GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

jamester

8-2010 GNR headline Sturgis!

Guns n' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal
interviewed by Leah Cevoli of MFNRocks, at the RocknRevFest held at the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota 2010.

Credits: Host/ Leah Cevoli.
Camera/ Angel Stanz. Editor/ Angel Stanz.

Bumble will talk to anyone !

GNR headline Sturgis!

If your not into Girls, Bikes and kick ass music Gnr starts @ 1:35ish
[youtube]D4YFoD3z1eE&feature=related[/youtube]

GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist BUMBLEFOOT Interviewed At ROCK 'N REV Festival (Video) - Aug. 19, 2010
Leah Cevoli of MFNRocks conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal at the Rock 'N Rev Festival in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 13, 2010. You can now watch the chat below.

GUNS N' ROSES' late start at the Rock 'N Rev Festival — where the band came on at around 1:00 a.m., nearly two hours after previous act ALICE IN CHAINS — was apparently due to a technical issue and not singer Axl Rose's well-known tendency to start shows hours behind schedule.

According to the Rapid City Journal, festival official Dan Catullo said that a switchover from festival sound equipment to GUNS' own gear took longer than anticipated and also caused complications with the festival's video crew, who were filming the event.

Catullo said that Rose, who is notorious for showing up late or not at all for concerts, was "the most insanely professional gentleman that I ever met. He came and did his job exactly as contracted."

The long delay led to a large portion of the crowd leaving before GUNS came on, while others hurled beer cans and other objects at the stage.

The Rock 'N Rev Festival, part of the 70th annual Sturgis Bike Rally, was the first U.S. concert appearance by GUNS N' ROSES in four years and only official U.S. show of 2010.

As previously reported, GUNS N' ROSES has not canceled any of its upcoming shows, including high-profile slots at England's Reading and Leeds festivals, despite what appeared to be a message on Twitter from Axl Rose suggesting that the band was pulling out of its previously announced gigs. According to NME.com, festival organizers received confirmation from the band's management that Rose's Twitter account had been hacked and that the message was a fake, with next week's shows set to go forward as planned.

Guns N Roses - Sturgis Rally - Rock N Rev - 8/13/2010 - Welcome To The Jungle Front Row Center Rail!!!

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/ar … 002e0.html
TURGIS -- The final hours of Friday the 13th seemed like bad luck for the Rock ‘N Rev crowd. The cool wind began to blow, Alice in Chains had just finished its set at 11 p.m., and Axl Rose was nowhere to be seen.

“Don’t worry about it,” Jeremy Stark, 33, of Independence, Mo., said. “This is what Axl does.”

Guns N’ Roses was set to play at 10:30, 11:30 or midnight, depending on which schedule you saw or rumor you heard. It was nothing new to Stark, who followed the band throughout its “Use Your Illusion” world tour in the early 1990s.

“He makes people wait,” Stark said. “The complainers leave early, and the rest of us get to see the show.”

Not everyone was happy with the wait. Angry voices could be heard. Beer bottles and cans were tossed at the stage. Some people left, not wanting to wait until Saturday morning for Rose and his band to begin performing. Some of them had bought two-for-one tickets at the gate.

About 10 minutes after midnight, a helicopter flew over the Monkey Rock USA compound, giving fans hope that Rose might be on board.

“That’s him right there!” Stark said.

The pre-concert tension did not concern festival organizer Dan Catullo III, who said Guns N’ Roses had done a sound check early Friday morning in preparation for the show.

“I woke up this morning, and Guns N’ Roses was doing their sound check,” he said. “That’s when it sunk in for me: We got Guns N’ Roses.”

Catullo’s other job was just beginning as Friday night’s concerts began. He soon would be directing the cameras for the night. The plan is to release concert DVDs, as well as use the footage to show future acts just what Rock ‘N Rev has to offer.

When it comes to Axl Rose, that plan can get tricky.

“Axl’s never approved a live shoot before,” Catullo said. “Big-name directors like David Fincher and Wayne Isham have asked and never been approved. If I pull this off….”

Catullo trailed off into the land of dreaming big. Three $20-million video trucks captured the Rock ‘N Rev shows all week, but Friday night’s shoot would likely be the biggest moment of the crews’ careers.

Or it could be a total bust, if Rose did not show.

“People don’t understand. Axl builds anticipation, and when he comes on stage, it’s an explosion,” Stark said.

Stark has waited a long time to see him play. In 2006, the last year Guns N’ Roses performed in the United States, Stark waited four hours for a show to begin. It’s all worth it to him, however.

“We’d have driven to Canada to see Axl,” he said.

At 12:47 a.m. Saturday, the lights went out at the Rock ‘N Rev amphitheater.

At 12:51, what some consider the biggest concert in Sturgis motorcycle rally history began with “Chinese Democracy.”

Stark was right.

Those who remained -- about 75 percent of the original crowd -- exploded as the show began.

