The Black Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal was interviewed on the latest episode of "Totally Driven Radio", the weekly radio podcast heard live every Thursday night from 8 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST on the VOC Nation Radio Network. You can now listen to the podcast using the audio player below. Asked about GUNS N' ROSES' continual stage tardiness, with long waits for singer Axl Rose just as much a definite at a the band's concerts a couple of years ago as hearing "Paradise City" or "Welcome To The Jungle", Thal said: "That hasn't happened for a long time. But it did for a long time. And that's not something that I can ignore and pretend hasn't happened or didn't happen. "I absolutely had the hardest time out of anybody in the band with that stuff — with 'late' stuff. "I'm always in touch with one very simple thing: you make music to make people happy. You put on a show, you entertain — whatever you wanna call it — you do it to make people happy. And to be happy, and to just share this great moment together. And anything that takes away from that or undoes that or creates the opposite of that is completely just anti why you're doing what you're doing. So if there are 20,000 people that are pissed off, 'cause we just left them… "I mean, hell, if I have to wait five minutes longer in a doctor's office, or in traffic or something like that, I'm starting to get annoyed. So imagine, if that's five minutes, imagine two hours. Yeah, I get it; I totally get it. It's not like I don't care, it's just… there's nothing I can do. "But that was something I had a very hard time with, and there's been times when I just walked off stage and just started throwing a fit on the side. I had a really hard time with that, and I understand, and I know. And it's not just that, it's not just the waiting, it's the fact that... if you're gonna do that to someone that isn't expecting that and has a babysitter waiting, or you have to be up in four hours for work, or whatever it is, or the buses are gonna stop running soon, or whatever it is... "It's, like, you didn't go out that night and buy those tickets and do us the honor of having your presence there just to stain our existence so that we could completely fuck you and inconvenience you and put you in this position wher, alright, 'My life is gonna be really annoying, and I have to choose between missing the show after waiting for it, or seeing it.' "I've gotten so much resentment over that from people. And they have the right. And I'm just happy that that's not happening anymore. And I'm really, really happy that we've been going on time, close to on time, sometimes early. And I know the fans are very happy; the people that come to the show are much happier about that. "There's always the fans that are, like, 'Nah, it's a rock concert. They should be three hours late.' Maybe for you, but not for the other 20,000 people… Everyone's got responsibilities. Rent isn't what it was in the '70s. There's a lot more living hand to mouth, and you can't fuck with that. And I get it. And this is not some kind of, like… I'm not trying to bash Axl or anything. I get it. And I'm just glad that we've been doing better with that." In an August 2010 radio interview, former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach, a close personal friend of Axl Rose, offered an explanation for why the GUNS N' ROSES frontman is persistently late going on stage. "Everybody has all these theories as to why he acts the way he acts, and there's no big mystery," Bach said. "He tells me the source of all of the insanity — it's his voice. It's his job to sing like that, and sometimes that sound is hard for him. And a lot of singers, you know... To sing in that range is just not an easy thing to do. And he does what he can, and it takes him 45 more minutes to warm up his pipes so he can sing 'Sweet Child O'Mine'."Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bumblefoot-had-the-hardest-time-dealing-with-guns-n-roses-concert-tardiness/#IdfK7e7tyecH0fiu.99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuzeville Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 "There's always the fans that are, like, 'Nah, it's a rock concert. They should be three hours late.' Maybe for you, but not for the other 20,000 people… And by 'fans' he means Jarmo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoSoRose Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 agree 100%. glad he speaks his mind 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young_Gun Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Always found it funny that people try and defend Axl by saying "It takes him an hour to warm up his voice" when he can just arrive and start those warm ups an hour early lol.It comes down to laziness. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristmasFnatic Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 As Steven Tyler said, when Axl rolls the dice and the color red didnt show up, he wont move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trqster Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Back in '10 I've waited almost 2h for Axl to start the show and would gladly wait a lot more! And the wait was definitely worth since back then he still could pull out epic shows. Nowadays not so sure though...After +2h of wait this moment was priceless to me...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkXEyUVKt_Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volcano62 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 The longest I ever waited at a GNR show was 1 hour 40 minutes.However it took 1 hour to set up the stage so really they were 40 minutes late...no big deal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfierose Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 So has Ron achieved what others have failed to do? Make Axl show up on time? Or is that coincidental and he turns up on time now for other reasons, fear of financial penalties or such like?I don't buy the voice thing. It may well be true but y'know...go to bed earlier and just allow a couple of hours extra warm up time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coma16 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Love it or hate it, accept it debate it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axl_morris Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) Longest I waited was from 8.30 (the time support finished) to 11:15. I won't lie. that was hard going. On the next tour, Thin Lizzy ended there set at 930, so the wait wasn't so bad. However, I was still standing from entering the arena, so I've already been on my feet for 5 hours before Axl takes the stage... Edited September 20, 2013 by Axl_morris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) The longest I ever waited at a GNR show was 1 hour 40 minutes.However it took 1 hour to set up the stage so really they were 40 minutes late...no big deal.The longest i wait is 3 and a half hour...Axl wasn't even in the country when the show planned to