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- Topics: Active | Unanswered
- Me_Wise_Magic
- Rep: 70
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
The thing about a pain condition is there's so much more to it than the actual pain.
It's the psychological stress of being in constant pain - firstly, you loose "fun" in your life - because the pain is always there - all the times a normal person 'switches off' like when you watch a movie or play a song and go into the world of the song/movie - you can't do that because the pain snaps you back to concentrating on your physical presence.
Secondly, you loose hope because your NEVER free from it and you know there's no way out in our world.
Thirdly, you have the psychological pressure of knowing that you didn't used to be in pain - you remember how easily you lived your life, how you could forget about your body, how you could do simple things without the terrible consequences doing them can have now. Then you start to envy people who still can.
Fourthly, most people with pain problems also can't sleep well cos of the pain - which aggravates the stress on the mind.
Fifthly, the world is designed for people who are not in pain - so things like holding down your job, going about your day, they are a thousand times harder with endless pain and the reality is that most people just plain do not understand not only the physical cost of it but the MENTAL strain.
And that's why ANYTHING ron says at this point to me is understandable. I'm sure he loves Axl and the guys...and I'm sure he - more even than us - wants a shot to contribute to the legacy - wants GNR to be all it could and so on - and the way stuff plays out could well be just as frustrating to him as it is to fans - but because of the physical and mental stress he's under...sometimes he cracks and lets you see how much he suffers.
Seriously unless you've experienced a similar condition I don't think you should judge him. The fact that he's hanging on and still doing good stuff for fans like the surprise presents and things is fucking well saintly...most people in his shoes would have packed it in.
THIS! Thank you Monkey!
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I've had pain that lasted days and I've also had pain that lasted months. In one case I knew the pain would eventually end and in the other I had no idea when it would stop. Even the short stint made me empathetic towards those who deal with chronic pain. I could not fathom how somebody could go on for years in pain and deal with it.
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
Ron has certainly been a trooper for doing what he's done this tour. From all accounts, he's in serious pain, but you'd never know it when you see him onstage. He doesn't let it effect his work, or at least not to the human eye. Hopefully he can get some much needed rest now and get back somewhat close to normal, if that's even possible.
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
The thing about a pain condition is there's so much more to it than the actual pain.
It's the psychological stress of being in constant pain - firstly, you loose "fun" in your life - because the pain is always there - all the times a normal person 'switches off' like when you watch a movie or play a song and go into the world of the song/movie - you can't do that because the pain snaps you back to concentrating on your physical presence.
Secondly, you loose hope because your NEVER free from it and you know there's no way out in our world.
Thirdly, you have the psychological pressure of knowing that you didn't used to be in pain - you remember how easily you lived your life, how you could forget about your body, how you could do simple things without the terrible consequences doing them can have now. Then you start to envy people who still can.
Fourthly, most people with pain problems also can't sleep well cos of the pain - which aggravates the stress on the mind.
Fifthly, the world is designed for people who are not in pain - so things like holding down your job, going about your day, they are a thousand times harder with endless pain and the reality is that most people just plain do not understand not only the physical cost of it but the MENTAL strain.
And that's why ANYTHING ron says at this point to me is understandable. I'm sure he loves Axl and the guys...and I'm sure he - more even than us - wants a shot to contribute to the legacy - wants GNR to be all it could and so on - and the way stuff plays out could well be just as frustrating to him as it is to fans - but because of the physical and mental stress he's under...sometimes he cracks and lets you see how much he suffers.
Seriously unless you've experienced a similar condition I don't think you should judge him. The fact that he's hanging on and still doing good stuff for fans like the surprise presents and things is fucking well saintly...most people in his shoes would have packed it in.
Mate u make it sound like he doesn't have a choice.
From what I can tell he's made his choice but still publicly moans about his situation.
I just don't see why it's a justifiable outburst. If he'd been asked his opinion then it'd maybe be a little diff, but the manner he conducted himself & what he said was outta line. Why go public w/that shit? Y'know?
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
John is saying: If he's unhappy with being in the band, and has been unhappy, he should leave. Nothing to do with pain.
I also know he's left cryptic messages like this before that people took out of contex, when he was just talking about being tired of touring. And from what I remember, he also had some sort of brain damage too in the accident, didn't he? He lost memories. He had wild mood swings and stuff, right?
But considering this tweet:
Success without a feeling of integrity, or happiness, is not success. To me. We all have to re-evaluate our compromises once in a while...
I understand what John is saying.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
Yes but when you have pain there is no such concept as "nothing to do with pain" anymore...that's what I was trying to express....
To illustrate:
In no pain I might like someone 95% of the time, with 5% where I don't.
When pain is 7/10 that 5% becomes so much more annoying that it feels more like 30% of the time....ratchet the pain level up to 8/10 and it's more like 55/45 - crank it to 9 and you probably don't give much of a fuck about anything even stuff you love.
So yeah...he doesn't have a choice...the pain fucks with your ability to do everything...even if he quits the band it's still there....so yeah I'm sure he loves being in the band...but the medical issues make it hell at times...to an extent that he'll focus on something semi-annoying like not being able to move forward...and blow it out of proportion.
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
Then the dude needs to check into some kind of 24 hour pain therapy clinic. Touring should be the least of his concerns right now, or at least stop wearing those ridiculous and very heavy double-neck guitars every night 
I don't want to see Ron leave, but if this is the issue, he needs some extensive and intensive medical care and needs to revaluate what he's going to do for the rest of his life.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
Well he could quit but it's probably bad for everyone:
1. Most conditions of the kind are "managed" rather than "repaired" - so he'll prob learn ways to cope but it's not like he's going to quit the band and it's all going to be fixed.
2. Ron leaving means serious retooling time for the band. They have to find and audition another Ron/Bucket level player. Then teach him all the stage blocking / solo-divisions and so on. Not to mention the loss of all the cool shit ron's done over the years, and the potential re-recording of his unreleased CD contributions etc.
3. It's illogical for Ron too. No disrespect to his solo career, but in GNR he's doing things on a bigger and more famous scale than he would be out side of it. So in terms of providing for his wife and so on, it would be a backwards step to quit.
So really, I'm not sure why people would prefer he quit than be a little upset - all he did was comment that it was inconsiderate for the band to divert his trip home at the last minute...(and that's like getting held back at work unexpectedly, even if you like your job it's an eyeroll moment if you're feeling sick or something) and complain that he wasn't feeling the artistic fullfilment he'd like to (presumably due to lack of new album etc - same shit we complain about daily...)....
so yeah...I just don't see the problem...the guy is a human...going through a tough time...a little empathy wouldn't go astray IMO.
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I have empathy, Monkey. And this is all speculation, but if he's going through what you're describing, he needs help and shouldn't be touring. No one wants him to leave (I hope) but if he's this miserable, this unfulfilled, in this much pain, he really needs to re-think things for HIMSELF. Not us, or the band. If what you say is true, things are only going to get worse for Ron. If he needs to go back to teaching, doing solo stuff, soundtracks, so be it.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
Well yeah I'm not speaking on his behalf obviously, just saying I have some familiarity with pain issues so I can guess those are the kinds of problems he'd be experiencing.
Personally if his pain hurts either way, I'd rather see him stay in the band and just give him the rope to have a rant sometimes!
