Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Who is going to this show?



i am and im really excited!!! only 31 days to go!!!!! my first GNR concert ever and i get to take a road trip! this is going to rock!!!!!

Everyone is going to this one.

What seats did you get?? Most of us have Section 2 floors.

I have Floor2 seats for Toronto. I also have Floor2 seats for London (row E) that I may sell or try to find someone to go with me. My friends only want to go to one show. Obviously not big enough fans.  :)

i got flr 2 section too!!!!!! hey, i71 how did you get flr seats for the london show????? i tried ,but by then it was     practically sold out!!!!!

I feel so left out with my section 120s....

oh well it should still be an awesome night

There's a whole bunch of HTGTH bbers going

Floor 2, Row 20, Seat 25
I got it in the mail yesterday...

P.S.  Is there any way of checking how many tickets have been sold for the show, except for estimating by looking for tickets and seeing what the best available section you can now get is?

I'm going to Toronto and London.  Flr 2 row 20 for Toronto, Flr 1 row G for London.  I also got my tickets in the last few days for these shows.  So fucking awesome!!!  I've never been to a GN'R show before but I have loved them since AFD.  This is gonna be amazing.

Toronto: FLR2 row 20
London: FLR2 row E
When tix went on sale, I got London right away. Already had all my info registered with Ticketmaster. Then I got Toronto.

HTGTH people should definitely try to meet at ACC, especially since a lot of us will be sitting close by.

holy shit!

FLR 4 , row 10

oh ya

i got  row C

for LONDON

floor2 Row 18 seat 20

Hey,

I'm in Floor 6 Row 30... It's a bite far but i don't give a shit. I gonna have a road trip (about 7 hours!!!!!!) and it'll be fucking crazy!!! ;D

I also read somewhere that axl loves Toronto (hey they recorded Get in the ring there) and he always does some good stuff. I'm so excited !!!

I also bought this week the Use Your Illusion World Tour ! I cannot believe that i gonna see Axl on stage in 1 month ! He's so fucking crazy. That's amazing ! ;D

Well that's about it. See you guys in one month !!!!

Oh yeah, do you know if that (damn) DJ will open at Toronto ?

my seets blow cause my cuz who is a retard bought them but atleast i get to go!!!!!

so whos gonna make a huge here today gone to toronto sign?

 ;D

4 weeks from today!!!!!  Is anyone else counting down the days like I am?  I am going insane waitng.

I'd do it... but I wouldn't want to have to carry it around.  ;D



If you are going to do that, PM me, I might be interested.

how is this show selling?
How can you tell how well a show is selling?
If Axl wants to sell out every arena then GNR should just release CITR already.!!!

I think the best way we can tell is by checking availability on ticketmaster.ca
The floors are sold out and I think so is most of the Lower Bowl.... It'll be completely sold out by the 29th, especially if they DO release a single.

There's no way they can sell out the ACC without any new music (be it live or studio) circulating.  The least they could do is release some live recordings of the songs we heard to get some radio play.  Otherwise, I'm doubtful many people who are not GN'R fans like us will want to spend $50 to see them.  The only reason the show has sold this well so far is because many people from the rest of Canada are coming to T.O.  The only other possibility is I guess word from the media about the shows they've done prior to T.O. - but then again the media was never kind to GN'R so that's kind of a 'wishful thinking' scenario.

i know a lot of people from montreal are going because there not commin here... that might have been a smart idea for the band to do... i know that there is a like whole bus of mothers going... (one of my friends mom is going thats how i know) so i agree with the fact of why its sellin so good is cause all people from canada are going to that show!

Is there gonna be a pre-show meeting? How about the Hard Rock Cafe...have a couple of pints and  drool over Joanne Wilder from q107 ;D.

hey theres an idea. too bad I'm only 17. oh well guess I"ll have to break out the old fake id.

but that sounds like a cool idea. all gnr fans.

JIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im going anyone wanna meet up!! Im going!!! I can show you my song SSS! its a true song to! anyhow id like to meet people!!!!! JIMMERIFIC!!!!!

Im at

Section 109 row 28 seats 21 - 24

lots of people i know are going dude from work , some of my friends, and my friends im taking!!!!

Private message me fellow canucks!!

Fuck I got a new gnr shirt in buffalo at the walden galleria and  stayed at a hotel by the airport! and i was going to front desk forgot my toothbrush and there was this dude me and him talked hes like cool shirt im like narly your a fan hes like ya to bad they arent going to buffalo but he was going to toronto show we had a cool chat talked about band and new songs it was awesome so ya repond! better yet respond in Jimis world on the off topic board that s my world!!! JIMI!!!!!!

whoever is going to the toronto show and will be staying at a hotel,  please book early !!!!!  there's a pow-wow festival going on and it might be difficult to get a room in the downtown area!!!!!!!

Yeah ive got my hotel booked. Its pretty sweet.
Any ideas on where gnr would be staying?

thank god for my aunt! i get to stay at her house...

if they in stay in toronto they'll probable stay at the four seasons hotel,  like they did way back!!!!!!!

I'm going for 5 days to Toronto and London and I don't have to pay for accomodations.  My friend that I'm going with knows people in each city.  More money for BEER!  I AM CANADIAN! [beer]

Wow, everyone is coming from out of town here!!  [wow] Where are you all from??

i'll be flying into toronto on friday morning
i'll be going to london the following day too, don't ask me how i'll get there
good thing i have a friends place to stay at in toronto and don't have to pay for a hotel
i'll be leaving on the sunday b/c i have finals for university soon after

im from newfoundland

me too

N.S.

Quebec City


Somebody else from PQ ???

Montreal

Burlington Ontario,

So are we canucks gonna come on a consensus and like meet somewhere near the acc?

i think it would be nice if we met before/after the show

so where are we going to meet???? ......and do after the show......

I'm from toronto,I'll be seating(I mean standing)close behind
jimmy jammer,I'm in 108, HARD ROCK CAFE good idea to
meet before the show, if you spend 10 bucks at the CAFE, that allows you to get the shuttle bus straight from the CAFE to the ACC, they've been doing that lately for the
hockey games,it could be possible they will do it for the concerts too. [beer]

Ya ya hopefully Hardrock is gonna be where we meet , hmm someone should make a reservation and have it for Jarmo, like thats the name or something , ya ill be wearing my gnr tshirt i dont know if im gonna sport the bucket but youll probs see me! NARLY! [beer]

So should I bootleg the concert with my minidisc , i dont want it to get confiscated any ideas what i should do i so far came up with putting it in my shoe!

go for it boy! [ok]

Mile One?!?!  The chances of that are absolutely zero... as cool as that would be.

I'm plannin on bootlegin it. not sure how to sneak it in yet. maybe under a kfc bucket on my head. they wont check there. hah thats actually not a bad idea you could hide it in a kfc bucket

I'm plannin on tradin it to all the bootleg sites for as many different bootlegs that I can get. and I'll sell it to everyone at my school.

whats a fair exchange for the internet. if I have something they want can I maybe get two or three just for this one bootleg

If it's a minidisk you could just shove it down your pants... ACC security doesn't pat you down THAT much (unlike say, the Guvernment  :o )

I've never had a problem with ACC security  ;D

As I said im giving it away for free, btw whats the best kidn of mic for it and....I hope ill get full credit for it like if you have my bootleg on your website it says i did it or something like that anyhow! If someone would trade me all of rock in rio3 thatd be cool but ill put it up for free anyways!

well what about if I promised to buy bootlegs off ebay with it. cus nobody at my school like gnr enough so they have no bootlegs. would that be fair? it would be just like trading.

Just checked ticketmaster.ca, the only seats available now are in the upper level.  I say this one will eventually sell out.  

do u guys think there will be extra security and police due to the riot in vancouver?

this concert will sell put easily

No big American bands come to Mile One. Some popular Canadian bands might but definately not GnR. That stadium can only hold like maybe 7000 at  the most.

after the shit in vancouver,I won't be so sure about this show now,until I see axl on the stage.

yeah I hope it wasn't actually a problem with Canadian customs because that would obviously still be a problem in three weeks

Hey I have just seen a GN'R poster at one of the UofT buildings where I have classes.  Actually it's a poster for both the GN'R and korn shows in T.O. (GN'R's on the top half of course  [ok]) .  It's black with a foot by foot official GN'R World Tour 2002 logo.  The show's sponsored by Q107.  The poster is made by ClearChannel and Ticketmaster.ca

Anyone else seen these?  That poster was the last thing I expected in a building built for nerds (i.e. engineers like me  [hihi]).

Maybe there is gonna be some advertising for this tour after all...

hmm.. I'll check it out next time I'm downtown


I just finished burning a cd for my friend that I'm taking to the concert so he will know all the songs. I'll make a guns n' roses fan out of him yet!

My girlfriend's friend just got back from Toronto and he said he saw a bunch of posters in the city.

is it sold out yet?

I'm startin to get excited. less than 3 weeks

I just looked on Ticketmaster just for the hell of it and they still have tickets. I think this one will sell out.  

Two fucking weeks away!!!!!  Holy shit!!!  All the Minnesota reviews are making me even more excited.  Just hope they show up for this and London.  

[/color]

I was just watching the Powerhour show on MuchMoreMusic and next Friday (the 22nd) is their Request show... so if you have time and wanna help promote this show, why not send them an email and request a GN'R video or two.  It would be perfect timing because it would only be a week before the concert.

Their email is powerhour@muchmoremusic.com, and the show airs 10-11pm on Fridays.  Even if you don't have this channel (which btw I would recommend you get as it is much better than MuchMusic 'cause they are more like VH1), it would still be a good thing to send a short little request.  MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE NICE!!!  We are representing GN'R  [greedy]  ;)

Here's what I've just sent:

P.S.  Notice the "some of their videos" part (i.e. not just one)  [hihi]

If your going to see GnR on muchmoremusic it would be during this time. I watched a few weeks ago and they played paradise city. They also played some motley crue too so it was deadly.

I've seen paradise city on MMM quite a few times actually. its a somewhat regular song, (maybe twice a week or somethin) but lets hope it picks up toward the concert

is anyone from toronto driving from toronto to london to see them the next night?

Ya so people if we are going to meet up we should all organize this somehow!

yeah thats a good idea man


I'm gettin so excited. 8 days away. I can't believe it. When I ordered my tickets it felt like the concert was years away now just 8 days. cant wait

I've seen Sweet Child on MMM a few times in the past couple of weeks on "Reloaded"... Also saw November Rain, and Patience on Pop-Up Vid.

Just over a week left... HOLY FUCK, I've waited 10 years for this.   [ok]

if anyone is driving to London from Toronto the day of the show and have an extra seat in their vehicle send me an Instant Message with your phone number or I will send you mine to talk to make sure I fit your definition of sane, and I would gladly pay for it.


i am from Saskatchewanm obviously, going to university at the U of Manitoba in Winnipeg, male, 21 years old, and i get into Toronto the morning of the concert...let me know if your interested and you can find out more about myself

or if you know someone in Winnipeg, I would gladly meet them if you want to see if I'm normal

Looks like this show is nearly soldout!!!!

I dont know man, only 5 days away and theres still alot of tickets left.

whatever I'm getting so excited for this.

Where are some good places to go in Toronto?  I am definitely going to hockey hall of fame, probably CN tower.  Where else?  What are some good bars/pubs?

if I try to get 2 tix at best avalible It gives me sec. 323 those are pretty far away upper bowl at the other end of the arena.

The leafs are playing buffalo the next night (on the 30th). Ill be there. It will be hard to get tickets to that though i think.

I was gonna go to the sabres-leafs game but then Axl decided to add a show for London the next night so I am going there, 7th row.

Hi all..
 
Due to the riots in B.C
The A.C.C. & Labbat Center are beefing up with extra police and Security guards.
There will be full pat downs and metal detectors at both venues, which sucks ass  [rant]
So beware if the guys in Red T-Shirts and hide your stuff good!

My sources are correct, trust me..
Lets just say "the guards get searched too.."

Good luck!

I was just talking to ticketmaster, she said there is only a few upperbowl tickets left and tey expect it to sellout for sure !!!

Yeah, Im sure almost all of the seats will be grabbed by the time the concert starts... There's a bunch of really big shows coming up, starting with T.O.

