DizzyReed63

This is an interesting topic after so much has happened. From what I remember, there was a split between pro-Axl and pro-Slash fans, because Slash was still out there in the public spotlight, and Axl was a mystery. We also had no internet, so it was talking amongst your friends or catching an MTV news hit, or reading about it in Maxim or Spin. An earlier post mentioned how Sp. Incident came out, and we didn't even realize it was happening - that's my memory, too. Like, WTF is this?! Cool! "Since I don't have you" did get a lot of airplay for a bit, but the band did nothing to carry momentum. 

By the time '96-97 came around, GnR bootleg traders started connecting. I was a part of that crew, and we'd mostly trade CDs and Tapes from the early and glory days, then those bootlegs started showing up on Napster. There wasn't much "hope" or chatter about anything new. Axl was supposedly a giant recluse, and the cartoon he played before the '01 Rio show basically tells the full story of that perception  

From what I remember being a giant GnR nerd carrying the torch, the "new material" chatter started w/ the OMG release, lining up with a bunch of rumors. 

2 hours ago, JimiRose said:

Listening to Monsters, I can hear what sounds like Axl high pitching more lyrics quietly in the background as well as lots of different woo hoos and other non distinguishable vocals. This made me remember the CD hidden tracks that were on Youtube for a while but I can no longer find. They were a collection of things that were buried in the mix or barely discernible in the final song, I can only assume they were taken from the rock band stems or by some crazy advanced Ai of it's time. It was random guitar licks, random axl vocals, hidden orchestras, whispers and atmospherics.

Does anyone know where I can find them or were one of you the one putting them on YT? Anyone else remember these?

I remember those - my recollection is that they were taken from the Rock Band files. There were Vocal Only, Orch only, custom mixes, etc. It was pretty awesome. And then they took them away from us...

I've been figuring out Perhaps on the piano. Here are the chords I have so far - anyone wanna help finish this out?

Verse:
Bm - G - F#m/A

V2:
Em - D/F# - G - A

Chorus:
Bm - C#-D-G (sometimes with an A thrown in)

Solo:
A little lost on the progression, but ends on G

1 minute ago, Creed said:

and you guys even like the pitman stuff? 

like the beautiful drum machine in prostitute and the techno shit in silkworms?

and i definately like this one unfinished spot in atlas where the band dont seem to know how to fix it...

like come on...this rough mix is still far away from being really good. i can hear a lot of audio cgi that should never be in rock songs...

For sure, the album needs some refinement. But the overall sound of it is spot on IMO. The songs sound alive and full of energy.

Some of my excitement may be coming from being disappointed in how flat some of the songs sound on the '08 record, knowing at the core they should sound amazing.

This is the album we wanted, and why fans like me stuck around so long. Like others have said, it sounds like a real band, going for it, proving something big.

No telling how it would do in 2001-2 if it came out then. IMO, songs like Perhaps and TWAT could've been hits. The band did have a lot of momentum, attention and curiosity, until the botched '02 tour. Would love to hear what guys like Finck and Stinson, who put in so much damn time, think about our positive reception of this.

Damn - this is the kind of song fans like me have been wanting to hear. Raspy, appetite-like voice. Aggressive guitars and drums. Solos that play off each other.

FWIW in regards to nugnr treating Bumble badly, I know a couple of the guys had their own idea and even auditions for who would take that third guitar slot, because Bumble and the band were having contract issues. That could've been what drove some of the bad blood when suddenly Bumble was thrown into the mix.

I also remember during the '02 tour when Robin would post images after each show and he had a Bear statue with a Bucket on it, haha.

I'll add another anecdote that you might find interesting.

When they were trying to replace Bucket for the 2006 tour, it was a very last minute thing, as we all know. A guitarist who had never played in a big touring band, who was/is a friend of 4tus, was flown out to LA for a chance to take that spot. Because names can't be used, I know a guy who knows him very well - and the story went that he had one day to rehearse with the band. They told him they had a deal that was going bad with another guitar player (Bumble), and they needed someone on the back-burner if necessary.

The band he played with in LA included Stinson, 4tus and Frank - who 4tus also brought in. He mentioned that Stinson loved him and said he hoped he got the gig. To go along w/ some of the other stories in this thread about how Tommy didn't care for Bucket or Bumble, this guitar player was/is not a shredder. He's more like another 4tus. So that would make sense. Tommy was also in charge of the rehearsals and decision.

He said the guys told him how it would be an awesome paying gig, and they rarely saw Axl. He flew back home, cleared his schedule, and shortly before those Hammerstein shows, like a couple weeks before, management told him things worked out w/ the other guitar player and thank you for your time.

