Last Forum Standing

[Iron MikeyJ]

Because MYgnr is a beautiful place, that is all.

[Randy Jesus]

A lot has to do with how cd.com was a free place after the split with newgnr.com... Then it became more like HTGTH with the admin / mod. That was the death kiss. Newgnr.com was given up on by sladdi and became trollville similar to what chinesedemocracyforum.com was.

[downzy]

Mygnr is the CNN or Fox News of GNR.

Is that your way of calling MYGNR terrible?

[bran]

Mygnr is the CNN or Fox News of GNR.

Is that your way of calling MYGNR terrible?

he didnt say the msnbc of gnr

[rock4eva]

The fact that Jarmo and his lackeys have brown-nosed, censored and thought-policed their board into utter and total irrelevance pleases me greatly.

Can anyone explain how Jarmo got so involved with the band that he tours with them? What came first, Jarmo being known to the band or his forum?

Also what is his position when he tours?

Beta has posted on HTGTH in the past I noticed. She hasn't posted here but I could be mistaken.

I saw Jarmo's girlfriend and she's pretty, well to another female I think she is.

[Amir]

The fact that Jarmo and his lackeys have brown-nosed, censored and thought-policed their board into utter and total irrelevance pleases me greatly.

Can anyone explain how Jarmo got so involved with the band that he tours with them? What came first, Jarmo being known to the band or his forum?

Also what is his position when he tours?

Beta has posted on HTGTH in the past I noticed. She hasn't posted here but I could be mistaken.

I saw Jarmo's girlfriend and she's pretty, well to another female I think she is.

From what I understand HTGTH needed financial support (there's never been ads), Merck stepped in, and with that came the change to the HTGTH we see today.

[HubbaBubba]

When I first visited HTGTH in 1996, it was a small niche fansite that Jarmo ran alone from his bedroom.

It's a real testament to the power of the internet that simple dedication to a band could see a fan in that position end up on stage with Axl & crowd singing happy birthday to him, years later. You could make a movie about it.

Problem is, along the way that particular fan paid with his integrity, and then eventually with the site that got him up there. If anyone doubts that, you can read about it in black & white (with edits!).

I stopped visiting around 2006, and it was around that time that there was a pretty dramatic change in tack. I recall jarmo cooing over slash's first baby's curly black hair, and then within a short time after that he began the slow (now familiar) assassination of slash's character that goes on to this day. To any semi-intelligent poster it was truly pathetic.

The purge-like wholesale bannings took a while to kick in, but when they came they were an insult to any fan of guns. I never had any direct interaction with jarmo and was never banned myself, but the way in which I witnessed him treating some of the most knowledgeable and articulate posters at his own forum, and some of guns most dedicated fans, was a disgrace. He was and is a bully.

Irony is, all of that was driven by unquestioning dedication to Axl - the exact quality Axl seems to select for in the people he surrounds himself with. Jarmo is just a throwaway example, and his behaviour is just a predictable symptom of the disease that infects guns as we know it today. It could've been anyone.

Now Axl has another quite ordinary asskisser all to himself. And everything he does is exactly the right thing. And we have no guns n roses music.

[rock4eva]

When I first visited HTGTH in 1996, it was a small niche fansite that Jarmo ran alone from his bedroom.

It's a real testament to the power of the internet that simple dedication to a band could see a fan in that position end up on stage with Axl & crowd singing happy birthday to him, years later. You could make a movie about it.

Problem is, along the way that particular fan paid with his integrity, and then eventually with the site that got him up there. If anyone doubts that, you can read about it in black & white (with edits!).

I stopped visiting around 2006, and it was around that time that there was a pretty dramatic change in tack. I recall jarmo cooing over slash's first baby's curly black hair, and then within a short time after that he began the slow (now familiar) assassination of slash's character that goes on to this day. To any semi-intelligent poster it was truly pathetic.

The purge-like wholesale bannings took a while to kick in, but when they came they were an insult to any fan of guns. I never had any direct interaction with jarmo and was never banned myself, but the way in which I witnessed him treating some of the most knowledgeable and articulate posters at his own forum, and some of guns most dedicated fans, was a disgrace. He was and is a bully.