Almost two hours later, after an encore that included “Paradise City,” Axl Rose threw his red-capped microphone into the audience and said good night to Sturgis.
Rock N rev GnR promo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGx1SdZ-NM4
Setlist
intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WSzKzey9Iw
1.Chinese democracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIyGtQlmoy4
2.Welcome to the jungle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t72o_nQHNA
3.It's so easy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB3Zv-Hoens
4.Mr. Brownstone
5.Sorry
6.Richard Fortus guitar solo (James Bond theme)
7.Live and let die
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwu7CCb7-48
8.This I love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXnl61zetek
9.Rocket queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN-dHtPtiCs
10.Piano solo (Dizzy Reed)
11.Street of dreams
12.You could be mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEpHncePajw
13.DJ Ashba guitar solo (The ballad of death)
14.Sweet child o' mine
15.Band jam (Another brick in the wall pt. 2)
16.Axl Rose piano solo (Someone saved my life tonight)
17.November rain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PmyeQ5MpZg
18.Bumblefoot guitar solo (Pink Panther theme)
19.Knockin' on heaven's door
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYKiI2MDDY8
20.Nightrain

Encore

21.Madagascar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3QRIVx6ZFY
22.Paradise city
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puH9WTJPA7E

jamester

!8-2010
http://www.bumblefoot.com/press/2010081 … zil%29.htm

Bumblefoot Interview
Rolling Stone magazine (Brazil)
Issue 47, August 2010

English translation:

The neverending work
By Paulo Terron

The guitar player Bumblefoot divides his time between GNR concerts and Studio!

Ron Thal, aka Bumblefoot, has a really demanding work-life: when he’s not on the road, touring as GNR’s guitar player (till now, 130 concerts with Axl Rose and the others members), he is in his studio recording. “When the tour ends I go right to the studio to work. When I’m returning to tour it seems like vacations”, he explains, from his house in New Jersey, (USA), during a pause from the Chinese Democracy tour! “There are two different worlds; I think I would miss the work in the studio, even making amazing concerts. At the same time, if I lock myself recording, I would want to travel.”
At this moment he’s waiting for another leg of the European tour with GNR that is going to restart this month and he’s waiting for a special edition of his first solo album, The Adventures of Bumblefoot, from 1995. This work came from a really different time in the musician’s life. When he was 24 years old, he lived with his parents and was in charge of the music department in a school, with attributions that go from the coordination of a choir to a jazz band. “My world was very varied”, remembered him. “There were a lot of things happening”.

The album was recorded in a basement, while he fought with technique deficiency and a surreal enemy: the air conditioning noise, which was working to refresh from the heat of that year’s summer. “I went upstairs to heighten the thermostat temperature to avoid the device to turn on. I could record for one hour until my mother screamed: Why is the house too hot? It’s looking like an oven here!” [laughs]. Thinking of his Brazilians fans, Bumblefoot made his CDs available in a website, called Mercado Livre, that he controls himself with a Brazilian friend’s help. “It’s nice to have this connection with people”, he says, “I like to give people options, without forcing them”.

About a recent misunderstanding, involving GNR and a not confirmed supposed GNR performance during Rock in Rio 2011, he explains: “The fans were making a campaign about it on twitter. I wrote the same message to give my support, but it was just to show that I also wanted it. All concerts depend of managements and promoters, not the artist.” For now, the band plans will go to the end of the year, when they're going to perform in Australia. “But I hope the tour doesn’t end this year! Unless if it is to record another album, that would be cool.”

Posted at: http://www.rollingstone.com.br/edicoes/ … umblefoot/

jamester

8-2010
Axl Rose: Tour is over- Via Twitter
http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/08/16/axl- … ur-cancel/
by Simon Vozick-Levinson
Categories: Guns N' Roses, News, Rock Stars Say the Darndest Things, Tours

axl-roseImage Credit: Landmark/PR PhotosNo one ever quite knows what Axl Rose is going to do next — not even his own bandmates. The one-of-a-kind frontman posted a tersely worded note on Twitter yesterday (h/t Vulture): “All upcoming Guns N’ Roses dates are officially cancelled. Please contact your place of purchase for any refunds.” This came as a surprise to the official GNR Twitter account. “Well well well, you never can tell,” they sheepishly replied a couple of hours later. “We are looking into this tweet.”

Guns N’ Roses’ official site still lists a raft of upcoming dates across Europe, so you might want to hold on a sec before claiming that refund. We are, as they say, looking into it. UPDATE: Organizers of the U.K.’s Reading and Leeds Festivals issued a statement calling the cancellations mere “rumours”: “Festival Republic are informed by GN’R management that Guns N’ Roses have NOT cancelled their performances at Reading & Leeds and that Axl Rose’s Twitter account was hacked into and all claims of dates being cancelled are unfounded.”

‘Til any more solid information emerges, what do you think of this story? Were you planning to attend any of those GNR shows? Will you be disappointed if they’re really the latest milestone in this Summer of Sadness for the concert biz?

***********************************************************
"Give it 48 hours, hopefully whatever it is will get resolved. (No one quit the band or anything like that...)

Ron"
***********************************************************
http://www.facebook.com/gunsnroses
*
Guns N' Roses Well well well, you never can tell... We are looking into this tweet http://twitter.com/axlrose/status/21260607784 from the @AxlRose twitter account. Please keep up with us here on Facebook and Twitter for official word. Thank you - GN'R
Twitter / Axl Rose: All upcoming Guns N' Roses ...
twitter.com
All upcoming Guns N' Roses dates are officially cancelled. Please contact your place of purchase for any refunds.

*
OfficialRandL

Guns N'™ Roses have NOT cancelled their performances at Reading & Leeds, Axl Rose'™s twitter account was hacked.

http://twitter.com/officialrandl
*

http://www.billboard.com/news/axl-rose- … 9436.story by Andre Paine, London | August 16, 2010 7:46 EDT
Axl Rose's Twitter Account Hacked, Tour Still On

f you believed Axl Rose's Twitter account last night, the Guns N' Roses frontman had unilaterally canceled the band's upcoming European tour.

The message posted on Sunday evening (Aug. 15) stated: "All upcoming Guns N' Roses dates are officially cancelled. Please contact your place of purchase for any refunds."

It always seemed likely to be a hoax: Rose is not active on Twitter and this is the first post in three months. Rose's other messages were posted via iPhone and this latest tweet was via mobile web. It was also curious that it had the British spelling of "cancelled."

