12/12/12 3rd INDIA show - Gurgaon/Delhi

[Ketan]

How was the show? Bad, Good, Great what?

It was brilliant at moments and their were times i just felt like going home (seriously). The show was opened by a band from Texas called Brand new Machines but you could tell no one was interested in listening to them. They did have a few good songs; their guitarist was great. They also did a Hanoi Rocks cover.

The band came at started playing and before i knew It So Easy had just ended. A word about the crowd: I was stuck in the Sliver (back) section and the i can tell you most of the people present their had come to listen to SCOM and NR. They just did not seem to be having a good time for the rest if the shows. The energy of the band's performance was just not transferring to the back. I don't know how it was for the people in the front but i have a feeling even they were not into the band in the starting. Actually Axl did mention something about how the Guns N Roses sounds is probably too heavy for the crowds. "Help me! Guns N Roses are killing me!" That's what he said before going into Mr. Brownstone.

This I Love was unreal. I always though the song was a little corny but live it was powerful. Axl's voice was full of emotions and the guitar solo sounded solid as well. I don't think people were into the band till now and the band could probably feel it. Before going into Riff Raff Axl said "We are gonna play a song to entertain ourselves now" (is it normal for Axl to mock the crowd in that fashion?)

SCOM was probably the best performance of the night. The people were on their feet as soon as they realized that DJ's solo is leading into the opening riff.

I think during November Rain Axl was really singing well. I was overwhelmed with emotions watching him play that song in front of me.

I was hoping for more crowd interactions from Axl. Even during KOHD he did not ask the people to sing along. Though KOHD was perhaps the longest performance of the night with Axl admitting that he wasn't feeling it before but now he is having fun. And you could tell he really was having fun. He was moving around the stage all the time and had a smile around his face.

They took out their acoustics before playing Patience which was cool and i hadn't been expecting it. Their last jam lead to Paradise City and after that the stage lights were off.

"Do you guys wanna hear a couple of more songs?" i stopped and turned around and there he was! I think someone from the organizers said that they are not allowed to play after 10 o clock to which axl said "you are telling me what i can't do. That's not cool" They played Nice Boys. To be honest it was one of the better performance of the night and the public really loved the fact that Axl and the band were playing bonus songs. Still we wanted more but Axl just looked at us and said "you want more but they wont let us play" threw is mic on the stage and left. Patented Axl move isn't it?

Nice Boys, The Seeker, NR, SCOM were good performances where on the other hand many of the songs felt dull and lacked energy. Axl was struggling with his voice during the rockers, especially with the older songs. But on slower songs he was pretty great.

The solo spot's were also very entertaining especially that of Stinson and Fortus.

The show got better as it went and i am sure most people got what they had come for.

[Ketan]

So they started TWAT but played Nice Boys instead?

yes. Axl made them stop and they started playing Nice Boys. In fact the band played without Axl for a while as Axl had gone backstage for some reason. But sure enough he returned and played.

I think they would have played TWAT after Nice Boys but they couldn't due to local laws.

[Binge_And_Slash]

What's this I've been hearing about Tommy flipping out during Nice Boys, throwing his bass and not playing the song?

Where did you hear that? I haven't heard anything like that yet.

I've only seen it in one - very, very biased - article.

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/guns-n-roses-plays-india-after-twenty-year-wait/

Last paragraph.

[Scumcat Esq.]

Before going into Riff Raff Axl said "We are gonna play a song to entertain ourselves now" (is it normal for Axl to mock the crowd in that fashion?)

I believe he didn't want to mock anyone. They actually play Riff Raff and Rosie to entertain themselves and get themselves in the mood. They said it before.

[RussTCB]

What's this I've been hearing about Tommy flipping out during Nice Boys, throwing his bass and not playing the song?

Where did you hear that? I haven't heard anything like that yet.

I've only seen it in one - very, very biased - article.

http://india.blogs.n...enty-year-wait/

Last paragraph.

Thank you for the source. Interesting for sure. Wonder if it's true.

[Tyler Drama]

Before going into Riff Raff Axl said "We are gonna play a song to entertain ourselves now" (is it normal for Axl to mock the crowd in that fashion?)

I believe he didn't want to mock anyone. They actually play Riff Raff and Rosie to entertain themselves and get themselves in the mood. They said it before.

Why wouldn't they just do that with new songs?

[Ketan]

Before going into Riff Raff Axl said "We are gonna play a song to entertain ourselves now" (is it normal for Axl to mock the crowd in that fashion?)

I believe he didn't want to mock anyone. They actually play Riff Raff and Rosie to entertain themselves and get themselves in the mood. They said it before.

oh. k that's cool then.

[The Archer]

Before going into Riff Raff Axl said "We are gonna play a song to entertain ourselves now" (is it normal for Axl to mock the crowd in that fashion?)

I believe he didn't want to mock anyone. They actually play Riff Raff and Rosie to entertain themselves and get themselves in the mood. They said it before.

oh. k that's cool then.