Irony is, all of that was driven by unquestioning dedication to Axl - the exact quality Axl seems to select for in the people he surrounds himself with. Jarmo is just a throwaway example, and his behaviour is just a predictable symptom of the disease that infects guns as we know it today. It could've been anyone.

Now Axl has another quite ordinary asskisser all to himself. And everything he does is exactly the right thing. And we have no guns n roses music.

Thanks. So if you go on there saying how great Slash is & how many records he's put out in the last 10yrs etc you'd most likely be deleted & possibly banned? Same if you reviewed a Slash concert?

I don't understand why he tours with them though, what does he do that individual fans at concerts don't do? Updates on songs, does he take photos? Does he get paid?

Not only that but surely being with band members on tour would show the side of their personalities us fans don't want to know about, the fights, arguments, backstabbing etc. Sort of takes the fun side of being a fan to the reality that what we see on stage with the interaction of band members isn't necessarily as friendly off stage.

Also imagine being so besotted by Axl that you defend him on your forum but in reality he yells at you when he's angry, I'd be mortified but also become indignant at being treated like that by anyone. Guess that's why I wasn't the bosses favourite in my jobs, I respected their position but blame me for something that's not my fault & I'll argue till the cows come home.

[WAR41]

When I first visited HTGTH in 1996, it was a small niche fansite that Jarmo ran alone from his bedroom.

It's a real testament to the power of the internet that simple dedication to a band could see a fan in that position end up on stage with Axl & crowd singing happy birthday to him, years later. You could make a movie about it.

Problem is, along the way that particular fan paid with his integrity, and then eventually with the site that got him up there. If anyone doubts that, you can read about it in black & white (with edits!).

I stopped visiting around 2006, and it was around that time that there was a pretty dramatic change in tack. I recall jarmo cooing over slash's first baby's curly black hair, and then within a short time after that he began the slow (now familiar) assassination of slash's character that goes on to this day. To any semi-intelligent poster it was truly pathetic.

The purge-like wholesale bannings took a while to kick in, but when they came they were an insult to any fan of guns. I never had any direct interaction with jarmo and was never banned myself, but the way in which I witnessed him treating some of the most knowledgeable and articulate posters at his own forum, and some of guns most dedicated fans, was a disgrace. He was and is a bully.

Irony is, all of that was driven by unquestioning dedication to Axl - the exact quality Axl seems to select for in the people he surrounds himself with. Jarmo is just a throwaway example, and his behaviour is just a predictable symptom of the disease that infects guns as we know it today. It could've been anyone.

Now Axl has another quite ordinary asskisser all to himself. And everything he does is exactly the right thing. And we have no guns n roses music.

I started visiting HTGTH in 1998 I believe. Jarmo always had the most recent news related to GNR (current AND ex members) and it was always great to get caught up on what was going on in the world of GNR. It took me a while to become a poster there. I just checked and I registered in June of 2003. I have never really been an active poster over there, but there was definitely a period when I was posting more than the average person.

Like you mentioned HubbaBubba, one day Jarmo started just hating Slash and all the ex members. I remember pointing out to him that his original review of Velvet Revolver's first album was positive and he said something alone the lines of "yeah, but that was only because ex members of GNR were in the band and it clouded my judgement at first. Now I realize how average and bland it is". The big death blow for me was when he stopped posting news about ex members of the band. I used to actually submit news to him to post on HTGTH. One day I emailed him an update on Duff I believe and he told me that he wasn't in Guns N Roses so the news wouldn't be posted.

Over the years I've had lots of other issues with him. He always hates that people give negative reviews of the band just from a Youtube clip, and being there in person is different. Well guess what? I've posted negative reviews of the band from shows I attended in person and he deleted those reviews. A big part of my negative reviews stems from the set list issue. I think that is what drives him nuts the most. Earlier this year I posted that I skipped GNR for the first time in my life when they recently came to NYC, and it wasn't because of money issues. I didn't go to the Brooklyn Bowl or the Randalls Island shows and I said I was glad I didn't because it was the exact same set list we've seen for over 10 years. He went on to say he cannot understand how people have a problem with the fact that they play the same set list every night.

