GnR Chris Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 (edited) How many big rock acts today do near-three hour performances? I'm just curious.I know my bro saw Tom Petty a few years back and he played for over two hours, but when I saw Petty he played for about an hour and 20 minutes, which has been standard for me.Almost every band I've seen has played between 80 to 90 minutes. That runs the gamut from (a few off the top of my head) Bon Jovi, Poison, Death Cab, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Scorpions and many more.People complain about the high ticket prices (and I did too), but you know what? I paid $100 to see U2 in 2005 and they only played for probably around 90 minutes. Even at the $50 I paid to see Bon Jovi, they played 90 minutes. That's around half as long as Gn'R for half the price.I guess long story short I am really fucking pumped I'm going to see Axl and really fucking pumped I get to see a huge set. Much respect for the two and a half hour shows he's been playing. The last of a dying breed? Edited November 5, 2011 by GnR Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnrkoncerti Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 How many big rock acts today do near-three hour performances? I'm just curious.I know my bro saw Tom Petty a few years back and he played for over two hours, but when I saw Petty he played for about an hour and 20 minutes, which has been standard for me.Almost every band I've been has played between 80 to 90 minutes. That runs the gamut from (a few off the top of my head) Bon Jovi, Poison, Death Cab, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Scorpions and many more.People complain about the high ticket prices (and I did too), but you know what? I paid $100 to see U2 in 2005 and they only played for probably around 90 minutes. Even at the $50 I paid to see Bon Jovi, they played 90 minutes. That's around half as long as Gn'R for half the price.I guess long story short I am really fucking pumped I'm going to see Axl and really fucking pumped I get to see a huge set. Much respect for the two and a half hour shows he's been playing. The last of a dying breed?Only Guns plating 3 hours shows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val22 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 How many big rock acts today do near-three hour performances? I'm just curious.I know my bro saw Tom Petty a few years back and he played for over two hours, but when I saw Petty he played for about an hour and 20 minutes, which has been standard for me.Almost every band I've been has played between 80 to 90 minutes. That runs the gamut from (a few off the top of my head) Bon Jovi, Poison, Death Cab, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Scorpions and many more.People complain about the high ticket prices (and I did too), but you know what? I paid $100 to see U2 in 2005 and they only played for probably around 90 minutes. Even at the $50 I paid to see Bon Jovi, they played 90 minutes. That's around half as long as Gn'R for half the price.I guess long story short I am really fucking pumped I'm going to see Axl and really fucking pumped I get to see a huge set. Much respect for the two and a half hour shows he's been playing. The last of a dying breed?Rush plays 3 hours with a 15 minute intermission.Queensryche plays over 2 hours.Back in the 70's most bands played for over 2 hours.These days most bands play about 90 minutes, but a band like Guns has so many amazing songs that they can do a 3 hour show.They haven't toured the US in a long time, so 3 hours is what we US fans deserve. Obviously, Axl and Guns are having a blast and are being supported and loved by the US fans, so this is a very cool gift they are giving us.I bet the 3 hours will fly by and Axl will leave us wanting more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnR Chris Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Honestly, some bands I go see, if I'm standing (because I'm starting to be an old bastard), I think the 90-minute mark is a good one. But with huge bands where I love so much of the catalog of songs, it's never enough. I'm a greedy, hungry pig.With huge acts, there are always songs left off that you wish they would have played. But if they're pulling three hour shows, you really have little room to complain no matter what they didn't play because they squeeze so much in. And while some people think the solos and whatnot are buzzkillers, I happen to love them at rock shows if they are paced well.From the live clips I watched, I like seeing the Pink Floyd stuff prior to November Rain and piano solos and whatnot. DJ (not a huge fan) had a killer solo at Rio.I can't fucking wait till the Dexter theme starts to play at the Allstate in less than two weeks. I'm gonna get shitty at Shoeless Joe's pre-party and ride that fuckin' buzz all night long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebbieNgeorgia Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Yes, you will want more! I am looking to see if I can afford tickets to the Nashville show as I speak...lol! The ATL show was mind-blowing, I had waited for 24 years to see them. My daughters gave me tickets for my birthday and I told them this was the best present EVER!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ88 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Gilligan's Island? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Use Your Delusion 1 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 if a band played 90 mins I would feel ripped offmotorhead played 2hrs 15 when they came to Bristol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
username Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Bruce SpringsteenPaul McCartney.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demon Wolf Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 (edited) Bruce Springsteen does, 62 years old. Saw him the other year at Stockholm Stadium, absolutely amazing. Played for three hours and fifteen minutes. He also plays about 150 (!) different songs per tour. It's insane. Edited November 5, 2011 by Demon Wolf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITW 2012 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Pearl Jam play for around the same length of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquor & Whores Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 dream theater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zint Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Gilligan's Island?...yeah that's what I was thinking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerage5 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Most of the bands I know of that play 3 hours have already been mentioned; Rush, Queensryche, Springsteen...I've seen other bands that come close; The Rolling Stones and Queen + Paul Rodgers were both over 2 and a half hours. I've seen Reverend Horton Heat shows that run over 2 and a half as well. When Tower Of Power do double header shows (2 shows in one night), they play 2 90 minute sets with no repeat songs, though these are ticketed separately. Also, Joey Belladonna's side project, Chief Big Way, usually play somewhere between 3 and 4 hours. Not to mention Joey sings AND plays drums in this group! They did a show last year in the Thousand Islands region where they apparently played almost 7 and a half hours, just with one 15 minute intermission or so! