Here Today... Gone To Hell!

This is something I meant to ask earlier. Guns N' Roses playing in a place like Bakersfield is ridiculous. Guns N Roses playing in a 6,000 seat venue and on a Sunday and Tuesday night is fucking crazy. What is the reasoning? Since when does a big band play in one of the key markets on a Sunday and Tuesday instead of a Friday/Saturday night? Im going (of Course), but it seems wrong in a way. Guns N Roses should be at a place like Staples Center on a Saturday night. Not some 6,000 seat venue on a Tuesday. Its cool getting to see them in a small place but well... doesn't it seem a little odd to anyone else? They couldnt get a 6,000 seat venue on a Saturday? Couldn't GNR play at one of the big boys on a Saturday? I know things aren't the magnitude they once were but still.

Listen I am a happy motherfucker they are even out there and kicking ass and can't wait to see them again. I just find this odd.

I can't answer that, but I am glad to see this finally all happening almost at once.....It does seem odd though....maybe they'll change it....who knows..

Seeing as the last time they toured the US, they were in large venues that were often less than half full, I'd say playing in smaller venues this time is a smart move.

no cd. no single.no video. no radio airplay. all the reasons why the are not the staples center. its s smart thing to start out small before the cd. and then go back a second time and play the large venue. of course nyc is different. we new yorkers will sell out the garden pretty fucking fast on friday.

They haven't released an album in years, not counting the GH. The last tour did ok in big markets but not in smaller ones. I'd say they're trying to rebuild the live fanbase. A lot of that will be showing up and playing shows without missing any. Also, the night of the shows is mostly just scheduling.

Notice they're playing mostly big arenas in the markets that are traditionally strong for them and smaller ones elsewhere.

Plus there could always be more added to the tour later if all goes well (and we hope it does) - I'd guess South America, Australia, then some more US dates?

There Playing Madison Square Garden on a Friday night

Nothing Wrong : ok:

Considering that they only averaged 6 to 10,000 fans when they tried to play 20,000 seat venues last time, I think it's totally normal for them to book smaller venues in a lot of these areas.

here in halifax the metro center holds 10,200 or so. should be intresting to see if it sells out.

By next year it should be a different story once they re-established themselves as the #1 band in hardrock......

I think it's very cool what they are doing. Bands gain fans via live performances as much as they do albums. Playing these small venues also shows that Axl seems to have his ego in check. It shows he's willing to build this band and not simply expect people to accept it. too me it shows he as wella s the guys in the abnd are willing to work for this rather than have it handed to them(though the name thing still contradicts that a bit in my opinion). Playing these smaller venues is awesome. It's grass roots shit. Well almost :rofl: Why would anyone complain about Guns playing small venues? I love U2 stadium shows(that's where they're best) but I would kill to see them in a small venue. ?I feel a bit silly for suggesting they might simply skip Calgary and Edmonotn again but as it turns out they seem to be really reaching out to the fans. ?Also there's the fact that many of the North American venues were half empty on the 2002 tour. Maybe that is playing in to it all also.

Maybe thats why Minneapolis may get skipped this time around. ?There really isnt any midsized venue that I am aware of. ?Its either two larger arenas or smaller type theatres, nothing really that would be in the 6000-10,000 range.

I can answer the question and its easy. Insurance. Some of the bigger venues may not want to chance Axl not showing up and their place getting trashed. That is why tix are soo ?high, because we are paying gnrs insurance tag for the venue.  I think its smart tho. Its much better for gnr to sell out a 6-10lk venue than to only sell 12k at a 20k vengue. It just looks better on paper.

I doubt that's the reason for the high ticket prices, most concerts cost a lot of money nowadays, especially shows that LiveNation is a part of.

But it's an interesting theory.

Where does the college hockey team play? How many fans can fit in there?

I stand by it. Gnr tix for worcester ma are $75.00 (GA Floor & Reserved Lower), $49.50 & $39.50
supernova are $46.25 & $36.25

While at the fleet center in boston
The chili Peppers are $61 bucks

So the extra $5-10 bucks IMO is for insurance.

They have their own arena, called marriucci...fits 7-8 thousand I believe. ?However the arena is an inground bowl type setup, and may not be all that condusive for concerts. ?The floor would be as big as a hockey rink, and the seats around it are permanent, so you couldnt fit a decent stage on it. ?Plus I don't think anyone has ever played at that arena for concerts.

Ticket prices for these shows are basically the industry average these days (with the exception of the warm-up shows).

Oh really? They are getting high then. I went to NIN last month and just payed like $51 and that was with the taxes

Seriously.  Bakersfield and Fresno?  And Estero, Florida?  :no:

I know GN'R didn't sell out in 2002, but L.A. is a big market, and the big markets sold out....