This is some great stuff to read through - you piece it all together and the messy picture becomes more clear.

To add another anecdote to the Finck/Bucket saga, during the 2002 tour, Finck would update his personal website with a photo from whatever city they just played, called it "Birdwatch." He had a couple "controversial" posts we discussed on the forums - in one image, he placed a KFC bucket on the head a bear statue. Then after the Philly debacle, he posted a strange mosaic that quickly deleted, full of weird mysterious messages. And then they all went away a day or two later.

This was the discussion I could find about it, but no image was ever saved. Madison describes it pretty well:

FWIW - I think they mix up the tunings of the guitars on Better to give it some depth and diversity.

Awesome listen.

As a guy who had a gnronline and Dust n' Bones mailing list account, loved listening to some of that memory lane stuff.

Thanks for keeping this place going and helping to turn it into what it's become.

Yep, every song is a half-step down, except for Madagascar on the album. It's standard tuning, for some reason.

It hasn't changed my opinion on the album, which is complicated but mostly positive.

What I've taken away the most is that they seem to have some fun playing the songs. It has to feel fresh for Duff and Slash to put their spin on it. "Better" especially is a song they have taken on and created a new kick-ass intro. At the shows, I love that, because it's not just them covering it.

Sure, there are a few things I like better that this guy did, yada yada, but I'm glad they play them. There are Appetite Fans, Lies Fans, UYI Fans, maybe End of Days soundtrack fans..., Chinese fans. This tour appeals to everyone. And that's cool w/ me.

It's also interesting that a few of the small guitar licks/bass style are the same as what they were doing at 2001 Rio and during the '02 tour.

Enjoying this thread, reading back through the old stories us fanatics collectively pieced together with little information.

Wanted to bring up another piece of that puzzle - remember during the '02 tour, Finck would post funny/weird/strange pics after each gig on his site.

There was the one w/ a KFC bucket on a bear statue, which there was speculation he and Bucket had a quiet feud.

Then after the Philly riot, he posted an abstract piece of art w/ an upside-down crown and "AXL" written somewhere near it. (I think that's right - it's been a while and I haven't seen the pic since then) - Then he deleted it the next day. Always was curious what happened there, or what that meaning was.

I still fight back with people using, "You wanna antagonize me?! Antagonize me mother f*cker!" - and they usually don't know where I got that from.

And your guys' rewrites of the rant are cracking me up.

14 hours ago, dalsh327 said:

A book about the making of Chinese Democracy running alongside the implosion of the music industry would be a best seller. 

If I had more time - writing this would be a life goal, plus all the crazy stuff that's happened in the forums since 2000! Kickstarter maybe?

Fortus is an amazing guitar player, and it's great to see him gaining some more spotlight for his skills. He also doesn't have a huge ego, so playing a background role fits him well.

And yes, just because I appreciate Fortus doesn't mean I discount Izzy and his contributions 20+ years ago.

Fortus and Chill.

I've been to the Vegas #1 and Chicago #1 -

Both of my faves are from Chicago

Civil War - just overall awesome in every way. Angry and spot-on.

Rocket Queen - the outro was huge, huge - Axl nailing it over Slash's guitar was magic.

These threads have become insufferable with nit-picky, "This player isn't doing what I want him to do, this song isn't perfect, I demand the GnR I KNOW AND LOVE AND THINK IS THE BEST" comments. Ya know, sometimes bands play a little faster when they're excited and having a good time. And nobody's f'n perfect.

Back on topic: The last two shows have been awesome. Like they're picking up steam and confidence. Great to see. The band sounds tighter than they did in Vegas, IMO. Axl still sounding great. If they can keep up this professional showmanship, they could actually play some other big national gigs!

Looking fwd to enjoying the show in person tomorrow night in Chicago.

Just now, janrichmond said:

What's tailgating mean please?

The parking lot around the stadium is huge. People park, pop open the back, fire up a grill, put on some music, hang out and drink/eat in the parking lot.

Have people forgotten how much of a tailgating town and spot KC/Arrowhead is? That's where the people are.

Selling 2 tix (together) for Friday's Chicago show - Section 220. Looking for what I paid: $95 each. Hit me up - upgraded and splurged, that's the reason!

What are the best pre-show bars to hangout at?

I'll be staying on Michigan Ave., close to walking distance...so I'm up for copious amounts of celebratory drinks.

Solid song. If this were released on Chinese, there would already be a thread called, "Going Down Appreciation Thread"