Top-Hatted One

also Tom. Like Gilby like Ridhard is a lead guitarist. He said it himself back 1999 when he released his Swag record and chatted online with fans. He said he was never just a rhythm guitarist when a fan showed appreciation for his lead guitar playing. He was lead in His band Candy before joining GN'R Candy had some success on the strip. 

Outside of Izzy returning full time which will never happen Fortus is the next best thing. I think he has the best take on Izzy's Nightrain solo. Closer to how Izzy played it than Gilby or Sidoris. And Richard never made a stink about playing rhythm to the other guitarists in nu-guns 

I don't  think that's very realistic 

35 minutes ago, DieselDaisy said:

What? Where did I say ''just play AFD''? Dizzy can still hang around if he wants - I am not proposing sacking Dizzy; I personally think he is a wanker but you need somebody to handle the secondary keyboard stuff and he has done that for a very long time.

So you are ok with Adler playing Sorum's UYI parts?

1 minute ago, DieselDaisy said:

Sack Frank and Richard. Hire Adler. Allow Stradlin a piece of the pie. Get rid of the girl. Sorted.

There is still time, ahead of this stadium tour, to put everything right and turn this into something magical.

And just play AFD? You will piss off everyone going tot he show to see November Rain and ticket sales will suffer.  However you may get your wish if they do AFD30 anniversary tour next year and playbAFD from start to finish then bring on the other guys for the rest of the songs

43 minutes ago, Tom-Ass said:

You could kind of see this happening once we saw the final lineup.. Not that Punky Brewster has anything to do with the tempo, once she walked out on stage at the Troubador you could see that this was Axl's band and things weren't going to be that much different that NuGnR... It is a damn shame for people that didn't like NuGnR.

I like 2000-2002 nu-gnr. Love CD although I was shocked to see fillers like Scraped and If the world make the cut when it was in the making for over a decade. I expect 12 perfect songs but overall it has numerous gems on there. I'm glad they are still playing some of them and wish slash didn't put his own spin on perfect Finck solos in Better and This I love. Heck I was pissed with bumble put his own spin on the studio and they wound up using it on the record. Completely butchering Brian May's original solo in catcher for one. It was subtle and perfect and didn't need the extra middling and distortion!

So I am perfecting fine with Melissa's involvement. She is needed for those songs and she is needed for background vocals. Background vocals on Better would not sound right song by only Duff. Remember they don't have Matt to help with back ground vocals like. You need them live in a major production setting. Especially since Axl is 54 and needs to pick his spots. He no longer can run around the LA Colosseum track TWICE while singing without missing a beat. He is not 26 anymore. It's either Melissa filling the holes or a whole other band within a band circus like Teddy, Horns section or Tracy & Roberta which looks ridiculous. Also Melissa replacing Pittman also means my ears no longer bleed hearing sing background vocals 

39 minutes ago, bched said:

Frank is primarily to blame. Rocket queen is great because of that steady funky groove. It's not you're crazy which is what they are trying to turn it into tempo wise. 

The end of RQ in Vegas sounds like frank is jamming along with them. It should be a solid funk rock masterpiece not a jam session with frank improvising beats that don't match the nature of the song. 

Exactly! You can't mess with the Rocket Queen's signature groove. It makes the song. Can't over play its me play it fast and straightforward. When you do you are no longer playing Rocket Queen or gnr. I expect this kind of stuff from top 40 cover bands playing gnr, house band at open mic night or at high school battle of the bands 

30 minutes ago, SWINGTRADER said:

 

Nobody would be more excited of playing with Slash, Duff, and Axl again then Steven Adler. And I am sure he would play the songs properly despite the excitement. I do blame Frank. 

Yea it's different when you actually created the songs vs trying to play parts parts you didn't help create. Only the original musician can re-created the feeling and experience they lived through. It's the same thing that happens in Megadeth when Guitar virtuosos try to capture Marty Friedman's feel but never quite can. They hit all the notes but lack the feel. 

Being forever connected to your own work like that has to be one of the coolest aspects of being a musician. No one can re-capture you feel and what was flowing through your body when you created those signature parts. The experience is yours and yours til eternity. 

This really makes you appreciate Sorum even if at times he did slow the tempo down on rockers like Nightrain and didn't quite play songs like Brownstone with Adler's groove. He ultimately did a fine job because it was a seemed transition after th first Rock in Rio 2 show. And tempo was never an issue for gnr. Tempo was flawless with Matt as a matter of fact. When Neil Peart says he admires you for playing with the most precise tempo he's wee seen you know you're special

32 minutes ago, Slash787 said:

I don't blame Frank.

I guess its hard for him to believe and see Slash, Duff and Axl on the same stage together. 

I felt Frank screwed up Jungle at Troubadour because the crowd went nuts and how Axl sounded amazing really distracted him. He got caught up in the moment I think. He never witnessed that reaction from the crowd playing with the other guys that made up nu-guns

Slash's tone is fine. There are many things to complain about but not his tone. He is back to using his UYI amps and clean boost during solos. 

