W. Axl Kev

After 15 years on this forum (I'm that much of a veteran and that lame)  I'm officially weary of debating Axl's voice. He's one of the greatest live singers who ever performed. Those of us who have seen it live, good night or bad, are lucky to have done so. He's in his mid 50's now. He hasn't sounded like he did in 1992 because that was 23 years ago. You'd struggle to name a singer who can sustain performance over that length of time. Maybe he can't deliver the songs now with the same venom in his voice but his passion, determination and tenacity in his vocals have never failed.

That said, this forum is about his voice and people are naming his best vocal performances. For me, when I saw him live at the Garden with AC/DC in 2017 he was earth shattering. People from my office were going and were very much in the "Axl's a dick" camp (because its cool to not like Axl Rose). Next day they worshiped him, and rightly so. Only time in my life I genuinely thought to myself, Axl is the lead singer of the wrong band.

On 27/08/2020 at 9:26 AM, allwaystired said:

He's a total prick. I agree with every musician here: https://www.nme.com/news/music/musicians-criticise-spotify-ceo-album-release-comments-2719827

"Work harder to make me more money". Spotify fuck over artists, so fuck them. I wish artists would boycott them....but with no viable alternative they're stuck. All I can do as a fan is never use it. 

But, yeah, absolutely Taylor Swift is the benchmark for how to release a new album..... especially in the pandemic. It sold great even though she couldn't tour to promote to it. And 'shock, horror' shitloads of people bought physical copies! 

Is the point of Guns N' Roses not meant to be that they're as unconventional as they come? Sure, it'd be fun if they'd released a new album every 4 years for the last 30 years but there's something to be said for maintaining quality over quantity. If they don't have genuinely great music to release I'd probably rather they didn't. Part of the fun of this band is the mythology associated with the "what if" element of the band.

Since 2016 I've managed to see them 4 times in various places around the US. I'm grateful for that and if that's all I ever get again then, to me, they'll live and die as the best rock band ever.

I'm so comfortable with them not releasing a "has been" album these days.

35 minutes ago, RussTCB said:

Yeah, but so has every other artist on Earth as well. The difference, as always, is that every other artist is finding a way to update and do cool things for their fans except for GNR. 

If you're so anti-GN'R why bother? We know how it works these days so is it even worth worrying about? i spent around $700 on floor seats for me and my girlfriend at the show at MetLife Stadium in July. If they're unable to play I'll get the money back but I'm not holding it against the band. If anything they're not cancelling because they probably want it as much as we do. I'd rather they didn't confirm its canceled and hope that it happens and if it is canceled I'll know that they likely did everything they could've to ensure it happened.

I'm not picking a fight, I just can't see how that can be held against the band. They want to play and they will if they can. Surely?

23 hours ago, allwaystired said:

I struggle to see how still selling tickets for shows planned in Europe for just over a month's time that will not be happening by law, and not mentioning it anywhere is a smart business move. 

People are quite rightly asking what is going on with the large amounts of money they've paid out for something that categorically isn't happening. 

They're the customers, and they're pissed off. The very definition of bad business. 

 

In that sense, of course, I agree. However it's more complicated than that given this is a global tour where different legal scenarios apply to different countries/states. I imagine the promotion company are scrambling to understand what is feasible vs. what is not and that is causing a challenging scenario. Look at the golf championships for example; you have 4 Major tournaments + 1 international tournament all governed by different bodies who all have different opinions of what "correct" looks like. If the band were to add a poorly thought-out statement to the circumstance it may only further, or incorrectly, add to the confusion.

23 hours ago, RussTCB said:

I'm not sure I understand your point. 

Are you saying that since GNR has always been terrible at communicating with and/or doing anything nice for their fans that they should just keep doing that? 

That's not what i'm saying but on reflection I understand why it would appear that way. What I mean is that Guns N' Roses, through no fault of their own, have found themselves in a chaotic situation where their previous ineptitude at communication is now being held against them. I'm merely trying to point out that perhaps by awaiting to see what is fact and what is fiction, they're perhaps making the smart play so not to further damage themselves/the tour/sales etc.

8 hours ago, RussTCB said:

They could do SO many different things for the fans currently, but they just won't. 

I doubt they're even "looking very seriously in that regard". 

I'm not sure I agree with this. This is a band who've been continually slandered by fans over the years for being non-committal, half-baked in information sharing and generally non-responsive. As far as this goes, absolutely no one can predict what can and can't go ahead so rather than needlessly frustrate fans with further unconvincing messages, they've done nothing until they have facts which, from a business point of view, is smart.