Nevertheless, it proved disruptive as GNR's tour partners in the U.K. and Europe had to investigate the announcement. Ticket holders who saw early media reports of the supposed cancellation will doubtless be seeking refunds.

The band is due to headline Reading and Leeds Festivals, organized by Live Nation's Festival Republic operation, on Aug. 27 and Aug. 29 respectively.

"Festival Republic are informed by GN'R management that Guns N' Roses have NOT canceled their performances at Reading & Leeds and that Axl Rose's twitter account was hacked into and all claims of dates being cancelled are unfounded," said a Festival Republic statement today (Aug. 16).

There are a further 24 European dates including a London O2 Arena show on Oct. 13, for which AEG Live is the promoter.

jamester

8-2010
http://www.readingfestival.com/home/#
Setlists from HGTH

READING SETLIST:

*SOUND GETS CUT, AUDIENCE CHANTS TO LET THEM PLAY. WHOLE BAND IN THE CROWD*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F6j2vyk … C&index=16
Last two songs done acoustically, with Axl on a megaphone (Not full versions)

19. Better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F6j2vyk … C&index=16
20. Paradise City/ Axl greets crowd while frank plays we will rock you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd2xVtDdY8k
21. Axl's Mega Phone Rant/ crowd: Fuck Your reading
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOpEiwl99ts
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LEEDS SETLIST:

Intro
1. Chinese Democracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPNoWGIyR6s
2. Welcome To The Jungle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTHYlUoyJfI
3. It's So Easy
4. Mr. Brownstone
5. Sorry
6. Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond Theme)
7. Live And Let Die
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agXr9cvDqV0
8. This I Love
9. Rocket Queen
10. Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (Ziggy Stardust)
11. Street Of Dreams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emHoqhXjhsg
12. You Could Be Mine
13. Dj Ashba Guitar Solo (Ballad Of Death)
14. Sweet Child O' Mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VM2pGYFivE
15. Jam (Another Brick In The Wall: Part 2)
16. Axl Piano Solo (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road/Someone Saved My Life Tonight)
17. November Rain
18. Bumblefoot Guitar Solo (Pink Panther)
19. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caG6LsmUSEs
20. Nightrain
21. Paradise City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z4TZYO2ELk
*Axl: "Thank you, be safe gettin' out of here, and for the cops and [he might have said "problems with the"] promoters... FUCK YOU!"*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ttSWwrspkE

*Axl: "we were told we could play until 11.58 but now they're saying the show is over"*

jamester

8-2010
~(AUGUST 31ST 2010 AXL WRITES)~

Our start times at the Reading and Leeds festivals factually had nothing to do with us as the previous bands (who were great by the way) came off stage when they did and we went on within' our contracted and documented changeover time period.

Whatever other nonsense anyone's choosing to write would appear intentionally false.

Having the fans or our show penalized for how the event was ran or simply the natural flow of events those evenings and for such minimal amount of overtime along with distortions and falsehoods by media, the promoter and or event organizers regarding the events seems a bit draconian and more than unfair to the fans.

A simple question: If you are aware of our changeover time, the average length of our show and the general nature of how these types of festivals run all of which are no big secrets...why book us?

Is it simply because the lineup on our nights at both festivals sold well? So it's a cash grab with no respect for the fans or the band and somehow an unwanted inconvenience for the cities and law enforcement? If we're not wanted and just being used to line someone else's pockets or for fictitious tabloid fodder at the fans and our expense we're fine with going elsewhere. God forbid we would force ourselves on anyone. It's not that kinda party.

I didn't organize, arrange, authorize, have knowledge of or was even consulted about our being booked for these shows till after the fact nor did I choose to work with anyone I'm aware of other than our manager who was involved in arranging these dates. Yet it would appear we're amazingly often legally obligated to honor such arrangements whether against our will or better judgment. That's simply and unfortunately how this business often works with the artist and imo seems is legally supported to benefit managers, agents, promoters and ticket vendors.

With how the fans and we were treated in the past I had what I feel were legitimate and now proven justified apprehensions. Yet we gave 100% and from where we stood it seemed as if the both the fans (who rocked!) and our camp were having fun and making the most of things.

Why (and what would appear intentionally) risk having it go bad for everyone? Imo that's where true recklessness and negligence at both the fans and our expense would seem to be.

Anyway...thanks again to all the fans who made our nights!!

Peace!! Axl-
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbe … mID=145230
GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist Says READING Festival Promoter Is 'A Selfish, Money-Grubbing Prick' - Aug. 28, 2010
GUNS N' ROSES guitarist D.J. Ashba has slammed the organizers of the U.K.'s Reading festival for forcing the band to cut its performance short last night (Friday, August 27) at the event, allegedly due to curfew issues. In a Twitter posting, Ashba writes, "Apparently the promoter has had a personal grudge with GUNS N' ROSES stemming from eight years ago [when the band last played the Leeds festival]. If this was the case, why book the band? He knows our show. Let me guess... To take our fans' money and then not allow us to give them a show that they paid for. This was clearly not a curfew thing because after cutting our power like a selfish, money-grubbing prick, he allowed music blasting through out the venue 'till the early morning. For us this was all about the fans, the show and the music. For the promoter it was all about the money and not about the fans or the music. The promoter was already being a cocky f$#k in the press before we arrived. So yes, we went on a little late, and for this we apologize. However, our fans paid to see a show, and that's why we showed up, to give them just that. Sad that this promoter's music festival has little to do with the fans or the love for music." He added, "Last night was insane! They pulled the power, but failed to kill the connection as 90,000 people sang 'Paradise City'."