Ive been critical of his tone in VR & the Conpirators when he was using  different amps and EQ boost. His tone was weaker and his riffs and solos would cut off because of the EQ boost. Just was SCOM at the Hall of Fame. That was my issues in a nutshell. 

Now watch his tone on Coma & Estranged. You hear the same sustained tone in his signature bends. The timing of his solos aren't spot on yet. Just watch the Nov Rain clips but the timing will come as the tour progresseses. Just like it did from 1991 to 1992.

The sudden change of tempo in the middle of songs now is on Frank and his nerves/getting caught up in the moment and fan reaction etc. Also Frank isn't in position to add hi-hats and such to signature gnr backbeats like he does during WTTJ.

I love drums. The groove is the  the first thing that wins me over when I discover new bands but it is different with GN'R. A GNR drummer needs understand his role. There is too much talent and dynamic on stage between Axl and the 2 guitars to be free lancing and overplaying drum fills.

Sorum understood this better than anyone. And while I've always been critical of his straight forward playing in all his projects with Slash & Duff I've really come to appreciate his approach now. Thanks to Frank.

I've come to the realization that it wasn't Matt who was responsible for the lack of dynamic in VR songs and how the rockers on those albums are the same tempo. Just plug in and chug chug chug along. This wasn't Sorum but the fact that Izzy wasn't there to counter Slashes playing. No interplay between the 2 guitars and of course no Axl. You see a lot of the same chugging along on some UYI tracks where Izzy presence was non existent and people blame Sorum's drumming. Slash isn't doing anything different than he was during AFD. When you listen in your headphones Slash is still doing his thing in your right speaker while Izzy is doing something completely different and cool in your left ear to compliment Slash. Dave Kusher has that dynamic with Slash at times albeit with a modern twist. 

That is one of Major gripes with some of the Conspirator songs as well. Slash seems content being the only guitar player in studio. Again this started when they were recording UYI. For a clear illustration of what I mean just listen to Slash's song 'Ghost' which Izzy played on and helped write way back when he was involved in the 'The Project' days. The coolness that we hadn't seen since GNR is there and Slash admitted it himself how something special happens when him and Izzy play off each other in studio

8 minutes ago, ZoSoRose said:

Indeed

Now that people pointed all this out, I notice the increased tempo. It doesn't bother me too much but hope they work on it for slower songs. To those saying this band doesn't mesh musically, I strongly disagree but that is totally ok.

To say Slash is on alcohol or smack again, though, because he misses a few notes and isn't as gelled with this band after 4 shows than he is with his own solo band after a couple hundred is pretty terrible

Yea that was not at good take on this issue at all. The person who posted that earlier probably was t serious. I was at that Terminal 5 NYC SLASH show Tom posted. It was only a few months ago and Slash was on point as always. 

Now I know when Slash is so wasted that it affects him on stage. Miraculously enough it rarely after him during the UYI tour. Probably because after 2 1/2 straight years of touring playing becomes like riding a bike. Same with alcoholics who function at work every day.

The one really dark period I remember was the period after Snakepit 2.0 from 2002-2004 and right before VR and 'The Project' became started. 

It it was Camp Freddy in New York 2002. When I was front row in front of Slash where he was visibly fucked up to the point when he actually fell over into us on the front row.

Then they all relapsed around the VR drama with Scott. But starting with the Libertad tour Slash has been more focused and has been played better than ever.

I wasn't a fan of his new amps but I'm glad he went back to te UYI Setup. These shows have the potential to be great when you factor in Axl's ability to belt out songs like he used to in spurts. Of course this means they have to clean up the drum and tempo issues to please the fans spending thousands to see them. Right now it's gravy just hearing Coma and seeing Slash & Axl together but it will wear off. Trust me. Already is on a small scale 

It wasn't going to last but Finck, Buckethead and Brain made for a great band in studio and live especially once Finck tighten up his playing of the classics. Brain was a  different style drummer than what GN'R was used to with Tim Alexander/Primus background vs a traditional rock drummer background. However Brain is a master at tempo. Never was able to get You Could be Mine right like Matt Sorum but he nailed the rest without overplaying. If you know anything about drumming you'd notice his HUGE SNARE sound. His work on CD was phenomenal and really fit the direction of that album and what gnr was becoming 

Frank's been playing wrong since day one. It became became obvious to mostly everyone once they re-introduced Civil War to the set

3 minutes ago, SWINGTRADER said:

Why are some people saying that Frank has always been good prior to the reunion? He has always sucked. People are noticing it now because Slash is back in the band and we have an expectation of what a classic GNR performance is supposed to sound like. 

 

This and I know many die hard nu-gnr(Axl-nuthuggers) as they were called back then that lost interest complete interest in the band once Frank, humble and DJ joined.  Heck they even started clamoring for a reunion with Slash after spending over a decade dragging his name through the mud in defense of Axl and nu-guns

How many more songs can you possibly fit in by playing a little faster at times? 

