It took a while, but fans still have an Appetite For Destruction

[smokingarthur]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...260241.htmemail

It took a while, but fans still have appetite for Guns N' Roses

THREE OPENING ACTS, 4 1/2-HOURS BEFORE GROUP TAKES STAGE

By Jim Harrington

MediaNews

It's not easy to be a Guns N' Roses fan.

That point was underscored Friday night at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Actually, it wasn't Friday night that was bad -- Saturday morning was the real killer.

After making fans wait for 4 1/2-hours, and sit through three opening acts, Guns N' Roses finally took the stage at 12:30 a.m. Some fans will have to take my word on that, given that many could be seen leaving the building well before the last opener, Sebastian Bach, finished his set.

One might say that we were lucky the band took the stage at all in Oakland. Things didn't start off so hot in the GNR world on Friday, as vocalist Axl Rose announced earlier in the day that the group was canceling its shows next month, including a Jan. 10 date in Sacramento.

Yet, ``lucky'' is an odd term to describe the situation fans found themselves in after GNR finally finished its set around 2:45 a.m. Indeed, many of these concert-goers, who could be seen yawning early in the set, were lucky just to get home safely.

Even leading a cast of replacement players -- Rose is the only original GNR member left -- the vocalist was still able to wow the crowd on multiple occasions during this late-night outing.

In fact, there were times when the hassle associated with the Oakland show -- as well as all the years of drama leading up to it -- felt worth it. One of those moments occurred as the band performed the traditional opener, ``Welcome to the Jungle,'' the lead track from 1987's stellar ``Appetite for Destruction.''

Rose didn't hold anything back as he scratched and clawed through the number, and the rest of the band matched the front man's passion. In particular, the three-guitar attack -- Robin Finck, Richard Fortus and Ron ``Bumblefoot'' Thal -- did a great job in re-creating original GNR lead guitarist Slash's memorable riffs.

Attempting to satisfy fans' appetite for ``Destruction'' material, the group then performed solid, though unspectacular, versions of ``It's So Easy'' and ``Mr. Brownstone.''

From that point, the band mixed old favorites like ``Sweet Child O' Mine'' and ``November Rain'' with new tunes that one guessed will be on the group's next album.

Of course, that's assuming there will be a next album.

``Chinese Democracy'' was originally scheduled for a 1998 release date. Rose was then shooting to have it out by the end of 2006, but is now talking about it hitting stores in March.

Judging by the strength of the Oakland show the album should be good when -- or if -- it comes out. And that's what's so frustrating about this band.

In some ways, GNR sounds better than it did back in its commercial heyday. The new band is strong in concert. Rose has still got it. And, most amazingly, these fans still care -- even at 2:30 a.m.

[EverythingWasRoses]

In some ways, GNR sounds better than it did back in its commercial heyday. The new band is strong in concert. Rose has still got it. And, most amazingly, these fans still care -- even at 2:30 a.m.

[Funeral]

In some ways, GNR sounds better than it did back in its commercial heyday. The new band is strong in concert. Rose has still got it. And, most amazingly, these fans still care -- even at 2:30 a.m.

fucking A- indeed they are!

[cody6977]

rock1 good read! thanks

[Lukinx]

Pretty cool review, very objective for once.