I just hope he actually shows up... I could imagine there being some bullshit border excuse or something.... Or I at least hope he gets his ass here sooner than 2 hours before showtime.

what about stuff like marijuanna? not that it has anything to do with me.......

but will they be extra mad if they smell it on the inside or will it just be a regular concert "drug wise" are they just beefing up security against riots and weapons and what not or should people worry about  other stuff

No matter how hard they pat you down they wont find that if you hide it reasonably well. Maybe even your pocket would be good enough.  

Ya I dont know if im gonna boot the concert now , cause i dont want my minidisc taken away.

yeah me either, no chance of getting a minidisc in if theres a metal detector

the offer is still on the table....any takers

I am going to the London show after Toronto. I'm selling one of my London tickets for what I paid for it if anyone is interested. FLR2 row E.

I wouldn't worry about pot, but don't smoke it beside a cop or guard  :P
As far as I know, its being beefed up for weapons, video and audio equipment..
And they are using METAL DETECTORS

3 fuckin days!!! is anyone else as excited as i am!!!

[beer]  [hihi]  [beer]

I'm pretty damn excited too

I really hope theres no riot though. I'm not expecting one but if there is it would suck. but yeah only 3 more days

This will be the biggest show yet!!!!
Almost sold out!!!

You know this is the first time I've ever actually been worried about a performer showing up for a concert... and I think there is a possibility that he won't make it, unless he gets smart and comes here the day before... However, if he does not show up, I'm gonna burn the ACC down myself.  Fuck getting pepper-sprayed, I'm gonna be PISSED.


Anyways, I hope it sells out... ticketmaster.ca only has 300 level left and pretty far back at that (for pairs).  Hopefully they'll sell em all by showtime.  [hihi]

is anyone planning on battling it out after the show and get some autographs??  anyone know how to manage to get some?
also, what's going on with the hard rock cafe meerting?
mufifnass

I leave for Toronto tomorrow morning.  I Can't fucking wait. [ok]

I think if you manage to get an autograph it will be because you run into  a band member before the show. Maybe at a bar or a store or something.  Good luck trying after the show though.

I leave tomorrow night for toronto.......supposed to be a snowstorm though. The flight best not be canceled.

Well folks, I am off to see the Wizard.  These 2 Ontario shows are gonna be great.  I can't wait.  Probably see some of you there even though I don't know what you look like.  Anyway, to anyone who is going to this, London or both, have fun... I know I will. [beer]

Aren't you guys going to meet before the show?  ???




/jarmo

well, that's what i understood....
so WHEN are people meeting up at the Hard Rock cafe??
also, :) would it be out of line to wear a slash's snakepit t-shirt?  I don't have any gnr ones :))
the muff

I wouldn't Axl might kick ya out!!!

which location (hard rock cafe) the downtown or the skydome location????? what time ?????

well im leavin fot TO. now!!! YOUPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! later people!!

ahhh I dont know if I'm going to the concert anymore. this kinda sucks

If anyone in TO finds out that Axl n' the band are here, please post it here - I'm trying to listen to Q107 and 97.7 Hitz FM for any news.

 [beer]  GOOD FUCKIN' ROCKIN' AWAITS US, BABY!!!

I'll be wearing my old, ripped up, GN'R 92 shirt - it deserves to see them too!

Very excited about tonight!

What happened there?

ooooops!

 [beer] [hihi] [beer] [hihi]  [beer]

GREAT NEWS, KIDS... Axl Rose is definitely in Toronto!!!!!

Check out page 29 of today's Toronto Sun - apparently Axl went out for dinner last night at CENTRO in the Yonge/Eglinton area, and went downstairs afterwards to check out a blues artist named Michael Dunston. They posed for a picture together which is printed with the article.

Here's a link to the article online:
http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-11-29-0034.html

The online article does not include the photo, but the newspaper does, as mentioned, on Page 29!! Axl is wearing a black baseball cap, & he's got the long hair braids, etc. Looking, ahem, very young.

I will see y'all at the ACC tonight, and I can't fuckin' wait!!!!! Maybe we should organize to all meet up at the Hard Rock Cafe afterwards!!!!!!!!!

I know this is late but anyone interested in buying 2 tickets? I have sec 120 row 18 seat 23-24. I'll sell them to you for $140. thats less than face value. I know its late but if ur interested post here

are u not going too the show?

Great Fuckin Show.

could someone scan that picture so i can see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jimmys review, totally fuckin awesome!

On first Mix Master Mike , he was alright crowd didnt react that good but they werent booing, next was CKY I did not see them i was going around with my girlfriend Kira, she was tall blonde hair, anyhow we where walking and some guy just barfs out of no where im like what the fuck and the guy kept walking and Kiras like pointing at barf yet people walking threw it. Anyhow we get back to our seats and they are showing cameras of chicks flashing and shit, Axl said guys keep it on, girls take it off on the mike from the back. ANyhow lots of flashing I was bye two fuckin hippy guys and two chicks who where shown once on the screen they where dancing all night. Anyhow setlist I cant tell you it was basically the same, ill go by the shit i know

Order I Know Songs They Played:
Welcome To The Jungle
Its So Easy

order fucked up here

Rocket queen
Madagascar
The Blues
My Michelle
Chinese Democracy
Patience
Nightrain
**Encore** Paradise City

Songs they played I dont know where they go:
Mr Brownstone
November Rain(with the asshole song intro, and a long version of the leeds festival thing)
Live and Let Die
Think About You
Knocking on Heavens Door(orginal)
Out Ta Get Me
You Could Be Mine
I might have missed some shit but ya!

Axl came out with a Home Leafs jersey number 26, black sports pants and white shoes, Later he changed to a Away Leafs jersey with no number, then Raptors jersey, then Blue jays and finally an unknown jersey..

Dizzy Reed, Turquiose wife beater and brown cordish pants!

Brain, Blue Tartan shirt and black buckethat.

Robin Finck, Black outfit  no make up.

Buckethead All black except for the fucking blue cape apron.

Richard Fortus, Suzuki shirt and black leather plants, later he took off Suzuki shirt then just tshirt black.

Tommy Stinson, Tartan Red suit, later took off blazer for white wife beater.

Chris Pittman, cant remeber but he put  a hat on and off, a couple of times.

Axl did a rant on the press how they are bashing him for playing the old songs, he said well no shit hes playing them , this band just got started. Axl also got numerous flowers from the crowd and smelled them then gently placed them on the stage thing. He talked about earlier before the press rant about toronto having the best fucking girls and how he isnt saying that like some people , he should send David Lee Roth out to get them for the people,  he did a girly voice on the subject of how you get backstage.

Oh ya lots perverts where grapping my girlfriend Kiras ass, it was disturbing to say the least about the perverts, and they showd this funky old weed guy numerous times on the screen! I fucked my voice up screaming riot, we started a chant ouch it hurts but ya! awspp,me show i was in 109 row 28  seat 22!

Anyhow a really good show, solid all the way through, ACC was fuckin packed I didnt see any empty seats, it looked like a complete sold out 16000ish it was fuckin awesome!

 [peace] [peace] [peace] [peace]

Sorry about my spelling and shit im wired!

He?s back and better than ever!!!
Toronto Nov. 29th was not good? not very good? not even excellent?  IT WAS PERFECT!!!

Nothing went wrong the whole night and ACC was FULL ? at least 14,000 people; actually Axl said at one point it was 16,000.  I could not see empty seats even in the highest and farthest sections.  To make a short summary, the set list was the familiar one (only three ?new? songs) with maybe a couple of changes in order.  Axl did not make rants about former members but he did have some devilishly funny stuff to say about some others (read below).  By far the best show I?ve ever witnessed ? BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THIS:  THERE IS NOTHING THAT I WOULD HAVE CHANGED ABOUT TONITE?S SHOW ? EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT N? THE WAY IS GN?R SHOW SHOULD BE.

Now the details?

7:30 ? 8:05  CKY
They were prolly better than what I expected ? a couple of songs you could actually get into (96 people and another one).  I heard no one booing them, and after each song people applauded as they liked them.  For you guys that hate this band, trust me, there?s many much much worse opening acts I had to sit through.  Regardless, they figured out how to get everybody in the crowd to cheer ? just say something like, ?What?s up Toronto, you guys are at a motherfuckin? Guns N? Fuckin? Roses concert!? (MMM did the same thing)

8:30 ? 9:05  MIX MASTER MIKE
Since by this time more people had arrived in the building, he got a little more positive response from the crowd.  His stuff isn?t that bad, but like someone said before, ?it gets old quick?.  He had some cool video stuff on the screens so whatever? again no one booed him, and everyone was applauding when he was done.

9:15 ? 10:30  ?GIRLS GET ?EM? OUT TIME
Basically sit in your chair and wait and watch some nice looking girls flash the crowd and/or make out with other girls on the screens.  Until about 10 o?clock no one ?got ?em out?, but then one did and everyone started doing it.  A funny thing:  they were showing these hot chicks, and then all of a sudden they show this 60 year old old-school rocker smokin? weed.  Everyone went nuts? grandpa didn?t even realize he was on it until they showed him about 10 times.  Anyway, I was getting a little stiff as I had been sitting down since about 7:00 when they opened the doors (oh yeah, they did have really tight security tonite, and made me take of my shoe cause the metal detector was beeping around my shoe (why I have no clue).  Oh yeah, they also showed a fight between some guys on screen and everybody started cheering ? gotta love those crazy bloodthirsty Canucks.

10:35 ? 12:40  GUNS N? FUCKIN? ROSES
The stage is amazing, the lights are awesome, the sound was perfect, and those flames are fuckin? out of this world.  Anytime they put the flames on, you can really feel the heat ? I have no clue how the band takes it but it?s the coolest.
OK
1. Welcome to the Jungle ? ?Do you know where the fuck you are??  the place (now filled to capacity) goes nuts, crazy, etc.  The sound of Axl?s screeching scream is unbelievable and the band plays it with everyone in the audience singing along.  Oh yeah, the jersey thing ? white (home) Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey) jersey with NO name but with #26.  He wore this for about half the show.

2.  It?s So Easy ? starts right after Jungle, and people are still going crazy and singing their asses off.  This being one of my favourite tunes really made me enjoy it.  Oh sorry, maybe I should mention what the guys wore:
Axl ? the jersey, black shiny sports pants, and white running shoes ? braided hair
Robin ? black ?suit? with black and white striped socks (his pants were a little shorter than they ?should? be) and black shoes/boots like Dr. Marteens.  His hair is quite long, and he wore a sort of Samurai hat for the first three songs ? looked really awesome, like one of those guys from the Mortal Kombat game
Buckethead ? ?bucket, mask, wig? (well of course), and a black work suit kind of thing (like a mechanic wears).  Also the small cape at the back.
Fortus ? a orange/black Suzuki motorcycle ?jersey? ? like the ones those X-Games guys wear.  Black leather(?) pants.
Tommy ? exactly like in Rio ? white undershirt (no star GN?R logo, something else though) and those striped pants
Brain ? looked like a fisherman ? hat, and a shirt, pants I could not see;  he still has the goatee
Dizzy ? tank-top, but not the GN?R logo one ? it was black with some other logo on it, plus black jeans, dread hair, and a chain (punk rock style) on his right hip
Pittman ? ??in a suit he said he would not get into? ? Axl;  so yeah a 70?s type suit ? pretty nice actually

3.  Mr. Brownstone ? a couple of seconds pause after Easy;  again people were still singing and rockin?

4.  Live and Let Die ? actually I was expecting Axl to say something but they went straight into it.  The first time they used the flames, and the first time people around me were in awe of Axl?s screaming abilities.  Finck has the helmet one for this one.

5.  Knockin? on Heaven?s Door ? again, no speech just played it straight up ? the crowd took their lighters out and waved them ? looks especially cool when you look behind (since I was on the floor, which did have seats btw, about 50 feet from the stage) and see those guys at the very top and far away.  The crowd is into it?

6.  Think About You ? great rockin? tune (much better than on the CD) especially after a slow one like Knockin? ? I was surprised by the amount of people that knew the words to this song.

7.  You Could Be Mine ? I think Axl says something like ?Hello Toronto? although he did say it during the songs like in Jungle ?Do you know where the fuck you are Toronto, Canada??.  He introduces Brain by saying, ?We?ll let Brain start this one.?  No screw ups btw ? sounded excellent.

8.  Sweet Child O? Mine ? introduces Finck on guitar, and he does his solo, and starts the infamous lick ? people go nuts!  Played to utter perfection.

