You are not logged in. Please register or login.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Re: Axl Rose - A-hole or hero?
I know people already have their minds made up on this subject, but here's one reporters take on it.
http://ticketsthere.com/2010/08/29/axl- … -question/
**Before Reading This Article – Be Fair and Head over to NME and Read the original post by clicking this sentence**
Tim Chester over at the English music scenes answer to a cheap gossip rag, New Musical Express has posted a question based piece entitled, ‘Axl Rose – Asshole or Hero?’. Now normally the NME isn’t worth reading, replying to or taking any notice of at all, well not unless you want to know which shop Pete Doherty just walked out off or what brand of cigarettes Amy Winehouse smokes (Thanks Daily Gossip!). But this time Tickets There is taking the liberty of branding the author, the magazine and their staff a bunch of over the hill, raised on camp indie bullshit-artists, with as much right to write about Rock N’ Roll as a Nazi has to a fair hearing.
The Facts: Reading 2010
Guns N’ Roses played Reading on Friday night. In the week leading up to the event, NME spearheaded reporting a speech from Reading /Leeds organizer Melvin Been that the Guns had been issued a warning that their stage times must be adhered to after local councils and police made a similar warning to Melvin a co.
The band were scheduled to arrive on stage at 09:30pm, eventually arriving at 10:30 -an hour late. Their original cut off time was 11:30pm and they managed to play on until 12:00. When the band tried to return for an encore, their sound was cut so the band staged a sit in protest after leading the crowd through an ‘acoustic’ rendition of Paradise City, which saw nearly 90,000 fans singing along and chanting ‘Let Them Play‘ and ‘Fuck You Reading‘(Not a secret, watch the videos). They eventually left the stage after Axl made a comment the band would not play Leeds after the treatment they received at Reading by ‘those responsible’
Coming on Late Ain’t right is it?
For the past twenty years, Guns N’ Roses have had a very obvious, very public, well documented and very much lampooned and hated reputation for showing up late by heritage fans and the music press. In fact, the writer shows a knowledge for this by highlighting (as usual) the low points and incidents of previous GN’R tours, in no great detail or context off course as that might involve some real journalism on their behalf – God forbid. For anyone to act surprised or angry at the group for turning up late has a vendetta because Axl Rose and the band have never done anything to make you think they’ve changed.
Do these people still act surprised when they get wet in the shower? Because they seem to have no comprehension for the flippin’ obvious.
Our Response – Axl Rose – Asshole or Hero?
Rock music has lost it’s way – Rock is now dead. Rock N Roll hall of fame, award shows – heritage bands reuniting, greatest hits set-lists, staying together for the ‘career’, money, album after album of repeated glory day styles, follow the rules, adapt to the industry’s expectations, the fans expectations, pander to the press, bad mouth your band mates and still stick together because there’s no-where else to go. Bands are old, rock is old and it’s fans, it’s bands and the industry built around them to exploit and drain what ever profits it can has finally destroyed what was once a perfect machine for encouraging rebellion. A style designed to give kids a voice to express their views, their difference of opinion and the things the mean the most to them.
Rock N’ Roll, Punk, Rap, Heavy Metal all evolved in each generation to suit new fans, new young people and their lives but the spirit of rock n roll has always been carried over and that message is simple – Don’t Follow The Rules and fuck society, fuck the industry, the government and fuck you, I’ll do what I want.
That message has become a cliché, a punch line for the marketing and advertising industry every time a twenty two year old college grad is given the new Motorhead album to push. The people running things, the bands involved and the new breed of fans, raised on ageing fogies playing greatest hits tours every year while struggling younger bands repeatedly get passed up so rich musicians can make more money. These days bands have to sound like Coldplay or Arcade Fire to get ahead, music that your gran, neighbours and teachers can sit back with, sip wine to and discuss the banking crisis. Very rock n’ roll eh.
Then you take Guns N’ Roses. Old Guns N’ Roses. Slash, Duff, Axl, Izzy and Steven and Appetite for Destruction. Sweet Child O Mine, Welcome to The Jungle and Paradise City. massive. Then Later with Don’t Cry, November Rain, Live and Let Die, You Could be Mine…just as massive. They had it all and could still be out there today, like every single other heritage rock band making money, touring Appetite for Destruction and a choice selection from what ever Appetite rip off they released that year and pandering to the fans every whim and wish. The so called ‘Most Dangerous Band‘ could be there in the O2, top hat, American flag shorts and all, like nothing ever changed in the past twenty years.
Wake the fuck up, things change and people move on.
Slash is gone, playing American anthems to stadiums, selling guitars for Gibson, living up in every respect to the stereotype cast on him. Discussing reunions and his love for Axl. Duff is around, playing in second rate punk bands, writing for Playboy (he’s a journalist now don’t ya know) and still playing with Slash and Matt Sorum in Guns N’….sorry, I mean Velvet Revolver. He likes to discuss reunions occasionally aswell. Steven, poor Steven plays in Adler’s Appetite, a band that until recently exclusively played Appetite For Destruction at every show. Again, he mentions the idea of a re-union at every given opportunity.
