:

I think if one UYI album with the best 12 songs had of been released it would possibly have been considered up there with the great rock albums, so a bit diluted down by the release of two double albums.

Understand the point, but I just think folks look at it the wrong way. The music, songs are there regardless of the package(s) they arrived in.

I happen to love most of the 30 songs. Only a few I'm not wild about. So the Illusions on the whole are just as great as Appetite to me.

But for those that only like half of it -- or 12 songs as you put it -- should try to see things outside of a closed box.

Who cares that the 12 songs were spread over 2 albums? It doesn't matter. The material is there. Magically eliminating the other songs doesn't somehow make the remaining ones any better or worse.

Fact is, despite only releasing 5 original studio albums, GN'R has a longer list of beloved songs than many musical acts that have released 2, 3, 4x times the amount.

16 hours ago, StrangerInThisTown said:

Serious question. I mean he rarely goes out even before covid, does he just sit in his mansion all day? And not work on new music of course,that's his full time job but still?

Does it matter what he does? He's earned enough money and lives in a free enough country to do whatever the hell he pleases, no?

WTF do you (and many others) do all day besides bitch and whine about AXL not doing your bidding?

The dude isn't an indentured servant to fans of his music. It seems like many of you are under the delusion that he is. Or that he somehow owes you something. He doesn't.

The amount of narcissism that runs rampant over this topic is gargantuan and never-ending.

I'd love to hear something new. But the guy doesn't owe it to me. I'm not entitled to anything. And I'm never gonna chastise him for living his life the way he chooses. Those that do are hypocrites that wouldn't stand for that kind of treatment in return.

IDK if it was a slip up or not, but after talking about producing horror films and doing session work for others, he specifically said all of that work was in on top of original music for Guns N' Roses and SMKC. Skip to the 8;25 mark of the video.

I think it's clear SLASH has been coming up with original guitar work for GN'R, it's just up to AXL whether or not that work will ever see the light of day. In other words, nothing we didn't already know. But he did verbally state "original music" and "GN'R" in the same sentence. And didn't relate it to the new pinball machine.

9 hours ago, allwaystired said:

Kiss have released two studio albums, three live albums and three compilations since CD came out. 

GNR fans would kill for that level of output! 

You poor deprived baby. Maybe you should consider devoting all your time to following KISS? But something tells me you’d then complain about KISS’ level of output compared to some other band.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I wonder if any of you entitled fans will ever get it through your head that these guys don’t have to do what you would like them to do. They’re not puppets and you’re not their puppet master.

Quentin Tarantino has said many times he’s gonna stop making movies after his 10th. Does he not have the right to do that? And live off the career he’s already created?? Or is he some kind of indentured servant to his loyal fans for the rest of his life?

Spoiled, entitled millennials.

9 hours ago, Blackjacker said:

I have the original one in my living room, and just ordered the new LE to go next to it.

I own an original too. It’s awesome!

I’d love the Collector’s Edition, but apparently the 500 of them already sold. Bummer.

Regarding pricing, those that are complaining just have no clue. The prices are inline with most newer pinball releases, specifically those from Jersey Jack. Hell, an original 1994 DE machine in good condition routinely sells for between 6-8K.

In the video, they point out that the SE version price of $6750 is lower than was initially expected. And that is a pretty nice price point considering how much these machines typically go for brand new and on the secondary market.

I’m not gonna do this, but I could literally sell my 26 year old machine — which is in top notch condition — and buy the SE version without having to spend an additional dime.

13 hours ago, Creed said:

Who needs new music, if we can get a pinball machine for 12000$?

GNR, GNR!

 

Didn’t get what you wanted or thought you were entitled to, huh? There are greater tragedies in life.

How about writing a letter to the band explaining to them how they should be at your beck and call and do your bidding? 

What a bunch of entitled millennials.

13 hours ago, cqleonardo said:

this is pathetic... this band is pathetic

Not as pathetic as a good portion of their snowflake fanbase.

5 hours ago, Spuffy78 said:

Only this band would release a pinball machine when people can't work or afford rent. 

Only fans (allegedly) like this would find some angle to bitch, whine, and complain about. Par for the effing course.

Funny how the collector’s edition has already sold out since, well, people can’t work or afford rent. Baffling.

Bunch of snowflakes around these parts. Nothing better to do than mock and complain. About anything and everything.

I mean, since the band doesn’t obey your commands of new music and seemingly doesn’t do a damn thing you like — wtf are people like you doing on a site dedicated to the band? Why do you waste your time here?

Don’t answer the rhetorical questions. I already know the answers. 

I’m just here to beat a dead horse just the same as you.
You guys get to incessantly complain about new music and everything the band does and doesn’t do and I get to complain incessantly about your incessant complaining. 

And the world continues to spin round and round.

