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#1951 Re: Guns N' Roses » DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs' » 530 weeks ago
Interesting, nearly everyone I've ever met complained, at least anyone I tried to get into it (I was a fan cos I liked the new songs), and almost all comments on stuff like internet pages.
Finks 2002 versions of stuff like You Could be Mine were just embarrassing really. Buckethead had the chops but then his general antics with the bucket and raincoat and all distracted most viewers too. Seriously most people can't get past what a tool he looks like with a bucket on his head. Unfortunately they never get a chance to either because the three guitar policy means most of the time bucket was on stage he's not even playing. Maybe if they had ditched robin and let bucket play ALL the solos it would have got a grudging "well they look stupid but hell that sounds good" rather than "they look stupid and my local bartenders 10 yo kid can play these songs better"
#1952 Re: Guns N' Roses » DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs' » 530 weeks ago
That was finks mistake though! Not playing like Slash is a stupid idea when your band's setlist features something like 90% of its songs originally performed by Slash.
DJ's mistake was taking it past the sound of the guitar and also trying to emulate Slash's stage moves and costuming. Bad call. If he'd just dressed normal and acted more normal but played like he plays he'd be more accepted. I mean he's not a guitar god like slash anyway but he wouldn't have been hated.
#1953 Re: Guns N' Roses » DJ ASHBA: 'It's Hard For Me To Play Other People's Songs' » 530 weeks ago
I rate fink as the main reason people didn't accept new-gnr in the beginning.
I mean you take a band with a literal guitar hero like Slash in it, you drive out those players and do nothing for 5-6 years before launching your comeback shows, then your new guitarist better have some motherfucking chops.
Yet fink played the old band's music (80% or something of the set) worse than my local GNR cover band does.
It was a joke from then on to most people. Now if Axl had some out with a similar blues player to slash but someone who commands a bit of respect from guitarists - say a Doug Aldrich then you'd have seen those 2000-2006 shows get rave reviews.
As DJ said here people sing the guitar parts - and they can't sing them when Robin can't play them.
#1954 Re: Guns N' Roses » Your GN'R fillers » 530 weeks ago
Unless he's lying he said it wasn't about the fans or any former members.
Now i'm going to play semantics, but I think he actually disputed the concept that there's any such entity as "the fans" didn't he? I'm not entirely sure that's the same thing.
I never felt the song was directed at Slash.
But I would say it's very much directed at the Record Labels / Producers / Media and possibly the mygnr types that Axl takes offence to.
But anyway my point is, when he has a rant at the media in Get in the Ring, or a similar go in Shotgun Blues everyone seems to feel it's childish whereas to me the "sorry not sorry" thing of Sorry is a very similar rant just with less swearing. That said I enjoy all 3 songs really. Just sorry to me is the real weak link on CD not scrapped or riad.
#1955 Re: Guns N' Roses » Your GN'R fillers » 530 weeks ago
Speaking of what james was saying about "Changing Tastes" - Riad has become one of my favourite CD songs. Doubt my early reviews would have listed it that way....but something about the vocal line grew on me....it's sort of a sing in the shower number now...lol....but I think it's vocal line are impressive.
Another thing I find interesting is that many seem to find Get in the Ring and Shotgun Blues problematic but arn't bothered by Sorry - which to me is just as petulant.
#1956 Re: Guns N' Roses » Your GN'R fillers » 530 weeks ago
It's weird, nowadays I love Think About You and prefer it over "the hits."
I wonder if this is less burn out?
I know I tend to listen to an album for years focusing on a few preferred songs. Then often years later I'll re-explore these albums and listen to the "lost tracks" and sometimes tracks then leap out at me that i'd initially overlooked.
Sometimes I think it's because another track was more immediately accessible, sometimes it's because when you're more used to a band you can appreciate the subtler stuff, or sometimes I think i've just played the other songs so much it's insane.
#1957 Re: Guns N' Roses » Your GN'R fillers » 530 weeks ago
I wouldn't list anything as"Filler" since I like EVERY gnr song to some extent....but I can list the ones I don't like as much as the others so I'll go with that:
AFD:
Think about you
Anything Goes
You're Crazy (Lies version is one of their best songs but AFD fast version feels like an attempt to be a speed band)
LIES:
Reckless Life
Nice Boys
Move to the City
UYI1:
You Aint the First
UYI2:
Pretty Tied Up
So Fine
Don't Cry Alternate Lyrics
TSI:
New Rose
Raw Power
You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory
I Don't Care About You
Chinese Democracy:
Sorry (although I love a good axl rant, bagging your fan base gets tired!)