9.  November Rain ? finally a few words from Axl:  he says ?We have a lot of nice looking girls out here tonite? and then he says something about the Leafs and the Raptors, something about how it?s hard to watch sports when there are so many good looking women ? like why watch guys, when you can be with girls.  Then he says something really funny about David Lee Roth ? like he was chosen to pick the girls that go backstage and he does a really good job of it, since he has nothing better to do these days.  Then it?s the ?Let?s bring out the piano? line.  He sits down and starts singing this ?folky? song I don?t know ? a parody sort of thing.  Then he starts his ?playing with the audience? solo and his serious solo, until Brain does the opening drum line and Rain starts.  Note:  Richard Fortus plays the first solo, Finck the second, and Buckethead the last solo (i.e. outro)  BH is not on stage until the conclusion of the piece, which btw includes a fantastic rain-sparks effect.

10.  Buckethead solo ? Axl takes time to introduce the whole band, ending with BH.  He also says, ?You guys never expected me to pull this (i.e. Buckethead) out my bag of tricks? + the alien/chicken coop thing.  Great reception for a great guitarist!  First he does his nun-chucks thing, then he plays the medley solo (nothing you haven?t heard before), and then he gets his Foot Locker bag and gives out the toys.  Some guys around me (well me too) were really in awe of his playing abilities.  Oh and Brain and Pittman actually played at the beginning of his solo ? sound really awesome with the three of them.

11.  Out Ta Get Me ? Jersey alert #2:  has a no name, no number (road) blue Leafs jersey.  First real rant:  ?So how many of you were at that Montreal show (GN?R-Metallica tour riot)?  People start cheering? ?I don?t know what?s up with Canada?? referring to the two riots.  He mentioned Vancouver, and jokingly said, ?so Ohio State won, and they had a riot ? so I was watching it on TV, and I?m like, ?Fuck, I?m late again!??  Really cool and funny?  Then he says something like, ?Don?t get me started on Montreal, I have a lot of things to say about our friend Lars (sarcasm all the way), but we?ll have time for that later?  Actually he never got back to it?  Some guys start shouting, ?Metallica sucks!? while others laugh.  The song starts and rocks? now you can really tell the real GN?R fans apart since only they seem to know the words.

12.  My Michelle ? actually now I think I screwed up ? the above rant was before My Michelle not Out Ta Get Me.  Regardless, this song in my opinion, looked like the most rockin? song.  Everyone in the band was running around full of energy.  Sounded great!

13.  Madagascar ? more audience knows this song than I thought.  Axl sounded great again, and sang all the notes/words with perfection.  Great reception!  Cool videos of MLK behind and his speeches.

14.  The Blues ? piano gets out and people start cheering ?Dizzy, Dizzy,?? .  He starts the song, and not as many people know this one ? I?m proud to say that I didn?t miss one line tonite, and that I still got my voice, so I suggest you do warm ups in your car as you listen to GN?R.  Axl sounds great (again), and this is the only song which I heard a better version of (Rio one).

15.  Rocket Queen ? Brain starts it, and they do have this 70?s disco groove video in the background.  Fortus does the solo, but the best part of it is the second part of the song where everyone in the arena starts clapping to that intro drum beat along with Axl.  Rocks period.

16.  Chinese Democracy ? Axl rant #2:  imitates (in a funny gay voice) a recent reviewer who said that some songs sound ?dated?.  ?Well no shit!?, Axl says and everyone starts cheering.  He goes on bashing this guy, and at one point says something in general about news guys, ??that?s what you get when you can?t get a real job!?  The songs starts with all them flames.  Again the crowd seems to like the new stuff.

17.  Patience ? I heard better versions but Axl did sound great ? only problem is that the two acoustic guitars are hard to hear, so Finck sounds like he?s alone.  I don?t have to tell you that songs like this everyone in the arena enjoys.  Great atmosphere.

18.  Nightrain ? well I?m beginning to feel sad ?cause I know the show?s about to be finished.  Regardless the crowd really enjoyed this one and the extended band only session at the end (kinda like Paradise City?s jams).  Axl says, ?Good night Toronto? and the band leaves with the cheering fans still wanting more.  All three guitarists play solos, and for those that think Fortus is not really involved, I got news for you ? he plays on more stuff than Buckethead who usually is featured on the solos more than on the rhythm guitars.

19.  Paradise City ? after a minute or two the band does the encore.  Axl jersey alert #3:  Toronto Raptors (basketball) (road) purple/black #15 Vince Carter.  The band sounds great again with no screw ups ? actually after Finck?s little intro, it is Fortus that does the opening chords of Paradise City.  Axl jersey alert #4:  changes into a (road) Toronto Blue Jays (baseball) grey/blue sleeves jersey with no name nor number.  Axl jersey alert #5:  near the end of the jam session Axl changes into a strange hockey jersey ? the background looks like the road green/black Dallas Stars jersey, but this one has a different logo on it ? I couldn?t tell what it was but it looked like the Harley-Davidson logo ? no names or numbers.  Show end with confetti and the whole arena rocking!  ?Good fuckin? night Toronto!? and throws the mic down on the stage (not crowd).  He actually threw his whistle for Paradise after he used it?  Oh btw, there were several roses, and one particularly large (must?ve been 24) of bouquet of white roses handed to Axl ? I even think some one gave him a drink too at one point.

Anyway, it?s 3:41 in the morning here now, so I should prolly wrap this essay up.  Perfect show from start to finish!  I wish they had recorded this for a future release so you?d know how great it was.  The video screens (and the whole stage in general) looked amazing, with those great Matrix-type effects.  The crowd was never negative and the show was sold-out for sure.  One of the greatest nights in my life and GN?R history I?m sure.  You could tell that the band (esp. Axl) was really pleased to look up at the rafters and see them filled.  This new band does kick ass and I can?t wait for Chinese Democracy to come out.
On a personal note, I bought the long dragon sleeve GN?R Chinese Democracy World Tour shirt ? $80 Canadian, I think the most expensive one.  Other shirts cost at least $45 Canadian, and all of them looked great so I had a hard time picking, but I chose this one cause I knew not many people would buy it (and I was right).  BTW I didn?t really like that rather cheap imitation of the Lakers jersey ? it?s a cool idea, but poor implementation.  I didn?t find the soccer jersey so I dunno.

I finally got to hear/see Axl ? I?ll sleep well tonite!  Have a great time at the other shows, as I?m sure you will!

/signing off
Dragan0T3

P.S.  Dizzy gave an interview with Q107 at 6:40 before the show ? I did not hear it.

Jarmo and the 'crew',

Some notes on the Toronto show:

Welcome To The Jungle, It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone,
Live And Let Die, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Think
About You, You Could Be Mine, Robin Solo, Sweet Child
O' Mine, Out Ta Get Me, Axl Piano Solo, November Rain,
Band Intro, Buckethead Solo, Rocket Queen, Madagascar,
The Blues, My Michelle, Chinese Democracy, Patience,
Nightrain

Encore: Robin Solo, Paradise City

Audience: Pretty much sold out.  Axl mentioned at one
point "I'm here with 16,000 friends."  I'd say that's
about right, maybe 17000.

New songs were very well received.

Quotes by Axl:

Mentions how hard it must be playing hockey in this
arena with all these girls walking around.  "Are you
going to be focussing on a stick and a puck, or, well,
on..."

Started to ripping into reporters.  Mentions how he
read a review of one of the shows and the journalist
said that the songs were "dated."  Axl looks at the
crowd, pauses, and says, "NO SHIT!"  Then proceeds to
bash reporters, saying how "they make a living off
disucssing what people do."  That they do what they do
because they couldn't get a real job. (Don't expect
any good reviews from any Toronto newspapers Axl).

He then asks the crowd, "So how many of you were at
that Montreal show."  Starts shaking his head.  He
then went on to talk about Columbus and made the same
joke as in a few other shows that he thought he was
late, hence the riot in Columbus.  He then begins to
talk about Montreal a bit, not too much details (I've
forgotten a bit), but then says, "we'll have a talk
about Montreal and our good friend Lars a little
later."  Unfortunately, he never did speak upon the
subject again.  Anyone going to London tomorrow might
get a good rant.

After My Michelle, Axl noted about how the song was
fitting with some girl he saw walking down the stairs
who was wearing a very high skirt.

When Axl introduced Chris Pitman, he mentioned
something about "someone who swore would never wear
this suite ever..." and began to laugh (so did Chris).

He also said something about CKY or what someone from
CKY was mentioning to him, but I seem to have
forgotten it.

Axl was pretty talkative and in good spirits.  I think
he was pumped with the fact that the entire venue was
filled.  

I'll write a full review tomorrow.  The sound was not
as good tonight as I had a hard time hearing Axl some
times (they really need to hire a new soundman).  I
feel really sorry for those who went to the Detroit
show because Paradise City was amazing.  What a way to
close the show!'

Well, off to bed.  Expect a real review tomorrow with
my ratings break down of the band.  Still have no idea
what Chris Pitman does.  As I got a view from my view
point (I was right along the side), the guy just plays
with his right hand the whole night and moves the damn
keyboard around).  It was nice seeing some of you
before the show (Angel, Jossee, and Elena).  Hopefully
we might be able to meet up for tomorrow in London.

Cheers,

Andrew

I guess, after coming home from tonight's show, I will try to write the
first Toronto review.

This was my 2nd show on this leg of the tour (the first being at Auburn
Hills).  It's funny, I thought that was a great show (despite no encore),
however, this show was much, much better.  I got to the place right at the
end of Mixmaster Mike.  I was annoyed because I figured we'd have over an
hour of nothing to do.  Luckily, the girls here were better looking and
more adventurous than in Detroit (all spare all the female readers of the
lust I had for this girl who looked like Anna Kournikova but with better
*features*).

The band finally went on at around 10:40pm.  I must say, the lights and the
music before the show go on is great.  It has a nice eerie feel to it.  The
set was the standard set, so I won't bother writing it all out.  Axl did
much more talking than the Michigan show, which was great.  He talked about
how he doesn't understand how we're able to concentrate on hockey because we
have so many beautiful women here.  He talked about how a newspaper writer
wrote that the old songs sound dated.  He agreed and said they are dated,
but how on this leg of the tour, they're just having some fun with the old
songs.  He then mentioned how there is nothing worse than being a newspaper
writer.  He said how bad is it that your job is writing about other people's
lives.  Finally, my highlight, earlier in the show he said that some girl
asked why some girls get backstage and others don't.  He said that they get
David Lee Roth to go through the crowd and pick out the hot girls, because
he has good taste and he has nothing else to do.  The last Axl talk, I
believe, was after 'My Michelle', he said he saw a girl in a school girl
skirt and that is the perfect example of 'My Michelle'.  I think that's all
he said on the night.  I'm sure if I have forgotten something, someone else
on this list will point it out.

Axl wore two Leaf jerseys, a Raptor and Jays jersey and another one which I
couldn't make out.  He seemed to be in a great mood all night.  He even did
a joke song before November Rain (I think he did that somewhere else).

Each time I go to the show, I love watching the band play too.  My friend
walked away saying how the highlight for him was Buckethead.  The whole band
is great.  I also love Richard Fortus, but they're all great in their own
way.

Finally, the place was almost packed.  I was surprised about this.  I would
guess there were about 16 000-18 000 people there.

That's enough for now.  I'm tired and I need to get some sleep, so I can I
do this all again tomorrow night.

Andrew DNB-list

Well, I guess I'm the first to make a review of tonight's show. Well, I'll try to remember everything. Here goes...
First off, the show was awesome. Axl was in a fantastic mood and all members of te band were really into it. I got there around 6:30. CKY went on stage around 7:30. I have to say that they're not my cup of tea. I will, however, say that I admire their effort. They have a sound all of their own, but it just doesn't click with me. But hey, to each his/her own.

I don't have a whole lot to say about them as I was hungry for the main course. Around 8:30 Mix Master Mike hit the stage. I'd have to say that he was cool to hear for about 15 minutes but then it kind of became monotonous. He mixed Zeppelin, Rush, Rage, etc. I got bored of him pretty quick. He finished up around 9:30.
By this time, the Air Canada Centre was about half full. I was worried if there would be any more people to come. Well, they did as the "Show us your tits" festival came on.

A guy came out on stage and said "I'll only say this once, guys, keep 'em in, girls...haul 'em out!" Girls were teasing the camera. Anyway, eventually they showed there chests, then a few showed their asses, a couple of girls made out with each other, while one girl licked the breast of another girl...all of this being displayed on two big screens. Later on, a fight broke out but that fire was quickly put out.