12 hours ago, soon said:

To bring another angle to the discussion, I’ll share that as a consumer I’m actually baffled that there isn’t any “People, Planet, Profit” or “Socailly Responsible” aspect being advertised.

Just like how most of us agreed on about the Covid t-shirt. 

As a consumer i find this to be yet another aspect of Guns being completely out of touch with us.

I can’t think of the last time I happily made a considerable purchase that didn’t have those elements in play.

For this Id expect to see,

- made from a sustainable wood

- conflict free minerals

- 1% of proceeds goes to a charity that promotes girls participation in STEM (science, tech, engineering, math)

- Energy Star certified for efficient power consumption

- that the NITL game about ‘getting the band on stage’ would have some proceeds going to the unemployed roadies who litterally get the band on stage

Unbelievable.

You people cannot be for real.

5 hours ago, The Holographic Universe said:

Could you imagine paying 115$ to sit in your car and watch a concert on film?

No.

But to be fair, if you take 5 other people with you it's less than $20 per person. Fairly close to theater prices nowadays, no?

My guess is that Metallica and those that have done this previously set it up this way trying to encourage more people to attend rather than filling up the place with only 1 or 2 people per vehicle.

For anybody that wants to go, it'd be idiotic to not try to carpool with others.

I also wonder if another idea behind it is to help these theater's and other venues out during these trying times. Otherwise they could have just aired the show on pay-per-view and got a much larger viewership.

FWIW, I was one of those that paid for the GN'R pay-per-view in Paris back in 1992. IIRC, it was fairly expensive at the time.

15 hours ago, DownUnderScott said:

I feel the same. Gilby seamlessly fitted into Guns and was more than an adequate replacement for Izzy. Slotted into the chemistry of the band and had that laid back persona that balanced out the madness of Axl and craziness of Slash & Duffs addictions.

I wish he rejoined the band for the three-union. Although I like Fortus too.

An anecdote I forgot to share about GILBY was one of the first behind the scenes documentaries I saw about him where he talked about preparing for his first show (the segment might be on one of the videos that was released, I don't recall for sure).

Anyway, he talked about getting ready for the gig and the start time being "around" 8:30pm. So he was ready to go at 8:30 not yet knowing that it would be a couple more hours til AXL was ready to go on stage.

I always found the strategic use of the word "around" to be funny. We all know what that means. But GILBY didn't quite yet.

On 8/14/2020 at 8:05 PM, The Holographic Universe said:

I believe because of the videos during UYI a lot of people associate Gilby as an original member.

That, and he is pictured & featured in the pinball machine, not IZZY. So I'm sure that only adds to the confusion for layman fans.

Count me in with those that really dig GILBY. He is just a very laid back dude. Makes perfect sense why he got along so well with SLASH. And he's a very good guitarist IMO.

I was fortunate to see the band during the Summer of 1991 prior to the release of the UYI albums. So I saw IZZY once before he left the band in October of 1991 (I missed an opportunity to see them in 1988). I saw them again in 1992 and again in 1993, so I saw Gilby twice.

As much as I dig IZZY, GILBY was an adequate replacement. Very laid back and cool just like IZZY.

I agree that he deserves more credit for his contributions than he gets. Same goes for Matt Sorum, too.

I really would have liked to have seen those guys included somehow in the NITL tour. We all know the reasons why they weren't. But I can still foolishly wish for things.

5 hours ago, mikeman5150 said:

Was at a drive-in last night and saw an ad for a Metallica concert in a few weeks. They are charging $115 per car. I can’t imagine that going too well. But I was curious your thoughts if GNR will do something similar, as well as your general thoughts on the whole drive-in concert set-up. I’d pay for GNR, maybe not $115, but I think it could be cool. Better than nothing. Also, I’m sure they could edit the show and make it really great! Would be cool if they did a pro-shot dvd with all the best performances of NITL and put it out there. 

I read about this in my local paper the other day.

My understanding is that it's $115 per car, with up to 6 occupants. But regardless of whether it's one person, three, or six, it's still $115.

So clearly you're better served going with some friends. That's $19.17 per person for 6.

However, from what I read, the show won't be live streamed and will be filmed beforehand. And will then be shown at drive-in theaters and fairgrounds all across the country on August 29th.

From another article I just read:

Quote

The concert will be taped at a secret location this week. The band said fans will not be disappointed.

"They are filming something that is unique to this experience," Kinzie said. "It's a way their fans have never seen them before."

Seems kinda cool, but, at the same time, I don't get why they wouldn't just make this available via Pay-Per-View online and/or via your TV provider. Seems like you could reach a whole lot more people that way. And even include that option in addition to the outdoor drive-in experience.

Perhaps they just want to help out these local drive-ins by making it exclusive??

Anyway, if it is successful, then I could certainly see GN'R doing it. They won't even have to travel anywhere!