Outside of HTGTH I really really REALLY miss gnronline. That was without a doubt the most insane forum out there. Did we ever find out who posted Axl's phone number to get that place shut down?

Also does anyone know where Xozi and QUEENIE are these days? I remember on a different forum I got QUEENIE so upset from teasing him that Xozi PM'ed me threatening legal action (swear to God this actually happened).

[robin2002]

I used to visit HTGTH from around 2000 up till around 2006, never really thought it would go the way it has. I sometimes go on and have a wee laugh at Jarmos pathetic attempts to twist every negative thing people say into that person not being a real fan of the band. I then went on to newgnr and posted quite a bit there, but post-ChiDem I stopped visting forums for a while and kinda lost interest in GNR and only really started re-visting last year and this particular one became my forum of choice. Keep up the good work guys

[username]

We could go on and on about why GnR forums are so dead. Sure, Jarmo (and Team Complaints) did a great job of ruining HTGTH for people who weren't completely up Axl's ass. Sure, the real idiots are still paying for their fansite. Sure, people who want ignore reality and blindly worship this GnR incarnation are on paradisecity.

All those things are probably important.

But the most important reason GnR forums are dead is because GnR has turned into "Axl and some other people" who made it the most boring band in the world with their "Same shit different day" never-ending tour and their complete lack of productivity.

GnR forums are dead because GnR is dead. What you see on stage occasionally are just some puppets half-assing their way through some GnR songs. All they had going for them in 1998-2008 was the Chinese Democracy illusion and they fucked that up too.

Edited December 11, 2014 by username

[DizzyReed63]

I used to run Gnrforum.com - back in 2003-2005. We shut it down because nothing was happening, it was getting bombarded by spam accounts and no one wanted to take on the bills!

Most of the dispersed members went to HTGTH - then once that became a bit too "government run" and "Mysteron" wasn't around much anymore, we all fled here.

Have always loved mygnr - hope this place doesn't die, even if the band does.

[DieselDaisy]

What does it say about the band that it feels the need to stick someone like jarmo on the salary?

[robin2002]

I used to run Gnrforum.com - back in 2003-2005. We shut it down because nothing was happening, it was getting bombarded by spam accounts and no one wanted to take on the bills!

Most of the dispersed members went to HTGTH - then once that became a bit too "government run" and "Mysteron" wasn't around much anymore, we all fled here.

Have always loved mygnr - hope this place doesn't die, even if the band does.

I used to love it when Mysteron appeared on HTGTH with a wee nugget of info.. pretty sure he/she is on here now, sure I read that he/she knew or was in some way close to Merck and that's how he/she got the little bits of info.

Richards updates are probably the most amount of info we've had for a while, I tend to ignore when Dizzy or Gashba spout the old 'there's loads of material, we just need to get together and pick the songs etc...'

Really wish they could give us some real info, anything official would be good, as a good will to the fans who have stuck with them, don't get the whole us and them thing

[DizzyReed63]

I used to run Gnrforum.com - back in 2003-2005. We shut it down because nothing was happening, it was getting bombarded by spam accounts and no one wanted to take on the bills!

Most of the dispersed members went to HTGTH - then once that became a bit too "government run" and "Mysteron" wasn't around much anymore, we all fled here.

Have always loved mygnr - hope this place doesn't die, even if the band does.

I used to love it when Mysteron appeared on HTGTH with a wee nugget of info.. pretty sure he/she is on here now, sure I read that he/she knew or was in some way close to Merck and that's how he/she got the little bits of info.

Richards updates are probably the most amount of info we've had for a while, I tend to ignore when Dizzy or Gashba spout the old 'there's loads of material, we just need to get together and pick the songs etc...'

Really wish they could give us some real info, anything official would be good, as a good will to the fans who have stuck with them, don't get the whole us and them thing

Definitely - Mysteron's posts were always the most fun.

I was the one who shared the "Phat Boy" rumor back in '02 on GnRForum - if you remember, that Axl went to an LA club and played some songs in his parked car for some people at the bar. My friend lived in LA at the time, was there and everything she told me was true. Mysteron hit me up and got all the details, confirmed it, too - but of course people still called BS on me Ah, memories.

