DUFF MCKAGAN Defends GUNS N' ROSES' Three-And-A-Half-Hour Live Performances: 'What Songs Do You Take Out?'

[Stay.Of.Execution]

In a new interview with Heavy Music, Duff McKagan was asked about GUNS N' ROSES' insistence on playing marathon sets that usually last at least a full hour longer than those of most other bands. The GN'R bassist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer], man, Axl loves… I think it's… Goddamn it's, like, what songs do you take out, if you wanted to play shorter? Don't get me wrong — my body would love it if we only played two and a half hours. Most bands play two hours, two hours and 10 minutes or something, and we're playing three [hours and] 30 [minutes]. I'd love to play shorter because I'd be in less pain the next day. But there's just too many songs, and people stay for the whole thing. Nobody leaves, so it's, like, okay, they must be enjoying this. We'll whip out 'Coma' or 'Locomotive'. We're whipping out other songs. I really love playing them. 'Bad Obsession', 'Pretty Tied Up'. So great. We'll play it all. 'Reckless [Life]'and'Shadow [Of Your Love]'. And I'm looking at Axl, and I'm, like, 'Yeah, you sure, man? 'Cause we've gotta play again in a couple nights.' But he's a monster, man, that guy, Axl, like his longevity. We've had to cancel only one show because of vocals, because you get a swelling — no wonder — swelling on one of his sides. And he'll still wanna play the show, and the doctor will be, like, 'You could ruin your voice forever.' We canceled one [gig] in Glasgow a couple of years ago. We made it up."

https://blabbermouth.net/news/duff-mckagan-defends-guns-n-roses-three-and-a-half-hour-live-performances-what-songs-do-you-take-out?fbclid=IwAR2fqWIc7_b9bbDrff55Y-U1pwDyFGhZOjC8ePHpyOtykxp7CA2mYAk7YYg

 

 

 

 

[jacdaniel]

I love the long shows. I think it shows that they really care. In the last couple of years I saw RHCP and Arctic Monkeys do less than 2 hours and not even play half of their big songs. 

[C.H.]

I love the long shows. I wouldn’t mind it being shorter occasionally but the variety of songs, sometimes they play certain songs (like I think it was Don’t Cry) one night but not the next. They’re out there giving their all and I appreciate the effort. The post-reunion track record for minimal cancellations is great!! Even when they did have to postpone Glasgow or cancel St. Louis it seems that it was done with reluctance. Really seemed bummed out about St. Louis tbh, but imo overall the tour has been really great.

[EvanG]

20 minutes ago, jacdaniel said:

 I think it shows that they really care. 

Yeah. I think it’s funny so many people talk about how they don’t give a shit. If they didn’t give a shit, they wouldn’t be playing 3 hours (or longer) each night when they can easily get away with playing half as long like so many other big acts do.

[Voodoochild]

Right on Duff. The world needs KOHD and Rocket Queen 3-hour solos. 

[Uncle Bob]

1 hour ago, Stay.Of.Execution said:

what songs do you take out, if you wanted to play shorter? 

Wichita Lineman? Black Hole Sun? The Seeker? Walk All Over You? Back In Black? Live And Let Die? KOHD? neverending extended versions of KOHD and RQ?

I know for the last shows it wast just Wichita and oldies like Live and Let Die or KOHD, but for many shows for this whole NITL run, there has been way too many covers and unnecessary boring extended songs.

I wish that time spent for all that stuff would have been dedicated to perform other of their actual songs (or more new songs) or maybe just to rest themselves as even Duff admitted it can be hurtful

[Stay.Of.Execution]

2 minutes ago, Uncle Bob said:

Wichita Lineman? Black Hole Sun? The Seeker? Walk All Over You? Back In Black? Live And Let Die? KOHD? neverending extended versions of KOHD and RQ?

 

They haven't played black hole sun and the seeker in a while now. The ACDC songs only a few times. Live and let die is a staple as it's one of the favourites for the general crowd. They could shorten heavens door though or maybe start playing it like in 92 again

Edited December 16, 2023 by Stay.Of.Execution

[Uncle Bob]

2 minutes ago, Stay.Of.Execution said:

They haven't played black hole sun and the seeker in a while now. The ACDC songs only a few times. Live and let die is a staple as it's one of the favourites for the general crowd. They could shorten heavens door though or maybe start playing it like in 92 again

Yeah, that's what I said, that's why I have said some of the shows from the entire NITL run have had way too many covers.

It saddens me to say I had a very bad experience in the Seville show in 2022. I wasn't even expecting a new song, but the setlist was the most boring one I have ever experienced in any show in general. Solo spots and extended songs felt insufferable. I was literally bored for most of it. My partner which is just a casual couldn't understand why KOHD or RQ were so long. Then I see setlists of shows from this last year like the one in Madrid which didn't even had Perhaps yet and I'm like "was it so hard to provide this same setlist back in 2022?"

[Gordon Comstock]

16 minutes ago, Uncle Bob said:

Wichita Lineman? Black Hole Sun? The Seeker? Walk All Over You? Back In Black? Live And Let Die? KOHD? neverending extended versions of KOHD and RQ?

I know for the last shows it wast just Wichita and oldies like Live and Let Die or KOHD, but for many shows for this whole NITL run, there has been way too many covers and unnecessary boring extended songs.

