Piano, Synth and Horns have been part of GN'R since day one

[Vincent Vega]

For those purists who cling to AFD GN'R only, because you feel the additions of Piano or Synths or Horns somehow harmed GN'R's sound, I say:

It's been there all along.

There's fucking Horns on Move to the City on Lies--recorded in '86 with the AFD lineup.

There's synth in PC, recorded by the AFD lineup.

There's piano in Lies on One in a Million, recorded by the AFD lineup.

GN'R had horn players playing for them--with the Adler lineup.

10.18.89 - Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

opening for: The Rolling Stones

set: It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Out Ta Get Me, Move To The City, Patience, My Michelle, Rocket Queen, Sweet Child O' Mine, Welcome To The Jungle, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Paradise City

audio/video recording?: audio, video [incomplete]

notes: Before the 1st song, Axl gives his famous 'One In A Million' speech. Before 'Mr. Brownstone,' Axl says that unless some people stop dancing with 'Mr. Brownstone,' these will be the last GN'R shows (referring to the opening dates for the Stones). Axl falls off the stage during 'Out Ta Get Me!,' later he says it was due to bad footwork. The 'Suicide Horns Section,' featuring Duff's brother Matt, play horns on 'Move To The City.'

Axl's guest pass

Duff's backstage pass

photos

poster

review

ticket

10.19.89 - Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

opening for: The Rolling Stones

set: Mr. Brownstone, It's So Easy, Out Ta Get Me, Move To The City, I Was Only Joking [intro] / Patience, Guitar Solo, Rocket Queen, Sweet Child O' Mine, Only Women Bleed [intro] / Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Welcome To The Jungle, Guitar Solo, Paradise City

audio/video recording?: audio, video [incomplete]

notes: Slash addresses the crowd before the show, saying among other things that GN'R will not be a weak band and fall apart because of drug use. After 'Mr. Brownstone,' Axl apologizes for what he said the night before (10.18). Axl dedicates 'Out Ta Get Me' to psycho bitches! Again the 'Suicide Horns Section,' featuring Duff's brother Matt, play horns on 'Move To The City.' Axl plays bass guitar during 'Rocket Queen'! Axl refers to falling off the stage last night (10.18).

after show guest pass

photos

ticket

10.21.89 - Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

opening for: The Rolling Stones

set: It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Out Ta Get Me, Move To The City, I Was Only Joking [intro] / Patience, My Michelle, Guitar Solo, Rocket Queen, Only Women Bleed [intro] / Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child O' Mine, Paradise City

audio/video recording?: audio

notes: 'Out Ta Get Me,' Axl says there hasn't been anyone in rock n roll to crucify in a while, so now it might as well be GN'R & Axl Rose. Again the 'Suicide Horns Section,' featuring Duff's brother Matt, play horns on 'Move To The City.'

photos

ticket

10.22.89 - Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

opening for: The Rolling Stones

set: It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Out Ta Get Me, Welcome To The Jungle, Move To The City, I Was Only Joking [intro] / Patience, My Michelle, Guitar Solo, Rocket Queen, Only Women Bleed [intro] / Knockin' On Heaven's Door

encore: Paradise City

audio/video recording?: audio

notes: Last opening show for The Rolling Stones, which is also last show ever for GN'R as an opening band! 'Out Ta Get Me' is dedicated to overbearing authority figures. Once again the 'Suicide Horns Section,' featuring Duff's brother Matt, play horns on 'Move To The City.' During 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door,' Axl says 'C'mon people, we gotta warm you up for the greatest rock n roll band in the world – The Rolling Stones!"

photos

ticket

To claim that GN'R's sound changed overnight, or was changed utterly, with the firing of Adler in 1990, or that GN'R was ALWAYS, in every instance, opposed to horns, piano or synthesizers prior to July 11th 1990...Is Bullshit!

I've seen people claim that the Horn section ruined Move to the City on the UYI tour..But the original recording on Live Like a Suicide has horns and sax!

Edited September 9, 2012 by Vincent Vega

[sweetness]

I think that criticism has more to do with the whole arena rock vibe they had on the UYI tour with the horn section, backup singers, and addition of Teddy Zig Zag. That's just what they were at that time though, fucking massively huge.

