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Re: Belfast, Northren Ireland - August 31, 2010 (Odyssey Arena)
Just about to jump in the car and head up to Dublin
I can't believe after following this saga since 2001 at long last I get to see GNR
Hope you have a good time! Looks like the band is very fired up!
- IRISH OS1R1S
- Rep: 59
Re: Belfast, Northren Ireland - August 31, 2010 (Odyssey Arena)
Just a few more hours and its gametime, cannot wait its been years since i seen them last. Anyone know any good pubs near the o2 arena?
Re: Belfast, Northren Ireland - August 31, 2010 (Odyssey Arena)
Okay, so here goes:
Got to the arena for 1:30pm with doors set to open at 6:30pm. We were pretty hungry because we were stuck in traffic on the motorway, so the journey to the Odyssey took 3 hours instead of one and half. Started queing at 2pm and because we decided to go get something to eat first, there was about 10 people in front of us, with the security guards only starting to put up the barriers.
Four hours later, security starts getting ready to let us in. The head of security has the setlist and other show info, and we eventually talked him into seeing it. He would only show us glimpses but said that there was 25 songs in total. He named a few which were, Chinese Democracy, Rocket Queen, Patience, If The World, Better & Paradise City. Anyways, at half 6 exactly they let us in. We had the perfect view of the stage, so things were already looking great:
While we're getting ready for everything to get under way, we start talking to the two security guards that were in front of us. He says that they were just told that "All cameras, including mobile phones are strictly prohibited when Guns N' Roses come on stage. Apparently we were allowed photos of the opening act but thats it. When asked why the security guard said that they were told if they weren't seen enforcing this rule to the best possible standard, Axl would walk off stage. He said it was the strangest brief he's ever heard and that this never usually happens in the Odyssey.
The opening act starts at 7:30pm sharp (as advertised) so things seem to be running really smoothly. The opening act is Danko Jones. Now...words cannot describe how bad this was...it was torture. He sang stupid songs and tried his best James Hetfield impression, constantly reminded us (through song) that he is "Danko Jones." Then he started to rap, and so much other gibberish. It was torture. They played for a full hour, and during their last song a tech guy came over to the bassist with a mobile phone and showed him a message...so they continued to play for another 20 minutes. Putting two and two together, Axl presumably wasn't ready to go on stage yet.... (I must stress that the "highlight" of Danko Jones was Bumblefoot standing at the edge of the stage with an acoustic guitar in the shadows, talking to the guy that was setting up Axl's tent. You could see a little of the inside, it has a clothes rack for all his jackets, with fairy lighting above it, with his Fedora and Cowboy hats above)
Finally, at 8:50pm the slaughter ended. Danko Jones (who was easily the worst band i've ever saw...ever) left the stage. A further 45 minutes later at 10pm the lights went out....a black silouhette in the form of DJ Ashba appeared with one fist in the air. Chinese Democracy had begun!!
Axl lurked out of the shadows with a smirk on his face, and ran straight up to the front of the stage which was instantly awesome!
Immediately at the end of Chinese Democracy the security guard leans over and says "you are allowed cameras now, as long as they're small." Things were looking up..maybe it was a personal reward from Axl for making us sit through the Danko massacre. 
With 'Jungle' up next, and only one song played, I immediately started to think how awesome Axl's voice was. He ran through the first few classics with such ease.
Axl and the whole band was on fire, but it's now at a point were people are starting to throw things. Someone threw like a small bag or hat (I don't know something soft) and hit Axl right on top of the head. I almost shit myself. His face started to get really angry, as if his eyes didn't say enough, he started to chew his gum extra hard, he seemed to almost be at boiling point, luckily it wasn't while he was singing but as he was walking back from the main part of the stage.
It seemed as if people were trying to provoke a reaction out of him. His voice was on fire but he didn't interact with the audience at all apart from the odd smile or to introduce the band. Every now and again someone would throw a cup or something at him. Someone threw a small backback on the stage whilst he was singing, and he picked it up and put it on him with a little smirk. He saw the funny side of that one, but he was obviously getting frustated with the throwing as the night went on as he just kicked the things off stage with his foot. Someone threw a wet piece of cardboard in front of him and he picked it up and threw it to the side of the stage and it landed right at my feet, after hitting the security man on the head like a wet fish first!
DJ Ashba is one of the coolest motherfuckers on the planet! He was sitting on one of the amps at the edge of the stage and said "anyone got a cigarette?" So someone throws him one...he then says "Anyone got a light?" Instantly he gets bombarded with a dozen lighters and matchstick boxes which everyone (including Axl) got a laugh out of!
Tommy, Richard, DJ, and Ron all aknowledged me at some point in the night which I thought was pretty cool.
Bumblefoots "Pink Panther" solo was awesome! I still don't think many people catch on that he plays a little bit of Estranged in there though...only I (out of the people around me) seemed to notice. 
The spectacle was worth seeing alone. With fire, pyrotechnics, sparklers, confetti, and great lighting, the whole show was an experience I'll never forget. Despite the fact I got no autograph this time, I still got to stand as close as possible to the guy who started it all for me and the reason I'm typing this now. Thank YOU Axl and to the rest of the band for putting on such an amazing performance. I say this because they genuinely seemed to be having as much fun up there playing as I was watching. They certainly gave it their all and I respect them all the more for it.
There's not alot more I can say really, apart from the show was totally awesome, and the whole band Rose (no pun intended) way above any expectations I ever had. I personally feel that Axl was on fire, and sounded just as good as his heyday, but I'll let you guys decide that for yourselves as I may be a little biased. As for energy and passion? Well...one things for sure, Axl was out to show the world just what he can do in terms of a stage performance -
The show ended with Paradise City with an amazing red confetti/pyro spectacle. An amazing end to the show.
Notes: For some reason, If The World, and Patience was never played, even though they were on the setlist. Would have loved to have heard If The World but meh, you can't have everything.
- Bumblefoot did an amazing instrumental of "Don't Cry."
- Richard Fortus did a really cool instrumental of "The Bond Theme."
- Dizzy did a beautiful improvisation on piano before Street of Dreams.
- Axl did a cool but bizarre version of "Another Brick In The Wall" by Pink Floyd.
Note to the mods: Could one of you guys edit my posts so it shows the youtube videos like it does the pictures. I don't know how to do that. Thanks. 
Re: Belfast, Northren Ireland - August 31, 2010 (Odyssey Arena)
I have way more videos. Those are actually some of the worst in terms of quality. Have a cool Nightrain one. I apologise that the Better one isn't working atm but I hope to have it up asap. I actually have the videos where DJ and Bumble aknowledge me too. Oh, speaking of Bumblefoot, he actually took our pictures from the stage aswell. I'll post that with loads more later!
