Jump to content

Should Axl retire?

Vincent Vega

By Vincent Vega
in 2013

 Share

  

65 members have voted

You do not have permission to vote in this poll, or see the poll results. Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Recommended Posts

Vincent Vega LEGEND

Vincent Vega

Posted
Posted (edited)

I don't mean this to be an Attitude topic, I will try to present my case as mildly as it can be.

I feel that in 2013, Axl and Guns N' Roses, as it currently exists, have nothing left to offer. There is, unlike 2000-2008, no album anywhere on the horizon. In the bleakest years of 2002-2006 for example, while all was quiet, we at least had the album to look forward to.

At times, it's release seemed like it would never come, but nonetheless, we knew what the album's title would be; we knew what the cover art would like, we even heard several songs off of it. Even if it's release seemed far off, these were at least some tangible proofs that SOMETHING existed, and thus there was always something to look forward to. We might've doubted it would be released but we couldn't deny something was there. In some of those years, we even had leaks of songs that we'd either never heard of or that Axl didn't play, only adding to the suspense.

Let's flashforward to now. It has been half a decade since the release of Chinese Democracy. No one in the band except for Ashba seems really enthusiastic about the band's future or new material. None of them have any clue, and none of them have been involved in the creative process, unlike say Buckethead, Finck or Tobias. The band, from all accounts, at least the current lineup, hasn't written or recorded anything together of substance, despite the current lineup (with the exception of Ashba) being in place for seven years, more than enough time to work together.

Axl seems to be really disinterested or dispassionate about making or putting out new music. At best, what we will get are Chinese Democracy session outtakes with overdubs--In essence, really old songs dating from the late 90s and '00s with new overdubs. At worst, given the general atmosphere surrounding the band, we might possibly get nothing at all.

Axl seems content to rely almost solely nostalgia, to have GN'R simply be a touring act playing out the old hits and CD songs. But he's touring nostalgia tours with a band that didn't help create the nostalgia he's selling. He seems to be looking to Yesterday rather than to Today or the future. To make matters worse, he isn't at all in shape, and his voice sounds very bad compared even to two years ago, and his heart doesn't even truly seem in it in terms of the actual performance itself, and the band is following the steps of lesser bands.

The Vegas Residency was following the lead of Motley Crue, who were considered antithetal to what GN'R were all about, and Vegas is known to be the place where artists come when they have settled into the complacency of nostalgia. Vegas is the land of washed up has beens and creepy lounge acts--and Axl took GN'R there and in the process brought the band to that level. Once an artist goes to Vegas, it is basically an admission that the best is over. The band is touring the same old places almost every year, with a setlist that has changed little in nearly four years, and consistently fails to disappoint in even lesser accomplishments (like the VH1 classic debacle).

These things, combined with his behavior (still coming to concerts late at age 51, his HoF debacle) have only severely tarnished both his own legacy and reputation and respect as an artist, and have made the GN'R brand a joke in some circles.

What more can Axl give? What more do we really want? If there was a new album or even the old CD outtakes on the horizon, we would at least have something to look forward to--but he doesn't seem to be interested. As such, all we have to look forward to really is Axl maybe debuting a new cover song at a gig in the same place he played last year, or maybe Izzy and/or Duff appearing for what will be a tease of a reunion at a gig or two. There is literally nothing more to look forward to other than more of the same, possibly for years to come?

Is it time that Axl hang up the hat and just let GN'R rest, to preserve what little is left of his legacy as a legendary rockstar and to stop GN'R from degrading further into being nothing more than a nostalgia act?

After this next round of touring ends, should he/GN'R retire?

Sometimes dead is better.

Edited by Vincent Vega
Link to comment
Share on other sites
nightrain86 Full

nightrain86

Posted
Posted

I'm in two minds at the moment with whether he should retire or not, on the one hand he's my all time favorite vocalist/frontman and he still has a good few years left if he actually put 110% into it and got into shape, released new music etc but seeing what he's doing with the band at the moment is quite disheartening, just seems like he's on auto pilot and not giving a damn about it all.

If what we are currently seeing from him is all we're going to get for the foreseeable future then he needs to just stop and throw the mic out to the crowd one last time then call it a day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Vincent Vega LEGEND

Vincent Vega

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

I'm happy enough with 'endless' touring of Greatest Hits, especially if Axl keeps having special guests like Izzy and Duff every now and then. No more expectations at this stage really.

But what's the point? You get to see Axl at his worst vocally since 2002 and his worst ever physically, with a band he doesn't seem to have any real interest in, playing pretty much the same setlist every year, with maybe a guest or two once in a while.

It's kinda selfish to want Axl/GN'R to continue this when all it's doing it's ruining his and GN'R'S legacy and when there really is no POINT in continuing.

Why not let GN'R just die with SOME semblance of dignity, if meaningless nostalgia tours are what the plan is from here on out?

Edited by Vincent Vega
Link to comment
Share on other sites
rock4eva GOD

rock4eva

Posted
Posted

I'm happy enough with 'endless' touring of Greatest Hits, especially if Axl keeps having special guests like Izzy and Duff every now and then. No more expectations at this stage really.

