I hope that's the case but I'm not sure.

Like yeah he occasionally busts out a passage or line or two in a form of the rasp, but it's never really full and it doesn't tend to continue.

There's a lot of recent times where he seemed to do that and his voice kinda then cracked or at least didn't show the type of control and power he's normally famous for. Like his screams are always limited to the same type now and they seem to have an uncertain success rate.

I mean I would LOVE to be wrong. I'd love him to come out and start doing stuff like ACDC or Houson 2016 style rasp all the time....and I would admit he has better and worse nights - like there's clearly nights he goes for it more than others - but sadly while I think he keeps some up the sleeve for a special occasion I think the pockets are really only so deep at this stage. Can't blame him he's being doing super human vocals for 30 years.

But I mean they clearly pic the set around what he feels he can do, and it's clear some nights it's just not going to happen, probably the nature of the beast with that type of vocal part at that age.

I've been struggling with this since the reunion.

I mean I like the music as an art form, but as I get older I look at the whole history of the band and it's a series of ugly things being done to people for selfish reasons over and over again.

My 2c never met the dude and personally achieved nothing in my life analysis is this:

1. The extremely creative days AFD-UYI were fuelled by untreated mental illness.

2. The pressure of the success and fame interacted badly with the existing mental conditions leading to constant meltdown that almost led to suicide and did result in the breakdown of the band as the only way to keep some sanity was to take an unreasonable level of control of actions.

3. The people around him kept him alive by sheltering him from literally anything that might shit him off. This ment almost stopping his career and making him a total recluse.

4. He was still required to create output. But no longer in a good state to do it. This turned creative stuff from an outlet to an obligation and coupled with the public criticism turned his mental illness inward. This starts a feedback look that's hard to break.

5. After such trouble and unhappiness the music and shows and so on become associated with this and start being avoided and anxiety around the whole project increases.

6. Eventually during an up-draft of the mental illness he is able to do a set and feel ok about it publicly and finds it moderately fun like in the old days. This becomes the new normal, and he's able to do a stock set that psychologically is the "safe place" and is somewhat fun. Sticks in this mode for like 10 years.

7. Band begins to run out of puff, and Axl's voice problems increase. Goes on meds. Gets fatter. Old age starts to wear in and fade old angers. Starting to not make as much money too. After few Sorts out a solution to have a reunion. Gets back in shape as much as can on meds.

8. Does a year of it, public accepts reunion, reunion turns out to be similarly safe and kinda fun, nets enough money to relax for life. Feels better does side project with Ac/Dc to relive what rock used to be about before everything was so hard. Kicks ass at it - but destroys what is left of his voice.

9. Current status: feels better for first time in years, but only has ruins of voice left, enjoys shows more for nostalga than anything. Theoretically would like to add to life's work creatively, but its hard when your voice is fucked and you really don't wanna go back into a mental hell where your best songs came from. Solution - keep touring - and release whatever you can find from before your voice died to drip feed the masses. Do this until shows become unfun or you literally can't continue any longer then retire.

People will say you didn't do enough with your talent. And maybe they are right. But realistically most people with your problems would be in jail or dead by now. So overall you won at life.

I need perhaps and state of grace, but I'll take anything lol

It's interesting if you watch Slash's snakepit in 95, then say HOB in 2001 or whenever it is.

Both have a UYI member in the band, both guys still have a somewhat youthful venom and power compared to modern shows, both projects are basically single album endeavours.

That's the thought that hit me last night, the issue with GNR in 200x isn't really so much the line up - as the whole thing could have been a single album experiment into more electronic/industrial/whatever rock just the way Slash's Snakepit 1 was a fun line up that played around for a while and then everyone moved on. The problem was NuGNR carried on without anything new for the better part of 20 years.