11/25/18 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Du Arena

[ChristianGNR]

As I said in the shows thread, i don’t think axl or management has planned to play half show. 

Something went bad during November rain. They didn’t even try to give him some rest before leaving.

[Carburetta]

I support the band and Axl in this situation, and take the reason given for the interrupted set at face value. I do question the management’s role in all of this however given Fernando’s choice to watch the F1 race in the afternoon of the show in light of Axl’s ill health.

[SAU3R]

7 minutes ago, ChrisMaciel said:

As I said in the shows thread, i don’t think axl or management has planned to play half show. 

Something went bad during November rain. They didn’t even try to give him some rest before leaving.

that's probably true, but when you feel this sick, you can't plan a show, you can't expect to play the show like every other, especially when your usual shows are 3+ hours.. they could've changed the setlist and if axl felt better during the show they still could've played the songs they originally cut

[Live Like a Suicide]

The critics can go and fuck themselves. Guns still played longer than most bands of their calibre, and Axl put on a great performance despite being very sick. 

[Black Sabbath]

1 hour ago, Carburetta said:

I support the band and Axl in this situation, and take the reason given for the interrupted set at face value. I do question the management’s role in all of this however given Fernando’s choice to watch the F1 race in the afternoon of the show in light of Axl’s ill health.

Was Fernando supposed to magically cure Axl in the meantime?

[Tyler Drama]

5 minutes ago, Black Sabbath said:

Was Fernando supposed to magically cure Axl in the meantime?

Yeah man, he’s obviously expected to sit by Axl’s bedside while he rests. 🙄

[cineater]

6 minutes ago, Black Sabbath said:

Was Fernando supposed to magically cure Axl in the meantime?

You know I always ran off to events before I had to show up for work that day, not.  That probably was a celebrity appearance.  Slash filled in for Axl at the last minute and Fernando was where he was suppose to be, escorting the GNR star to the event.  They made it look natural didn't they?

[Liva]

he was obviously feeling like shit, but he was moving around and that probably helped him subside or ignore the nausea.  Once he sat down to play NR, the nausea prob set in again and he couldn't recover from it. In hindsight he probably would say to skip NR or have dizzy play piano so he could keep moving.  Look at the 3:48 mark here, during the break before the ending section.  Axl puts both hands on his knees and u can tell he is fighting back puking or some sort of nausea.  He did his best, probably planned to play the whole show, had that sitting down moment and all went to hell, think we need to give the guy a break.  Axl was clearly with doctors getting IV's so other than the optics, fernando couldnt really have done anything different to help Axl.  If anyone has been hungover or naseous, you want to sit in silence hoping you feel better, you dont want someone yapping in your ear every 15 minutes.  "Axl do you feel better".  They didnt cancel and who knows, Axl might give them a 4 hour show next time around to make up for it. 

 

[SAU3R]

ok i agree of course Fernando is not Axls nurse, I got carried away a bit there
But I still think the whole issue could've been communicated a bit better

Edited November 26, 2018 by SAU3R

[Tom2112]

18 hours ago, brad_k said:

I wonder if these same 'fans' would criticise Dave Grohl if he pulled off the same thing

If Dave Grohl did this, he would have headlines all over social media about how dedicated a professional he is! I honestly don't see much difference between the two these days. Axl broke his foot and played the rest of the show, and then toured sitting down, he's gone on stage sick a bunch of times and played either the equivalent o most other bands full show, or the entire GNR 2.5/3hr show... the guy doesn't always deliver the vocal we and everybody expects from him, but he does try... 

Anyone whinging and moaning, I get it! you didn't get a great show! but it could have been an all out cancelled gig. And I'm sure they had the option in their contract, to be able to cancel if any of the key members were seriously ill or injured... but they decided to go out and do as much of a show as they could, I'd have just had a few beers and enjoyed it for what it was. Now! any other night where everybody was in good health if I got this show, I'd be pissed! but sick is sick! you can't just force yourself better, and the voice is dependant on the rest of your body being in good health!

Anyway! that crowd was filled with morons for the most part, people that got free tickets with the racing, most (not all) aren't fans of the band, they just went because it's a big name and it was free. 

[RussTCB]

11 minutes ago, Tom2112 said:

If Dave Grohl did this, he would have headlines all over social media about how dedicated a professional he is! I honestly don't see much difference between the two these days. Axl broke his foot and played the rest of the show, and then toured sitting down, he's gone on stage sick a bunch of times and played either the equivalent o most other bands full show, or the entire GNR 2.5/3hr show... the guy doesn't always deliver the vocal we and everybody expects from him, but he does try... 

I think "these days" is the key. I made a point similar to this earlier and someone made a good counterpoint back: Axl's reputation is what gets him into these situations. All of us are aware of how much he's changed, but very few people outside the forums realize that. Most of the world still thinks of Axl is "the late guy, who's a giant d-bag". 

