Is this sea change a fault of the band or is it then simply a symptom of a larger issue?

They spend money to see a certain band at a certain place at a certain time. As long as that's delivered, we're talking first world problems.

To me, the third show would be just as viable than the first show for that purpose. Mind you, only a select few fans of all people interested in Guns are able to attend at all. Anyone with a ticket is privileged, I think - too bad some of themselves appear to think otherwise.

And certainly the man who is GNR...

#GnFnR pic.twitter.com/e6z2QdBJj8

— Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) March 30, 2016

He was uneasy with it. That's why the oversized jerseys, the rants, the fits, the cancellations... He was as flaky as ever in 2002. As time passed, Ax apparently felt increasingly trapped with CD. His label contacts were swapped in favour of the new Interscope management and he flunked out on completing the album.

2006 was a bit different. Merck had used his position at Sanctuary to secure a $1Million/year income for Axl for the next 20 years in exchange for his share on the publishing rights of the Guns back catalogue.

Since 2004, Sanctuary had also been bankrolling the studio bill they were now generating at Curt Cuomo's. What was needed was a finalized album, so that Geffen would buckle up and gear it for release. Axl had been given two extra years to finalize CD and by 2006, Sanctuary was in dire straits, so they too moved over to wanting the album out.

Meanwhile, band members were called back with insane retainers. The songs were rehearsed for two guitars, Axl wanted three. It went down on the wire, with Ron famously coming in two weeks before the tour. The inclusion of the third guitar was hardly a vote of confidence to the band from Ax's part, and he had equal doubts on the album itself - otherwise, he would've completed it and kissed it off.

By now, Ax's noticed what exactly Slash and Duff brought to the table. They are autonomous songwriters and could do good with the press Axl hates. He could focus on lyrics and melody without bothering much with the instrumentals; Slash and Duff got it covered. Without them, the silence is deafening and the songwriting spotty, with trial and error going into everything.

At a distance, he appears close to the 2013 shape.

What's worth noting is his posture. He does seem to carry himself more elegantly now, even if we're looking at snapshots. The cane made him appear like the FDR of Rock.

Appearance is half confidence, and AC/DC inquiring about the frontman slot means a lot to Ax. It's in the Freddie Mercury tribute ballpark, helping out your childhood heroes.