i've sensed that this forum and HTGTH are kinda dead these days. i haven't looked closely, so i could be WAY off, but it seems the volume of posting is down.

coincidentally, i have not been checking gnr sites very much at all the last few months. whereas before, i would check this site and HTGTH every day. usually mutiple times.

but i figured out why that is.....i realized that i got a really good "fix" of GnR in the last 6+ months. i saw them four times - 2 at larger venues and 2 at small venues. and the last show at the electric factory in Philly was such a fuckin high. i think i had been seeking that for years. basically seeking a GnR show that i know Axl is capable of - one that legitimately compares with the great shows i saw with prior lineups in the late 80s and early 90s. my friends that were there still e-mail me things they remember about the show and how great it was. and they played philly! which basically addressed one of the dark moments for this band.

this sounds silly, but in a way, i found some inner peace with the band i have so much passion for. all my friends and family think of me when they think of gnr or axl (as i'm sure many of you are in the same boat). and for years there was a ton of negativity surrounding the band. but essentially all my close friends and family  (including my 68 year old dad) went to one of the shows and great times were had by all. the perception of Axl is far more positive today than it was a year ago. and as my skeptical friend Tom said: "Axl fuckin did it. he's the greatest. one of the best shows i've ever seen."

anyway, i waited for years for CD. i HAD to hear it. and we got it. then i wanted the legitimate tour post-CD. again, we had to wait. but it finally came and they fuckin nailed it. great show, great production, great sound, great setlist (estranged?!?!?!). i loved the shows in 2006, and Axl may have sounded slightly better, but there was still something missing. in 2011-2012, they were fuckin on! like i said, those shows are on par with the old days. and we even got a TV interview from Axl. plenty of evidence to suggest they are doing things the "right" way.

so now, there's nothing all that controversial to talk about. i'm hoping for a new album, but i don't need it. and at this point, it's not even really overdue (considering they were delayed in touring after the last release and are very active at this point).

not sure if this really relates to this topic or not, but figured i'd mention my decreased time on gnr sites. maybe others feel the same way. like someone else said, there are less questions/issues with this band since they have been active and operating somewhat like a normal band. as a result, there is less speculation and less to discuss.

but as for this forum, it is a great place to discuss GnR and anytime i am looking for information on anything gnr related, it is good to know i can come here and read everything with no filters!

that's exactly what i meant. and maybe perfectionist isn't the right word. although if you really think about it, everyone has a different definition of what makes someone a perfectionist. it's not really the actions that make someone a perfectionist, it's more their state of mind.

maybe a better way of describing it is Axl puts way too much pressure on himself cause he worries too much about how his performance is percieved.

but in alot of ways, he does strive for perfection. and like i said, that's perfection in HIS mind, not ours. the guy had one of the most legedary guitarists come in and record for a few days and didn't use his stuff. we all thought May's work was better. he didn't. and the fact that he didn't use it says alot. i mean don't you just put it on there out of respect to the guy (not to mention the added credibility it would have brought)???. it wasn't THAT different. but it wasn't what the song needed in his view. there's some ridiculously high standard in his mind that he is trying to live up to.

thanks. like Axlin12 said, it's just way too easy. and for the record, i do not believe he punched SS.

does axl deserve all the crap he gets??? i'm not sure. he fucked over his fans on several occasions. that is a major issue for alot of people. almost unforgivable (not that he's ever apologized).

i think there's a major disconnect on Axl's part regarding the fans in america. he thinks the U.S. is less forgiving to a new lineup because they loved slash and slash told some lies that people believe. but that is not really true. people hate axl because he walked off stage on numerous occasions.

he had a chance to have a major comeback in 2002. had he promoted the band, released CD, and showed up for all his shows, there is not doubt gnr would have been huge. it's not that america isn't open to a new lineup. VH replaced diamond dave and had a ton of success.

buckethead for me. even though i prefer a blues-based guitarist and am a huge DJ fan, i think back to the 3 shows i saw with buckethead and i probably watched him 75% of the time. and he can play and although i'm not the biggest fan of his style, he is diverse enough and sounded great playing gnr's classic songs.

my dream (non-reunion) lineup would be buckethead playing with this band replacing bumblefoot. that would be absolutely insane.

neemo - you are in for a treat. have an awesome time!