Axl does not discuss reunions, he does not give interviews, he does not play national anthems to baseball stadiums full of 40/50 year old Americans who point and remember he was the guy who sang Sweet Child O’ Mine. He keeps the band fresh. He works on his music in his own time, he tours and plays shows ranging from 2.5-4.5 hours with a new band of incredibly tight musicians playing half hits and half new material. He goes on stage when he’s ready, he releases his music when he’s ready and he does what he likes, when he wants to do it. Not when people tell him he should do it.
He makes no secret of this and anyone that tries to argue that is an opinionated, but faceless moron following the sheep and the lead taken by people set out against Axl for personal grudges. Ya see, musicians who don’t pander to the press become enemies. People who won’t do what they’re told become a nuisance. and people who tell you to fuck off after you’ve devoted yourself to them for years on end get pissed off.
Axl Rose does what he likes when he likes. He doesn’t set out to piss off fans or anyone else but anyone turning up at a Guns show expecting to see the band on time is a straight up retard and fuck knows where they’d get the idea that was going to happen. It might, it’s not like they never turn up on time but you only hear of the occasions when they don’t. It’s not like every other band in the world always turn up on time, but then again – they don’t make as interesting reading as Axl.
He doesn’t pander to press, to fans, to x-band mates, to record companies or to anyone who else who tells him what he should be dong. He’s nearly 50 years old and he knows very well what he’s doing and how he wants it done. he knows when he’s ready to walk on stage to give the best performance he can and he knows when his musics ready. The Press, managers, fans and no-one else knows this because they all suck off the ‘product’ he’s giving the world. if you don’t like it – fuck off, if you question it – fuck off and if you have a problems guess what – Fuck Off!
Rock N’ Roll is rebellion and Axl Rose rebels against pretty much every rule in the book, whether it’s the industry making them, Society making them, the fans making them or his band making them. He will give you a fantastic show as long as you don’t throw shit at him (by the way, how many of you would remain in your chairs at work if customers came along throwing bottles and coins at you with a spot light in your face blocking your view?? Ya, fuck off!).
Axl Rose is the last true hero of rock n roll because he’s the only one famous enough still telling pressure and rules to go fuck themselves and anyone that can’t see that has no business being a fan of rock in the first place. Fuck off and listen to Radiohead and leave Rock N Roll alone for people with some balls.
Moving On:
Guns N’ Roses play Belfast on Tuesday, Dublin on Wednesday. Don’t go if you want Slash, don’t go if you have somewhere to be after. Go if you want to see the last true icon of a rotting genre, that once gave people alot of hope before it’s originators, it’s fans and it’s spokespeople were absorbed back into the system the movement set out to defy in the first place. He might also play a few cracking tunes while you’re there.
NME – Stick to reviewing The Kings of Leon, The Libertines and The Klaxons. That seems to be as much danger as ye can handle. I hear there’s a fat, squirrel eating lesbian naked somewhere – go quick, there’s a cover due!
Re: Axl Rose - A-hole or hero?
Some truth... some crap.
Shitting on your fans, the people who have supported you are is not rock n' roll rebellion. Embracing those people and giving them a home and RESPECTING them is rebellion. Power in numbers. Not Axl vs. us all.
Axl Rose is not keeping fresh. He's keeping stale as fucking hell playing 20+year old songs, originally written by people who are no longer there. Tribute bands will never be fresh.
The potential is there. I think could BE everything listed in there, it involves RELEASING NEW MUSIC ON A REGULAR BASIS, in order to achieve. THAT is keeping fresh. Playing AFD, and throwing in CD, Better & This I Love... no.
So conceptually I think Axl could STILL pull all of that off, sans Slash, but not the way he's doing it right now. It's still real lightweight.
Re: Axl Rose - A-hole or hero?
Yeah the reporter is a little off in the half hits, half new songs mantra. At least now. That may have been how it was when the tour started, but it's down to 70/30 hits/new.
I also don't think Axl has "shit" on his fans over the years, at least not in the way some tend to view it. And as far as releasing music on a more regular basis. That was the point of the article. Axl does things on his watch, when he's ready. If you don't like it,,,,,,, well, you know.
I get what you're saying. I'd love to have things go a LITTLE differently with this band, but that's just the way it is.
Re: Axl Rose - A-hole or hero?
The biggest problem with that theory is that a true rebel is unpredictable.
Axl's about as predictable as the damn Confederacy.
Releasing new music, ignoring the past, yet continuing to not promote, that would be a real, true blue "F U", and alot of his behavior would be more respectable as a rebel.
Re: Axl Rose - A-hole or hero?
There are some good points in the article. The guy is a bit hypocritical in some of his statements though:
They had it all and could still be out there today, like every single other heritage rock band making money, touring Appetite for Destruction
^ Umm I seem to recall this has bascially been what has occured for over 15+ years. Axl has a few Chi Dem songs thrown in (with that number seemingly decreasing every concert). Plus keeping the GNR name is that also not an attempt to somewhat trade off past glories?