Ashba's GN'R bandmate Richard Fortus (guitar) echoed D.J.'s sentiments, writing on his Twitter profile, "I don't think there is another band out right now that has the balls to do what we did last night. Axl insists on doing things his way and not playing by the fucking rules. You can love him or hate him for it, but the fact of the matter is.... he's the real fucking deal. skin, blood and soul. Deal with it or not, but it won't ever change."

GUNS N' ROSES reportedly started its Reading festival performance at 10:30 p.m. — more than an hour later than scheduled — and was given an extra half hour to play, until roughly midnight.

In a statement to BBC News, the Reading festival organizers said, "GUNS N' ROSES wanted to 'extend' the new agreed curfew but were prevented from doing so in order to comply with the entertainment licence issued by Reading Council."

GUNS N' ROSES played the final song of its set, "Paradise City", with no guitars and the crowd shouting along despite the lack of sound with Axl Rose singing through a megaphone, according to BBC News.

Eight years ago the Axl Rose-fronted band was over two hours late at Leeds, and it landed the festival in hot water with the local council.

As previously reported, GN'R's late start at the Rock 'N Rev Festival in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 13 — where the band came on at around 1:00 a.m., nearly two hours after previous act ALICE IN CHAINS — was apparently due to a technical issue and not Axl Rose's well-known tendency to start shows hours behind schedule.

According to the Rapid City Journal, festival official Dan Catullo said that a switchover from festival sound equipment to GUNS' own gear took longer than anticipated and also caused complications with the festival's video crew, who were filming the event.

Catullo said that Rose, who is notorious for showing up late or not at all for concerts, was "the most insanely professional gentleman that I ever met. He came and did his job exactly as contracted."

The long delay led to a large portion of the crowd leaving before GUNS came on, while others hurled beer cans and other objects at the stage.

jamester

9-2010
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/enter … 30456.html

Guns n’ Roses should decommission

Wednesday, 1 September 2010

Last night’s Odyssey Arena show by Guns n’ Roses was the LA rockers’ debut Northern Ireland performance.

Fiery frontman Axl Rose, who made headlines over the weekend with late appearances and onstage outbursts at the Reading and Leeds festivals, is clinging to the Gn'R name, despite the absence of the other band members who made it great.

This was more like Hired Guns n' Rose.

When he eventually made it onto the extravagant stage set-up, a mere 47 minutes late, Axl looked like Mickey Rourke and sounded like a dying cat.

Wearing a sparkling silver jacket and a fedora, and sporting a beer gut and the ill effects of too much Botox, he cut a tragic figure.

The vocalist and his seven backing musicians started with the title track of 2008's 15-years-in-the-making Chinese Democracy. The wait endured for this album is nothing compared to having to sit through the stuff.

Few in the audience seemed familiar with the new material, and fewer still wanted to hear it.

And no-one had forked out over 49 quid to watch Axl's guitar goons noodle while he changed costumes backstage.

Belfast could go down as the beginning of the end for one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Well, at least until the reunion.

ANDREW JOHNSTON

Were you at the gig? Let us know what you thought in the comments below.
..................................Comment Section......................................
According to the press the show sucked and you were all bored .....
did the Ahole reporter even leave his desk !?!.

Guns N' Roses For those that couldn't make the show in Belfast -> here's one's illusion

http://beta.twitlonger.com/show/3e7gia
The media, may I query you as to what it is? Or should I say what it was? To me the media in its traditional form is the unbound truth telling to the masses. Clearly those “reporting” in the near past in relation to the (Guns N' Roses) Reading and Leeds performances were not media representatives of any kind. They were snarling wolves, eager to chomp away at the pride of a living legend. Let me take the honourable duty of depicting the current incarnation of Guns N' Roses in its true form. I had the privilege of attending a Guns N' Roses concert tonight at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. Within the dome shaped building Northern Irish fans waited eagerly to see Guns N' Roses's triumphant début in Northern Ireland. There were inklings of “If only I'd been alive to see GN'R in the late 1980s, I'm only attending this gig to say I saw Guns N' Roses live”. Hold that thought for a second, imagine “indie” dressed teenagers chuckling about the “Axl Rose Experiment”, rolling around their seats in hysterics about the media branded “dismal” “Chinese Democracy”. Despite the fact like many others they never gave the latter a chance. I clutched my fist tightly hoping Guns N' Roses would lead revenge against their antics.
Odyssey Crowd before Guns N Roses.

As the last drop of my drink touched the tip of my tongue the Odyssey's magnificent lighting dimmed. An aura rose up around the Arena as the audience gasped in delight at the sight of activity. Thoughts tinkered in the air as DJ Ashba toyed with the idea of springing the concert to life. The lighting of the “Chinese Democracy” theme bordered the stage and DJ Ashba duly roared into the opening track. There, unassumingly emerging from the side of the stage, was a man who captivated the crowd with his mere presence. Roars rung aloud as Axl Rose, a “monster” according to the highest of tabloids, greeted the crowd with a grin. Axl boomed deeply “It don't really matter” as the engaged audience absorbed his every lyric. DJ Ashba, who's been a centre point of criticism for many pro-reunionists, tended to the front row ticket payers with limited edition guitar picks whilst still maintaining a high level performance of the song “Chinese Democracy”. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal whom some would describe as the “nicest guy in the music industry” smiled amiably to the adoring crowd. Richard Fortus, possibly the modern day “Mr. Cool”, strummed his rhythm guitar basically, yet almost hypnotically. Tommy Stinson, arguably the backbone of Guns N' Roses, played his bass guitar with an almost wisdom induced vibe.

