Blackstar

I just saw that Sterling Studios list Perhaps among their mastering works (Ted Jensen is the engineer, who also did the UYI remaster and the mastering of Absurd, but not Hard Skool): https://sterling-sound.com/discography/perhaps/ However, Bob Ludwig is credited in the official credits: Interesting... Maybe the band didn't like the original mastering by Jensen and went to Ludwig?

Absurd and Hard Skool were mastered at Sterling Studios (I don't remember the name of the engineer), probably with only the streaming platforms in mind. I suppose they took the criticism about the compression and loudness into consideration, so they went to Bob Ludwig for Perhaps (and most likely The General, as well).

It's almost safe to assume that The General was mastered by Bob Ludwig as well. So it most likely had the same treatment as Perhaps regarding compression level, which is significantly less than Hard Skool (someone posted screenshots from Audacity a while back). It was mentioned by Marco Beltrami in 2003 (along Seven, Thyme and Leave Me Alone) with no further details.

The last scream wasn't bad, but I liked that part more when he sang it in his low voice at the previous show. The main problem with the live performances is the way he sings the verses (although that was supposed to be the easiest part for him to sing). He insists on switching his voice to that weak mid range and it sounds like he's chocking. He always does it on the same lines, so it's by choice and not random. It's not a matter of rehearsal anymore, since he has already sung it quite a few times - apparently he has decided that this is how it should be sung. The chorus is all right.... Except for the backing track. It just doesn't sound right when it's heard in the background and especially while Axl doesn't sing over it.

Setlist: It’s So Easy, Bad Obsession, Chinese Democracy, Slither, Pretty Tied Up, Hard Skool, Mr. Brownstone, Rumble/Welcome To The Jungle, Perhaps, Double Talkin’ Jive, Reckless Life, Absurd, Live And Let Die, Civil War/(Voodoo Child), Down On The Farm, Rocket Queen, You Could Be Mine, T.V. Eye, Estranged, Anything Goes, Band Introductions, Slash Solo/Sweet Child O’ Mine, November Rain, Wichita Lineman, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, Nightrain Encore: People Get Ready/Patience, Paradise City (From HTGTH)

https://www.facebook.com/michelle.obryan.501/videos/1401017534126931

http://lithorati.com/2020tour/2023-09-23 Kansas City.html

Iirc, the falling out was with the crew that filmed The Troubadour and Dodger Stadium was filmed by a different crew.

Yes: Audience: [???] If you could go back in time to speak to your younger self what advice would you give? [???] Axl: I would have tried to form my own label rather than put a record on- I just think we were too stupid to know how do it. We just didn’t think that big at the time and did not have that type of business education. And I… just think that's what we should have done. Interviewer: I think you've done quite well. Axl: We should have formed our own company and figured out how to distribute our own record. Then we could have… Interviewer: You mean manage yourselves? Axl: Yeah. Interviewer: Alright, well, you think that is what is important [???] still very, very small. Axl: Why, why, why? Interviewer: Well, because you must have made lots of money, and you are saying that was- you would have done better and made even more money. Axl: Yeah, but it's not just the money, it be the, the- Interviewer: more in control. Axl: Yeah, but not as a control freak. It's just to- because of the success of Appetite and like we were talking in the car, I mean after Appetite David Geffen was, to me, more concerned in selling the company rather than helping things get back in line to what we signed the contract to make an album. [...] https://www.a-4-d.com/t2686-2016-06-07-china-exchange-an-evening-with-axl-rose

For me it's two different questions: 1) Whether NuGnR was a band (regardless of name) or a solo project and 2) Whether it was GN'R. I only addressed the first question and in my opinion the fact that the songs are co-written by other musicians who are part of a project is not a sufficient condition for that project to be a band. Axl hired musicians to work together or on their own and write songs for him (and also perform with him). He gave them creative freedom at that stage, but the songs were his and he could do what he wanted with them (e.g. chop them and piece them together, etc.).

Slash's gum got stuck in his hair

Perhaps from Biloxi Axl sang all the chorus again. Pretty good, although there's no reason to not let Duff and Melissa do the "you're all alone" parts (except the last one) on their own. But the verses... I don't know why he switches his voice. It doesn't seem to be a matter of rehearsal, since he has sung it a few times. He probably has decided that's how he should sing them.

I think it was all on Axl. He decided to call it a band and market it as such. If he had decided to call it a solo project or a solo band (e.g. "Axl Rose and [insert name of backing band]), it would have been regarded as such, no matter whether the musicians he worked with brought in ideas or not. How about Snakepit? Was it a band or Slash's solo project? (at the time Slash said it was a band).

I just watched a video of Hard Skool (it's mislabeled as Pretty Tied Up and that's why I watched it, otherwise I generally skip HS). What a mess it was after the breakdown It also seems that although Axl sings the aye's live, there's also a backing track playing.

Not on the chorus (unless they're too buried in the mix), but there are in the verses (the ooh's).

It's what one (Axl, in this case) wants to call it, really. Ozzy is a solo artist but recruits other musicians to write songs for him. On the other hand, NIN is just a band moniker for Trent Reznor who writes all the songs. I think the main criterion that distinguishes a band from a solo project is who makes the decisions, who has a say and who owns what others contribute.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxeQeFTscgv/

Well, maybe @Voodoochild will get his birthday present after all? It makes some sense, because the publicity that a new release would generate could help sell the newly added shows.

St. Louis show officially cancelled: In a statement, Axl Rose said, “I am, as is the band, really bummed we’re forced to cancel our show in St. Louis. The history, the memories, the return to share that bond with our fans. It sucks!!” https://www.kmov.com/2023/09/08/guns-n-roses-concert-busch-stadium-postponed-according-email-sent-stadium-staff/

In a statement, Axl Rose said, “I am, as is the band, really bummed we’re forced to cancel our show in St. Louis. The history, the memories, the return to share that bond with our fans. It sucks!!” https://www.kmov.com/2023/09/08/guns-n-roses-concert-busch-stadium-postponed-according-email-sent-stadium-staff/

It isn't sold out on the international stores, so maybe you can buy it from there, e.g. the UK one (although I can imagine that the shipping will be more expensive for you).

Yeah, I think it was mostly updated by someone whose friend was at the show, but didn't remember all the songs or the exact order they were played.

They were played. From HTGTH: Setlist: It’s So Easy, Bad Obsession, Chinese Democracy, Slither, Mr. Brownstone, Pretty Tied Up, Rumble/Welcome To The Jungle, Hard Skool, Double Talkin’ Jive, You Could Be Mine, Perhaps, Reckless Life, Absurd, Rocket Queen, Live And Let Die, T.V. Eye, Don’t Cry, Down On The Farm, Estranged, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, Anything Goes, Civil War/(Voodoo Child), Band Introductions, Slash Solo/Sweet Child O’ Mine, November Rain, Wichita Lineman, Madagascar, Coma, People Get Ready/Patience, My Michelle, Nightrain, Paradise City