James Bond

They should group the previous DVD releases of Tokyo 1992 together for a remastered Blu-ray set. Bonus features could be some of those rare performances from the other two nights (if not all three nights included in their entirety). So many options for mining the existing live material from that era of the band for nearly endless releases that we'd probably all buy.

I watched some audience shot footage of Simon Le Bon reading Andy's letter. It's heartbreaking and the audience goes silent. The bit about him having just bought a new guitar for the event too is quite sad. He was obviously very excited about it.

I thought it strange earlier in the day that none of the media coverage or press photos showed Andy since he was originally announced to be there. On top of that, their current guitarist since 2006 (Dom Brown) was sharing rehearsal shots on his Instagram so I just assumed plans had fallen through with Andy. Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected given their history.

But then Simon dropped that bombshell during the ceremony and it all changed.

It's a shame. I'm a huge Duran Duran fan so seeing Andy with them one last time would have been terrific.

Warren Cuccurullo was also inducted with the band and Simon gave him a nice shout out, but I'm not sure he was ever fully committed to going.

I'd happily pay the current Super Deluxe price for a 4K UHD box set of a handful of shows.

2 minutes ago, tommyrai said:

Did axl add vocal to end of nov rain as there’s a post saying young axl duetting with older axl? 

No. If you listen to the original very closely with inears, you can hear the harmonies. They've just been brought forward in the new mix so they stand out more.

27 minutes ago, Sonic Reducer said:

Hey I keep referring to Pitman as towel boy or towel player, but fuck me if I know where it comes from, anyone remember?

There's a GIF of him waving a towel around. I think it was when Axl introduced him during one of the proshots from 2012. I could be wrong on the year, but from around then.

If the Blu-ray was released outside of the box set I'd happily support the band. As it stands I will most certainly be waiting for a much more reasonable price.

The real question is - has he dropped any hot new EDM singles lately? Or what was he calling it, GDM?

I want to say the "less bloated" thing started around 2011. By then the the whole "fat Axl" thing in the media was in full swing, and after a rough start in Rio that year Axl's vocals had our full attention.

So every time someone came back from a show it was almost a defense of Axl. It was always like "well I was at the show last night and his vocals were getting better and he looked great. He's less bloated and cracking jokes. He was in a great mood" and that sort of thing.

I think initially it was meant seriously but by 2014 had become the forum meme it is now.

Axl looks great.

Live And Let Die is another that immediately comes to mind.

8 minutes ago, Shacklermyrye said:

Maybe a remastered version of making the videos should come out lol

That's long been a hope of mine. An AC/DC "Plug Me In" or "Family Jewels" type release that collects all the previous home video material in one package with bonuses. 

11 minutes ago, Stress Fracture said:

First time in a while I’ve seen that video. Looking back, that was some seriously dangerous rain. Everyone was hiding and running for their lives. It killed the bride. Never get caught in November rain, people.

When I first saw the band it was November 2006, it was indeed raining, and since the concert didn't end until well after the last of the public transit had gone I saw many people scrambling in the cold November Rain for taxis.

Instead of a lyric video or a static promo video of the box set they've used the new mix set to the music video:

I get why he predominantly uses Bandcamp but I really do wish he had a much better platform for online sales and merchandise.

The playlist possibilities will be a delight and we can forever refer to the 1999 album as "Live Error."

2 hours ago, guitarpatch said:

DJ is a competent player. Live music isn’t perfect. He’s just not on the level of Fortus and Rob. That’s partly why his playing sticks out in that situation 

He's a better writer than he is a player I think. I just don't think he was quite up to scratch for the Guns material. Add in the stage antics and a lot of the other "Ashba brand" sort of stuff and he stuck out even more.

He's a good riff and hook writer though. Great ear for melody. I like Sixx AM and always enjoyed his contributions to Saints of Los Angeles.

1 minute ago, Blackstar said:

This is the only song that has been remixed (the other songs have just been remastered).

Steven Wilson, who remixed this, did a surround sound remix for the whole albums, but they were rejected by the band.

 

That's a shame. A bonus disc of the whole album remixed by him would have been a treat.

This is definitely the best the drums have ever sounded on a UYI recording. The mix is fantastic. Overall though, not much different in terms of orchestration - and that's a good thing I think. It's the same iconic song with a bit more clarity and some parts stand out more as a result. I dig it.

3 minutes ago, ronartest2004 said:

Do I hear a bit of Nu Axl vocals layered in the outro?

Im not the biggest audiophile so maybe I’m hearing things.

I don't think so. The vocals have just been brought more forward in the mix during the outro so bits that previously sat lower in the mix are a lot more audible now. I think the vocals are a touch louder throughout the song as a whole than they ever were - likely to just make them stand above the orchestra if I had to guess.

The irony of this debate is I actually said Ashba would be a good fit and that I even like some of his songwriting.

43 minutes ago, PatrickS77 said:

Because it's a ridiculous statement. And again, why do you want to know that he "had to simplify" parts or "had to hand off" stuff?? Once again, you're stating something as fact, because you don't like his playing.

Because if you have half a brain and a set of ears it's not difficult to hear when he'd simplify runs in the solos among other bits. Then he'd trade off to Ron on the especially speedier bits in songs too. How about him not doubling the riff in Shackler's and only playing single, syncopated notes instead? Those *are* facts, and there are plenty of bedroom players who can play them so it's not unreasonable to expect the guy hired for the job to able to do so. Thus, he presents as an amateur player at best. All in my opinion of course.

Funny how it goes from I can have an opinion but just don't state it as fact, to "terrible" isn't an opinion, to it's "ridiculous" - all because you don't agree with it.

I think DJ is extremely average. That's not going to change. Get over it.

Yeah Mick was undoubtedly the MVP of the Crue, especially live. John 5 is certainly no slouch though. Incredible player. Probably even somewhat overqualified for the gig.

Now they're welcome to replace Vince if they want.

His live vocals are terri... I mean... I find his live vocals to be of a subpar nature and lacking in the exquisite enunciation of his peers.

1 hour ago, PatrickS77 said:

Saying you don't like his playing is different than to say his playIng is terrible.

Not really. Terrible is just an adjective like any other. Hyperbole, perhaps, but it's no different than walking out of a movie theatre and going "oh wow, that was awful" if that's what you thought of a movie.

Just because you don't agree doesn't mean I can't think that of his playing. He had to simplify the parts on most songs to get by. That makes him an amateur in my view, versus someone like Finck who clearly just did his own thing. Ashba played them like a beginner and handed the tough parts off to the others. Therefore, he is not on the level of Fortus and Bumblefoot and I found him to be the weak link each time I saw them live. I do, however, think he's actually a pretty solid riff and hook writer. I imagine that's what Axl saw in him.

You're welcome to not share the same opinion but why you hyperfocused on my post in the first place which had an air of facetiousness about it I just don't understand. Ashba certainly isn't worth getting your knickers in a knot about. Who cares what I think?

It doesn't make my opinion wrong, nor yours.

Reckless Life was a pleasant surprise, both as a song choice and how Axl sounded overall. A good effort all around.

Conversely, 2022 was a rough year for Welcome to the Jungle.

And, for what it's worth, I actually think Ashba would have been a natural fit for the Crue. It's hard to beat John 5 as a player but Ashba certainly would have fit with the show and the general vibe of the band, and I dug his work on Saints of Los Angeles.