9 minutes ago, Basic_GnR_Fan said:

Oh me too, no doubt about it. I just wouldn't be a prick to the hardcore fanbase like he is!

Is he really? I haven't been on this forum much in recent years so I've kind of missed the relevance of where he fits into things.

19 minutes ago, Basic_GnR_Fan said:

And who's claim to fame is designing toy trucks and laundry bags with a guns logo attached!

In fairness I'd take the job too if offered.

Am I correct in saying this guy Fernando is the son of Axl's cleaner? Talk about winning a watch.

Flying down from NYC for the show tomorrow morning. First time in Charlotte. Anyone know any good bars near the arena which may be a good place to mingle and listen to some GN'R prior to the show?

On 06/06/2018 at 10:28 PM, RussTCB said:

 

Yeah, they'll make their way around. We just can't have anything to do with spreading them is all

You can't honestly think the band would care? We all saw what happened when someone on this forum thought they were important in the context of Guns N' Roses.

3 minutes ago, janrichmond said:

what guy? and when?

This must have been back in 2006 just before we got the leaks on here. The forum was rife with people who claimed to be friends of friends of Axl or people connected to the people he was using to record the album. For lack of news we all got sucked in by outlandish claims of ownership of rough cuts, photos of Axl etc. Eventually we all pinched ourselves and realized it was total bollocks. My personal favorite was a guy on the forum who claimed the above. He was hiding under a desk secretly recording Chinese Democracy tracks.

Anyway... I was joking.

On 2/7/2018 at 5:51 PM, Axl_morris said:

I reckon he'll be the most honest out of all the books. 

Perhaps. I'd prefer to read the biography of the guy on this forum who claimed to be hiding under a desk at Geffen, recording "IRS".

19 hours ago, Ak1nney said:

I think I've had my ticket for Cincinnati since the end of last week.

It's odd. When I lived in the UK you don't get tickets until 14 days before the show.

I keep checking on them... Just in case.

1 hour ago, emybdc said:

 

I received my tickets today. Anyone else get theirs?

1 hour ago, mrw80 said:

Hence the word "basically". Tickets are not as plentiful as some had predicted. 

I struggled this morning to get tickets but managed to get 2 on the 3rd tier in the end. I'm annoyed because I'm sure there are better seats available but I was pushed for time and it just kept saying "No tickets available".

Delighted to get tickets though! A Summer's day in July.

Managed to pick up 2 tickets for MetLife. I must say it was tricky getting a ticket this morning. The demand seemed high. Lot of buzz in NYC about the show.

I'm inclined to agree with Madison. I could also walk home from MSG. I already find it ambitious that they're hoping to sell out MetLife. Bear in mind Wrestlemania 29 struggled to sell out there until the week before.

If Guns played Manhattan you'd have a huge draw and buzz in the city (like Springsteen) but their fabled New York City show is in a different state.

Jersey isn't that far away but MetLife is in East Rutherford (I think?) and that's not ideal.

In spite of my needless complaining I'm going and Axl_morris is coming from Scotland so it's worth it to have one of my best friends over.

2 of the worst usernames of all time going to Guns N' Roses at MetLife. Who'd have thunk it?

I'm there!

13 hours ago, comaknight said:

There's a commuter train that runs from NY Penn Station to the stadium on stadium event days.  There's also usually a few buses from Port Authority.  Considering the shitshow potential of the crowd size, you may consider one of the Rocks Off coach buses (if they run them) that limits the ridership.  Party atmosphere, a bit more expensive, but you're guaranteed a seat in and out... as long as you get your arse on the bus on time.

I agree. I've not actually personally been to MetLife before but I know a bunch of people who go to see the Jets/Giants who make the journey regularly.

It's painless from what I understand.

New music? Are people on glue?

They've been reunited for 1 day. Let's get realistic.

Next thing there'll be some guy claiming he's under a desk at Geffen recording Slash's re-worked parts from IRS.

Which I would absolutely love.

Anyone fancy a forum meet up in New York before the MetLife show? I accept you all are probably freaks who spend your weekends cracking yourselves to videos of Axl's rasp but it'd be good to meet you's anyway.

I'll be the guy at the bar with a normal haircut.

Definitely hitting MetLife. Axl_morris is joining me.

Me and him surely have the worst usernames on the forum?

Ok. Prediction for Mania: Cena interrupts the Rock's promo and challenges him to one more fight (1-1) at Mania next year.

Shane to win. Interference somehow. Orton maybe?