Damnit! - I would have loved Riff Raff or WLR. You see, Axl is really great at covering Bon Scott's songs and it's great that GN'R still take inspiration from Acca Dacca. So, it wouldn't have meant anything else. Hats off to him for dedicating two shows to Freddie Mercury and Ravi Shankar. As for the crowd not appreciating most of the Guns catalogue, it would have much more sense if Guns had started with Delhi and ended in Bangalore. Bangalore has a more diverse crowd of people and they are more into Rock and Metal - there's a reason why most international bands end their shows at Bangalore.

Edited December 13, 2012 by The Archer

[Scumcat Esq.]

Before going into Riff Raff Axl said "We are gonna play a song to entertain ourselves now" (is it normal for Axl to mock the crowd in that fashion?)

I believe he didn't want to mock anyone. They actually play Riff Raff and Rosie to entertain themselves and get themselves in the mood. They said it before.

Why wouldn't they just do that with new songs?

They are probably still not ready to debut new songs live yet or those songs might be too complex as compared to AC/DC tunes and lack that full-throttle rock'n'roll feel. I don’t know. But it would surely be great if they expanded the set of mood songs and included some new songs (if they suit) or kick-ass old songs, like Perfect Crime.

Before going into Riff Raff Axl said "We are gonna play a song to entertain ourselves now" (is it normal for Axl to mock the crowd in that fashion?)

I believe he didn't want to mock anyone. They actually play Riff Raff and Rosie to entertain themselves and get themselves in the mood. They said it before.

oh. k that's cool then.

Damnit! - I would have loved Riff Raff or WLR.

Same here. I've never heard these songs live.

[wasted]

The lyrics to Riff Raff seem to have some kind of spiritual meaning.

[Sprite]

The lyrics to Riff Raff seem to have some kind of spiritual meaning.

How so buddy?

[wasted]

The lyrics to Riff Raff seem to have some kind of spiritual meaning.

How so buddy?

It just seems like a fun song about not being told what you mean or what to do from Keef's favorite ACDC album. I was being sarcastic because it's ironic for me to say so if you know what I mean. Here come the choppers.

See it on television every day

Hear it on the radio

It ain't humid but it sure is hot

Down in Mexico

Boss man tryin' to tell me

Beginnin' of the end

Sayin' it'll bend me

Too late my friend

Riff raff

It's good for a laugh

Riff raff

Laugh yourself in half

Now I'm the kind of guy that keeps his big mouth shut

It don't bother me

Somebody kickin' me when I'm up

Leaves me in misery

I never shot nobody

Don't even carry a gun

I ain't doin' nothin' wrong

I'm just havin' fun

Riff raff

It's good for a laugh

Riff raff

Laugh yourself in half

[Sprite]

The lyrics to Riff Raff seem to have some kind of spiritual meaning.

How so buddy?

It just seems like a fun song about not being told what you mean or what to do from Keef's favorite ACDC album. I was being sarcastic because it's ironic for me to say so if you know what I mean. Here come the choppers.

See it on television every day

Hear it on the radio

It ain't humid but it sure is hot

Down in Mexico

Boss man tryin' to tell me

Beginnin' of the end

Sayin' it'll bend me

Too late my friend

Riff raff

It's good for a laugh

Riff raff

Laugh yourself in half

Now I'm the kind of guy that keeps his big mouth shut

It don't bother me

Somebody kickin' me when I'm up

Leaves me in misery

I never shot nobody

Don't even carry a gun

I ain't doin' nothin' wrong

I'm just havin' fun

Riff raff

It's good for a laugh

Riff raff

Laugh yourself in half

How so buddy?

[jimb0]

After the band came out together for a final bow, Mr. Rose seemed to decide he still had one more song in him. He called the band members back on stage. Mr. Stinson seemed to balk: he was visible from where I sat nearly throwing his bass backstage, as a roadie tried to stop him.

The rest of the band started playing “Nice Boys” from “Rose Tattoo,” but Mr. Stinson didn’t come onstage. Mr. Rose disappeared backstage, and reappeared moments later. He was followed by Mr. Stinson, who threw his bass onto a pile of equipment, flipped the middle finger at some crew members and left. The band finished the last song without a bassist.

HMMM..

It's nice to see Axl acting like Axl, and throwing his mic down. I wonder if Tommy was pissed that they didn't play twat or were doing songs when he wanted to be done, or as the General was the one having to deal with the band almost going over time, or going over time.

[wasted]

The lyrics to Riff Raff seem to have some kind of spiritual meaning.

How so buddy?

It just seems like a fun song about not being told what you mean or what to do from Keef's favorite ACDC album. I was being sarcastic because it's ironic for me to say so if you know what I mean. Here come the choppers.