Then at about 10:30, the arena full with about 19,000 people, WTTJ comes on and the place goes totally apeshit. For me to describe the presence of the band cannot be put into words...the best thing for me to say is to go see it for yourself. I can't remember the setlist but I knew the order as it was coming on as it is the standard format.

Throughout the show, Axl wore two different Maple Leaf jerseys (number 26 on one while the other was blank), a Raptors jersey, and a Blue Jays jersey. The stage was full of pyrotechnics, and lights. The sound was awesome. The ONLY, and I mean ONLY, flaw in the whole night was a slight screw up on "Think About You". Other than that, the night was perfect.

Axl smiled the whole show, the place went nuts for Buckethead and Robin Finck. Buck's guitar solo ROCKED. I could tell that Axl was having a blast. He mentioned the Montreal incident by asking how many people were there, then he mentioned Vancouver, and jokingly asked "What is it about Canada?" The crowd loved it. He displayed his piano abilties by playing the "asshole" song...it was hilarious.

Dizzy looked great, he looks like Edge from the WWE. Buck threw toys out to the audience. Madagascar, the Blues, and Chin. Dem. were the new songs played and were well received by the audience. People were staring at me as I was the only one in the area who knew the words. I picked up a t-shirt that set me back $45, but it's well worth it. Paradise City rocked with lots o' confetti and fireworks.

I was shaking the whole time. The sound was tight and they played like a true band. If anyone saw the MTV VMA's, forget 'em....the sound at this performance has proved to 19,000 people that Axl is one of the greatest frontmen ever, Guns N' Roses are back, and the new band WILL prevail. Anyway, I'm sorry if I have forgotten anything, but I am extremely tired and in need of sleep. If I think of anything else, I'll write back in the morning. But the bottom line is the show was awesome.

TheFan from the bar

Thanks for all the great reviews guys!  [ok]




Saturday, November 30, 2002
LONE gunman
Guns N' Roses returns -- but only Axl remains
By JANE STEVENSON <mailto:jane.stevenson@tor.sunpub.com>

 Guns N' Roses, those missing-in-action, hard-rock kingpins from the late
'80s, are touring again for the first time in nearly a decade.

Actually, make that lead singer Axl Rose is touring again, without any of
his original bandmates, including dueling guitarists Slash and Izzy
Stradlin.

Rose -- now 40 -- still managed to draw about 14,000 fans to the Air Canada
Centre last night, with a lineup of seven musicians including longest
serving GNR member, keyboardist Dizzy Reed who came on board for 1991's Use
Your Illusion I and II .

BUCKETHEAD

The rest, guitarists Buckethead (who lived up to his name by wearing a KFC
container on his head) Robin Finck and Richard Fortus, keyboardist Chris
Pitman, drummer "Brain," and bassist Tommy Stinson, have all been working
with Rose and Reed on the long-awaited new GNR album, Chinese Democracy,
whose release has been delayed repeatedly.

For now, fans had to make do with Rose and Co., trotting out mostly oldies
with a set list that favoured songs from GNR's monster 1987 breakthrough
debut, Appetite For Destruction.

Opening with the anthemic Welcome To The Jungle and wearing a Toronto Maple
Leafs jersey (No. 26), black track pants and white sneakers -- the band
didn't allow photographers -- the long-haired-and-braided Rose proved to be
a real crowd pleaser. Even if it was kind of sad to see teleprompters, at
least two located on the mini-catwalks on either side of the stage,
displaying song lyrics.

To his credit, Rose didn't let down in the energy department, literally
running around the stage for just over two hours when he wasn't doing his
trademark moves -- the side-to-side dance, and the rhythmic stomping of one
foot -- or letting loose with primal scream-worthy wails.

Highlights included a spirited cover of Paul McCartney's Live And Let Die --
complete with explosions, firebursts and a major crowd singalong -- and a
more toned-down version of Bob Dylan's Knockin' On Heaven's Door.

But the real barnburner proved to be Sweet Child O' Mine, with the
boisterous crowd drowning out Rose's vocals, and the encore number Paradise
City which got some added value from numerous explosions, fireworks,
firebursts and confetti.

Runners-ups for audience favourites were You Could Be Mine, Out Ta Get Me,
November Rain and Patience.

As for the musicianship, the guitar attack of Buckethead (who had his own
dance moves and solo moment, which included the Star Wars theme) Finck and
Fortus proved to be formidable along with the thunderous drumming of
"Brain."

Even Rose showed off his chops, goofing around on piano before getting
serious on November Rain.

The stripped-down stage, meanwhile, was decorated with Chinese symbols, on
both the red flooring and white banners which served as a backdrop, to
reflect that forthcoming album presumably.

VANCOUVER RIOT

Last night's show was certainly far better than the disastrous start to the
GNR tour, which saw thousands of fans riot in Vancouver earlier this month
outside GM Place after promoters cancelled the show at the last minute when
Rose's flight was delayed in L.A. due to bad weather.

The most controversial thing about last night's performance was the parade
of exhibitionist-happy women in the audience who -- whenever the video
camera zoomed in on them -- flashed bras, breasts, bums, and the occasional
thong, or made out with each other.

It was basically a ploy to distract the crowd from the fact that Rose and
his band were 50 minutes late taking the stage.

GUNS N' ROSES

'A single Rose'

-- JANE STEVENSON

Air Canada Centre


------

/jarmo

Okay, I'm drunk now, but please, please, please...

Come to Sweden...SOOOOON  :D  [ok]

 [beer]

Great reviews btw  [ok]

Great reviews. thx all  [beer]



/lastroots

Well, this is my two cents..

I've seen G'NR  five times now "thats not including the London show tonight"
The Toronto show simply fucking rocked !
This show BLOWS away the 2 shows I see 'em with Metallica and the two shows with Skidrow.
Axl hit every note, it was like his voice was reborn.

I'm glad I was there [ok]

ok well im about to go home now from TO.

so ill try and give my full review now!

the show rocked!! it was awsome!! i got there around 7:30... i didnt even go in to see CKY... i did see Mc Master Mike... i think that is his name... i really didnt like it... so after a long hour and 10 min or waiting and seeing lots of breasts... finally the lights turned off and the intro to WTTJ came on... the crowd went wild... me and my cuzin were screamin like mad!! it was soo cool... it was like the final realisation that I was seeing GNR live! and fuck it was just like a dream!! i couldnt believe that Axl was there singin!!! well the show was awsome!! B'Head turned out to be wierded than i had already thought but thats fucking cool with me!!! his solo was amazin!! i couldnt believe he had such skill!!! Axl's voice sounded great and the whole band was so into it... it was like watchin kids at there total happiness! i really enjoyed the show they put on!!! i coulndt believe it and i still cant!!! i wish i was going to the show tonight to be able to see them again!!!! its sureal!!! the whole band kicked ass!! i enjoyed axl's "im an ass hole" song!! it was funny!

well as u can all tell i thought the show was amazin! i dont think anyone could put into words how i felt at the concert and how i feel now!!! omg!! the happiness!!

well im off for the long drive home!!! later pepople!!!  [peace]

I knew you'd like it it SSS. :)

It must've been better than that other concert you went to earlier this year.  :P




/jarmo

the first half of the show was amazing(the gnr set). Everybody was into it ...etc. The problem is, when bucket started passing around toys and acting like a fucked up kid, people were yelling slash and most people just sat down for the rest of the show, only to stand up for paradise city and night train. Maybe people were just burnt out from smoking up or something, but the end of the buckethead solo just killed my section. People stopped cheering. I guess the new songs were well received, but a lot of people didn't really seem to care. It really sucks when people around you are just sitting while your trying to enjoy a show and get pumped.

Quick Notes:
Chinese Democracy was one of my favorites. Buckethead's solo during madagascar was barely audible. Finck was the highlight guitarist. Buckethead moved around a lot more than before; he jumped from the platform a few times and interacted with finck and the rest of the band. Pittman looked supid in his attire. Fortus soloed during a few songs, i guess the same ones as before. Brain rocked, he dressed as a latino gangster, with the checkerd buttoned up shirt starting from the neck and leather gloves. There was a solo at the end of the blues, like the gnr radio promo. There's a new keybord part in The Blues, it was played at the beginning of this leg of the tour, i don't know if anyone else noticed... it wasn't there in rio. Axl said this leg of the tour was mostly just to play the old songs long time fans want to hear. The intro before NR has to be a new song. It must be an indication to a new epic that's in store for us, Axl seemed liek he wanted to play the song right there and then, tommy even played a few notes. It sounds more emotional, a more painful song. Mix Master Mike was good for about 15 min. CKY was good, but they're not in the same league as gnr.

One more thing. Can't people realize Izzy and Slash left the group a long time ago? They're clueless to the mediocre albums released by these two. It's reality, deal with it.

Glad you had fun SSS!  

Wicked show. Awesome attendance too, considering this show had almost zero fucking promotion. No TV spots, nary a mention on Much Music, and I didn't even hear much on the radio till the day of the show. Place was backed, even the nosebleeds and private boxes. Probably around 15-16,000. Shakira only got 10,000 the night before.

One person around me yelled Slash during Buckethead's solo, and like six people turned and told him to shut the fuck up in tandem. He didn't say a word after that. Where I was (about 25 rows back on the floor) most people were really into Buckethead. He got a big cheer for the first part of his solo where he plays like a madman, and a big cheer for Star Wars as well. People were a bit confused about the toys though. I think they were Lord of the Rings action figures, damn that's cool.

I noticed some of the people in the stands sitting near the middle of the show, although it seemed all the girls were on their feet, and so was the floor. And then they were back up towards the end.

A lot of people screamed for Patience. Especially since Axl was a tease and started whistling earlier on in the show, then changed his mind.

Lots of hot chicks here in Toronto, but damn they're timid. Took thirty minutes for them to get going. I wonder if Axl is just sitting around backstage waiting to see enough flesh before he finally goes on...  [hihi]

Madagascar gave me fucking chills live.

Hey kids.

I won't bother putting a full review on here since it's already been done .. i'll just add a couple of points.

Bottom line is that this show was F&%in' amazing from start to finish!! Everyone loved Buckethead, and his guitar playing was letter-perfect everytime he played a solo. That didn't surprise me - he has a star quality about him. I was however, surprised at how good Robin was... there were at least 3 times when a great solo was being played, and I immediately thought it was Buckethead, but when i looked up at the screen, it was Robin!

I believe Axl said that "backstage before the show a girl was asking CKY how they determine who gets backstage, and the singer said that they have David Lee Roth go out and pick the girls since he's not doing much right now, but has good taste." He also introduced Chris Pittman as wearing a suit "he said he wouldn't be caught alive in!"

"Madagascar" was about what I expected it to be, sounds like the live versions we've downloaded. However, "The Blues" and especially "Chinese Democracy" sound even better now! I can't wait to hear this album!!

I also loved the fact that Richard Fortus played the first major solo in November Rain, Robin Finck played the second one, and Buckethead solo'ed over the last minute or two of the song. They were all awesome!!!

Axl wore a "number 26" Leafs home jersey for the first half with no name. # 26 is Paul Healey, he's a bit of a minor league Leaf, he played around 30 games last year, and he started this year in the minors but was just called up a week or two ago. I wonder if maybe he's a fan of the band or something, or if Axl just likes # 26 (since there was no name on the jersey) ...  I have no idea.

Bottom line: it was a fantastic show, and Axl seemed to be in very good spirits for the entire concert. As has been mentioned, he said sarcastically at one point (referring to Montreal) "we'll talk about that later with our good friend Lars" ... i'd love to know the full story here!

Axl ... release CD and come back to Toronto soon please!!!!!!!

one other point for those who care ... Axl did not wear any headgear (hat, bandanna, etc.) at any point in the concert.

Also, Brain was awesome on every song, especially You Could Be Mine. A much better drummer than Matt Sorum.

Guns N Roses thrill Toronto crowd with vintage set, far cry from Vcr experience
 
ANGELA PACIENZA  
Canadian Press


Saturday, November 30, 2002

TORONTO (CP) - The 1980s returned to Toronto on Friday night in all their pyrotechnic, metal-rock glamour - albeit nearly an hour late.

Led by an energetic Axl Rose, Guns N' Roses stormed onto the stage at the Air Canada Centre - the band's first trip to a Canadian city since the riot in Vancouver on what was to be the band's opening night of the Chinese Democracy world tour - answering the all-too familiar question: "Do you know where you are?"