But what's the point? You get to see Axl at his worst vocally since 2002 and his worst ever physically, with a band he doesn't seem to have any real interest in, playing pretty much the same setlist every year, with maybe a guest or two once in a while.

It's kinda selfish to want Axl/GN'R to continue this when all it's doing it's ruining his and GN'R'S legacy and when there really is no POINT in continuing.

Why not let GN'R just die with SOME semblance of dignity, if meaningless nostalgia tours are what the plan is from here on out?

That's just YOUR opinion, you are entitled to it of course but the numbers turning up to the concerts, the meet & greets plus the amount of people waiting & hoping to meet Axl tell a different story.

If the day came when concerts only half sold, nobody went VIP & nobody bothered to try & meet Axl well, then maybe it would be time to change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jimb0 GOD

jimb0

Posted
Posted

I believe Axl will tour playing to smaller venues year by year until they have to go by the name. Blowout featuring Axl Rose to get tickets.

When that dries up he'll finally give Slash a call and play big venues again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
alfierose FRONTMAN

alfierose

Posted
Posted

There is no reason for anyone to retire at 51 health withstanding. If Axl is happy doing what he is doing then so be it. The fanbase might not like or agree with some of it but there is jack shit we can do other than stop following them which most probably won't do because there is always that chance with Axl that he might one day do something that you don't want to miss. We all have Stockholm Syndrome!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AXL_N_DIZZY Senior

AXL_N_DIZZY

Posted
Posted (edited)

Is it time that Axl hang up the hat and just let GN'R rest, to preserve what little is left of his legacy as a legendary rockstar and to stop GN'R from degrading further into being nothing more than a nostalgia act?

The last 20 years haven't exactly gone as planned but the idea that the legacy of the band or any of its classic members has been "degraded" is a completely false premise IMHO. The AFD/UYI line-up was just inducted into the RNRHOF in their first year of eligibility- and AFD is still universally considered/ranked one of the top 5-10 hard rock albums of all time. Also Axl (and Slash too for that matter) is still a rock icon who commands a room- including a room full of other "famous" people (my sister was at the Golden Globes after party and confirms the same). Lastly, the current band just won "Tour of the Year" two years running now (I believe). In an industry now driven by touring there would seem to be many, many other acts that should be contemplating retirement before Axl/GN'R.

The lack of new material and some of Axl's voice troubles are at times disappointing. No argument here- but NOT "hang up the hat and call it a day" disappointing though IMHO. Not even close...

Edited by AXL_N_DIZZY
Link to comment
Share on other sites
DieselDaisy LEGEND

DieselDaisy

Posted
Posted

Voted 1, for a new album (I do not believe a reunion is plausible).

Look at the scenarios..

If Guns continue as they are going they will see ever greater fan rejection, ever greater lack-of-interest and decreases in ticket sales. You will be witnessing Axl, playing in front of 1,000 fans in a Vegas Casino (sandwiched between The Osmonds and Tom Jones). They can probably still recoup losses in Brazil, but what a way to go on? The legacy will be destroyed.

If he just retires it is a damm shame. Axl is so talented that no doubt he has some gems in the vaults. It will be a shame to not hear this material.

As I said, a reunion is not possible because of the Axl-Slash feud.

So, continue but change all of the priorities. Forgot touring for awhile and concentrate on releasing new material. Get some sort of double album out to regain interest.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
volcano62 LEGEND

volcano62

Posted
Posted

Yeah fuck those people that hold a different opinion, hunt them down and eat their children.

Only a sick fuck would think about eating children. Are you on the list? CHECK.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest bellastar2355

Guest bellastar2355

Posted
Posted

I wish he would release a new album, then tour with new music... do more.... but if he's happy just touring then i'd rather see more of him and not less.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
magisme LEGEND

magisme

Posted
Posted (edited)

I'd like him to retire if it's going to keep being more of the same (and of constantly declining quality), but I don't think he's going anywhere until the touring ATM dries up.

On a side note, isn't it SHOCKING which members in this thread are discussing the band and which members are attacking other members? Surely it's the cupcake h8terz who are attacking and derailing, right? Right?

Edited by magisme
Link to comment
Share on other sites
dalsh327 LEGEND

dalsh327

Posted
Posted

Vegas hasn't been the "home of washed up musicians" since the 80s - that's Branson & Reno.

The Allman Brothers do residencies every year in NY, no one's going "man they sold themselves out". Axl was at the Allmans show - he didn't get the fucking idea from Motley Crue. I just think he should have tried to cover as many songs in your back catalog as possible and have special guests through the residency. It was more or less the same setlist they were doing on the road.

Most bands aren't enthusiastic about going on the road, unless they like being away from home, and it's how they make a living.

When the audience stops coming to the shows, Axl will call it a day.

He knows he's not going to do this forever. He might stop one day and say "that's it, I'm taking up painting". I think he's got 15 years of performing in him, but it all depends on how his voice holds up. Maybe he'll cut back the length of the shows, or sing less, or drop a key. Usually that's what happens when the singer's voice starts diminishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Facekicker FRONTMAN

Facekicker

Posted
Posted

Yeah fuck those people that hold a different opinion, hunt them down and eat their children.

Only a sick fuck would think about eating children. Are you on the list? CHECK.

Look everyone, he doesn't get it :lol: *points and laughs*

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...