[robin2002]

I used to run Gnrforum.com - back in 2003-2005. We shut it down because nothing was happening, it was getting bombarded by spam accounts and no one wanted to take on the bills!

Most of the dispersed members went to HTGTH - then once that became a bit too "government run" and "Mysteron" wasn't around much anymore, we all fled here.

Have always loved mygnr - hope this place doesn't die, even if the band does.

I used to love it when Mysteron appeared on HTGTH with a wee nugget of info.. pretty sure he/she is on here now, sure I read that he/she knew or was in some way close to Merck and that's how he/she got the little bits of info.

Richards updates are probably the most amount of info we've had for a while, I tend to ignore when Dizzy or Gashba spout the old 'there's loads of material, we just need to get together and pick the songs etc...'

Really wish they could give us some real info, anything official would be good, as a good will to the fans who have stuck with them, don't get the whole us and them thing

Definitely - Mysteron's posts were always the most fun.

I was the one who shared the "Phat Boy" rumor back in '02 on GnRForum - if you remember, that Axl went to an LA club and played some songs in his parked car for some people at the bar. My friend lived in LA at the time, was there and everything she told me was true. Mysteron hit me up and got all the details, confirmed it, too - but of course people still called BS on me Ah, memories.

Cool! Any idea what the songs were?

[DizzyReed63]

I used to run Gnrforum.com - back in 2003-2005. We shut it down because nothing was happening, it was getting bombarded by spam accounts and no one wanted to take on the bills!

Most of the dispersed members went to HTGTH - then once that became a bit too "government run" and "Mysteron" wasn't around much anymore, we all fled here.

Have always loved mygnr - hope this place doesn't die, even if the band does.

I used to love it when Mysteron appeared on HTGTH with a wee nugget of info.. pretty sure he/she is on here now, sure I read that he/she knew or was in some way close to Merck and that's how he/she got the little bits of info.

Richards updates are probably the most amount of info we've had for a while, I tend to ignore when Dizzy or Gashba spout the old 'there's loads of material, we just need to get together and pick the songs etc...'

Really wish they could give us some real info, anything official would be good, as a good will to the fans who have stuck with them, don't get the whole us and them thing

Definitely - Mysteron's posts were always the most fun.

I was the one who shared the "Phat Boy" rumor back in '02 on GnRForum - if you remember, that Axl went to an LA club and played some songs in his parked car for some people at the bar. My friend lived in LA at the time, was there and everything she told me was true. Mysteron hit me up and got all the details, confirmed it, too - but of course people still called BS on me Ah, memories.

Cool! Any idea what the songs were?

Looking back and based on how they described it, it was "The Blues" "Rhiad" and "Madagascar"

[downzy]

Alright, let's put things into perspective when it comes to Jarmo/HTGTH/GNR.

First off, I'm not sure how many of you who only started frequenting GNR online forums recently are aware of the fact that for a long time, during the quiet years of 1996 - 2001, Jarmo was instrumental in keeping the GNR fanbase vested and energized. Along with Jeff Boerio's Dust N' Bones mailing list, the GNR fan community was kept engaged by the efforts of a few at the time. A lot of credit is deserved to guys like Jarmo for stepping up at a time when we had no idea what GNR was or whether we'd ever see Axl in public again. The band owed Jarmo much for his efforts so it's great to see them repay him by taking him on as an assistant whenever they travel. Also respect the fact that Jarmo was the only guy reporting setlists for various concerts in the early days.