With green flood lights swirling wildly, Welcome to the Jungle kicked off a vintage Guns N Roses set of songs taken mostly from Appetite For Destruction and Use Your Illusion I and II.

For a while it seemed the show would not happen. Rose and the clan were 50 minutes late getting to the stage. Cameramen tried to keep the audience occupied by displaying crowd shots of what seemed to be a Toronto version of Girls Gone Wild - hot young women in cleavage-revealing tanks tops flashing their breasts - on the two big screens on either side of the stage.

It's raunchy appeal seemed to wear off after a while, the crowd's chants of "G and R" grew dimmer and at least one scuffle broke out in the aisles.

But the approximately 14,000 fans thought the wait was well worth it, clapping and singing along for the majority of the show.

A charismatic Rose, 40, wearing a Maple Leafs hockey jersey, put on a vigorous show filled with lots of frenzied rock 'n roll energy. He sprinted from one end of the stage to the other, his long braided hair whipping through the air in a show all its own. His notorious wailing was on full display, although the enthusiastic crowd often drowned his voice out chanting along with every word.

Vintage hits were trotted out throughout the two-hour show including Live and Let Die, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Sweet Child O Mine, You Could Be Mine, Mr. Brownstone, Patience, and Paradise City.

November Rain saw Rose playing a grand piano under a waterfall of fireworks.

New songs from the upcoming Chinese Democracy album included the title song.

The multi-tiered stage, allowing Rose lots of running space, sat on top of a large red circle with Chinese symbols. Multi-coloured flood lights worked overtime. Explosive, old-school fireworks pumped up the crowd and brought '80s-style glamour rock to the arena.

It's the band's first North American tour since 1993.

Rose has been busy trying to finish the new album since 2000. It's expected to be released in February.

After a falling out with his band, Rose formed a new crew for the tour, retaining only keyboardist Dizzy Reed.

New additions include former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck, bassist Tommy Stinson from the Replacements, ex-Primus drummer Brian Mantia and avant-garde guitarist Buckethead.

Wearing a white mask and a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket on his head, Buckethead's solo - which also included playing the Star Wars theme song and several minutes of waving numchucks and break-dancing - was clearly a crowd pleaser. Judging by the reception to his performance and the fan in the second-row who wore a KFC bucket throughout the show, Buckethead is quickly establishing a cult-like following on the tour.

Much has been said about Rose's chops not aging well but a shaky sound system made it difficult to know for sure. It should be noted that five teleprompters, in clear view, were scattered on the stage, scrolling through lyrics for Rose.

The rocker, however, has remained confident about his abilities.

"To the ones who are negative and want to see either myself or the new band fall on their faces, personally I can't pass up an opportunity to upset so many of them in one quick swoop. I get misty-eyed just thinking about it," he said prior to the tour.

Regardless of the sound, the lively crowd enthusiastically bopped up and down to the music, enjoying the old-school flavours released with every rock-steady anthem performed. Cigarette lighters were whipped out and flames proudly displayed during all the ballads.

The scene was a far cry from the riot in Vancouver on Nov. 7 after the opening show of the band's North American leg of the world tour was cancelled when Rose missed his flight.

Thousands of fans rioted for about an hour outside GM Place in downtown Vancouver. Police used pepper spray to disperse the rioters.

It wasn't the first time chaos has erupted at a Guns N Roses show.

At a concert in Santiago, Chile, in 1992, 10 people were hurt and 178 people were arrested. The group's departure from the country was delayed for about nine hours while authorities searched their private plane for drugs. Nothing was found.

In 1991, Rose precipitated a riot in a St. Louis suburb by jumping off the stage and attacking a fan videotaping the concert. Sixty people were hurt and the Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Mo., was wrecked.

Several lawsuits were filed and Rose was charged with assault and property damage. Rose never surrendered to face the charges and was arrested a year later by federal agents at Kennedy International Airport in New York as he returned from a European tour. He was eventually put on probation for two years and ordered to donate $50,000 to five social service organizations.

The rockers entered the music scene in 1985, earning fans with their punk-infused heavy metal sound. The band's heydays were between 1987 and 1992 when Welcome to The Jungle, Paradise City, Sweet Child O' Mine and November Rain dominated the airwaves.

The band has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide.

? Copyright  2002 The Canadian Press

http://www.canada.com/stcatharines/story.asp?id=%7B6DCF7B15-A060-4076-A342-B98FB7B7C32C%7D (http://www.canada.com/stcatharines/story.asp?id=%7B6DCF7B15-A060-4076-A342-B98FB7B7C32C%7D)

Thanks to Charles on the DNB list.


/jarmo

Guns 'N Roses T.O. concert cohesive, powerful

By Dominic Patten, Exclusive to CTV.ca

TORONTO ? The fact that they actually showed up and the fact that there wasn't a riot would deem Friday night's Guns 'N Roses show at the Air Canada Centre a success.

Not that the hoards of police and the strict ACC staff were going to take any chances. The police were outside and inside the arena and they made their presence very visible to anyone who might have been thinking of repeating the riot that took place at the cancelled show in Vancouver earlier this month.

The ACC turned off the taps at 9:30 p.m. ET because it had been decided the crowd was liquored up enough. A fight that broke out in the upper stands was quelled by security so fast there wasn't even a second punch laid.

And while the tunes being played over the sound system were like listening to your dream punk rock mix CD, people were getting antsy. I head a few guys behind me muttering to themselves.

"You don't think they've bailed do you?"

"Naw, dude that's just Axl being Axl. He'll come on when he feels like it."

Well, the GNR frontman and his crew didn't take the stage until almost 10:40 p.m. ET, by which time even the mulletheads and the geezers had gotten bored of watching pretty girls in the audience gyrate and flash their breasts on the giant video screens set up around the stage.

But as soon as the opening chords of the band's classic "Welcome to the Jungle" started and Axl, in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, screeched in to the mic "Do you know where you are, you're in the jungle baby" all was forgiven.

Throughout the band's two hour set, that love and dedication from the 16,000 plus audience forgave a band that is still finding its touring legs.

This was the 12th stop on the band's North American "Chinese Democracy" tour, which Axl has said "is going to go off and on for the next two or three years" and will see the band release at least two new albums worth of material. Let's hope the band doesn't hit too many bumps in the road, because they still have to work out how to put on a show.

Axl Rose is the only original member of GNR in the band today. Since the mid-nineties, through lawsuits, busts, and slagging from his former bandmates in the media, Axl's been retooling the band to meet his musical vision, going through producers and players to find the perfect line-up. The current band is the result

The new band, described by surprisingly chatty, can no doubt play. The mysterious Buckethead's guitar solo that turned into a stunning Wagnerian rendition of the Star Wars theme proved that.

But in that example also lays the problem. Buckethead's solo was so long I watched the first part of it, went to get a drink, came all the way back to my seat and he was still playing. People were looking at their watches, and most of these fans love that type of stuff.

There is a real core of a really good, down and dirty rock 'n roll band in former Primus drummer Brian Mantia, former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson, and guitar player Richards Fortus. Time after time last night, the three locked into grooves that were tighter than a vice.

In comparison, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman, and dueling lead guitarists Robin Finck, formerly of Nine Inch Nails, and Buckethead were too remote, too clean. Most of the time, it was like these guys didn't want to break much of a sweat.

Sure, they had all the pyrotechnics and sure they played all the hits and almost all of the band's 1987 major label debut "Appetite For Destruction" and sometimes they really cooked in that way that reminds you that GNR were once the most dangerous and probably best rock'n roll band in the world. But last night's the show lacked focus and because of that the energy lagged.

It was a collection of little things. Numerous technical problems and inconsistent sound levels. The stage going dark between every song, which essentially pulled the plug on the crowd's roar. Or Axl oddly leaving the stage during every instrumental section of every song. Was he going back to sip tea for his throat? Who knows. Or Buckethead's wandering around the stage between solos like he didn't know what to do with himself.

Maybe Axl has to let the new guys off the leash more, or maybe they get kind of bored playing other people's songs. I think the latter might be the case, because when they launched into the as yet unreleased new songs like "Chinese Democracy" it all became much more cohesive and powerful.

Was it a great show? No. Was it a good show? Yes. And would I say go see them again? Yes. You know why? Because once the usual GNR controversy of riots and temper tantrums dies down and they are just a working band on tour, and once people start to hear and know the new songs, well, then Guns 'N Roses, this Guns 'N Roses, will truly kick. And that will be a sight to see.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1038675030333_26/?hub=Entertainment

Thanks once again to Charles.


/jarmo

3.5 stars out of 5, which given the way the media has responded to this tour can't be considered too bad.


LONE gunman
Guns N' Roses returns -- but only Axl remains

By JANE STEVENSON

 Guns N' Roses, those missing-in-action, hard-rock kingpins from the late '80s, are touring again for the first time in nearly a decade.

Actually, make that lead singer Axl Rose is touring again, without any of his original bandmates, including dueling guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin.

Rose -- now 40 -- still managed to draw about 14,000 fans to the Air Canada Centre last night, with a lineup of seven musicians including longest serving GNR member, keyboardist Dizzy Reed who came on board for 1991's Use Your Illusion I and II .

The rest, guitarists Buckethead (who lived up to his name by wearing a KFC container on his head) Robin Finck and Richard Fortus, keyboardist Chris Pitman, drummer "Brain," and bassist Tommy Stinson, have all been working with Rose and Reed on the long-awaited new GNR album, Chinese Democracy, whose release has been delayed repeatedly.

For now, fans had to make do with Rose and Co., trotting out mostly oldies with a set list that favoured songs from GNR's monster 1987 breakthrough debut, Appetite For Destruction.

Opening with the anthemic Welcome To The Jungle and wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey (No. 26), black track pants and white sneakers -- the band didn't allow photographers -- the long-haired-and-braided Rose proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Even if it was kind of sad to see teleprompters, at least two located on the mini-catwalks on either side of the stage, displaying song lyrics.

To his credit, Rose didn't let down in the energy department, literally running around the stage for just over two hours when he wasn't doing his trademark moves -- the side-to-side dance, and the rhythmic stomping of one foot -- or letting loose with primal scream-worthy wails.

Highlights included a spirited cover of Paul McCartney's Live And Let Die -- complete with explosions, firebursts and a major crowd singalong -- and a more toned-down version of Bob Dylan's Knockin' On Heaven's Door.

But the real barnburner proved to be Sweet Child O' Mine, with the boisterous crowd drowning out Rose's vocals, and the encore number Paradise City which got some added value from numerous explosions, fireworks, firebursts and confetti.

Runners-ups for audience favourites were You Could Be Mine, Out Ta Get Me, November Rain and Patience.

As for the musicianship, the guitar attack of Buckethead (who had his own dance moves and solo moment, which included the Star Wars theme) Finck and Fortus proved to be formidable along with the thunderous drumming of "Brain."

Even Rose showed off his chops, goofing around on piano before getting serious on November Rain.

The stripped-down stage, meanwhile, was decorated with Chinese symbols, on both the red flooring and white banners which served as a backdrop, to reflect that forthcoming album presumably.

VANCOUVER RIOT

Last night's show was certainly far better than the disastrous start to the GNR tour, which saw thousands of fans riot in Vancouver earlier this month outside GM Place after promoters cancelled the show at the last minute when Rose's flight was delayed in L.A. due to bad weather.

The most controversial thing about last night's performance was the parade of exhibitionist-happy women in the audience who -- whenever the video camera zoomed in on them -- flashed bras, breasts, bums, and the occasional thong, or made out with each other.

It was basically a ploy to distract the crowd from the fact that Rose and his band were 50 minutes late taking the stage.

-- JANE STEVENSON

Air Canada Centre

Sun Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5

http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoShowbiz/ts.ts-11-30-0069.html

great show in toronto,I had a great seat,I was just there
right in the front, FL-R4. I liked it and axl's voice was great,
now I know he still can sing,one thing I didn't like that he wore the same clothing the whole show,it would have been
more classical to watch him showing all his tattoos while he
was singing and running across the stage(typical of axl).
 the band played very good,but I have to say that nothing compares to the real thing,the 3 guitar players they were great,but if you put the 3 of them together can't get even
closer to slash level,I didn't like BHead's act,ok he did nice moves and some interesting things,but I consider it more  for a 5 years old birthday party,not for a rock concert,he's a weirdo funny guy though.

about kyrie saying that 6 people turned around and told a
guy to shut up 'cause he was yelling slash,I bet anything if
slash would have made a surprise appearance last night,
everyone would have gone crazy and forgot BHead was on
stage.

ok then,don't get me wrong I liked the show and I enjoyed it a lot,but about some people here are saying that the show was better than ever,I don't agree with it because I still feel it lacked the old magic,let's put it this way this new
band would never have an audience of 50,000 like the old
band did.
 My dream is and always will be that the real gunners some
day will reunite;then finally I can go and buy my ticket to see
GUNS AND ROSES.