Prostitute (lyrics are epic but the guitar parts feel unfinished to me)
#1958 Re: Guns N' Roses » New Autographed GUNS N' ROSES Drumhead Appears To Confirm Lineup » 530 weeks ago
I can't call it a reunion, because... It isn't.
Well you have 3 of the 5 AFD eras members present. What is a quorum for a reunion then? Would it count if Izzy joins? Adler? Both?
Aside from hardcores like us the general public considers anything with both Axl and Slash to be GNR and the presence of Duff seals it.
If it were a reunion they wouldn't be rehearsing CD songs.
Why? Axl needs to be left with a little self respect. It's bad enough he's had to bring back in guys he swore he'd never work with again to make the band viable - I doubt he wants to erase his life's work by then pretending Chinese Democracy never happened on top of that.
Additionally the setlist has shown for a long time that Axl is only comfortable singing certain songs anymore. They need those songs in the set because they're doable for Axl's modern voice and they also make a good compromise - we get Slash and Duff back but it doesn't seem like Axl was totally defeated.
But Monkey, GNR was going to be active in 2016 with or without Slash. DJ bailing was a blessing. It also opened A LOT more opportunities.
I'm sure it was - but there's a reason Axl's only played vegas the past few years and still hasn't released another album. It's $$$ - much cheaper to play a residency and there's limited money in albums. He could always do something - he's axl rose for fuck's sake - but I think he wants to do grand things that promoters and labels are not sure about paying for anymore. This reunion makes that possible. DJ and Orianthi is not a stadium act, and probably not even an arena act the way it was heading.
#1959 Re: Guns N' Roses » New Autographed GUNS N' ROSES Drumhead Appears To Confirm Lineup » 530 weeks ago
I get what you're saying but I don't agree....it is a reunion....Axl got Slash and Duff back because any further projects are a non-starter without them.
Sure they were in talks....how did those "talks" go? Odds are what they established is that GNR can't get the kind of guarantees they got in 2006 or 2009. Every new gnr-tour attendance has been lower than the last. I bet what Axl found out is that promoters or the label won't give him the kind of coin he wants. Hell we basically already know that was the previous problem with the label - they won't pay for stuff Axl wants them to - and they won't pay it cos it's not the real band and there's no money in it.
Because GNR is a famous brand he'd always be able to bet *someone* to take out the new band...but it's clearly getting harder and harder.
This is absolutely a reunion - of the only thing the general public wants AXL and SLASH - duff coming along just adds a little extra legitimacy in case people noticed the rest of the band looked different. Sure I want sorum and James wants Izzy. But the promoters will pay for anything with Axl and Slash as it's those guys who are the Joe and Steven, the Angus and Brian and the Page and Plant of the outfit.
Then they rewound the branding and logos to the 1990s.
The only reason they avoid the word reunion is so they can get out of having to deal with the headaches involved with Steven and Izzy. I wouldn't be surprised if they still give them a limited roll - but you wouldn't market it that way as lets be real - you never know if Steven will lose it and junk up and you don't know if Izzy will go out for pizza or something mid show. This way they don't risk loosing legitimacy mid tour if that happens. Imagine if they market it as a full reunion then those 2 bail and the headlines are "GNR falls apart".
So they studiously avoid the word reunion, callously counting their millions and thinking the audience doesn't give a shit about anyone but those 3, and odds are aside from a few of us here they are probably right. All while entirely branding the outfit and returning to classic GNR mode.
But don't pretend it's not a reunion. Axl's choices at this point were go small time, or make it work with slash and stay big time, or retire.
Hopefully they make it work and we get an awesome Axl and Slash tour then an Axl and Slash album....otherwise Slash will walk out again and Axl will be retiring.
#1960 Re: Guns N' Roses » New Autographed GUNS N' ROSES Drumhead Appears To Confirm Lineup » 530 weeks ago
It's Axl's band on paper...but practically he isn't able to do anything with it anymore without Slash or Duff.
How much will AEG or Live Nation pay for a tour staring DJ and Orianthi? How much will the label commit to marketing an album with no slash?