See it on television every day

Hear it on the radio

It ain't humid but it sure is hot

Down in Mexico

Boss man tryin' to tell me

Beginnin' of the end

Sayin' it'll bend me

Too late my friend

Riff raff

It's good for a laugh

Riff raff

Laugh yourself in half

Now I'm the kind of guy that keeps his big mouth shut

It don't bother me

Somebody kickin' me when I'm up

Leaves me in misery

I never shot nobody

Don't even carry a gun

I ain't doin' nothin' wrong

I'm just havin' fun

Riff raff

It's good for a laugh

Riff raff

Laugh yourself in half

How so buddy?

It's like with everyone criticizing them but they are actually having a good time. I can see why the band would enjoy this song.

[The Archer]

Zee news calls the Gurgaon show a collective orgasm -

Guns N’ Roses in Delhi: Waiting with (im)‘Patience’ for the next time!

Ananya Bhattacharya

He is 50 years old, that crisp jaw is no longer a part of his visage, he is no longer a boy who can make girls go weak in their knees with his looks. But once on stage, Axl Rose knows the art of burning it to splinters. Delhi witnessed that very facet of this man at the last leg of Guns N’ Roses’ three-city India tour on December 12, 2012. Axl Rose jumped up and down on the stage, ran all over it, didn’t – even for a moment – stay still. The display of unbridled, raw energy on the stage from this middle-aged man – and my heart breaks into smithereens to call him that – was something that could have put humans one-fourth of his age to shame.

Coupled with Axl’s action on stage, were the guitarists’. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, DJ Ashba, Richard Fortus and Tommy Stinson are all demigods with that instrument – there can absolutely be no doubts about that. One after the other, the band belted out legendary numbers, new songs, just-for-fun riffs – making the crowd of some thousands go crazy with ecstasy. The guitarists-all made sure that Slash’s absence wasn’t felt as hard as it was ought to have been. Of course, stepping into the Guitar God’s shoes is no easy task, and it takes three of them to compensate for one – but the new line-up is nothing short of brilliant.

Out of the classic line-up, that comprised the legendary Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler and Axl Rose, only Rose is a surviving member. The band now comprises keyboardist Dizzy Reed, lead guitarists DJ Ashba and Bumblefoot, rhythm and lead guitarist Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, drummer Frank Ferrer and keyboardist Chris Pitman; all of whom conjured up a storm on the stage at the Leisure Valley Grounds in Gurgaon during their concert.

The opening act of the night was by a newly formed band from Texas, Brand New Machine. Once they cleared the stage, after a brief hiatus and extraordinary punctuality, Guns N’ Roses pounced on to the microphones with ‘Chinese Democracy’, followed by `Welcome to the Jungle`. One after the other, the rockstars threw out their legendary numbers at the audience, punctuating them with other newer ones. The crowd of about eight thousand couldn’t have asked for more: Christmas had just come two weeks early!

Axl’s stint on the piano with ‘We don’t need no education’, and then the smooth transition from that to ‘November Rain’ left people spellbound to say the least. Once he began crooning the famous rock ballad – one of the numbers of that genre that deserves to be listened to before a person dies, undoubtedly – people didn’t know how to restrain their excitement… And like the song says, “… and if you wanna love me; then darlin’ don’t refrain!”, the ones present did not even go through the pain of holding themselves back – it just didn’t work that way. Unless one lets go of that certain emotion that’s always dying to set itself free, a song of the league that ‘November Rain’ belongs to, can’t be felt. The experience – put in crude, blatant terms – was one colossal orgasm.

DJ Ashba’s introductory solo was followed by ‘Sweet child o’ mine’, and had the entire place shouting the song out in unison. Songs like ‘You will be mine’, ‘Don’t cry’, ‘Patience’ – with Axl whistling away with the passion of one who’s been there and known it all, ‘Live and let die’, were all offered to the audience with generous doses of adrenaline-pumping crazy action from the people on stage.

Something that was instrumental in transcending the concert from the realm of the extraordinary to the ethereal was the fact that it was dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar, the Sitar maestro who passed away that morning. Axl’s declaration on stage was followed by Bumblefoot and Richard Fortus letting go of their electric guitars and picking up acoustic ones – pulling off a sequence which sounded miraculously similar to one by the seven-stringed instrument.

The concert had it all – unabashed exhibition of vigour, with the band breathing life into each of the numbers that they played on stage. For a period of three hours flat, the band poured out their consummate skills over the audience – leaving people mad with glee. They banged their heads, screamed the lyrics till their lungs wouldn’t allow any more: satisfaction was writ large on every face present at the gig. Rose added a tinge of surprise at the end of the performance – after the lights had gone out and the crowd had begun to disperse, he made his band mates play another extra song. So that when they actually left the stage, spectators were left hankering for more!

There are rock concerts. And then there’s this rock concert. One where people’s insides are torn asunder, where their idols on stage leave such an indelible dent on their minds that every single person emerges from the gates of the venue transformed into a new being altogether. Axl Rose and his boys made sure that their impact on the listeners is nothing short of unforgettable.

Plus this video from the show's organizers -