start....This was a working day btw... Edited September 20, 2013 by Crash Diet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooker Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Longest I waited was from 8.30 to 11:15. I won't lie. that was hard going. On the next tour, Thin Lizzy ended there set at 930, so the wait wasn't so bad. However, I was still standing from entering the arena, so I've already been on my feet for 5 hours before Axl takes the stage...Good lord. That's too much standing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTCB Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I've always been indifferent to the tardiness but I can understand why others don't like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Apollo Posted September 20, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) Funny.If it's because Axl needs time to relax, get his voice ready, etc.........fine.But look at what the reality of the situation is.One guy could arrive to the venue two hours earlier............OR...........20,000 people can just "toughen up" and wait an extra two hours.One guy. 20,000 people. Which of those two should make a little extra effort?*******Russ --- so you'd rather spend an extra two hours at a concert standing around doing nothing, rather than it starting on time and you getting to spend those extra two hours with your family or doing something else?If you went to a restaurant or a movie theatre, and your dinner/movie started two hours late - would you complain or be happy? If your flight is delayed two hours, does it annoy you? Or you sit in a doctor's office waiting room for two hours extra......see my point?I just don't get why people give Axl a pass on this issue. Edited September 20, 2013 by Groghan 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDemocracyRose Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 When youre waiting! Im waiting too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTCB Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Funny.If it's because Axl needs time to relax, get his voice ready, etc.........fine.But look at what the reality of the situation is.One guy could arrive to the venue two hours earlier............OR...........20,000 people can just "toughen up" and wait an extra two hours.One guy. 20,000 people. Which of those two should make a little extra effort?*******Russ --- so you'd rather spend an extra two hours at a concert standing around doing nothing, rather than it starting on time and you getting to spend those extra two hours with your family or doing something else?If you went to a restaurant or a movie theatre, and your dinner/movie started two hours late - would you complain or be happy? If your flight is delayed two hours, does it annoy you? Or you sit in a doctor's office waiting room for two hours extra......see my point?I just don't get why people give Axl a pass on this issue.When I got to concerts I make it a big event with myself and my friends. So we don't end up sitting around doing nothing. We drink, catch up, enjoy each others company and what not. I also don't feel it's "giving Axl a pass", it's more not getting upset over what I can't change. When I buy a ticket to GN'R, I know based on past experience that they probably won't go on on time. Again, I'm not saying everyone should be ok with that, I'm saying I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooker Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Funny.If it's because Axl needs time to relax, get his voice ready, etc.........fine.But look at what the reality of the situation is.One guy could arrive to the venue two hours earlier............OR...........20,000 people can just "toughen up" and wait an extra two hours.One guy. 20,000 people. Which of those two should make a little extra effort?*******Russ --- so you'd rather spend an extra two hours at a concert standing around doing nothing, rather than it starting on time and you getting to spend those extra two hours with your family or doing something else?If you went to a restaurant or a movie theatre, and your dinner/movie started two hours late - would you complain or be happy? If your flight is delayed two hours, does it annoy you? Or you sit in a doctor's office waiting room for two hours extra......see my point?I just don't get why people give Axl a pass on this issue.20,000?? Not anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yourcrazy Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I can't stand the late starts. I'm not 18 anymore, and getting home at 3 or 4 am doesn't work too well, especially with young kids at home. I've still went though and probably will again. I do know that a lot more people would go to these shows if they started at a reasonable time. I've had many friends say they would like to see them, but won't go that late. I know it's Rock N Roll, but it's also a little rediculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Lahey Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 What will it take for this guy to quit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volcano62 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Russ --- so you'd rather spend an extra two hours at a concert standing around doing nothing,I can't answer for Russ but I don't stand around doing nothing...I chat with GNR fans to kill time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARBeast Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Ya gotta love Bumblefoot. The dude speaks his mind and doesn't hold anything back.Can anyone really blame him for feeling that way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sabbath Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Besides waiting outside, I've never waited for Gn'R to hit the stage because I expect them to come on when most bands would be leaving the stage.Not using that as an excuse and I don't disagree with BBF, but it's the reality we live in and the world that Gn'R/Axl operates in.That said, it doesn't exactly bother me honestly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooker Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) I have to ask. Has GN'R been going on at reasonable times in recent history? Edited September 20, 2013 by cooker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sabbath Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I have to ask. Has GN'R been going on at reasonable times in recent history?I'd say the roundabout "general" time is usually around 11PM? That's the time I usually expect, at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicguns4life Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I have to ask. Has GN'R been going on at reasonable times in recent history?I'd say the roundabout "general" time is usually around 11PM? That's the time I usually expect, at least.Pretty much. Personally, I don't call that being more on time, but whatever. People are just defending whatever the current situation is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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