Popular Post Graeme Posted March 8, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted March 8, 2015 Since GTF asked me to make a thread for this, here it is.Last night, Ron played a gig with a whole load of students from the Edinburgh academy of music and sound, it wasn't a traditional "band-plays-to-audience" gig, the line-up of musicians on the stage kept changing as different people came and went. It was almost more like a big extended jam session, very cool open format for a show... almost like the traditional Scottish idea of a Ceilidh, which is just a big informal musical gathering, except that all these students had presumably rehearsed together, Ron was the only one slotting himself in having never played as part of the group, but he's got the ability to do that.Anyway, when I arrived, Ron was just finishing a set with one band, then talking to a few people and I snuck up and said "hi"... We've talked in one way or another since 2006, when Ron put up with all my teenage fan bullshit admirably (as I'm sure he did with countless others) but the less formal format of the gig meant we got a lot more time to just chat rather than the high-pressure atmosphere of Guns N' Roses aftershow parties, where the musicians are like a commodity that everyone's clamouring for a piece of. Anyway, at some point, Ron asked if I wanted to get up and play... I was just there as a punter, I wasn't part of the academy group or anything... I was a bit like a deer caught in headlights, but my mind flew around in that way it often does when you're doing an open mic and searching for the next song to play and Don't Cry was the first thing it settled on. So I blurted that out, and Ron said "sure!"I needed to catch the 10pm train from Edinburgh back to Glasgow, so I very nearly didn't get to do it at all (the preceding song was a 20 minute jam version of Superstition by Stevie Wonder), but at 9:40 I got up on the stage and said "fuck it, I'll run!" I realised that I've listened to the Use Your Illusion II version far more than the original, so I sang the full song with the alternative lyrics. It's weird, I could have been totally overwhelmed by the whole thing, but when you're up there, suddenly the most important thing is the song itself, so all my focus went on delivering the best rendition of it that I could rather than thinking "I'm singing with the lead guitarist of my favourite band"... The crowd were really supportive, the atmosphere was great, the academy band were spot on and Ron did his usual. I've no idea how I sounded, maybe some footage will surface...As soon as the song finished, I thanked the crowd, gave Ron a hug and then I had to grab my coat and run like fuck for the train. It didn't really hit me until I was sitting on the way back to Glasgow, the woman next to me on the train must have thought I was mental, because I kept grinning and laughing like an idiot.Point is, it could have been any of us, there's no "elite club" you have to be a part of, you all know I'm as ordinary a GN'R fan as everyone else on this board but it was an amazing experience, I'll definitely never forget it. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downzy Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Nice story. Would be great if we could see the performance Any chance this ends up on YouTube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 There were plenty of cameras around, I obviously didn't record it because I was up singing, but it would be nice if some sort of clip or photo made it on to the 'net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GivenToFly Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Comstock Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 That's awesome man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
username Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 And here I was thinking this would be about me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Apparently Axl_Morris got the whole thing on video, I didn't even know he was there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselDaisy Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 He was playing Newcastle (I do not know if he either has or is about to?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulMonster Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Brilliant! I am happy for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Drama Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Good on you man. Ron is/was the best member of this "band". Hope you hit all the high notes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Good on you man. Ron is/was the best member of this "band". Hope you hit all the high notes!I fucked my upper register screaming along to Rage Against The Machine at a club on Friday night, I decided to play to my strengths and not embarrass myself by trying . It's a... folkier take on the song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tentonneskeleton Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Congrats man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunsguy Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 That is sooo cool! Way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rock4eva Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 That's fantastic Graeme, what an experience for you. Now there's something to tell the grandchildren one day I can imagine you on the train grinning and laughing while still on such a high, you should have told the woman cos you never know - she might be a fan of GNR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Graeme Posted March 9, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 9, 2015 My part in the whole thing starts at ~26:30, there's a bit of a jump and I also look like a bit of a tit checking my phone for the lyrics to the last verse during the solo, but oh well . 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselDaisy Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 It is a good rendition for a spur of the moment thing. Bit nervy at the beginning but you began to get more confident when the choruses kick in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45miles Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Congratulations! It looked like you and Ron were both having fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evader Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 That was great, Graeme! What a rush that must have been being on stage singing with BBF playing right next to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfierose Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Very cool. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 Thanks guys, it wasn't really the best showcase for my voice and my voice wasn't in great shape but for what it is I'm proud of it and the adrenaline rush was huge. I'd love to get the chance to do it again, but maybe with a bit more preparation and forewarning. Who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Cnut Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 You should use that shit to get work as a musician man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GivenToFly Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Was it open for anybody who wanted to get up on the stage? Or did you know someone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselDaisy Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I think we have a new stage maneuver with this, get out mobile, quickly analyse lyrics, movement. It was all done with such speed and dexterity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulMonster Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I think we have a new stage maneuver with this, get out mobile, quickly analyse lyrics, movement. It was all done with such speed and dexterity. Axl could benefit from that maneuver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 Was it open for anybody who wanted to get up on the stage? Or did you know someone?I only knew Ron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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