 ::)


/lastroots

I've been to a shitload of concerts over the years and last night was pure magic. No other word describes it any better. Simply the best concert I've ever seen and feel priveleged to have been there because next time they come around it will be in 50 000 seat stadiums once CD is finally released...make no mistakes about it. There are those that will always cling to the past and it's their business if they do, I'd much rather enjoy the real experience of living in the now.

If Torotno audiences are known for one thing it's their general conservatism. Last night that image was shattered by the new Guns n Roses as the ACC erupted in electricity. The majority of the crowd was on it's feet throughout the concert, something rare for Toronto. Rarer even still was the fact that they almost drowned out the band when sining along to the hits. True, there were brief moments of technical glitches but nothing too drastic or noticeable. There was also a slight calming down after BH's solo and during the performance of some of the newer material as the crowd was obviously unfamiliar with it, but it was short lived. I thought the place would literally  explode during SCOM as that's how powerfull the audeinces reaction was.

And to the Toronto press who gave reviews that predictably bordered on the safe....FUCK OFF AND DIE! You are not fans of rock n roll, go to a LIPPED SYNCHED Eminem concert cause that's where you belong as you should be ashamed to call yourself rock journalists. Had it been some flavour of the week band like the Vines or some other 'the' band and they produced a fraction of the electrcity GN'R did last night you'd be pissing yourselves silly because your only function is to follow trends in a desperate and vain attempt to make yourselves seem cool. You must have been real pissed off, especially after Axl's rant about you idiotic lot, that you couldn't totally trash the concert as you hoped you would since it's the "in" thing to do nowadys.

Bands rarely start off tours in their best form. I think last night GN'R hit it's stride. The rest of you still waiting to see the band are in for a hell of a ride. Enjoy.

Thank you all for the great reviews everyone.   :D I like intro they used.  

  I'm completely speechless after attending the show....I had tickets @ fl4, row 19, right in front.....
  I for one like mixmaster mike, and thought it was quite admiriable that GNR would bring such a diversified opening act on the road....true, some of his stuff got monotonous, but he did his job right....
  I loved every minute of the show, and definitely Axl gets mainstage spotlight ovation for the show....Dizzy brought back a feeling of nostalgia on the piano during The Blues (thinking back to Nov. Rain played live by him).....yet the other pianist I found very out of place...he wasn't really doing much on the keyboards, aside from swivelling to and fro on the damn thing!!
  Axl was very casual and comfortable which I think made everybody feel at home in their seats....I had waited 12 years to see them live, and I was simply astounded...
  The only thing that I found was quite dissappointing (but nonetheless didn't ruin the experience) were the teleprompters and Axl's absence off the stage everytime he wouldn't have a singing part during the beginning.
  Another thing did anyone stick around for the figth that happened outside the ACC after the show was over?  I found it unbelievably typicall and hypocrittical of the popos to be patrolling the acc while these idiots were beating each other's brains out (wasn't that bad, but still).....
  Either way, I just wanted to share the joyous feeling  that I left the concert with, and ask if anyone had the courage to bring to bootleg the concert :)
  Let mr. axl continue the good work and come by more often..
  the muffinass

why is everyone so damn upset about the teleprompters he's used them for 10yrs at least

  well, i haven't been to any prior gnr concerts, but it just looked weird....u would've thought he'd know the lyrics already (and i'm sure he knows them all)
  what i'm still interested in is whether ppl managed to bootleg the show....

i think he stands on them and puts his foot on them more then anything,how was security if it wasn't tight there probably is a bootleg

Hey All,

So it's the day after the Toronto show and I'd thought
I'd post my review.  All in all, a pretty good show,
as there was plenty of energy to go around with the
Air Canada Centre close to a capacity crowd.  Again, I
didn't bother seeing MixMaster Mike or CKY, as I still
have four more shows to catch their acts.  Got there
around 9:15, a little earlier than I wanted to.  This
was due to information from Angel that the vcurfewd
strict curfiew policies and would fine the band
severely if they played past 11:30.  Despite the fact
that I know Axl wouldn'curfewa damn about curfiew
policies, I got there early just to make sure.  First
complaint, the bar closed way to early (9:00).  If I'm
waiting an hour and a half for the band, I want the
time to go by as quickly as possible.  So big boo on
that one.  It was funny to watch the staff at the ACC
run around with worried faces, as news spread that the
"star" of the show had not arrived yet and it was
10:10.  I had to inform many of them that this was the
case at most GNR concerts and that Axl would be there.
I think thoughts of Vancouver occupied many people's
heads.  This included the crowd, who became quite
impatient as 10:30 rolled around.  I told many that if
the band was not out by 10:40, start to worry.  Sure
enough, around 10:35, the curtain dropped and the band
kicked into Welcome to the Jungle.  If you want the
rest of the setlist, visit Jarmo's site
(www.heretodaygonetohell.com).  One bright spot was
merchandise prices.  Granted, still very high, most
items were much cheaper in Toronto than they were in
Detroit.  The long sleeve shirt with the dragons
running down the arms was $80 Canadian.  In Detroit,
that shirt was going for $100 US.  Which means when I
purchased the shirt, I saved $70 Canadian ($1 US =
$1.50 Canadian).  Pretty sweet.  

Anyway, on with the show.  As I mentioned earlier,
this show really rocked.  I feel bad for anyone who
saw the Detroit show but couldn't make it for the
Toronto show.  Paradise City was worth the ticket
price in my opinion.  The band started around 10:35
and played a great two hour plus set (left the
building around 12:50).  Here are my ratings for the
show:

Axl - 9/10
I guess I'm being a little hard on the guy, but his
voice wasn't as good as it was in Detroit.  Granted, a
lot of it had to do with the sound system and the
mixing guys, but you could definitely tell his vocals
were not as on as they were in Detroit.  Perhaps this
has to do with the fact that the tour is well underway
and his vocal chords could use a good rest.  But he
still sounded amazing, and his vocals held up most of
the night.  During Madagascar, Axl didn't elevate his
singing as he now usually does ("If we ever find it's
true...").  This was sang the same way he did at Rock
in Rio.  Just some evidence why I thought his vocals
weren't as "tuned" as they were in Detroit.  Oh,

Attire for the evening: Two Toronto Maple Leafs
jerseys (One home, the other away), a Toronto Raptors
jersey, a Blue Jays jersey, andLacrossestingly enough,
a Toronto Rock jersey (Toronto's Lacross team).  I
would have thought he'd wear an argo (CFL) jersey, but
he chose the rock instead.  Black baggy pants and
white shoes (looked to be skateboarding shoes).

Buckethead: 9/10
Again, this guy rocks.  But he seriously creeped me
out during this show.  He loses marks for his
rendition of patience (you couldn't hear him).  I
would say that Patience is the one song where the old
band played it a bit better than this new one.  I also
was wondering what was happening during Paradise City,
as he brought out his puppet like creature.  For most
of the song he'd walk this stupid thing around the
stage, then act like he would talk to it, then beat on
it with his guitar and kick it around.  Very creepy.  
His solo was extremely enjoyable to watch, as it was a
nice break in the show.  Overall, good job buckethead,
just leave that freaky puppet backstage.

Robin - 6/10
The more I see this guy the more I don't like him.
Someone mentioned earlier how Buckethead and Robin
were the fan favourites in their section, well, not in
mine.  Everyone that stood around me did not like
Robin one bit, and for the most part, I have to agree.
His solos are truly brutal.  Man, I thought his intro
for SCOM was bad, I couldn't believe his solo before
Paradise City.  It sounded as though someone was just
plucking away at a guitar with no real purpose or any
idea as to where they're going.  His performance
during November Rain wasn't too bad, and his solo
during SCOM was pretty good too, but I can't stand his
intros.

Stinson - 8/10
Again, not a major hitter on this team but
doesexcitement job.  I get the feeling however that
his energy on the stage is transforming from excitment
to arrogance.  Perhaps I'm being harsh on the guy, but
he had a cocky way about himself.  During one point,
he was walking backwards and kind of stumbled over
himself, but played it off as though he meant to do
it.  Afterwards, he turned his back on the crowd and
started laughing towards Dizzy and the sound guys at
the side (I was sitting on the left hand side of the
stage so I could see all this go down).  I suppose
it's not a big thing, as he still rocks.  But he's
trying to play it too cool sometimes.  That's my only
negative remark about the guy, because otherwise, he
puts on a great show.  His bass was on the money and
his punk feel to the songs really liven them up.

Fortus 9/10
Forgetting Buckethead, i think this guy is the best
guitarist on the stage.  Kept the rythem going quite
well throughout the whole show.  He knew when to take
charge and when to let Axl and the lead guitarist at
the time to take over.  No real screw ups that I could
tell, and his slide guitar work during Rocket Queen is
really, really good.  Overall, gexcitement on Axl's
part to get this guy in the group.  He never brings
the band down as he only adds to the excitment.

Brain 9/10
At this show I was able to get a better appreciation
for Brain.  His style is definitely looser than Matt's
(which I like), and he does a good job of keeping a
steady beat but not boring the crowd to death.  I
forget which song it was but he did miss the beat once
or twice, but overall, a good job.

Dizzy - 8/10
This is probably one of the hardest working
guyphenomenalhe show (after Axl).  It's hard to see,
but the number of keyboards this guy is using at the
same time is phenominal.  His rendition of the Blues
was up to par and his keyboard work during the rest of
the show was well done.  

Chris Pitman - n/a
I still don't know what to rate this guy because I
don't know what he does.  Last night I noticed he
doesn't do much, that's for sure.  As I mentioned in
my earlier email, the guy plays mosjudgmentith just
one hand.  Even when Dizzy was playing the bongos,
Chris didn't do that much in terms of Keyboard work.
Hence I hold judgement.

Overall, a good show.  "Show us your boobs" game is
becoming a slow fan favourite I've been noticing.  I
suppose it's fun for about 20 minutes, but it's appeal
dies down a bit as the wait continues.  For those who
care, definitely more skin at the Toronto show
thanmagnificentroit show.  

The only other noteworthy thing to report was that
when Axl went to introduced the band, he referred to
them as the "magnificant seven," and then proceeded to
whistle the theme song to the movie.  Pretty cool.

Overall, I give this show a 9/10.  Performances aside,
what really brought this show down a small notch was
the sound mixing.  It was noticeable when they weren't
doing a good job in promoting Axl's vocals.  Too heavy
on the guitars, and honestly, I thought the show could
have been a bit louder.  

I also want to mention that although this review
sounds a bit negative, that's only because everything
else was great.  For the few things that weren't
amazing, there were a hundred things that were
top-notch.  My marking scheme is that I give the show
a perfect mark and then start deducting points for
things that need improving.  Plus, as long as this
review is, it would be much longer if I were to list
out everything great about the show.  If you're going
to London tonight, you're in for a treat.

Cheers,

Andrew DNB-mailinglist

I preferred Robin a lot more than Bucket during the concert. His solo before paradise city isn't very traditional bluesy. It has a more complicated structure and has more musical elements to it, which is nice for a change. His stage presence and the way he moves around stage is the most exciting out of the three guitarists IMO. out of the three, i see him as the lead of leads. i can't remember which song, but when axl left the stage and robin took center stage, you could really see he had a presence and could hold up the band.

Just got home from toronto.
The show was unbelievable. Every song was  played with perfection............
Now heres a question.
How many people that went to the show thought that it was all live? Between one of the songs i heard the noise you hear when a tape rewinds.And in live and let die there was some questioning i had about whether or not it was really Axl singing.
Just a thought, i could be wrong but i dont think so.
Anyways the show was amazing and i hope to see them again.  