Let's also remember that for most people who haven't met or spent time with Axl, he's just some intangible rockstar that has a very limited connection with those who support and listen to his music. It's very easy to be critical of the image of a person versus being critical of someone you actually know and admire as a result of meeting them in person. I'll be honest that one of the first things I did when I returned home after meeting and partying with Axl/GNR one night many years ago was to review some of the shit I had said about him and deleted the stuff that I now felt was unfair. The guy really is a hell of a nice guy when you talk to him in person and it made me realize that some of my critiques were based on my idea of who he is and was rather than who he actually is. That doesn't mean I haven't been critical of him after the fact, but I now understand why after meeting the actual man it changes one's perceptions. Jarmo has had a close relationship with the band as a fan and later as an employee and I get why he'd act defensively over someone who has been loyal to him. It's natural - just imagine if there were a group of people constantly talking shit about someone you know personally and care for a great deal. Some of you are far more cynical about all of this than you should be. I truly feel Jarmo acts the way he does out of a loyalty to the band and GNR, not because he was bought off or because he always envisioned about being somehow formally associated with the band.

I'm happy to hear that people enjoy this forum for what it tries to be: a place for open exchanges whether they be positive or negative. So long as people remain respectful of each other we can all celebrate all things GNR in our own way.

[username]

Alright, let's put things into perspective when it comes to Jarmo/HTGTH/GNR.

First off, I'm not sure how many of you who only started frequenting GNR online forums recently are aware of the fact that for a long time, during the quiet years of 1996 - 2001, Jarmo was instrumental in keeping the GNR fanbase vested and energized. Along with Jeff Boerio's Dust N' Bones mailing list, the GNR fan community was kept engaged by the efforts of a few at the time. A lot of credit is deserved to guys like Jarmo for stepping up at a time when we had no idea what GNR was or whether we'd ever see Axl in public again. The band owed Jarmo much for his efforts so it's great to see them repay him by taking him on as an assistant whenever they travel. Also respect the fact that Jarmo was the only guy reporting setlists for various concerts in the early days.

Let's also remember that for most people who haven't met or spent time with Axl, he's just some intangible rockstar that has a very limited connection with those who support and listen to his music. It's very easy to be critical of the image of a person versus being critical of someone you actually know and admire as a result of meeting them in person. I'll be honest that one of the first things I did when I returned home after meeting and partying with Axl/GNR one night many years ago was to review some of the shit I had said about him and deleted the stuff that I now felt was unfair. The guy really is a hell of a nice guy when you talk to him in person and it made me realize that some of my critiques were based on my idea of who he is and was rather than who he actually is. That doesn't mean I haven't been critical of him after the fact, but I now understand why after meeting the actual man it changes one's perceptions. Jarmo has had a close relationship with the band as a fan and later as an employee and I get why he'd act defensively over someone who has been loyal to him. It's natural - just imagine if there were a group of people constantly talking shit about someone you know personally and care for a great deal. Some of you are far more cynical about all of this than you should be. I truly feel Jarmo acts the way he does out of a loyalty to the band and GNR, not because he was bought off or because he always envisioned about being somehow formally associated with the band.

I'm happy to hear that people enjoy this forum for what it tries to be: a place for open exchanges whether they be positive or negative. So long as people remain respectful of each other we can all celebrate all things GNR in our own way.

I respect your opinions and you raise a lot of good and fair points. I acknowledge what you're saying about Jarmo and Axl and I agree with it.

That's all nice and well but when I simply go by what I see right now I can only conclude what I concluded earlier; GnR is dead.

[downzy]

Alright, let's put things into perspective when it comes to Jarmo/HTGTH/GNR.

First off, I'm not sure how many of you who only started frequenting GNR online forums recently are aware of the fact that for a long time, during the quiet years of 1996 - 2001, Jarmo was instrumental in keeping the GNR fanbase vested and energized. Along with Jeff Boerio's Dust N' Bones mailing list, the GNR fan community was kept engaged by the efforts of a few at the time. A lot of credit is deserved to guys like Jarmo for stepping up at a time when we had no idea what GNR was or whether we'd ever see Axl in public again. The band owed Jarmo much for his efforts so it's great to see them repay him by taking him on as an assistant whenever they travel. Also respect the fact that Jarmo was the only guy reporting setlists for various concerts in the early days.