I wish that time spent for all that stuff would have been dedicated to perform other of their actual songs (or more new songs) or maybe just to rest themselves as even Duff admitted it can be hurtful

 

Their cover of Wichita Lineman is great imo, but I wouldn't mind if they rotated it with You Ain't The First. If there's one cover they need to drop, it's Slither.

YCBM is a hit, but it's sounded awful for years now.

KOHD should be a staple, RQ could be an alternate, but neither song should have 6+ minutes of extended solos...

I'd be happy if they took a RHCP approach to the sets - have a few staples that get played every night (WTTJ, SCOM, PC, Nov Rain, KOHD, LALD) and rotate everything else.

[Free Bird]

Their shows are great as they are now. Don't change a fucking thing just because some forum weirdos are looking for random reasons to complain. 

[Politania]

I would like to ask something without sounding like a jerk, but please someone tell me who plays the guitar, does it actually hurt after so many hours of playing? is it pain in the hands or arms? I don't play any instrument myself and I have no idea.

[JAxlMorrison]

None. You’re paying, and they’re performing to the level they think you deserve by giving you their time. What kind of fan wants LESS of a show from their favorite band?! 

[Stay.Of.Execution]

14 minutes ago, JAxlMorrison said:

None. You’re paying, and they’re performing to the level they think you deserve by giving you their time. What kind of fan wants LESS of a show from their favorite band?! 

Mostly people who go don't go to shows but mostly bitch on a fan forum. I have yet to meet a person at the shows who wants them to play less. 

[EvanG]

27 minutes ago, Politania said:

I would like to ask something without sounding like a jerk, but please someone tell me who plays the guitar, does it actually hurt after so many hours of playing? is it pain in the hands or arms? I don't play any instrument myself and I have no idea.

Yes, especially Les Paul guitars are heavy. My band rehearses once a week for three hours and I already sit down half of the rehearsal because otherwise I feel it in my shoulders the next day.

[DeNfr]

 

I don't have a particularly strong opinion on the subject but I can't help to imagine
relatively short shows of one hour and a half and the intensity that could create...

[Gnrcane]

Honestly, the marathon shows are part of what makes GNR what they are.  If they shortened them a little by cutting down RQ and KOHD by a few minutes each it would be fine but I'd be very disappointed in a 2 1/2 hour GNR show if I was there.

[Blackstar]

The last tours had the least jams and solo spots in years. KOHD was still as boring as usual, but I think the new Rocket Queen jam they did on this year's tour was quite enjoyable compared to what they did on previous NITL tours.

NuGnR shows (at least from 2006 onward) had way more jams, as each member had his solo spot. I remember I enjoyed the 2006 show I went to but thought it had too many jams for a 2-hour show.

[Zeppelin]

I love long shows and I also love shorter shows. Depends on who’s playing. GNR has a long list of songs people would want to hear, which is crazy given how small their discography is. Really goes to show how those albums are mammoths.

It’s also easier to be more in favour of longer shows now that they are playing on time.

Edited December 16, 2023 by Zeppelin

[DSTK]

Cut Rocket Queen like they did at Glastonbury & you'd squeeze another song in, something like Yesterdays / You're crazy ...a decent sub 4 min track 

Don't shorten sets, shorten Rocket & KOHD , play it as a studio length song & it's a great live track, at 12 min long it's boring & I fit in a pee & a beer 

Edited December 16, 2023 by DSTK

[BluegrassBlues]

I love long shows, I'd stay for however long they wanted to play. I do think that is mostly an Axl thing though, I remember back in '91 or '92 that backstage interview where he mentioned wanting to get up to three hour long shows, so good on Duff and Slash for doing that with him 

[WhazUp]

I thought the show I caught this year had great flow, personally I am glad they are still delivering such decently lengthy shows when they could easily coast doing way less.  Gotta give Axl and everyone credit for that

[colonizedmind]

4 hours ago, Voodoochild said:

Right on Duff. The world needs KOHD and Rocket Queen 3-hour solos. 

In the off season, Duff is touring his solo album, Slash is working his solo album AND 4Tus is now working up a 24 hour last to leave the stage KOHD - play til you reach heaven improv! 

[Bitchisback]

5 hours ago, jacdaniel said:

I love the long shows. I think it shows that they really care. In the last couple of years I saw RHCP and Arctic Monkeys do less than 2 hours and not even play half of their big songs. 

Yeah j saw RHCP twice in 2022. 

 

The second time they headlined a festival and were scheduled to play til 10:50 and they cut the set at 1030 and didn't play Under the Bridge, Otherside, Scar Tissue or some others. Everyone in the pit seemed super confused when the lights came on

[Ratam]

It show that Axl still is passionate, instead become an bureaucreatic band to be on watch the clock.

[DoMw94]

4 hours ago, Uncle Bob said:

Yeah, that's what I said, that's why I have said some of the shows from the entire NITL run have had way too many covers.

But NITL ended four years ago, so it's not relevant.

As for the songs you mentioned, only Wichita Lineman and Live and Let Die are regulars – the latter being a popular official release.

Black Hole Sun was played once in 2022 and once in '21. It hasn't been a regular since 2019.

The Seeker was also last played in 2022, and was only played three times in '22 as well.

Walk All Over You and Back In Black only got played eight times, the latter only in 2022.

The point being, you can't cut stuff that isn't really there.