Gauda Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 Axl Rose brings reloaded Guns Tom Moon Philadelphia Inquirer Published: Friday, December 6, 2002 Tommy Stinson, longtime veteran of the rock wars, actually sounds defensive. "We're not the Guns N' Roses cover band," the former Replacements bassist and current Axl Rose sidekick says, a bit petulantly, referring to one snarky description that's been following the reconstituted hard-rock band around on its first tour since the early '90s. "I'll accept the 'Village People of Rock.' No use pretending otherwise - this is something different from the old band. We didn't want to sound like a cover band learning these songs, and you'll hear it -- we're adding our own thing to them. If I could be so bold, we're playing more aggressively than the old band." To be sure, the motley crew that famously erratic frontman Rose is bringing to the area for two performances this weekend - tonight's show at the First Union Center is sold out, while tickets remain for Sunday's appearance at the First Union Spectrum - isn't the same group that last tore up arenas in 1993. The new G&R is essentially a Rose-assembled cast with three guitarists (including Buckethead, the NY noise merchant), two keyboardists (one is Dizzy Reed, who, having joined the band in 1990, is the lone returning veteran) and drummer Brian Mantia (who has worked with Primus). For five nights a week over much of the last five years, these musicians and others have been sequestered in Los Angeles studios, writing and recording with Rose for the first new Guns material since 1991, which is tentatively titled Chinese Democracy. Stinson says that after several changes of producers, the opus is ready to be mixed. "It's gotten to the point where the songs have evolved over time, and they can't be any better. It needs to be mixed now." It was the writing process that stretched the record into a massive marathon, Stinson explains. "Axl doesn't bring in a song and tell everybody how it goes... . He'll take one idea, then ask somebody else to finish it. He's trying to draw the best out of each individual." Those who go to the shows will be able to hear the fruits of this extensive labor, which has involved several producers, including Queen mentor Roy Thomas Baker. In addition to surveying songs from the band's multiplatinum 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction, and 1991's two-disc Use Your Illusion I and II, the band has been playing three or four new songs each night. Keyboardist Reed, who reupped with Rose because "I had absolutely nothing to fall back on," says the response has been phenomenal: "People are totally into it. I know the old band left a mark, and no matter what we do, some people are going to think we're crazy. But people seem to really like the new songs." And, Stinson says, Rose has surprised everyone around him: "As we've gotten into the tour, he's really put his groove on. His voice is sounding amazing - he's just ripping through these songs." As for Rose's famously turbulent personal life, Stinson says he considers Rose a friend, and is constantly amazed by what's written about him. "Most of what the public thinks about Axl Rose is misconceptions. I trust him with my life, and I definitely feel more a part of a band now than I ever did in any other situation. I think it's an intrigue thing, where those misconceptions meet myth, and legend is what draws people to him. That's the rock-and-roll part. You want to see him fall apart. You want to see the car crash." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIVILIANS Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 AND THAT'S SIMPLY WHY TOMMY STINSON IS THE BEST NEW MEMBER OF THE BAND,ALWAYS IN MY MIND BEEN THE MOST RESPECTED FROM THE START,LOYAL,HARD WORKING AND HE WAS IN THE REPLACEMENT ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockerman Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 yeagh but can he drink vodka and spit like Duff used to?? ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madison Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 Actually, Tommy is the member I'm least impressed with in the new lineup - for a number of reasons. I'd welcome Duff back anyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrPun Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 He ain't no Duff and that's a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 When it comes to playing bass, Tommy makes Duff look like an @ss...plain and simple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madison Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 When it comes to playing bass, Tommy makes Duff look like an @ss...plain and simpleI disagree Mark. I think Duff is far better when you consider bass skills, stage presence, personality and character. Just an observation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 Well, Madison...since I love you...I'll save you the headache and just drop it right there... ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carne_asaDA Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 Both are freakin dorks on stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaman Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 duff is a better bassist, songwriter, guitar player, singer than tommy. paradise city prooves how good he is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnrlies Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 well with little experiecne with stinson i am not going to comment, but i say one thing...How can you not like DUFF! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gauda Posted December 7, 2002 Author Share Posted December 7, 2002 Duff rules.. But I mean, who can deny the Tommy Stinson magic?? .. I haven`t heard much of him, some of The Replacements stuff and thats really good, but thats mainly Paul Westerbergs.. Bash N`Pop his "solo" project is apparantly very good an should show his skills.. I need to pick that up.. Tommy rocks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayatollah Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 I think tommy's far better then Duff. Maybe Duff is a better songwriter but when it comes to the bass guitar tommy is alot better then Duff. He's more energetic and more into the meterial he's playing. I saw him in Toronto on the 29th when they came here and I was shocked in how good he was not just him the whole band. The new is better then the old and Tommy is better then Duff. Plain and simpleTommy Rocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnrlies Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 welal as far as im concerned, as long as they can play the music to its prescribed condition, then skill and whatever is irrelevant.. I mean duff can play to its desired state, but he has the other stuff to go with it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffan Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Ya know I really doubt that Tommy is that good that he makes Duff look like an @ss , Even if Tommy is a better bassist ( Personally I never really listened to his playin ) than Duff , ya gotta admit that Duff is really awesome as well and I really get sick of how some people here tend to Overexaggerate a bit , even if it's an opinion that's fine but at least don't go overboard on it , I mean do you know how good Tommy would have to be in order to make Duff look bad : , it's not like Stinson is John Paul Jones ;D . Peace GnR Nation 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Maybe Bill Laswell will one day play some bass for GNR! I'd have no problem with that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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