But yeah, Axl/Slash/Izzy/Duff/Steven was the best as the 5 piece rock band with this sort of srtipped down punk feel, that will always quintessentially be what defined Guns N' Roses in my book, so call me a "purist" I guess. Seriously though I don't think there's any GNR fan who writes off the UYI era as shit just because there's piano and horns and shit. I don't think there's even synth on any GNR song other than the intro to Paradise City

[Snowmass]

I think that criticism has more to do with the whole arena rock vibe they had on the UYI tour with the horn section, backup singers, and addition of Teddy Zig Zag. That's just what they were at that time though, fucking massively huge.

But yeah, Axl/Slash/Izzy/Duff/Steven was the best as the 5 piece rock band with this sort of srtipped down punk feel, that will always quintessentially be what defined Guns N' Roses in my book, so call me a "purist" I guess. Seriously though I don't think there's any GNR fan who writes off the UYI era as shit just because there's piano and horns and shit. I don't think there's even synth on any GNR song other than the intro to Paradise City

Perfect.....agree 100%. Great post.

[Vincent Vega]

I think that criticism has more to do with the whole arena rock vibe they had on the UYI tour with the horn section, backup singers, and addition of Teddy Zig Zag. That's just what they were at that time though, fucking massively huge.

But yeah, Axl/Slash/Izzy/Duff/Steven was the best as the 5 piece rock band with this sort of srtipped down punk feel, that will always quintessentially be what defined Guns N' Roses in my book, so call me a "purist" I guess. Seriously though I don't think there's any GNR fan who writes off the UYI era as shit just because there's piano and horns and shit. I don't think there's even synth on any GNR song other than the intro to Paradise City

But the whole "arena rock" vibe they had on the UYI tour with the horns and Teddy Zigzag, back up singers, and the horn section and whatnot only lasted one year--1992.

I never felt they had a "punk" feel....They're far too polished to ever be Punk. They're "calcuated chaos", even on AFD. It's far too polished. Not punky. Punk only in inspiration, not in sound.Post Punk at most on AFD. But then again you have on the UYIs punk and thrash influences so yeh....And I do think there are fans that write off the UYI era exactly because there's no Adler and there's piano. There's a good portion of this forum which likes to almost sort of pretend that AFD was GN'R's only album--UYI is sort of forgotten, buried, by that faction.

Edited September 9, 2012 by Vincent Vega

[Crash Diet]

I think that criticism has more to do with the whole arena rock vibe they had on the UYI tour with the horn section, backup singers, and addition of Teddy Zig Zag. That's just what they were at that time though, fucking massively huge.

But yeah, Axl/Slash/Izzy/Duff/Steven was the best as the 5 piece rock band with this sort of srtipped down punk feel, that will always quintessentially be what defined Guns N' Roses in my book, so call me a "purist" I guess. Seriously though I don't think there's any GNR fan who writes off the UYI era as shit just because there's piano and horns and shit. I don't think there's even synth on any GNR song other than the intro to Paradise City

my thoughts exactly.

But i like the piano parts on the songs

[sweetness]

I think that criticism has more to do with the whole arena rock vibe they had on the UYI tour with the horn section, backup singers, and addition of Teddy Zig Zag. That's just what they were at that time though, fucking massively huge.

But yeah, Axl/Slash/Izzy/Duff/Steven was the best as the 5 piece rock band with this sort of srtipped down punk feel, that will always quintessentially be what defined Guns N' Roses in my book, so call me a "purist" I guess. Seriously though I don't think there's any GNR fan who writes off the UYI era as shit just because there's piano and horns and shit. I don't think there's even synth on any GNR song other than the intro to Paradise City

But the whole "arena rock" vibe they had on the UYI tour with the horns and Teddy Zigzag, back up singers, and the horn section and whatnot only lasted one year--1992.