Let's also remember that for most people who haven't met or spent time with Axl, he's just some intangible rockstar that has a very limited connection with those who support and listen to his music. It's very easy to be critical of the image of a person versus being critical of someone you actually know and admire as a result of meeting them in person. I'll be honest that one of the first things I did when I returned home after meeting and partying with Axl/GNR one night many years ago was to review some of the shit I had said about him and deleted the stuff that I now felt was unfair. The guy really is a hell of a nice guy when you talk to him in person and it made me realize that some of my critiques were based on my idea of who he is and was rather than who he actually is. That doesn't mean I haven't been critical of him after the fact, but I now understand why after meeting the actual man it changes one's perceptions. Jarmo has had a close relationship with the band as a fan and later as an employee and I get why he'd act defensively over someone who has been loyal to him. It's natural - just imagine if there were a group of people constantly talking shit about someone you know personally and care for a great deal. Some of you are far more cynical about all of this than you should be. I truly feel Jarmo acts the way he does out of a loyalty to the band and GNR, not because he was bought off or because he always envisioned about being somehow formally associated with the band.

I'm happy to hear that people enjoy this forum for what it tries to be: a place for open exchanges whether they be positive or negative. So long as people remain respectful of each other we can all celebrate all things GNR in our own way.

I respect your opinions and you raise a lot of good and fair points. I acknowledge what you're saying about Jarmo and Axl and I agree with it.

That's all nice and well but when I simply go by what I see right now I can only conclude what I concluded earlier; GnR is dead.

Fair enough. And maybe it is (though I've got a good feeling for 2015 )

At the very least, if GNR is truly done, we can use this place to discussion the memories, what former members are up to, and other topics (see Attitude). One thing I love about this forum are the people who come to discuss not just GNR but music, movies, politics, sports, etc. It's more than just a GNR community; MYGNRFORUM is a community unto itself. I have some really great friends in my offline life, but as a result of our busy schedules and the ease by which communicating online, I probably talk to you guys more than my real friends.

[DieselDaisy]

Alright, let's put things into perspective when it comes to Jarmo/HTGTH/GNR.

First off, I'm not sure how many of you who only started frequenting GNR online forums recently are aware of the fact that for a long time, during the quiet years of 1996 - 2001, Jarmo was instrumental in keeping the GNR fanbase vested and energized. Along with Jeff Boerio's Dust N' Bones mailing list, the GNR fan community was kept engaged by the efforts of a few at the time. A lot of credit is deserved to guys like Jarmo for stepping up at a time when we had no idea what GNR was or whether we'd ever see Axl in public again. The band owed Jarmo much for his efforts so it's great to see them repay him by taking him on as an assistant whenever they travel. Also respect the fact that Jarmo was the only guy reporting setlists for various concerts in the early days.

Let's also remember that for most people who haven't met or spent time with Axl, he's just some intangible rockstar that has a very limited connection with those who support and listen to his music. It's very easy to be critical of the image of a person versus being critical of someone you actually know and admire as a result of meeting them in person. I'll be honest that one of the first things I did when I returned home after meeting and partying with Axl/GNR one night many years ago was to review some of the shit I had said about him and deleted the stuff that I now felt was unfair. The guy really is a hell of a nice guy when you talk to him in person and it made me realize that some of my critiques were based on my idea of who he is and was rather than who he actually is. That doesn't mean I haven't been critical of him after the fact, but I now understand why after meeting the actual man it changes one's perceptions. Jarmo has had a close relationship with the band as a fan and later as an employee and I get why he'd act defensively over someone who has been loyal to him. It's natural - just imagine if there were a group of people constantly talking shit about someone you know personally and care for a great deal. Some of you are far more cynical about all of this than you should be. I truly feel Jarmo acts the way he does out of a loyalty to the band and GNR, not because he was bought off or because he always envisioned about being somehow formally associated with the band.

I'm happy to hear that people enjoy this forum for what it tries to be: a place for open exchanges whether they be positive or negative. So long as people remain respectful of each other we can all celebrate all things GNR in our own way.

Bollocks

There is no excuse for the type of brownnosing, enacted by old curly top. He is also a fairly vindictive character, Jarmo.

[downzy]

Alright, let's put things into perspective when it comes to Jarmo/HTGTH/GNR.