12 hours ago, allwaystired said:

I do hope the Man Behind the Les Paul is asked when that Les Paul might feature on some new material, of the GNR related variety.

Sans re-issues, there hasn't been an official new release bearing the GN'R name in nearly 12 years. The current lineup has been together and touring for over 4 years now.

I think all you 'new material' guys have your answer already, you just don't like it.

On 6/23/2020 at 2:23 AM, dragan1978 said:

Totally support your post 

also, when I found about Alter bridge, it was a slow grower too but now it is in my top 5 bands, they are amazing!

Absolutely, they are. I actually somewhat liked Creed back in the day, but much prefer Myles Kennedy to Scott Stapp. And now AB to Creed.

I really dig Mark Tremonti's style and think he and Myles work really well together. That's another other thing I appreciate about Myles is how differently he compliments Tremonti and SLASH. Those two bands are so completely different. But I like them both.

17 hours ago, dragan1978 said:

Myles is a fantastic guitar player and has absolutely great vocal, no question about it!!!

and I do understand if you do not like it, it is alright

just wanted to say anything positive about Myles as you all just bitch about him

Totally agree.

To preface, I am as hardcore a GN'R fan as anyone. IMO vintage AXL is the best rock & roll voice I've ever heard.

I had no clue who Myles Kennedy was until I went to one of SLASH's shows in 2010 at the Warfield Theater in SF for his solo album. At the show I then realized, "ok this is the guy that sings Starlight and Back to Cali". Which just happened to be among my favorite songs on that album.

After the show, I began investigating and listening to Alter Bridge, who I was only luke warm to for a while. But over time, I've grown to really love AB and, by proxy, Myles.

I've enjoyed each of the SMKC albums released to this point in time.

Myles isn't vintage AXL, of course. But I still really like his vocals on most songs. Like any vocalist, there are songs I'm not wild about. But on the whole he is very good IMO. When singing GN'R tunes, he offers a different (not equal, certainly not better) spin on the material. I'm very ok with it. I even like when Todd 'Dammit' Kerns sings WTTJ. It's different. And not terrible.

In reality, folks complaining about Myles singing GN'R material is no different than AC/DC fans complaining about AXL singing AC/DC's catalogue. While many were pleasantly surprised at the result, they still greatly prefer Brian Johnson. And rightfully so.

The other thing about Myles is that I greatly appreciate his guitar work. He's very underrated in that regard. His portion of the solo on Blackbird is phenomenal, as is Tremonti's. I really think he and SLASH work well together as guitarists and musicians. I greatly prefer AXl and SLASH, but in a world where we can have both, I'm quite alright with it.

On 6/13/2020 at 5:48 AM, Drexl said:

All I have to say is that this hatred is disgusting. How fucking mental one must be to hate arguably the most important member of his favorite band? When I was younger, I was on Slash's side in the GNR civil war, but not even for a single moment did I hate Axl. Besides all this crazy good music, I've always loved those 4 guys' personalities. Flawed, but so passionate, so free, and also intelligent. Even when I read an intreview with Slash and Duff shortly after the St. Louis riot, when we all know they were wasted all the time, it struck me how wise and rational their words were. Anyway, a musician's personality is always noticeable in his music. If Slash had a different personality, he would be a totally different guitarist. His "I don't give a fuck" attitute and his undeniable sensitivity makes his guitar-playing so soulful and effortless. And I could go on with Axl's, Duff's and Izzy's personalities, but I think it's pointless to write an essay on here, because those who want to know and understand them will do it. Those who hate, will always hate. It must be so fucking great being so judgemental.

Amen! Well said!

Also,

Plea to the MODS: For the love of all that's good and holy, please, BAN the cringeworthy term 'noodling' from this forum. Word filter it or something.

Not only is it overused ad nauseam, 90% of those that use it do so incorrectly. Even many of those that have picked up and played a guitar and have an understanding of music frequently misapply it to playing they don't like. LAME.

On 4/30/2020 at 7:15 PM, Top-Hatted One said:

Only Axl? No thanking Izzy for writing the song?

You really think the average fan knows what role IZZY played in writing that or any song?

Been saying it since before the "reunion" began. Only the above average to hardcore fan knows about IZZY, STEVEN and DUFF's level of involvement. To everyone else Guns N' Roses has always been and will continue to be AXL and SLASH.

I know many fans of GN'R music that have almost no clue who IZZY is. When I meet someone and discover that they like GN'R, I always ask them if they can name all the members of the band. A majority of the time, they never name IZZY or STEVEN.

Lame, but true.

So I'm far from shocked this guy had no clue.

On 4/30/2020 at 10:39 AM, allwaystired said:

What's he thanking Axl for? Writing and releasing a song 33 years ago?! 