Familiarity scattered the Odyssey Arena next as once again DJ Ashba teasingly invited the “Jungle” to Belfast. Whilst he intentionally stuttered on the opening notes of “Jungle”, the crowd metaphorically prized the rest of the introduction from the grasp of Ashba as forty year old bandanna wearing men relived their youth. The entire Arena jumped into action as Axl Rose hissed perfectly “Do you where you are?” It goes without saying the entire Odyssey Arena arose from their resting points and expressed their delight in every means possible as the most iconic song in hard rock history ran wild. Guitarists ran back in forth across the stage so as to not be struck down by the deadliness of their own playing. Other Guns N' Roses classics such as “It's So Easy” and the hatefully catchy “Mr. Brownstone” glittered Belfast's main entertainment establishment respectively. The crowd were especially pleased when Axl roared “Fuck off” assisted with a hand gesture during “Easy”. The mentioned testosterone ridden classics from “Appetite” were followed by a subtle and emotionally complicated song. Neatly entitled “Sorry”. The sheer raw emotion of Axl's vocals and the utter spirituality of Ron Thal's guitar playing made this song a treat. The pure power of “Sorry” will have Odyssey Arena attenders clutching for some means of reliving such an enthralling piece.

The band then proceeded some time after to pamper the crowd with a love story, in the form of Axl's own personal masterpiece, “This I Love”. The song provoked thoughts of empathy, thoughts of compassion, thoughts of understanding. “This I Love” live to say the least was an experience, Rose yet again rising to every level of expectation brought forth by the song. “Street Of Dreams”, formerly “The Blues”, was the next chapter of Guns N' Roses' Belfast tale. The introduction of “Street Of Dreams” was met by youthful choruses of “I love this song”, and needless to say they did. It was a refreshing occurrence to see the adults of tomorrow embrace a “Chinese Democracy” gem as such. The band delivered on every aspect of the track. The “Illusion” classic “You Could Be Mine”, minus the Arnold cameo, then acted as a pacifier to the indulging crowd. As well as Stinson's awe inspiring bass introduction, the typifying element of the 1991 track was Axl's piercing scream at the climax. The “new addition” yet utterly at home DJ Ashba then played his solo piece.

Well informed fans following Guns N' Roses' intentions of world domination were able to excite other ticket payers by saying almost magically, “Sweet Child is next”. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons and so on screamed in pure delight as Mr. Ashba invited the fans to once again prize his piece. The terrific introduction to “Sweet Child” was met with rapturous applause as the crowd sang, meaning every word they uttered. An old lady well into her sixties had her legs rejuvenated by the classic and henceforth was initiated into the rock n' roll realm. Axl Rose chanted “Where do we go now?” over and over again as the crowd cried every lyric to the extent that it quite literally trembled the earth the Arena found itself on. The prolonged phrasing of “Sweet Child O' Mine” at the end of “Sweet Child” was again performed to maximum standard by lead singer Axl Rose. Classically trained pianist Axl took to the grand piano. Surely the man couldn't maintain such control over the crowd's wonders as he played a few keys? You'd be wrong to think otherwise. The audience held onto Axl's every note as he delightfully transcended into “November Rain”. The classy introduction of “November Rain” had the crowd finding themselves clapping. The song engulfed thoughts of nostalgia, quietly around the Odyssey thirty year old women considered the time they floundered themselves around their bedroom to the rhythm of “November Rain”. “November Rain” was tasteful and concise, an all round brilliantly performed piece.

Many considered the notion of “Chinese Democracy” not floating with the Belfast crowd, but those “many” couldn't have been farther from the truth. “Better”, the industrial inspired track, was received with a sense of familiarity, it further proved the point that “Chinese Democracy” is indeed a cherished item in certain quarters. It defaced “old Guns N' Roses” t-shirts in the crowd with its quality. Laughs were spewed as the “Pink Panther”was spouted as being the centre theme of “Bumblefoot's” solo piece. Ron Thal then proceeded to transform the childish images portrayed by some into ones of pure hard rock. The snippet of “Estranged” incorporated into his solo enchanted the most hearing of ears. The Bob Dylan classic “Knockin' On Heaven's Door” marked a pivotal point in the performance, the co-operation shown by ticket payers during Axl's “Can you help me out here?” bit of the composition was remarkable. It acted as a true symbol of the adoration gently plucked from the fans' hearts by Guns N' Roses. The stage presence then bombed from quaint to rabid as Guns N' Roses rain straight into “Nightrain”. It was a blistering piece filled with balls and attitude. It was late in the set list when an attention seeking ticket payer felt it his role to lob a bag at Axl Rose. Did “crazy” Axl throw a tantrum and attack the fan? Did the “sissy” Axl represented by the media walk off and not return to the stage? No. Axl caught the bag, put it on his back for a brief time, and then set it aside. May I ask why such a happening will not be covered by our “media”? I'm sure you've reached your conclusion.

Following “Nightrain” Axl appeared to indicate that was it. Show over. As time elapsed small clusters of people positioned themselves to leave, when, out of the blue, in an almost lone ranger like manner, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal fulfilled the wishes of us all with the opening riff of his “Don't Cry” solo, indicating all was not what it had first appeared. Encouraged by Ron and their own Guns N' Roses lyric operator, the crowd soulfully sang along to Thal's almost ritualistic “Don't Cry” solo. Was this Ron's departing gift we asked ourselves. Our self-directed questions were met with the synthesized beginning of “Madagascar”. One gets the impression “Madagascar” is the song Axl Rose manifests himself into. His deliverance of the track is simply breath taking. Martin Luther King's words during “Madagascar” were met with DJ Ashba encouraging clapping, and our neck hairs standing up in respect. Cravings for “Paradise City” glistened the Odyssey Arena in Belfast as fans sought the perfect ending to a perfect concert. Richard Fortus and “Bumblefoot” teased the gathering with scrapings of a golden track. Then, the familiar foot stamping beat of “Paradise City” rang aloud and something heavenly began. Every voice was united in effort, and the result was spectacular.