What do you mean by "inground bowl" the odl montreal forum was made specifically for hockeya dn the seats aroudn the ice surface were not removeable. They had concerts all the time. As long as the ice surface is wide enough they coudl put a stage in it. The floor being as big as a hockey rink woudl be no big dal becasu that's how big the floor is gonna be in alot of these arenas right ;)  Too bad they don't do concerts there casue it sounds big enough.  :-\ Acoustics are probably shit though.

Yeah Estero Florida is pretty random. I live 2 hours away and I've never even heard about that city before  :hihi: but its still pretty cool though, and its a small arena.. so its all good!  :peace:

I don't get why anyoen is bummed about this. Imagine being at these shows. the smaller venues are awesome. I'm sure the Staples Center will get a show down the road. Would you guys be bummed out if they decided to play the Cathouse or the Troubador? :hihi:

Yes!  :hihi:  Then NONE of us would see the show!  :hihi:

But seriously, I'm happy to see them in an intimate setting, but it's been a dream of mine to see them at Staples.

I go with the insurance idea too.

It will be awesome to see them in a small venue!!!

yeah kinda sucks they are playing toronto on a wednesday....and if the show is at all like other other gigs so far it won't be done until 1:00am or so...kinda blows if i cant get the next day off :-\

Small venues are great.  Big venues too.  Being in NY, I would love to see a show at Nassau Colisseum if they do a 2nd leg of the US tour.  More intimate, the crowd is very grateful for the band coming to a more out of the way place, lots of energy and fun.

True, but they could easily do a half house setup at the Target Center.....Thats what they did at the Fargodome in 2002

fact is though that major venue is a subjective thing

let us take worcester for example

when VH did their biref-reuinion tour in 2004, they did Worcester over the Garden, even though they probably could have sold it out...it probably comes down to what the promoter feels is most cost-effective and what fits in with the tour schedule. if they can get a better deal out of playing the DCU and the DCU is more flexible with booking, since it doesnt have major sports teams, then thats where you go. i imagine this applies other places too.

How many does the nashville venue hold

not sure but i know that its prety big

Been told around 18,000 not sure

Smaller venues  ???

Bakersfield might be the smallest place on the tour.  I've checked into some of the other places and they seat anywhere from 12,000 to 24,000.  I'm going to be going to the concert here in Portland at the Rose Garden and that seats about 16,000.  I think these are actually too big for GNR, without a single, announcment, cd, etc.  This is why I think something will happen before they start the US tour.  This way, they will have a better chance of filling these places.

Think about it guys.  Axl said the CD would be out this year.  If this is true, we have to be getting something soon. 

well, some of the reason for the unconventional venues has to with competing uses -- a lot of the arenas have sports events/other events scheduled, so sometimes you chose a different venue to route the tour in a sensible way.   In any event, I think it's BETTER for them to play smaller gigs, get increased PR from sold out shows and build up a demand, rather than the bad press of playing a half-empty arena.

I think it's smart to play the smaller venues because let's face facts, Gn'R right now can't sell out 20,000-30,000 seat stadiums accept in a few cities. The only thing that kind of seems odd about the bookings is some of the cities they are playing. I would have thought that they would have just played smaller venues in big cities and not small venues in small cities.

Oh well, not to worry. I'm sure if CD comes out and does well, then we will see shows at all the big arenas in big cities next year. ?

Two  comments:
1. VR started the same way: play small venues and build to larger (though they never did the arena/stadium rock thing in the US, thank God. I saw them in 04 in a place that holds 800, max. The festivals were  bad enough in Europe, but all that came later.
2. Here is Big D (which is not on the tour list so far) we have an 18,000 seat venue where the Mavs play, and then some really great, but small venues that seat around 1000. So we have the worst  of both worlds: too big and too small. We need a really great 2-3,000 seat venue with killer acoustics.

Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St Paul would be perfect for this band, holds just under 6,000. Northrup Auditorium on the U of M campus also holds just under 5000 but its seated.

Its not 1992 anymore.....fact is axl cant sell out stadiums by himself headlining..if he regrouped with the original lineup than he can but as far as america is concerned its the axl rose solo project....he has to prove himself all over again...

one reason i think they might be playing on a sunday and tuesday in LA is its cheaper to rent the place and also it fits better with the overall tour schedule.

I don't think it has as much to do with insurance as it does with the Promoters covering their asses.  The last tour got cancelled b/c of Axl's inpredictability and low ticket sales.  Most big artists demand large upfront payments from promoters to play shows in big venues(and I'm sure, given Axl's ego this happened on the last tour) and quite frankly without releasing any new material for years and having a largely anonymous band playing the songs, the demand wasn't high enough to allow the promoters to make anything off of the tour.

Do you guys think they are done announcing shows?



Thanks,
Hatts

The reason gnr are playing worcester and not boston is bc either the celtics or bruins have the fleet center tied from from the 8th (when gnr are playing) to the 11th, so there was no chance to play the fleet at all.

