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- Topics: Active | Unanswered
- elevendayempire
- Rep: 96
Re: Those VR auditions...
...anyone have the instrumental audio tracks? I'd be curious to hear them without various wannabes singing over them.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Those VR auditions...
Nup...it's a good idea though.
It's facinating how that VR demo "Time for Pleasin' " became "Ghost" on Slash's solo album, shows what a difference a slight restructure and a new singer makes.
Re: Those VR auditions...
I dig the hell out of Astbury too. I don't know why people bag on him so much. Especially Myles fans... no offense Stepvhen. I just don't get the thing about Myles.
I'd like to see Ian join VR. Ain't like The Cult has had a good album since Ceremony, and Ghost was the rockinest track on Slash. 
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Those VR auditions...
I love "Ghost." As far as Astbury, he's a hell of a singer. Not sure how well he can pull off the GN'R material, but I think he would at least try to make it his own in some way -- which I know is basically impossible to do. Axl's voice is fucking ingrained in those songs, hell in the pop culture phenomenon of those songs. Still, I'd rather see a great singer like Astbury show the balls to at least try something different instead of trying to imitate Axl. If you don't have the pipes to do it, don't try it. Some of Myles' recent GN'R covers with Slash are just pathetic. Slash nails the songs as expected but Myles sounds even worse than 2001/2002 Axl with the helium voice.
I'm of the opinion that if Slash wants a singer who can pull off Axl's voice, he should go with the guy from UK Guns N' Roses. That dude can sing his ass off, although their website says they have canceled the rest of their shows for 2010 because he's having throat problems. He's the only tribute singer I've come across on the Internet who can actually do a great Axl imitation.
Re: Those VR auditions...
Most likely Astbury would just do his own thang like Weiland did. Those songs would sound like GN'R classics ran through a "Cult" blender.
I'm fine with that, I was always a big Cult fan. I think it's Bri or someone else around here that bags on me for picking Sonic Temple as the shining achievement of The Cult. Love that album from start to finish. I think he's a big Electric fan.
As for an Axl-soundalike - totally agree. I said that from day one. Just replace Axl with an Axl-esque singer. But it was Slash who did not want to do that at all. If Axl's gonna be a punk about wanting GN'R all to himself, just go cut new GN'R tracks with Izzy, Duff & Steven and an Axl-lite singer, and move the fuck on as your own Guns N' Roses. Axl wants to be a bitch about it, screw him.
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Those VR auditions...
Most likely Astbury would just do his own thang like Weiland did. Those songs would sound like GN'R classics ran through a "Cult" blender.
I'm fine with that, I was always a big Cult fan. I think it's Bri or someone else around here that bags on me for picking Sonic Temple as the shining achievement of The Cult. Love that album from start to finish. I think he's a big Electric fan.
As for an Axl-soundalike - totally agree. I said that from day one. Just replace Axl with an Axl-esque singer. But it was Slash who did not want to do that at all. If Axl's gonna be a punk about wanting GN'R all to himself, just go cut new GN'R tracks with Izzy, Duff & Steven and an Axl-lite singer, and move the fuck on as your own Guns N' Roses. Axl wants to be a bitch about it, screw him.
Problem is finding the right guy. The UK GN'R guy is amazing, but there just aren't very many who can replicate Axl on the planet. In that respect, it's better that Axl has the name right now because at least with his tribute band he can still belt out the tunes in the right way. Weiland/Kennedy sound like shit singing GN'R stuff. The thing is I think they're both good singers too, but they aren't Axl. Very few are fortunate enough to be able to pull off his vocal style. How many high-pitched singers came from L.A. during that time and most of them sound pretty similar to each other? He's very unique. Slash has a unique guitar sound, but it's an instrument. You can manipulate it a hell of a lot easier than manipulating your voice to actually pull it off in a credible way. Kennedy's attempts have been an epic failure. I wish he would just sing them with his deeper voice instead of trying the high notes.
Re: Those VR auditions...
Well the problem is finding the showman package that Axl brings. For example, I could sing pretty damn close to Axl for you... but how am I gonna replicate his prescence on stage? You might could get away with singing like Axl, but if you move like him, dance like him, fist pump like him, kick your leg like him, dress like him, talk to the audience like him, etc. you're not gonna be seen as an original, and in THAT respect you'll lose all credibility for the complete opposite reason.
It's the argument that alot of people have proposed against DJ Ashba, because of the top hat. The thing is, other than the top hat, he kind of does his own thing the rest of the way. He's not trying to be Slash, he's trying to be DJ.
And like you said. It's very difficult. The guy they get can sing like Axl, but that's probably all they'll get away with. If the guy, like a tribute singer, tries TO BE Axl, they're gonna lose alot of credibility.
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Those VR auditions...
For example, I could sing pretty damn close to Axl for you...
Please do and post it to YouTube. 
I'm a pretty harsh critic on Axl imitations so I'd love to hear it. I've checked out quite a few of those tribute bands and the UK guy seems to be the only one that's even close.