Confetti decorated the Odyssey Arena as people bathed in the phenomenon that is Guns N' Roses live. “That was the greatest performance ever” said The Smiths listening “indie” kid in the back row. Needless to say they'll be swapping their designer scarves for their newly bought “Chinese Democracy” t-shirt tomorrow morning.

Guns n Roses belfast 2010 saying thank you

Review: Guns n’ Roses, Odyssey Arena, Belfast

jamester

8-31-2010, 9-1-2010
http://ticketsthere.com/2010/09/02/guns … ve-review/
GUNS N’ ROSES: Belfast & Dublin 2010 – The Good, The Bad & The BLITZ! (Live Review)
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* Belfast Photos By Davis Fitzgerald (@ The Belfast Telegraph)
* Dublin Photo’s By Aaron O’Connor
* Crap Pictures (Really out of focus, far away/B&W ones) by Tickets There

“STOP! Right, here’s the Deal. One more bottle – we go home. It’s up to you. We would like to Stay, you want us to stay? We want to stay; we want to have some fun. If you don’t want to have fun all you gotta do is let us know and we got no problem, we’ll go on our way. Start Over.”

– Axl Roses, Dublin September 1st 2010.

What ever problems Guns N’ Roses have had over the past twenty years, today more than ever it is very, very unpopular to be their fan in Ireland. Just 24 hours after an amazing performance in Belfast, last night’s O2 area show almost ended in total chaos when the band left the stage after just twenty minutes due to bottles and objects being thrown on stage and at band members despite a very firm warning from Axl earlier in the set that the band would leave if another object was thrown.

The Bad: Let’s get the Elephant Out of the Way…
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Dublin fans become irritated when the band turned up almost 40 minutes late for their set, not bad in normal Guns N’ Roses time but more than the gathering of greatest hits fans in attendance were used to. The final 20 minutes of waiting had been filled with a mixture of booing, complaints and chants from the restless, now tired, bored and drink filled crowd. When the band finally took the stage, their opening song Chinese Democracy did little to calm the audience down. Even the opening chords to their second song, Welcome To The Jungle were meet with an even mixture of boos and cheers. After three objects were directly thrown at Axl, the show was stopped for Axl’s warning before the band kicked into WTTJ again.

It’s So Easy followed, where a pissed off Axl could be seen to give more than a normal effort into the line “I see you standing there, you think you’re so cool. Why don’t you just, Fuck Off!’ flipping of the remaining nay sayers in the audience. The classic Mr. Brownstone went off without a hitch but still didn’t relieve the tension in the room and Axl’s unapologetic Sorry from Chinese Democracy landed like a lead balloon in the room. At this point, Axl introduced guitarist Richard Fortus for a solo and as he turned around to depart the stage, he was once again struck by an object from the crowd. Axl simply turned and said goodbye to the crowd, announced the show was over and the band walked off.

You don’t know why, I won’t act the way you think I should…. To hell with the pressure, I’m not cavin’ in.
- Guns N’ Roses – Sorry (Chinese Democracy, 2008)

This was meet by massive booing from the now pissed off crowd. The lights remained dark and people that weren’t roaring insults at the stage were deep in GN’R conversation about the possibilities of the band actually returning to the stage. As most GN’R fans know, Axl will almost never return to a stage after walking off and right now, Tickets There cannot think of one time he’s actually done before last night.

After a period of waiting, an official spokesperson announced the crew were working through some “technical difficulties”, an announcement that was meet with a burst of laughter from the crowd. Seeing the tension. Denis Desmond from MCD took the mike to inform the crowd they were trying their best to get Guns N’ Roses back on stage and asked the crowd for calm. The House lights were turned on and several thousand people departed assuming the show was over. Outside, security guards scrambled to remove all fencing from around the arena and smoking areas for fear of a mass exit and possible riot while departing fans roared their disapproval at Axl’s treatment of the crowd. Back inside the bars and merch stands were closed, fans stood around not knowing what to do, smoking openly in the middle of the floor unable to restrain their anger towards the band, especially lead singer Axl.

Out of nowhere, the house-lights were turned off, the cameramen took their positions around the stage and the band reappeared, jumping around and smiling. Axl begrudgingly retook the stage and the band sombrely started into Live And Let Die, which was met with a nervous relief and quiet excitement from the remaining crowd members. Axl stood at the back of the stage, away from the shower of bottles many in the crowd were sure would arrive if the band actually returned. Fortunately the lesson seemed to work as no more objects were thrown at the stage and the booing seemed to stop completely. Axl remained at the back of stage for almost the entire night moving only to walk back stage occasionally during song breaks and solos and to take his piano for November Rain (not including his solo this time).

Like the majority of the crowd, Axl looked upset, pissed off and in no form to be on stage after the fiasco that had occurred earlier in the night but his voice was strong, soaring, deep and shirking. Every note was delivered perfectly and had he been more animated, no-one in the audience would have known there’d ever been a problem.

Leaving the stage around 01:00am, the band had managed to play almost their entire set and Axl once again spoke to the crowd to wish us a good night. The band forwent their usual collective bow and Frank Sinatra’s My Way came over the PA as the house lights lit up. Show over, people left quietly in a mixed state of disillusionment, disappointment tiredness and for some, a secret thrill that they had attended what will surely become a highly talked about, notorious Guns show. For others, the circus of media attention awaiting the next day seemed like a hassle not needed after a night like that. Some fans just left happy enough to have seen the band play their full set.