Exactly, top end those venues are too small, and Target Center and Xcel are too big. In 02 they got 7 thousand plus at the target center. Hence why they may skip Minneapolis. I hope not.

ultimatly I believe this is more a grass roots aproach and by no means is this the only part of touring we will see, in fact, I have a feeling that whole touring till the record runs it course, and new album drop thearoy and tour more is more like whats gonna happen.

That's what VR did...half house. ?They should do half house shows.

Tough to explain in words. Lets just say the arena is not for concerts.

I suppose I understand the venue choices. But, why the hell at least aren't they then on a Saturday night? I know in a lot of the cases they are but in a place like L.A. where they are playing on a Sunday and Tuesday well, there is something wrong with that. Fine, they cant fill a Staples Center (hey this would be the place to see them...like THE PLACE in LA) without an album, but they cant get Saturday night either? No way. Its just odd.

AS to add a bit more, in my expierinece goin to concerts, since 85, 90% of shows I have gone to beit big acts or smaller ones were always usually on a weeknight, and most of th 17 GNR shows I have been to were always a week nihgt save for maybe most recent , the hammerstein shows that had a fri and sunday, but almost all the other ones were on a tues, weds, thurs, sundat night, in fact I dont think here in NY they did may shows on a weekend. even limelight, and ritz werent weekend nights, nor felt forum, I remeber how fuckng wacked I was in school the next day, back them after that one.lol

I'm surprised they're not playing smaller venues. Chinese Democracy pretty much has to come out within the next 2 months or this tour is going tits up.

cause seeing a show at universal is 100 times better than staples

Universal is a great place for concerts but, it is a strange choice for GNR. Under the circumstances I understand. Its just the day of the week that gets me.

I think playing smaller venues is a great strategy. We are talking about a long-term re-branding of the GNR name. It is much better to play small venues upfront (hopefully at sell-out or near sell-out) - better buzz. If CD takes off, they can come around again and play the biggest venues. Until then, start small and grow.

Is tits up a bad thing? I want to see tits up!

Very well said...nearly everyone who posts here is die hard so they'll defend him to the death but the fact is he's a 40 something aging rocker who had bad plastic surgery and is now trying a comeback...it will take time - if it even happens.? Believe me, if I could have 91-93 all over again I would, because I believe those 3 years were the most explosive in rock history and will never be topped...the UYI tours were the absolute best, and sadly I'm afraid all I'll ever have of that group will be memories (and bootleg CD's!).

I hope Chinese Democracy comes out, Axl and Slash realize what they had and could have again, mark this 10 year period as a hiatus/exploratory time period and get back on the road as Guns were meant to be.

Dude, see...shit right here, this attitude of yours. Its a buzzkill. Only negative nancies have this attitude of yours. What do you know about what Axl did or didnt do? But you want to come to a GNR board and talk shit about things you don't know a thing about. Plastic surgery jesus....STFU. And dude what they had was just that. Had. This is a new time. They didnt see eye to eye on things. But the songs we have heard prove that Axl was right. You don't agree? This is how GNR are meant to be today. Either you get on this train or you get the fuck off. But dont take the ride and bum people out because you you struggle badly with change. The music is awesome. The old GNR didnt make this beautiful music we are hearing from the new GNR. Axl is awesome today. Look no further then Inland video and compare them. They don't look old to me. Man why are you here anyway.

I think we'll get a stadium tour on the second leg. 

Roy Wilkins is not too small for this band, with no album its the perfect size, they'll sell it out and can play Target or Xcel next year when they come back after the album has been released. Also they did not get over 7,000 at the Target Center in '02, its better for them to play smaller places and sell them out and wow the crowd than to play less than 50% full arenas. 

Man, and I thought being able to fill arenas by the second leg of a tour is an optomistic goal. Stadiums is an absolute pipe dream.

Axl could sell out stadiums again, if he would release the album and promote the tour

Stadium shows suck, horrible sound and you are a mile away from the band. GNR will not be playing stadiums anytime soon and hopefully never again. An outdoor amphitheater tour would be awesome for next summer, I'd love to see them at Alpine Valley.

No he couldn't. GNR at their biggest needed Metallica to do stadiums in the US and they weren't all full.

GNR sold out the LA Colliseum and the Rose Bowl (80,000). Granted that was with Metallica. But GNR sold out The Forum (25,000) in minutes with just Skid Row. They sold out this joint in Vegas when Soundgarden opened for them that held more then the Forum. These were sold out in just minutes of going on sale. I was down hours before tickets went on sale for the Forum show, and we got bracelts and shit, and the show was almost completely sold out before it was my turn. I got tickets but the show was sold out in maybe 10-15 minutes. Again a 25,000 seater without Metallica. GNR always sold out whenever and wherever they played in LA. That was 13 years ago but still.