First off, I'm not sure how many of you who only started frequenting GNR online forums recently are aware of the fact that for a long time, during the quiet years of 1996 - 2001, Jarmo was instrumental in keeping the GNR fanbase vested and energized. Along with Jeff Boerio's Dust N' Bones mailing list, the GNR fan community was kept engaged by the efforts of a few at the time. A lot of credit is deserved to guys like Jarmo for stepping up at a time when we had no idea what GNR was or whether we'd ever see Axl in public again. The band owed Jarmo much for his efforts so it's great to see them repay him by taking him on as an assistant whenever they travel. Also respect the fact that Jarmo was the only guy reporting setlists for various concerts in the early days.

Let's also remember that for most people who haven't met or spent time with Axl, he's just some intangible rockstar that has a very limited connection with those who support and listen to his music. It's very easy to be critical of the image of a person versus being critical of someone you actually know and admire as a result of meeting them in person. I'll be honest that one of the first things I did when I returned home after meeting and partying with Axl/GNR one night many years ago was to review some of the shit I had said about him and deleted the stuff that I now felt was unfair. The guy really is a hell of a nice guy when you talk to him in person and it made me realize that some of my critiques were based on my idea of who he is and was rather than who he actually is. That doesn't mean I haven't been critical of him after the fact, but I now understand why after meeting the actual man it changes one's perceptions. Jarmo has had a close relationship with the band as a fan and later as an employee and I get why he'd act defensively over someone who has been loyal to him. It's natural - just imagine if there were a group of people constantly talking shit about someone you know personally and care for a great deal. Some of you are far more cynical about all of this than you should be. I truly feel Jarmo acts the way he does out of a loyalty to the band and GNR, not because he was bought off or because he always envisioned about being somehow formally associated with the band.

I'm happy to hear that people enjoy this forum for what it tries to be: a place for open exchanges whether they be positive or negative. So long as people remain respectful of each other we can all celebrate all things GNR in our own way.

Bollocks

There is no excuse for the type of brownnosing, enacted by old curly top. He is also a fairly vindictive character, Jarmo.

Well, I've talked to him in person and I strongly disagree with your assessment. While I disagree with how Jarmo moderates his forum (which is why I stopped posting there years ago), it's his to do whatever he wants with it. I'm happy here and don't wish him any ill will as he's a nice guy to talk to in person and has done much for the GNR community over the years. And there are people who enjoy the kind of discussion environment he provides at HTGTH.

[DieselDaisy]

Alright, let's put things into perspective when it comes to Jarmo/HTGTH/GNR.

First off, I'm not sure how many of you who only started frequenting GNR online forums recently are aware of the fact that for a long time, during the quiet years of 1996 - 2001, Jarmo was instrumental in keeping the GNR fanbase vested and energized. Along with Jeff Boerio's Dust N' Bones mailing list, the GNR fan community was kept engaged by the efforts of a few at the time. A lot of credit is deserved to guys like Jarmo for stepping up at a time when we had no idea what GNR was or whether we'd ever see Axl in public again. The band owed Jarmo much for his efforts so it's great to see them repay him by taking him on as an assistant whenever they travel. Also respect the fact that Jarmo was the only guy reporting setlists for various concerts in the early days.

Let's also remember that for most people who haven't met or spent time with Axl, he's just some intangible rockstar that has a very limited connection with those who support and listen to his music. It's very easy to be critical of the image of a person versus being critical of someone you actually know and admire as a result of meeting them in person. I'll be honest that one of the first things I did when I returned home after meeting and partying with Axl/GNR one night many years ago was to review some of the shit I had said about him and deleted the stuff that I now felt was unfair. The guy really is a hell of a nice guy when you talk to him in person and it made me realize that some of my critiques were based on my idea of who he is and was rather than who he actually is. That doesn't mean I haven't been critical of him after the fact, but I now understand why after meeting the actual man it changes one's perceptions. Jarmo has had a close relationship with the band as a fan and later as an employee and I get why he'd act defensively over someone who has been loyal to him. It's natural - just imagine if there were a group of people constantly talking shit about someone you know personally and care for a great deal. Some of you are far more cynical about all of this than you should be. I truly feel Jarmo acts the way he does out of a loyalty to the band and GNR, not because he was bought off or because he always envisioned about being somehow formally associated with the band.