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Bond Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 KISS seem to play for around 2 and a half hours generally, at least they did both times I saw them. AC/DC was just about two hours, maybe a little less. I think two hours is par for the course.The only bands I can think of that consistently do three hours are Rush and Springsteen, though I'm sure there are a few more.The ticket price for Guns for a three hour show really isn't all that bad. AC/DC is the best example I can give, where tickets were $100 before fees and you got a show that was an hour less than Guns. Still a show that was well worth the money (I saw 'em three times on the Black Ice tour), but Guns show really is bang for your buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightProwler Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND. They've been playing marathon shows since the '78 tour, so this is nothing new. Saw Bruce in 09 in Buffalo. He played 3 hours 35 minutes. My uncle saw Bruce New Years Eve in 80 or 81 and he played close the 4 hours. Springsteen definitely tops the list of great live performers. Love the guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITW 2012 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Do those other acts have all the solo spots that Guns have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Bond Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Do those other acts have all the solo spots that Guns have?Angus Young's solo spot during Let There Be Rock can usually stretch that song to 10 or 15 minutes, plus the extended version of The Jack which clocks in around 7 or 8 minutes. That's like 20 minutes of the show! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightProwler Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Do those other acts have all the solo spots that Guns have?Not for Springsteen, no. Not sure about the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerage5 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Do those other acts have all the solo spots that Guns have?Angus Young's solo spot during Let There Be Rock can usually stretch that song to 10 or 15 minutes, plus the extended version of The Jack which clocks in around 7 or 8 minutes. That's like 20 minutes of the show! The longest version of LTBR I've seen in person was 23 minutes! And The Jack was usually around 10 or 11 minutes on the Black Ice Tour, since it was the strip song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaeryen Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I just have to voice the obvious yet not said opinion here;3 hour rock shows just don't work. Even though you might make yourself believe they do. the fact of the matter is that it really doesn't matter if you are pub band out on your first 10 shows or you are GNR, everything after the first 35 minutes, which in and of themselves should be great through and through, begs for an actual justification. It requires a truely masterful showmanship and great songs to carry a show to an old albums length of 45 minutes. Very rarely have I seen shows that have been really good through and through that have lasted longer than that. 60 minutes is an absolute maximum from one troupe for me, usually. Maybe with my utmost favorites I can stomach a 90 minute thing, but that is really stretching it.3 hours. it just screams "no!!!!" to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
username Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I just have to voice the obvious yet not said opinion here;3 hour rock shows just don't work. Even though you might make yourself believe they do. the fact of the matter is that it really doesn't matter if you are pub band out on your first 10 shows or you are GNR, everything after the first 35 minutes, which in and of themselves should be great through and through, begs for an actual justification. It requires a truely masterful showmanship and great songs to carry a show to an old albums length of 45 minutes. Very rarely have I seen shows that have been really good through and through that have lasted longer than that. 60 minutes is an absolute maximum from one troupe for me, usually. Maybe with my utmost favorites I can stomach a 90 minute thing, but that is really stretching it.3 hours. it just screams "no!!!!" to me.This can only mean you haven't seen Paul McCartney's recent Good Evening... tour. Absolutely top notch from start to finish, without a single exception. Springsteen does this too. Even if there's a song you don't really dig they carry it SO well that it's enjoyable anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnR Chris Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 I just have to voice the obvious yet not said opinion here;3 hour rock shows just don't work. Even though you might make yourself believe they do. the fact of the matter is that it really doesn't matter if you are pub band out on your first 10 shows or you are GNR, everything after the first 35 minutes, which in and of themselves should be great through and through, begs for an actual justification. It requires a truely masterful showmanship and great songs to carry a show to an old albums length of 45 minutes. Very rarely have I seen shows that have been really good through and through that have lasted longer than that. 60 minutes is an absolute maximum from one troupe for me, usually. Maybe with my utmost favorites I can stomach a 90 minute thing, but that is really stretching it.3 hours. it just screams "no!!!!" to me.I really don't know how you can say this. To each his own, I suppose. At just 60 minutes I would feel like I didn't get my money's worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ88 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 KISS seem to play for around 2 and a half hours generally, at least they did both times I saw them. AC/DC was just about two hours, maybe a little less. I think two hours is par for the course.The only bands I can think of that consistently do three hours are Rush and Springsteen, though I'm sure there are a few more.The ticket price for Guns for a three hour show really isn't all that bad. AC/DC is the best example I can give, where tickets were $100 before fees and you got a show that was an hour less than Guns. Still a show that was well worth the money (I saw 'em three times on the Black Ice tour), but Guns show really is bang for your buck.KISS sucks though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prez Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 "Over 35 minutes is too long" seems like a too-cool-for-the-room hipster opinion. Because the Beatles played 35-minute concerts, everyone else should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Bond Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 KISS seem to play for around 2 and a half hours generally, at least they did both times I saw them. AC/DC was just about two hours, maybe a little less. I think two hours is par for the course.The only bands I can think of that consistently do three hours are Rush and Springsteen, though I'm sure there are a few more.The ticket price for Guns for a three hour show really isn't all that bad. AC/DC is the best example I can give, where tickets were $100 before fees and you got a show that was an hour less than Guns. Still a show that was well worth the money (I saw 'em three times on the Black Ice tour), but Guns show really is bang for your buck.KISS sucks thoughKISS does suck... ...more women than you or I ever will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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