I never felt they had a "punk" feel....They're far too polished to ever be Punk. They're "calcuated chaos", even on AFD. It's far too polished. Not punky. Punk only in inspiration, not in sound.Post Punk at most on AFD. But then again you have on the UYIs punk and thrash influences so yeh....And I do think there are fans that write off the UYI era exactly because there's no Adler and there's piano. There's a good portion of this forum which likes to almost sort of pretend that AFD was GN'R's only album--UYI is sort of forgotten, buried, by that faction.

GNR wasn't exactly a punk band but I think they had that vibe in their live shows, even throughout the UYI tour but especially in the early days. They were sloppy, often recklessly stumbling through songs, but they were still mesmerizing.

nothing polished about that. Really wish this song made it onto a record

[WhazUp]

There is quite a bit of difference in how horns, synths, etc. were used comparing the minimal use in the 80's with the stage production of the 90's. With the Illusion tour, they had all these elements on stage, with big lavish stage and audio production. Quite different than just featuring some horns on Move To the City on LLAS or the one synth part on PC and having the occasional guy play piano or play a horn live. Different presentation and different sound.

Edited September 10, 2012 by WhazUp

[saber_]

I thought you were retiring? Don't tease us like that.

[Todo Poderoso Timão]

There's synth in PC, recorded by the AFD lineup.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but to say that you have to read Slash's book.

Synths in PC were added by Axl himself and w/out telling or asking any other bandmate. When Slash has first listened to the released record, the synths were just there.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

big fucking deal. i like the harder rock songs more. so sue me.

[bacardimayne]

Without the piano on the UYIs, GNR would have been a one-album wonder.

[AxlRose14]

Without the piano on the UYIs, GNR would have been a one-album wonder.

YESSS!!!! YESSSS!!!! YESSSS!!!!

[bran]

Without the piano on the UYIs, GNR would have been a one-album wonder.

their was no other way they had to evolve if they kept doing AFD style stuff they would have gotten old fast, they would have painted themselves in the same corner as most punk and grunge bands

[Nosaj Thing]

There's synth in PC, recorded by the AFD lineup.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but to say that you have to read Slash's book.

Synths in PC were added by Axl himself and w/out telling or asking any other bandmate. When Slash has first listened to the released record, the synths were just there.

I actually like the piano and horns on multiple songs but I really really hate the synths in Paradise City. Without Piano we wouldn't have 14 years, Locomotive beautiful outro, November Rain and/or Estranged, etc etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt6i-AsI_so

Annoying as hell.

[GeetarMikey]

I could DEFINITELY do without the plinky-plonk piano all the way through 14 Years; it's just constant, doesn't sound that great and very distracting.

[dalsh327]

Adding the horns, backup singers, and the piano rising from the floor made it come across as a Vegas act. I don't think it was a big deal adding it, the Stones had that since the early 70s and no one goes "gee, they're overblown and bloated".

Why they didn't have a keyboard player from the beginning is easy:

1. They were broke, they would've been splitting pennies with a 6th member.

2. Could you imagine Axl rockin' the keytar?

3. Pianos are hard to move in and out of clubs. I have no fucking idea how bands in the 60s were able to bring a Hammond organ into these clubs in the late 60s. Ray Manzarek had a small keyboard but it didn't sound like a piano. In the 90s, keyboards sounded more like real pianos, but by then GNR had the money to lug a real piano around.

4. Axl was composing more songs after AFD, he had November Rain kicking around, and prob. sketches of songs we've heard since then. If he composed songs on a guitar, they prob. wouldn't have had pianos and keyboards on the Illusions as much.

5. Izzy and Duff wanted piano on their songs. It wasn't all about Axl insisting on Dizzy being a full time band member.

[Saphyra]

I noticed as well that those instruments have been part of G N' R music from the very beggining. And I like it. Especially piano!

[Nosaj Thing]

I noticed as well that those instruments have been part of G N' R music from the very beggining. And I like it. Especially piano!

Credit where its due. Axl is a good piano player. I always loved this solo:

[Saphyra]

I noticed as well that those instruments have been part of G N' R music from the very beggining. And I like it. Especially piano!

Credit where its due. Axl is a good piano player. I always loved this solo:

It is awesome. Thanks for reminding of this video.