Oh yeah i forgot to mention the opening acts......
Absolutley horrible.
CKY is exactly the music that i hate and MMM was for a rap show or something. I advise anyonegoing to any other shows to skip this. It was the worst thing i have ever seen. But gnr on the other hand.....

um, how does axl fuck up the lyrics to patience (and a few other songs from time to time) on a prerecorded tape? lol i think he's smarter than that  ;)  ;D

i was at albany and i think he was singing live  [ok]

im not saying the whole show was pre recorded maybe just a few songs. Thats just what i noticed anyway. It was a little too perfect.

ok, well why would they have issues mixing the sound/vocals and everything if it was taped? it would seem as if all they would have to do would be play the tapes at the right volume.

ok...this is aah...my first time on here  [smoking] so...i am replying to this so i can have my say. the toronto show...was amazing  [ok] cheers to the new gnr  [beer]. infact, that was the only shitty thing about the show, they stopped serving after like 9 or something...brutal. the band was solid...tight...axl was...well...axl...his vocals were solid, to me anyway. and the new songs...wow, thats all i have to say about them. cannot wait for the new album. i think as long as all the fans of gnr go into with an opened mind, and not try to much to compare it to the past albums, people will like it. i have never seen gnr before, and i admitt, i was missin the slash and the rest of the gang, not cause of sound though, the new members did an amazing job with the old tunes...mainly for stage presense. but all in all, the best show i have ever seen...on my brithday too  ;D.

umi  [peace]

Unreal!!!, These guys are amazing The best concert I've ever seen.  this band is better than the old one and I thought that was impossible!

Oh yah, a friend of mine saw Axl at an after hours club on Thursday night
and talked to him .....pretty fucking cool!!

From the Globe and Mail

Axl's back with guns blazing



By SIMONA CHIOSE
   
     

Monday, December 2, 2002 &#8211; Page R3


Guns N' Roses

Air Canada Centre

in Toronto on Friday

Ten years ago, Kurt Cobain dismissed Axl Rose as a has-been. "His role has been played for years," he said, and the putdown, along with some egging on from Courtney Love, eventually led to verbal fisticuffs at the 1992 MTV Music Awards. The animosity was mutual. Guns N' Roses, with its pyrotechnics and long-haired following, was everything the Nirvana generation kicked out in favour of stripped-down grunge.

The irony, of course, was that Cobain and Rose have similar backgrounds, both high-school dropouts from poor, dysfunctional families, who grew up to become rage-fuelled artists. But where Cobain was the sensitive kid who couldn't wait to get away from the town hoodlums, Rose was the tough guy who turned those same disaffected hoodlums into his fans.

With this sort of reputation preceding you, and the recent Vancouver riot when Rose failed to appear for a concert, security was intense at Friday's Air Canada Centre show. Alcohol sales were cut off at 10 p.m., and police officers were stationed throughout the hall. The media were herded into the acoustically horrendous upper reaches of the press gallery, where every song sounds like a four-year-old banging on a new drum kit.

In the end, all the hand-wringing was secondary to the two-hour musical onslaught unleashed on stage. It has been a decade since Cobain declared the end of Axl -- only Rose is back. He's missing all his original bandmates, has not released an album since 1993, and has been portrayed as an eccentric recluse, but he showed why Guns N' Roses was always millions of miles ahead of teased-hair crews such as Poison.

However, the show was also evidence that the band is unlikely to scale their early heights again. The set was short on new numbers. Madagascar is an epic anthem, and was inexplicably accompanied by images of Martin Luther King projected onto the video screens. The title track of Chinese Democracy, a new album rumoured to be forthcoming this summer, has fewer frills than the classics, but is an intriguing glimpse of the future.

The problem for Guns N' Roses, should the album actually be released as scheduled, is that it would take a superlative CD to top the legacy of 1987's Appetite for Destruction and the band's best output in the five years that followed.

The guitar lines in Sweet Child o' Mine, the opening piano bars of November Rain and the snarled chaos of show-opener Welcome to the Jungle have secured a prime spot in the rock 'n' roll history books.

Paul McCartney's Live and Let Die featured the first of the band's exploding fireballs that made the heart race. Patience and the aforementioned Rain brought out the flickering lighters, while Paradise City gave the crowd one last chance to head-bang while confetti rained down and sparks filled the stage.

Despite their junior-gunner status, the band filled their slots well, particularly Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robert Finck, former Replacement bassist Tommy Stinson, and guitarist Buckethead (Brian Carroll). In a surreal moment, Buckethead, a cult figure who always appears wearing an upturned KFC chicken bucket (this one imprinted with the word "funeral") and a white mask, gave a solo guitar recital, then threw a bunch of toys into the audience.

The energy in the arena was at maximum capacity, and Rose matched it. He jogged continuously from one end of the stage to the other, up the stairs of the podium in the middle of the stage, down the other side, stopping only to shimmy from side to side, or stomp his feet in place, making the most of his braided hair all the while.

For yesterday's man, it wasn't too shabby a showing.
 
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/TGAM/20021202/RVGUNS/Arts/thearts/thearts_temp/1/1/13/

http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/stuff/guns_n_roses.asp

Short MuchMusic story. Really positive (and then it gets kinda funny because the band didn't allow photographs to be taken... so they took photos of the fans)

I saw George from MuchMusic at the show. He sat like 3 rows ahead of me or something. Has anybody been watching the channel to see if he has said anything about it? I have stopped watching muchmusic since the music selection that comes on it is horrible.

oh really? better than guns and roses! don't say that in the street,people will laugh at you, moron! [hihi] [hihi]
     

I've heard those noises too,I didn't think about it,but now that you're saying it, [confused] and of course the openin'
act SUCKED big time,now you can tell how badly some fans are
trying to keep kissing axl's butt,nobody here likes rap or this
new crappy rock,they're always bashing those punks,but now
because axl brough them along, oh! they kick ass! amazing the
opening band,wow!!the DJ so talent.  please stop being so
ignorants and try to be yourself.

That is officially the stupidest comment I've ever heard on this forum. And that's saying a lot. Call this a flame if you want, I guess it is. But I was at that fucking show. No way in hell was it "pre-recorded". It's not an N'SYNC concert. You can tell because sometime's Axl is a little offbeat. He'll sing a little too quick and then have to catch up (I noticed this in one song, I think it was My Michelle). And sometimes the guitars are off (i.e. Richard fucked up his NR solo in Toronto).

I can't believe I'm actually having this conversation. It's fucking pathetic.

Yes I cant see how Axl is keeping these opening acts on for the whole tour. It was by far the worst music i have ever heard.
Maybe he wants the openers to suck just so people can say how much better his band is??
But really, by the last part of the tour, after all the word gets out about how much these openers suck, your not going to see anybody there until GNR come on stage.

Oh yah for sure its milli vanilli all over again, They would definitely use tapes too either that or 8-tracks actually now that I think of it I thought I heard a record popping.
Why can't people just realize the fuckin guy is talented ...what do you think he just lost his ability to sing over the last 10 years. Axl sounded Amazing in T.O. I was there in the 16 row on the floor and that was no tape It was Guns N Fucking Roses Better than ever......now someone please tell me why that is such a fuckin surprise!!!

So your saying because he went too fast in My Michelle that the whole show was done live. Were you listening during live and let die when axl sings the words "live and let die" and then right after it comes on again when axl has the mic nowhere near his face. I know that this part was meant to have an echoe effect or something but it just shows that it was taped to come out that way.

That's the way the song goes ...its backing vocals done by axl... now unless axl has magic powers its impossible to sing 2 things at once and that is why its played like that. I'm pretty sure Pittman looks after all the stuff like that.

Ok that makes sense i suppose. But i still have my doubts....whether or not people agree with me.

hey john,even if axl come here and says he did lipsync some of the songs,they still would deny it. [hihi]

  oh,no! I forgot they believe everything he says!

Yes I know. I talked to some of the other people at the Toronto show and that was the first thing they said about the show not being live. It is true though, you people would deny it even if axl did say it.

I've listened to some of the bootlegs and I always thought it was background vocals by somebody else.

It sounds to me as Axl singing the first "Say live and let die" and then somebody else does the second "say live and let die". Then Axl goes into his "Oooooooooooooooooooh yeah" thing....



/jarmo

Riiight. As far as I'm concerned you're just trying to stir up shit. I was at the front in London. I could see the man's fucking lips move. Including in Live and Let Die. The part with the trade off (live and let die) has BACKING VOCALS. Same deal in Toronto. Maybe you've been to too many boyband concerts where those are unheard of.

This whole arguement on your part sounds like a pathetic jab at the band. Axl sang better than you expected, and "oh shit that couldn't possibly be". And when people point out that what you're saying is obvious bullshit, you say "oh you'll stick up for anything". No, I won't, but at the same time, when something is obviously crap, like your theory, I'll call you on it.

Fucking moron John!!! that's the whole big thing thing about Guns N' Roses being the greatest!! Unlike your Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and N Sync GN'R do all there shit live and Raw! And Yes Pittman takes care of SOME minor pre- recorded backing vocals (LALD is not one of them)... BUT people Axl still sings the whole damn show

I cant wait til someone else reports that they see the same things i did. Although it would matter very little to you people because you would say that they were just dissing the band again anyway.

Hey Guys it's just the guys opinion take it easy I'm pretty sure he still likes GNR. Yes he is definitely wrong but It just proves how strong Axls voice is!!
so ........Live and let die!! ( I definitely typed that myself, I wasn't lip-syncing)

No one else is going to report your crap, because it's in your head. I've been to a lot of shows, I can tell the difference. There are a billion and one little differences in each live performance, between the two shows I went to, little vocal fuckups, etc.

I'm seriously done posting on this. It's so incredibly stupid it's not worth discussing. Far as I'm concerned you're just trying to antagonize people.

Damn, Axl's lyrics were pre-recorded?? I should've listened closely to finally hear something recorded from the new album...  this is fuckin ridiculous that someone would even suggest this, Axl Rose is not Milli Vanilli morons.

Fink fucked up the second NR solo... I wasn't impressed with his performance 1 bit.

man....this is some pretty pathetic shit....
i mean i understand u like your favourite band that much, but you don't take it that personal and start an immature thread about the guy listening to backstreet boys and shit....jesus, whqat the hell does it matter as long as we still like gnr??
  hell, i was there 19th row, and maybe it was the herb in the air, but i'm sure i heard some background vocals.....yes, axl did sing for the entire concert, but the fact is some vocals were pre-recorded.  And don't go accusing me of listening to n'sync cause you're wasting your time.
  either way, I for one liked mixmaster mike.  Call it bad-taste or whatever, but u can't deny the guy had talent.....didn't show up for cky tho....
  Anyway, seriously people get over it.....Robin wasn't too impressive (it seemed to me as if he was trying too hard to sound more complex (solo wise) than buckethead or slash for that matter) and buckethead's act really was out of place.  I mean, it is a new GNR, but what's the fuckin deal with the puppets and toys???  Why can't people just get on stage and drop the fuckin gimmicks and simply ROCK??!?!  I mean, is it really that hard??  
  Loved the show nonetheless.....Axl and Dizzy were enough for me :)  Hell, I waited 12 years to see them live (never saw a concert with the old lineup).
  My 2 cents, for which i know i'll get ragged on, but hey...
  muffinass

The show was amazing and you are right. It would have been much better without the toys and even the break dancing shit as it had nothing to do with the gnr music. And what was up with buckethead carrying around that doll in paradise city. Just stick to the music.

Ok you (or John since he's the one who started this BS) tell me, which vocals were recorded? Really, I'm curious to know. Cuz I've heard all the bootlegs and been to two live shows, one a lot closer than nineteenth row, and they all had subtle differences. So what you're telling me is that they record vocals in advance for each fucking show?

Give me a break.

And I realize I said I wouldn't post again on this BS. But it remains the stupidest thing I've heard in my life.

  LOL, it's like i'm back in grade 8.....dude, i honestly can't remember the song, really, but it was near the beginning, and since the teleprompters were visible it fortified the idea.
  I understand you're a "DIE HARD VETERAN" gnr fan, and you've been "closer" to the stage, but don't go calling ppl stupid just cause they have diff views.  FOr crying out loud, jarmo agreeed as well (look at previous posts).
  Let's skip this subject cause it's not gonna finish nicely :)
  I'm more interested in what people thought about buckethead's antics (i found them out of place, as i said before, even though he blew me away during the solo).  
  Here's the thing, I'm a long-time fan, and maybe because I'm stuck in the 90s i don't quite dig this new look of the band.  I have this idea of what GNR should look/play-on-stage and the new band just doesn't do it.  The complete mix of personas (the eclectic exhibitionist buckethead; the goth nin-influenced robin; the snooty bass player; and the guy on keys who just stumbles on-stage).
  I did love the fact that axl was pure axl and dizzy stayed the same.....i was quite surprised there weren't more "dizzy-dizzy" chants during the concert.  
  Also, did anyone stick around for the fight after the show???
  muffinass

I didn't agree to the fact that the backing vocals come from a tape.