The BLITZ!: It wasn’t all bad, quite the opposite in fact…
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In stark contrast to the Dublin show, Guns N’ Roses performance in Belfast was immaculate, euphoric, rapturously well received and quite simply, amazing. It was a testimonial that the current line-up and Axl can come together so perfectly and deliver a nights entertainment that few can measure when fans in attendance are respectful to the band.

Taking the stage roughly 35 minutes after support band Danko Jones finished their set, Guns came out with all ..ehm, guns blazing. Chinese Democracy blew the arena to pieces and the mere sight of the iconic front man was enough to lift everyone to their feet and explode with delight that Guns were here, they were on stage and they were kicking ass.

Welcome To The Jungle blitzed the Odyssey Arena as all fans, new and old, diehard and greatest hits folks jumped for the ceiling with Axl dominating every corner of the stage. The claims that the singer was bloated unfit and unable to sing turned out to be total rubbish and became so laughable, few could even remember there ever was any negativity in the press. It’s So Easy and Mr. Brownstone only strengthened the audiences excitement and sheer joy that the band were firing on all cylinders, delivering an already highly memorable performances.

Sorry went over exceptionally well for a new ballad after such an explosive start and Richard Fortus’ solo brought him closer to the crowds hearts, making that initial step to being accepted into the old fans hearts. Live and Let Die turned into a 14,000 strong sing along and This I Love was again warmly welcomed before the classic Rocket Queen once again brought the crowd to its full force fighting feet. A piano solo from Dizzy Reed calmed the now drink/breath starved audience before the band returned to the stage to deliver a note perfect rendition of Street of Dreams, one of Chinese Democracy’s real highlights. Axl smiled the entire way through the show, obviously ecstatic that the headlines from the weekend were behind him and Guns were back to doing what they do best, putting on the greatest show on earth. He looked great, sounded great and with occasional costume changes, he made this every bit a Guns N’ Roses show we’d ever heard about – without the controversy.

You Could Be Mine and Sweet Child O Mine ripped through the arena like a tornado with the crowd showing pure excitement in every form. Moshing broke out towards the front, crowd surfing started, everyone with a pack of cigarettes in the middle broke them out and for the first time in a long time, we knew we were at a real rock n roll show. Axl arrived in stage to a disco ball styled Roland piano for a nurturing solo before causing mass eruption with the opening notes to the classic November Rain, which on its own made the ticket price worth every penny. The band were as tight as they come, the stage show was amazing with explosions, towering flames and visuals for almost every performance.

Ron Thal’s Pink Panther solo added an inspiring, comical touch to the night with the crowd singling along to the familiar themes before new song, Better turned up to fight Chinese Democracy’s corner and win. Knockin’ On Heavens Door and the amazing Nightrain finished the main set and saw Guns temporally depart.

Returning on his own, Ron Thal again took a solo, delighting fans with an instrumental rendition of Don’t Cry before the band accompanied him for a truly spectacular performance of Madagascar. One final instrumental jam lead the way for tonight’s closing anthem, Paradise City which saw crowd and band alike explode enthusiastically as the arena became engrossed in pyro displays, red and silver confetti and the closing moments of one of the best shows most of us had ever seen.

Guns remained on stage to give three appreciative bows to the audience who stood strong to rousing applaud the band for their incredible performance that delivered everything a fan could ever ask for from any live band. Guns left as heroes, fans left delighted, filled with adrenaline after more than two hours of classic anthems from one of the worlds greatest bands.

The Good: …?…

Guns N’ Roses let alot fans down last night. Some fans let Guns N’ Roses down last night. Axl and co made people wait over 40 minutes (more than an hour including set-up time) for the show to start. The crowd greeted the band with boos (fair enough, Axl has to have come to expect this. It’s as much a part of the show as the late starts themselves). On top of that however, certain crowd members threw multiple objects at the stage with 2/3 hitting Axl directly. For the safety of himself and the band, Axl made his position clear and someone chose to ignore this.

There is no excuse for throwing objects at a stage, what ever they might be. There is never any reason to throw anything at any performer in the middle of a crowd trying to do his job, no matter how angry or upset you are. He was there, the band was playing and sounded great and people couldn’t let it go. No band should ever put up with that kind of attitude from the crowd and ignoring it and carrying on is not the answer. Bands who let things like happen are only asking for much worse trouble.

Axl was hit straight on with a bottle during welcome to the Jungle and ignored it. After a second object hit him when his back was turned he warned the crowd. After a third object hit him, again when his back was turned; he left. Any reasonable human being with an ounce of cop on knows he was fully in the right. He would have put up with the booing, the chants and the insults but he’s not stupid enough to become a target for every drunken attendee standing in the mass, blacked out crowd cowardly throwing objects at him. They may have been plastics, but stand there long enough; god knows what else would have appeared.

On the other hand, Axl displayed his happy, gracious and true front man powers in Belfast, performing a truly outstanding and memorable show. That that will sadly be completely eclipsed because of last night but for the 14,000 that showed up, we know exactly what Guns are capable of when the crowd and band are in good form. Dublin missed out on a great opportunity and though Guns played, it wasn’t the show it could have been. The media didn’t seem to care when things went right one night but they can’t get enough of today’s headlines. Hopefully some will calm down and see the unevenness the media creates around the bands image and the knock on effect this has on people attending the shows. Others won’t and will bad mouth Gn’R for the rest of their days. What ever happens, this year Ireland got to see every side of hard rocks greatest band, the good, the bad and the Blitz!

jamester

8-2010
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38614591
Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson helps in Haiti
Rocker will put equipment up for sale and donate proceeds

By JOANN LOVIGLIO
The Associated Press
updated 8/8/2010 5:48:46 PM ET
rocker%20haiti%20help-109672053_v2.grid-6x2.jpg
MEDIA, Pa. — Since he picked up a bass guitar and dropped out of 10th grade to hit the road with underground legends The Replacements in 1983, Tommy Stinson has sold millions of records, performed all over the world and secured his place in the rock 'n' roll canon.