Why not? Folks still thank The Beatles for all their music, which was written and released even longer ago.

Not every fan feels as entitled to new music as many do on this message board.

That said, I do take exception to the guy referring to GN'R as a hair band. While GN'R certainly formed in that era and even looked the part at times, anybody that really followed the band and music of that era should know that they were widely credited for helping to cause the end the hair band era. There are people that falsely cite grunge as the cause of death, but even smarter folks that recognize the authenticity of GN'R as the start of it all. Grunge was just the final nail in the proverbial coffin.

16 hours ago, UsedYourIllusion said:

Wow! Must've been wild. Show sounds pretty great! I wonder if they ever found the guy who hit Duff.. hopefully they didn't kill him. Really good performance. I'd kill to have gone to a UYI show

Yeah, that was a wild show. I haven't looked lately, but it used to be uploaded on youtube. I have a DVD copy of it.

That particular show was at the old ARCO Arena and I had front row seats just to the left of the stage and just above the GA floor. I was SUPER close to the stage with no obstructions.

The bottle incident happened a little over an hour into the show. Honestly, and stupidly, I was conflicted about the outcome.

On one hand, I had been so looking forward to the show because it was in my own backyard. I couldn't get tix to the 1991 show in SAC and had to see them in the Bay area instead. To have it end prematurely was a major buzzkill.

However, on the other hand, I also thought it was kinda cool, at the time, that I was at a controversial show that was going to make a lot of news and be remembered for a long, long time. An infamous show, so to speak.

IDK that most fans knew about it, but there was a great close to the chapter when GN'R played at the newer Golden One Center in 2017. Right at the end of the show Duff whispered in AXL's ear then AXL proceeded to acknowledge what had happened 24 years earlier -- and made a joke about it. I thought that was very cool.

Luckily for me, the 1993 SAC show was the 3rd time I had seen them. So I wasn't quite as upset as others that were with me that night.

FWIW, the cause of the incident is disputed, but many believe it was due to AXL ranting about Metallica numerous times during the set. Apparently he had just seen or found out about the 'Day in the Life' video they had put out where Hetfield mocked him. He actually acknowledged he was on 'enemy turf' being in NorCal and was gentle in his criticism on the whole -- even stopping the show later on to clarify that he wasn't telling fans not to like Metallica or not buy their albums but rather clarified he was angered by the actions of whom he considered to be his friends.

1 minute ago, yourcrazy said:

For me the beat show was when I saw them in 92 with Metallica at three rivers stadium.  The whole scene at that time is hard to explain to people that were too young to witness.  The Vegas 2016 and Detroit 2016 were close though.   I never thought GnR would have so much excitement and buzz again.  Trying to get into And then out of Ford field with tons of people dressed in GnR gear and singing really brought me back In time about 25 Years lol. 

I saw them on the 1992 Metallica co-headlining tour too. In Oakland, CA. Where fans ripped up the sod outfield and pelted other fans with it.

That was a nice long show too.

Like you said, the energy at shows like those were much, much different than today. I was just talking to my wife about it the other day. While she's my age and has seen many high energy rock concerts from back in the 80's and 90's, she had never seen GN'R until the 2017 show I took her to. She loved it. But I told her it didn't compare to GN'R circa 1985 - 1993.

Fans jumped up and down all night long and packed in tightly near the stage. It wasn't this pussified, stand-still and video with your phone crap that goes on today.

And, of course, the bands energy was drastically different. They were younger, angrier, and loaded every night.

On 3/31/2020 at 7:20 PM, UsedYourIllusion said:

I'm getting quarantine cabin fever, so why not look at topic thats been beat to death like a Dead Horse;

If you were given keys to the vault, to create a live GN'R compilation, which song performances would you pick? Think, making your own Live Era, if you had to pick the definitive performances.

I've wanted to create a complete LIVE version of the UYI albums. Problem is, they didn't play every song live and a couple of them are hard to come by. A decent sounding version, anyway.

They played Locomotive at the Shoreline venue I went to in 1991, except it was played at the 1st show the night before I saw them! I haven't been able to download a good copy of it (I know it's on youtube though).

On 3/31/2020 at 7:20 PM, UsedYourIllusion said:

7. Nice Boys (Sacramento April 3, 1993)
 

Switched Nice Boys to the Sacramento '93 show

It's cool you selected a song from a show I went to. Great show, while it lasted!

27 minutes ago, metallex78 said:

Yeah, I was. That’s where I was wearing the TSI T-shirt!

It was a pretty cool point of conversation, many people hadn’t seen it before, or even knew such a shirt ever existed. 

Ok. Then I'm pretty sure my son and I met and spoke to you briefly. I just couldn't recall if I saw you at NYNY or out near the venue or even inside.

It was probably all three! It's been over 4 years now, so it's getting harder to remember everything!