[Liva]

unless you were actually at the show, there is really no reason for anyone on here to complain.  Do you feel ripped off cause you have a few less songs to youtube?  Axl was sick, he knew it before he went on stage. I am sure he was presented with the options to either 1) Cancel   2)Shorten the set and hope for the best   3)Play full set and hope for the best.  We know which one he chose, it didnt work out.  Being in a different country every few days, eating very different foods, not being used to the drinking water, even in ice cubes.  It is easy to accidentally eat something that doesn't agree with your stomach.  For all we know, he went backstage to puke or take a shit and would be ready to go back out in 20 minutes to finish the show but the promoter pulled the plug to avoid a possible riot.  Imagine what would have ensued if someone came out and said "Axl is puking backstage, he will hopefully be back out in 20 mins".  The crowd would have turned on the band over that 20 mins, and if he ended up not coming back out for legit reasons, that place would've been torn to shreds by the fans. 

[Politania]

4 minutes ago, RussTCB said:

I think "these days" is the key. I made a point similar to this earlier and someone made a good counterpoint back: Axl's reputation is what gets him into these situations. All of us are aware of how much he's changed, but very few people outside the forums realize that. Most of the world still thinks of Axl is "the late guy, who's a giant d-bag". 

pointed. thank you

[Len Cnut]

12 minutes ago, RussTCB said:

I think "these days" is the key. I made a point similar to this earlier and someone made a good counterpoint back: Axl's reputation is what gets him into these situations. All of us are aware of how much he's changed, but very few people outside the forums realize that. Most of the world still thinks of Axl is "the late guy, who's a giant d-bag". 

There's a slight difference though.  If Axl, someone with a history of bottling it from the stage, on the eve of this massive fuckin' reunion, suddenly pulled out it would've had a terrible effect, he kind of couldn't back out.

[NicoRourke]

18 hours ago, jacdaniel said:

You can understand the frustration of the fans. They paid top dollar for F1 and GNR and got a very short show missing about 30% of the set.

I'd be so disappointed, although more understanding than those on twitter. 

 

A 70% show is not ‘very short’. And they still had the F1. He did his best, which is great.

[cineater]

This thread is actually kind of refreshing.  Normally we get the usual bitching about the set list and Axl's voice.  Nice to see the fans rally around the band and be supportive.  I thought we'd have to wait until Axl was dead to see this kind of support.

[LovelessNL]

70% of a GNR show is still longer than a usual show from Kiss, Metallica, Maiden, whoever. Not bitching about any of those bands, actually gonna see the first two next year and always see Maiden when they're around, but just to put it in perspective...

[RussTCB]

38 minutes ago, Len Cnut said:

There's a slight difference though.  If Axl, someone with a history of bottling it from the stage, on the eve of this massive fuckin' reunion, suddenly pulled out it would've had a terrible effect, he kind of couldn't back out.

No, I know that. That's what I was saying; Axl did the best he could here IMO. However, his reputation is what's causing people to over react. I agree that if he would have canceled it would have been a VERY bad situation, so I think he did do the right thing. 

[soon]

Recently, Mel played an entire show in stiletto boots that hurt her feet and she had to be carried off stage after show. But you don't see anyone singing her praises. Sigh.

Spoiler

 

[adamsapple]

Any news on how Axl is doing? Hope he's better by now.

[nikothebellic]

But imagine how it would be EPIC, if they managed to go up to Paradise City and Axl would have performed it stayng right next to a backstage, from time to time running to spit up. 

Edited November 26, 2018 by nikothebellic

[ChristianGNR]

Where's Bach when they most need him?

37 minutes ago, nikothebellic said:

But imagine how it would be EPIC, if they managed to go up to Paradise City and Axl would have performed it stayng right next to a backstage, from time to time running to spit up. 

 

[Scream of the Butterfly]

15 hours ago, Tyler Drama said:

I guess. Maybe it comes down to, like, “I paid the same amount of money as people did to the last show, and got nearly half the songs.” It’s possible some of them would have preferred a refund, instead of an incomplete show.

There were no separate concert tickets. The concert was offered as a bonus for F1 ticket holders. That's why some of the concert-goers were saying they were glad they didn't pay for it.

Of course, there were probably some people who only bought their F1 tickets because GNR was playing, but I don't think that matters as long as the main event wasn't cancelled. If GNR had cancelled, those people would have been left with nothing at all: no refunds.

[Axl's Agony Aunt]

This case is very interesting for my work.

In line with my current evaluative understanding; that the Axl is a contrarian law unto himself paradox; I propose that the doctor told him to rest, so he played.

Seriously, I think it shows that Axl and Guns want the best for the fans, and doing a normal length concert for most bands under the circumstances, was fantastic.

Seriously with some psychological profiling from reading the others' autobiographies, there were times Axl just didn't turn up for concerts, or didn't turn up until very late, and I think that was probably because he felt that he 'had' to play. If people had told him not to play, he'd probably have made sure he did!!

 

[LA_0013]

Just to clarify - there were many people that paid for the F1 tickets just to see GNR (myself included) - it was buying the package or nothing.

I forked out on the basic tickets with access to the Hill to watch the race (which isn’t even in the stands) and a pair of tickets with Golden circle add-on cost 3,000 dirhams (over $800)... I didn’t even go to the race.

So anyone doing the same as me forked out a fair chunk of change to see the gig - without even considering transport, hotels etc.

I enjoyed the gig, and you can’t kick a man for being sick. But I also understand a minority being pissed off - because the show was very strange for those that don’t follow the tour closely

 

 

Edited November 27, 2018 by LA_0013