I'm happy to hear that people enjoy this forum for what it tries to be: a place for open exchanges whether they be positive or negative. So long as people remain respectful of each other we can all celebrate all things GNR in our own way.

Bollocks

There is no excuse for the type of brownnosing, enacted by old curly top. He is also a fairly vindictive character, Jarmo.

Well, I've talked to him in person and I strongly disagree with your assessment. While I disagree with how Jarmo moderates his forum (which is why I stopped posting there years ago), it's his to do whatever he wants with it. I'm happy here and don't wish him any ill will as he's a nice guy to talk to in person and has done much for the GNR community over the years. And there are people who enjoy the kind of discussion environment he provides at HTGTH.

All two members!

[WFA]

When I first visited HTGTH in 1996, it was a small niche fansite that Jarmo ran alone from his bedroom.

It's a real testament to the power of the internet that simple dedication to a band could see a fan in that position end up on stage with Axl & crowd singing happy birthday to him, years later. You could make a movie about it.

Problem is, along the way that particular fan paid with his integrity, and then eventually with the site that got him up there. If anyone doubts that, you can read about it in black & white (with edits!).

I stopped visiting around 2006, and it was around that time that there was a pretty dramatic change in tack. I recall jarmo cooing over slash's first baby's curly black hair, and then within a short time after that he began the slow (now familiar) assassination of slash's character that goes on to this day. To any semi-intelligent poster it was truly pathetic.

The purge-like wholesale bannings took a while to kick in, but when they came they were an insult to any fan of guns. I never had any direct interaction with jarmo and was never banned myself, but the way in which I witnessed him treating some of the most knowledgeable and articulate posters at his own forum, and some of guns most dedicated fans, was a disgrace. He was and is a bully.

Irony is, all of that was driven by unquestioning dedication to Axl - the exact quality Axl seems to select for in the people he surrounds himself with. Jarmo is just a throwaway example, and his behaviour is just a predictable symptom of the disease that infects guns as we know it today. It could've been anyone.

Now Axl has another quite ordinary asskisser all to himself. And everything he does is exactly the right thing. And we have no guns n roses music.

I started visiting HTGTH in 1998 I believe. Jarmo always had the most recent news related to GNR (current AND ex members) and it was always great to get caught up on what was going on in the world of GNR. It took me a while to become a poster there. I just checked and I registered in June of 2003. I have never really been an active poster over there, but there was definitely a period when I was posting more than the average person.

Like you mentioned HubbaBubba, one day Jarmo started just hating Slash and all the ex members. I remember pointing out to him that his original review of Velvet Revolver's first album was positive and he said something alone the lines of "yeah, but that was only because ex members of GNR were in the band and it clouded my judgement at first. Now I realize how average and bland it is". The big death blow for me was when he stopped posting news about ex members of the band. I used to actually submit news to him to post on HTGTH. One day I emailed him an update on Duff I believe and he told me that he wasn't in Guns N Roses so the news wouldn't be posted.

Over the years I've had lots of other issues with him. He always hates that people give negative reviews of the band just from a Youtube clip, and being there in person is different. Well guess what? I've posted negative reviews of the band from shows I attended in person and he deleted those reviews. A big part of my negative reviews stems from the set list issue. I think that is what drives him nuts the most. Earlier this year I posted that I skipped GNR for the first time in my life when they recently came to NYC, and it wasn't because of money issues. I didn't go to the Brooklyn Bowl or the Randalls Island shows and I said I was glad I didn't because it was the exact same set list we've seen for over 10 years. He went on to say he cannot understand how people have a problem with the fact that they play the same set list every night.

Outside of HTGTH I really really REALLY miss gnronline. That was without a doubt the most insane forum out there. Did we ever find out who posted Axl's phone number to get that place shut down?

Also does anyone know where Xozi and QUEENIE are these days? I remember on a different forum I got QUEENIE so upset from teasing him that Xozi PM'ed me threatening legal action (swear to God this actually happened).

Queenie is here as pockets.

[combos]

Much like the original band... we all just stopped giving a fuck. You can't put your arms around a memory. Yesterday's got nothing for us.