I haven't seen this new band live, but it sounds like it's somebody else in the band singing backing vocals. Tommy? Chris?

That's what I said/meant.



/jarmo

  oh, my face is red now :)
  either way, i still thought there were some backing vocals pre-recorded.  I mean, it's one thing if one person hears it, but more than 3?!
  muffinass

pre-recorded vocals at a GNR concert?? something doesn't fit.....from what ive heard ive never seen the new GNR use a tape of any kind...

In my original post about the show being live matter i just asked for peoples opinions on if they thought the whole concert was done live. I guess you guys thought that it was so thats it i guess. There wasnt any particular song that i thought was pre recorded. Before i went to the show i read on this site a review from a previous concert which said that they thought it wasnt done live which just made me listen closer when i was there. So anyway i still think the same way i thought at the beginning of this argument but its just my opinion.

You guys are nuts...  [no]

You can say that you didn't like the performance or the new guys, but to even suggest that vocals were prerecorded is dumb (if you need more arguments about this go back and read what kyrie wrote) - the only time a recorded part was played was when Buckethead finished his solo and started giving out toys.  I really don't know why you guys are so surprised with what Buckethead does live - I knew what to expect and I knew that it was different than the old GN'R.  I'm glad that the new guys have different personalities from the original band and are not just carbon-copies.

I'm sure that Finck 'screws up' his solos on purpose because he enjoys playing them that way - kinda like NIN music, it's not exactly the most straight melodic thing you can find.  Buckethead makes this new band interesting to those who have not been GN'R fans a long time.  He is different and entertaining and can play anything Slash could.  Fortus plays great in my opinion and he did not screw up the November Rain solo (just because it doesn't sound exactly like on the cd does not mean it's wrong - listen to Slash's solos, most of them are different from the studio versions).

BTW MichaelMcKaganDuff guy - we get that you don't like the new band and that you want a reunion - if you don't like the new GN'R feel free to visit the "Project" section of this website.

Now that I've heard this new band live, all the criticisms are pointless to me - the new band rocks!

talent-wise, they're equal (i was amazed to hear buckethed play the solos identically as slash would).
it's just that gnr carries an image, and to me it seemed too kitschy (i heard about the stuff buckethead does during his solos, just didn't sit well with me).  but then again it's just me.
  i mean, i realise there won't be no reunion, but it would be nice to at least have a somewhat similar band.  either way, i don't quite know what i'm trying to say here, cause i enjoyed it regardless.  Just hope slash will finalize this group he's workin on.
  and it might be in the wrong section of the msg board, but what did u ppl think of ain't life grand??  I loved it, and thought it to be the next gnr album.
  muffinass

I'll tell you exactly which part of the concert was recorded:

The montage over the solo in Madagascar. Unfortunately, Martin Luther King Jr. has been dead for several years and was unavailable to sing with the band.

Axl's "What we've got here is a failure to communicate" is also pre-recorded during that montage for whatever reason. I'm surprised they didn't use the clip of that from Cool Hand Luke instead.

Other than that, Robin, Tommy, and Chris Pittman all sing backup at times.

You guys say this as if you know exactly what your talking about when it is not possible that you do unless of course you were talking to Axl which you were not. Everything said here was just opinions and then you try to tell the "facts" when really you know just as much as i do.

Anybody see the article in the paper about the guns n roses show?
It was in Sundays paper (not  sure which one) i think in the entertainment section. It was a guy saying about how the new band sucked. I think the heading was "A Sad Bucket of Memories".
Anyway he seemed to dislike the band a lot.

"A Sad Bucket of Nostalgia" from the Toronto Star... I posted a link to it in the GNN section.

Did anyone else catch MuchNews for the past 2 days?? Yesterday they had a report on the riot, an interview with Dizzy and Tommy (by George Stromsgasdiohoalous), and a bunch of footage from the Toronto show.  Great to have Axl in a leaf jersey on tape. Also, they had an interview with Mix Master Mike today, and they showed a bit more T.O. footage of the Guns, and MMM talks about how he got on the tour.


Nope, I wasn't.  Apparently tho, someone that works with my mother went to the Guns show and managed to sneak backstage and speak to Axl for 30 minutes!! I'm still waiting to find out what they talked about... who knows, maybe it came up. <---- This isn't bullshit either.  [hihi]

Booo i was actually watching muchmusic to try and see some footage. It best be on again.

The kid who writes for the Star is Ben Rayner. He's barely out of his teens and won't give a good review to any big rock act. The Globe & Mail gave the show a great review. So did the Toronto Sun, CTV News, & Much Music (George was at the show on the floor, he gave Buckethead props on Much News the other day). Aside from Rayner, the National Post gave it a lukewarm at best review and Chart Attack spent most of their "review" calling Axl bald and fat. For those who don't know, Chart Attack is a living joke of a Canadian music rag who care mainly about pop-punk bands (Sum 41 are gods over there).

So four good reviews from the press, one poor and two awful. Rayner can say what he wants, I expected exactly what he wrote. Chart Attack is just sad though. That's not journalism. Before the tour even started they said it wasn't worth seeing, taunted Axl, etc. That's what qualifies as "journalism" over there.

As for talking like I know something, I've been to a lot of live shows. You can always tell when part of a song is pre-recorded. Even on television - look at any hip-hop artist. Most sing half (if that) of the actual song.

And besides which, being to two shows and hearing the complete bootlegs of five others off this tour - there's no one song where the background vocals are identical. There's always someone a little off, a little muffled, a word altered a little... no way is a band going to record a different set of crap for each show.

Remember Milli Vanilli? They used the same tape over and over again... that's why they were so shocked when it skipped <G>.

And speaking of which... someone said they heard a "tape noise" - I doubt anyone would be using a tape these days. More likely something with no moving parts, i.e. minidisc.

You cant even really call that thing by Ben Rayner a review. It just said about "how much of a joke the new band was". It barely mentioned the Toronto show in general. How do these people get into writing these things in the paper anyway? I could easily write my opinions down and get paid for it.

Kyrie don't even bother, there both full of shit [rant]

Some bootlegs from the Toronto, ON - Nov. 29th show
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Listen n' judge for yourself - I was there and told as many people as I could about how great it was and how the crowd was into it. Here's proof...

Taken from gnrx.com, who took it from gnrworld.com

http://www.gnrworld.com/mp3s/Toronto%202002/The%20Blues.mp3

http://www.gnrworld.com/mp3s/Toronto%202002/Knockin%27%20On%20Heaven%27s%20Door.mp3  

http://www.gnrworld.com/mp3s/Toronto%202002/Nightrain.mp3

http://www.gnrworld.com/mp3s/Toronto%202002/Madagascar.mp3

I wanna go to that show again!!!

P.S.  Listen to that rant after the Blues

Oh man
thats awesome
can you get the rest of the show anywhere?

The guy at gnrworld.com put it up so I don't know - I just wanted people who were there to hear themselves!  [hihi]

To everyone who says Finck, Fortus or Buckethead fucked up this or that... pay more attention. They don't play the solos note for note. In case you haven't noticed, the solos are played differently each time, it's called improvising. Finck goes off note on purposes most times. Listen to every show where Finck plays the solo for The Blues, he likes to play off key notes. I attended the T.O. show, everyone of the guitarists are fucking unbelievable.

BTW, i responded to the Ben Rayner article, he e-mailed me back.

"i didn't say it was bad, just that it was rather pointless for the man to put together an entirely new band to perform mostly 15-year-old songs. i'm was a big GNR fan in their day, but that was not guns 'n' roses up there. that was an axl rose tribute to guns 'n' roses.

i can't stand anything U2 did after "zooropa," either.

thanks for reading.

bmr "



and then he sent another e-mail:

"... and five minutes of those new songs really was too much to bear.

;)
bmr "


What a fuckin' prick. I told him this tour was to play the old songs for long time fans, just like Axl said at the concert. Apparently he doesn't remember.

for those people who don't stop repeating themselves,
 "I was there, I was there,I was there,bla,bla,bla:

  I WAS THERE,when I mean I was there,I was right at
the stage,FL-row 4,and on some occasions I stepped foward
right into row 1. I had a black ozzy t-shirt on and black hair.
just in front of me there was this giant rocker,very strong with tattoos on his arms,he almost had  a fight at the end of
the show with an old man(no rock'n'roll looks whatsoever).
anyway,I want someone to answer this question:

 why did axl keep going backstage numerous times and
 kept fiddling with his earphone?

 my opinion on BHead,he could have talent but he doesn't belong in a rock band,least of all gn'r. he'll be more familiar
and welcomed at a birhtday party.

they played good I enjoyed,I was banging so hard my head
and my arms that I'm still in pain,but one thing is guys,
this is not guns and roses,this is axl (no rose)doing a tribute
to gn'r songs,'cause the fucking guy didn't even show one of
his tattoos for one minute at least,all dressed up in rap gear the whole time,come on guys,wake up! time to see the truthhhhh!
who would believe 10 years ago that AXL ROSE would be
performing his shows(not one,not two)all of them,dressing as a rapper,I hate Bhead's looks,but I choose his looks over axl's ten times.
   
    LOVE YOU GUNNERS! [smoking]  [beer]

I'm not going to call you an idiot, but you're an IDIOT!
If you knew anything about Canadian Laws, it's illegal to lipsync in Canada...
Ask Janet Jackson, I'm sure she'll tell you all about it  [yes]

 [yes]  No need to say it twice.

Are you talking about that fuck in the L.A. Guns shirt?? the really big one?? I rushed the aisle at Paradise City and that disphit was blocking anyone from running up further.


Just found the MP3s now, GREAT! Can we get some more??

did you say that you rushed to the stage?????? during paradise city???? you alone or with friends????  how old are you guys!!!!!   the guy with la guns shirt,  what was the fight about????

he rushed the aisle not the stage

wow i listened to those MP3's...and whoa, they are letting buckethead play alot more than even he did in europe.  During the ends of The Blues and Knockin' on Heavin's Door he's shredding like crazy...

...if there's a reason for the fighting between finck and buck that could be the reason, robin's solos are generally shorter and weaker...and i'm sure finck is pissed about getting less solo time when he was in the band before buck

i said down the aisle up to the bottom of the stage..... the guy with the la guns shirt was in the front row....

yeah so does anyone have the bootlegs from this show or any other recent show other than whats posted above.

I was wondering the same thing.

A whole bunch of ppl. rushed up the aisle.... hah, what's wrong with that?? The guy in the L.A. Guns tshirt was just being a dick and pushing people back...

Hey, I'm still wondering if anyone has found any more songs from toronto (or london, it was better) and if so, where?

I saw the London show on video on ebay a few days ago. It was like 60bucks canadian though soooooo......

the solo at the end of the blues is fortus

i didnt get to go to this show. and the worst part is i live in toronto :(

God... it was ages since this show and I still remember it as one of the best times of life... I cannot WAIT to go to Portugal... unfortunately I wont have friends with me to see them with.

I was at this show and I thought it kicked ass. :yes: : ok: :beer: :smoking:

I don't think it was pre-recorded either. :no:


Here is the link to the review I wrote for that show.


http://mygnr.com/bootleg/2002/North_American_Tour/Toronto/Toronto_Concert_Review_2.html

good review crowebar ha ha see ya

There is no way it was pre-recorded......Listen to the solo's in November Rain......Fortus and Fink aren't great.

I was at this show and Axl was fucking amazing.....IMO I have heard him live and I own the bootleg as well,and when listening to all the other boots I think it was Axl's best night during the whole tour.

u got a bootleg?/????

Sure do!

If you use the hub you can get it from me there.

hub.newgnr.com is the address in case you are unaware......I bought the boot from www.gnrworld.com

Alright Im gonna get into the hub thing, I dont know how it works yet... but Ill get it work.

I was at this show, and it was incredible and worth the drive. I came from buffalo with by buddys, and we sat 5 rows from the stage...Amazing; thats about all I can say. I would love to see the video from this show. If someone has it or knows someone who does let me know how I can get it. Axl rocks hard. Long live GNR, and please give us an album soon  :)

I wonder if this picture is floating around somwhere....I sure as hell can't find it online.