Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Thanks to globo.com for this classic take on RiR3:

Found here (http://www.mygnr.com/bootleg/2001/RockInRioIII/Rock_In_Rio_3_Globo_English.html)

Despite being late, Axl Rose (see photo), singer and leader of Guns n' Roses, once again, led his audience to a state of total excitement. The almost 200 thousand people gathered at ?City of the Rock? this Sunday watched the recreated group open their performance with three old successes from the album "Appetite for destruction", namely, "Welcome to the jungle", "It's so easy", and "Mr. Brownstone ".

The singer explained the group?s absence of almost eight years.

"Despite what you have read and heard, we are working very hard," he said with the help of a translator.

About his old friends from the group, Axl said simply that "it is over."  He also made a not very pleasant comment that our readers will forgive us for not wanting to publish in ?Globo.com.? About the quote that Liam Gallagher had made in the previous show during "Rock n' roll to star", the singer was philosophical:

"As Oasis said, we couldn?t all be happy." The show continued with "Live and let die" and other hits such as "You could be mine," "Sweet child o? mine," and "Knocking on heaven's door."

Between the last two songs, a version of "Sossego? (Calmness), a song by Tim Maia, a Brazilian composer, by the guitarist Robin Finck, former member of Nine Inch Nails. The group is also introducing its new repertoire, with emphasis on "Madagascar," also sung in Portuguese.

At that point, the show had become complete. At 3 a.m., the guitarist Paul Tobias, known internationally as Buckethead (see picture to understand why), gave the public a little taste of his talents as ?ninja?. At the background, projections and special smoke effects. It was like an apotheosis. And another batch of hits from the past featuring "November Rain" with Axl at the piano, and "Rocket Queen," among others.

"It is very difficult for a musician to learn how to play like another one," said Axl. "These guys worked very hard."

But it was worthwhile. An unforgettable dawn.