Slash is gone, playing American anthems to stadiums, selling guitars for Gibson, living up in every respect to the stereotype cast on him. Discussing reunions and his love for Axl. Duff is around, playing in second rate punk bands, writing for Playboy (he’s a journalist now don’t ya know) and still playing with Slash and Matt Sorum in Guns N’….sorry, I mean Velvet Revolver. He likes to discuss reunions occasionally aswell.
^ These guys have moved on and are doing their own things. Yet he derides them for it? Why? If they talk about a reunion these days it's usually in response to reporters continually asking them questions about it. Presumably the reporters simply acknoweldge that Axl is predominantly operating as a heritage rock band with a few new tunes thrown in, so they probably think why not be a heritage rock band with the guys who created the majority of the music that is played, so they ask about a reunion? That said I'm sure the old guys would be happy in the short term to be a part of a GNR nostalgia act.
Axl does not discuss reunions, he does not give interviews, he does not play national anthems to baseball stadiums full of 40/50 year old Americans who point and remember he was the guy who sang Sweet Child O’ Mine. He keeps the band fresh.
^ If fresh means continually rotating the band members then I agree that GNR is minty fresh! But if it's regarding releasing new music (and I don't mean songs that were recorded more than 10 years ago), plus recording music with your current lineup, I beg to differ on this point.
He doesn’t pander to press, to fans, to x-band mates, to record companies or to anyone who else who tells him what he should be dong. He’s nearly 50 years old and he knows very well what he’s doing and how he wants it done. he knows when he’s ready to walk on stage to give the best performance he can and he knows when his musics ready. The Press, managers, fans and no-one else knows this because they all suck off the ‘product’ he’s giving the world. if you don’t like it – fuck off, if you question it – fuck off and if you have a problems guess what – Fuck Off!
^ Well guess what, I think people are finally doing this. They are taking his "fuck you, fuck off" attitude and doing just that - hitting the road. Many hit the road years ago, but I get the sense that many long term diehards are finally deciding to fuck off too.
Rock N’ Roll is rebellion and Axl Rose rebels against pretty much every rule in the book, whether it’s the industry making them, Society making them, the fans making them or his band making them.
The problem with this is it has become cliched. Once upon a time if people wanted to be alternate or emo or not conform with the maintstream, then they would dress different, act different and generally not conform with society. But the funny thing now is in a strange type of way their efforts to not conform mean they end up conforming in another sort of way. They all dress the same, act the same, go shopping to look for clothes that make them look alternate etc. It's ironic that they end up conforming to another sterotype in an effort to be rebellious and nonconformist. Same thing with the rebellious rock n' roll antics - that schtick has just got old and cliched with many wannabe bands now using that party trick. So to try and use that as a justification is lame. It's just all too predictable. Besides I'm sure Axl doesn't act the way he does to try and be a "rebellious rock n roller", he acts that way because it's just who he is. So to try and use the rock n roll excuse as a justification for his poor behaviour is kinda funny.
Axl Rose is the last true hero of rock n roll because he’s the only one famous enough still telling pressure and rules to go fuck themselves and anyone that can’t see that has no business being a fan of rock in the first place. Fuck off and listen to Radiohead and leave Rock N Roll alone for people with some balls.
I agree that the current state of rock and stuff like Radiohead and much of the music today that is deemed "popular" simply doesn't float my boat. I agree Axl is still defiant and telling everone and everything to bascially fuck off. Yet he isn't doing anything! Where are his balls to continually record new music, where are his balls when it comes to leaving the AFD circle jerk behind him. He might be acting like an old school rocker but that's pointless if we don't get the material from him. It's just empty posturing otherwise. Hope I'm wrong and we get new music and good times and Axl can continue to kick us all in the nuts with some shit hot stuff, but so far he really has failed to deliver much past an AFD nostalgia act.
Re: Axl Rose - A-hole or hero?
imo axl's both asshole & hero & some of the reasons why he's an asshole are the reasons why he's a hero but i don't really agree w/thqt article.
his behaviour is predictable & maybe boring but at least he tries to do things on his own terms & when he gets it right & delivers he is a hero more valuable 2 me than any rock star/performer since lennon/dylan..
i agree w/aussie in that one soln 4 axl would be 2 be more productive. but it's obv easier said than done 4 whatever reasons..
Re: Axl Rose - A-hole or hero?
Reads like a fan essay, but more power to them though for trying to counter the childish BS from NME.
I think I've figured out the whole going on late routine. Axls nocturnal, so when he goes on stage thats him just starting his day.
The whole, waiting on Axl to get in the right frame of mind song and dance, can be translated into waiting on him waking up, getting showered, dressed, breakfasted and do his vocal warm ups.
Its pretty simple, he's literally just outta bed when he goes on stage, and sometimes he sleeps in, so thats why he goes on stage sometimes more later than other times. Thats why you hear about him just leaving his hotel when the band have been backstage for hours.
And thats why Tommy says you wouldnt want him to go on before he's ready - think about yourself first thing in the morning, stumbling to the bathroom in a daze, scratching your arse, rubbing the sleep out your eyes - how on earth could you go on stage in front of thousands looking like that 