1 or 2? Is it worth compromising the entire show to add a few minutes? And comprising Axl's 54yr old voice?

12 minutes ago, Torb said:

It's DEFINTELY intentional.
Like someone already said, Frank had no problem in the past with Gn'R songs. Considering also his background, it would be insane to think that he has sort of difficulties in time-keeping. The man would have been kicked out at the rehearsals indeed, in this case.

Maybe they want a rougher and punkish sound, so that's why they're playing faster. I prefere more the way he played in the 2009-2014 era, tbh.

This isn't the Misfits/Ramones where playing the songs faster than the record for added energy live works. Misfits don't have a diverse repertoire of songs like November Rain

15 hours ago, StoneTempleRoses said:

You people are so dumb they're playing at the speed they want to play at, Frank isn't fucking it up, thats so dumb. You don't think during rehearsals they would have told him to slow down if they wanted him to??? I want Matt or Steven to but come on Frank is 100% capable of playing these songs at any speed they want him to.

Rehearsals don't prepare you for nerves and losing focus live 

It's one thing to play AFD uptempo but not November Rain. Less in more in some cases and Sorum understood that better than anyone and it is the reason slash and duff kept bringing him back despite the fact that he can be a didk at times 

15 hours ago, SWINGTRADER said:

If I were in the band I would rip Frank Ferrer a new one. To the point of a fist fight. I can't imagine anything worse for a guitarist than to have the drummer fuck up your performance during a concert. I would be pissed.

Unfortunately for GNR, The boss (Axl) likes this guy. I have no idea why.

Because unlike the other guys Axl doesn't play an instrument except for the ocassional piano. I mean this is the same guy that though a hack like Paul Tobias was fit for gnr and we know how a professional like Slash reacted to the idea 

18 hours ago, highvoltage said:

THANK YOU! This has been my number one complaint since the reunion started. I was blaming Frank initially, but as others have said - I think it must be a collective decision to play the songs at a faster tempo.

You could even hear Angus struggling with it at Coachella!  

Practice time was never an issue for these guys or any band for that matter. They work those issues out before they play their first major show to kick off a huge tour. 

Its very hard to witness the band fall apart on stage so often. Makes it very difficult to enjoy the show especially if you paid thousands to see them in person. 

18 hours ago, ludurigan said:

this is another evidence of why GNR needs izzy

he would never allow this shit to happen

 

also it is funny to notice how axl perfeccionism just disappeared. no perfeccionist would ever allow this shit to happen

If Axl was Dave Mustaine Frank would've corrected the nerves/tempo issues after the Troubadour show or you would've seen someone else behind the kit for Coachella. It's shocking to that duff who thinks like a drummer would allow this. Slash as well. Slash always had great drummers and tempo was never an issue in any of his bands.

Sorum, Brain, Fitz or Freese probably 

19 hours ago, Tyler Drama said:

Russ, I believe he only uses the click for Chinese Democracy songs.

Correct. When nu-guns started playing Cival War I couldn't listen to it because the finale was a sped up clusterfuck. So no it's not this bands decision to speed up the songs. There are times when Frank pace is fine then he loses focus, gets caught up in the moment and sabotages songs. With slash and duff constantly trying to  correct him. Hopefully he gets it together. Rest  assure if we are aware of the tempo issues the band certainly is as well. Or he hmwont be around much longer. Bands change drummers like they change their underwear

Would be epic with Axl singing and would be a really cool moment showing that this is a democracy. Axl & Slash on Anastasia WOW

I might be interested Binge. Having trouble sending u a pm tho

Estranged because it's my favorite gnr song and it would be surreal to see them play it live for the first time since I was young and missed out on the early 90's

Would like tickets for:

June 26 - FedExField - Landover, Maryland

yea its a little ridiculous. Aside from gnr boards I've have frequented a NY Knicks board since 2002. The same thing goes on there except there I'm on the side of the people who realization the organization has been a joke since James Dolan took ownership of the team and MSG. 

It's a little different there though. A lot of us have been beaten and battered with one mind-boggling move after another going back to 1999.  It is pure incompetence and some fans still get suckered in with optimism and short-sighted moves.

This is different though. This current band situation isn't all about incompetence it is about different circumstances that no one can control because you can't control how each individuals in the band feels and how they want or don't want to be involved. Can't they stay sober in Adler's case. Will Izzy ever want to be in the limelight again as part of one of the biggest most recognizable bands in the world? 

In sports you can hire and buy guys. So fans have the right to complain when teams don't spend their money wisely and the losing continues as fans continue to shell out their hard earned money. 

The arguments get very heated over there and  the mods usually side with the people who remain positive. It is very polarizing and toxic. No fun at all

1 hour ago, sonofnazareth said:

Axl was smiling at someone in the crowd..Slash looked at Frank. 

 

Seeing it again with a different perspective you might be right. Seems like Axl was thrown off by Frank as well. He didn't start the hi hat in time. Axl was waiting for him which forced Axl to skip the line all togther and then Slash is like wtf. Slash might've been laughing it off with Frank hard to tell