As he prepares to embark on a European tour with Guns N' Roses, Stinson, 43, is devoting his time and money to a new passion: helping children left homeless by the Haitian earthquake.

This summer, Stinson will hold an online fundraiser by auctioning personal and donated items that will be posted on his website, including an autographed bass guitar and two of his signature custom-made plaid suits.

"We've got some stuff to auction off that I think will span all three bands I've been in, from Soul Asylum, Replacements, Guns N' Roses," he told The Associated Press during a recent interview at his home and recording studio outside Philadelphia.

"We're just going to try to do our best to raise some money to help in our way, help the kids the best we can."

The mechanics are still being worked out, but the goal is to have it up and running before Stinson leaves for Europe to tour with Guns N' Roses at the end of August.

"It's not just people talking about it that's going to help the earthquake survivors get past this," he said. "It's going to be a lot of years. ... We're just trying to our little share of the work here with what we've got."

After he decided to donate the proceeds of the upcoming auction to charity, a friend suggested Timkatec, a nonprofit founded in 1994 by a Roman Catholic priest to house and educate more than 500 children in the Port-au-Prince area.

"They pay for education and food and supplies for these kids who basically have no families, no life, no nothing, out on the street, as young as 5, 6 years old," he said.

Rather than just writing a check, Stinson wanted to see firsthand where his money would be going and recently traveled to Haiti with the goal of "besides getting financially involved, getting emotionally involved."

In late July, attended a graduation ceremony for 60 young men from Timkatec who earned trade degrees. The school trains destitute boys for work as plumbers, electricians, tailors, shoe makers and construction workers; its sister school trains teenage girls as cooks, hairdressers, seamstresses and child care workers.

"You can see the pride in their faces. You can see the hope. You can see the gratitude," Stinson said a few days after returning from Haiti.

The experience was eye-opening, he said. Driving through Port-au-Prince, it was obvious that Haiti was in dire straits long before the earthquake, but he was inspired by the aid workers and the young graduates he met during his visit.

"These kids have to be able to focus on something other than their own misery," said Patrick O'Shea of Sanford, Fla., founder of Friends of Timkatec in America, which raises funds for the Haitian organization's relief efforts.

O'Shea, 70, was born outside London during World War II and understands the burden of growing up without parents: His mother was killed in an air raid and his father died of tuberculosis while fighting overseas.

"I'm not a rock fan personally, and I didn't know anything about Tommy," O'Shea said, "but I do know that this is a guy with his heart in the right place, flying down at his own expense to see what we do, coming here to help raise money to help these kids."

As the Jan. 12 earthquake falls off the radar screens of many Americans, conditions in Haiti remain dire: An estimated 1.6 million people continue living under tarps and tents on dangerous ground.

Little reconstruction has been done since the magnitude-7 quake pulverized the capital. Piles of rubble and thousands of collapsed buildings remain where they fell. Even transitional shelters are a rarity for most.

Stinson wants to keep Haiti in people's faces — and he intends to enlist some of his rock 'n' roll friends in the effort.

"I don't really have the money to do this kind of thing, but I put aside the money because I think it's important," he said.

Though he'll be spending much of what remains of 2010 on the road with Guns N' Roses, Stinson suspects that his help for Haiti won't end with the upcoming auction.

"After ... spending 30 years of chasing the rock dream," he said with a laugh, "you know, there's a few more important things in life than that."

jamester

8-2010
Guns N Roses T V Dj Ashba and Richard Fortus Interview
"Axl has alot up his sleeve"

jamester

9-13-2010
http://www.gnrfrance.net/actualites-new … 4-1580.htm
http://gnrworld.wordpress.com/2010/09/1 … cs-videos/
http://www.gunsnroses-livestats.com/setlist.php?gig=172
http://www.gnrevolution.com/viewtopic.php?id=8701
http://www.gunsnrosesfans.com/wp-conten … sbercy.jpg

(nice picture set @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/le-hiboo/with/4992387017/)

POP Bercy
Paris, France
opening act(s)
Murderdolls
attendance
17.000 (sold out)
Guns N Roses Paris-Bercy ola before the show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjO6hTWFB8c&translated=1
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Encore
24. Madagascar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4IeNFFpoZA&translated=1
25. Band jam/
26. Whole lotta Rosie (AC/DC cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ4dZbFL1xQ&translated=1
27. Band jam
28. Paradise city
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Ots_l2E7g
Fin - The end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndtu1tux49k&translated=1

Setlist notes:
Very energetic show and loud crowd. Before 'this I love' Axl mentions, like the previous show in France, that this song was written in France. After 'Street of dreams' Axl jumps off the piano and falls, he then sings the end of the song lying on the ground. Later he jokingly said "it was either that or falling here" (pointing over the railing of the stage). During the pink floyd band jam both Axl and the crowd sing along.
During 'knockin' on heaven's door' Axl ask the crowd if they can sing louder than they did back in 2006.
DJ Ashba plays part of 'nightrain' in the crowd.

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

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Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

Re: GnR Band Member Interviews from 2009-10 Tour

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