1-LA Coliseum wasn't sold out for the GNR/Metallica tour.
2-The LA Forum does not hold anywhere near 25,000
3-Yes, GNR sold out arenas on the UYI tour but they couldn't do Stadiums on their own, except one off shows like Miami on New Years Eve.
4-Anyone who actually wants Axl to play Stadiums has obviously never gone to a stadium show and seen how bad they really are for concerts.

I meant arenas.  :P

Yes they did get more than 7000 in the Target center, if you check online you'll get a range from 6000+ to 10,000. ?I was there and it was definately more than 7000. I'd love to see them at Roy Wilkins, but I seriosuly doubt Axl would play at a B list venue that holds 5800 people when its not a warm up gig. ?If they play Target or Xcel, they should do half house shows. ?

FYI
 11.14.02 - Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
opening acts: CKY, Mix Master Mike
attendance: 8,000
set: Welcome To The Jungle, It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Live And Let Die, Think About You, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, You Could Be Mine, Guitar Solo [Robin], Sweet Child O' Mine, Out Ta Get Me, Rocket Queen, Piano Solo, November Rain, Madagascar, Guitar Solo [Buckethead], My Michelle, The Blues, Chinese Democracy, Patience, Nightrain
encore: Guitar Solo [Robin], Paradise City
audio/video recording?: audio
notes: For the second show in a row, the band hit the stage after 10:30 p.m.

With a completely different band line-up, coming off of Appetite and the Illusions- 2 of the best selling albums of the 5 year span, at the height of the bands popularity.

Other than the power of the brand name you are comparing apples to oranges looking at what happened during the 90's and trying to apply it to 2006.

OR my ego would have to bite the bullet that favorite band was no longer "big enough" that they had to resort to play small venues with the likes of Godsmack and Supernova (who are scheduled to play roy wilkins). I wonder how many people the Myth night club holds, stank Queensryche played a show there, so did motley crue.  I just don't think GNR is down to the popular level of Godsmack, Queensryche, and All American Rejects.

GNR haven't released an original song as a single in around 15 years. Neither have they released an album in 15 years. Nor have they done anything to raise their profile : no interviews, no TV appearances as a band, nothing. The nearest thing to promotion has been Axl asking where people are on the VMA's and playing some live shows, which, if you don't know the band, or haven't lived on the messageboards, are relatively low key.

If they did the whole media blitz thing they could be huge again. But since they're not... only the hardcore will be paying that much attention.

Look, the reason they cannot sell out legit venues all over the place is because people are in fact realizing that Guns truly doesn?t exist anymore.  The more Axl comes out of his shell, the more people start saying ?Where?s Slash?? Axl is simply using the moniker to draw people to the shows when in fact he's just 1/5 of what made everyone like this band so much.  It?s like Ford bringing back the T-bird a couple years ago...yes it had the T-bird name but lacked in so many ways what the original t-bird was all about and people took a crap on it - now its not in production anymore.

Chinese Democracy will be a moderate success at best, and let's be honest these songs we've heard so far are a notch below AFD and UYI.  The hardcore guys really want these songs to be great, but they aren?t.  Axl carrying this band as "GNR" is just not working and in fact is an insult to what this band once was.  The brand name attracts people to the shows, but the average new tunes and relative no-names backing him up will do little to bolster the name GNR in its present-day form.   It is simply of the result of the massive success they had and what EVERYONE came to know them as.   Again I know you hardcore guys don?t want to think that, but be realistic ? this is an inferior interpretation of a once great band.  Regaining the strong dual identity of this band is the only thing that would make GNR work again as a dominator of the rock world.  Axl and Slash, Slash and Axl. 

I mean for Christ?s sake they had creative differences it wasn?t like Slash banged Axl?s girlfriend or something or tried to kill her.  Put aside the differences and get back to making good music.  If the Stones and Aerosmith could do it, Guns certainly can. 

With that said, I am in fact going to see them in Worcester because have always liked the way Axl entertains the crowd and his voice is sort of back to 91-93 levels.  But for me there will always be something missing when I hear Nighttrain or Mr. Brownstone and it?s not Slash hammering his Gibson LP axe.  Its like a cover band with the original singer.

GUNS N ROSES is and will always be the rock band that ruled the world from 1987-1993?fin

Alright I just checked. The Forum for concerts seats 18,000. I saw GNR at the Rose Bowl and at the Coliseum too. Having that many people all chanting Guns N Roses and going nuts all rocking out with GNR was pretty awesome man. Yea it isnt as intimate and I am not saying I prefer it. But this was GNR, and they were larger then life. They were the next generation Stones, and being in these arena's became synonymous. It was great seeing them at the Hard Rock, and it will be great seeing them at the amphitheater. But having experienced GNR at the large arena's its a little strange seeing them in a small venue. The Rose Bowl/Forum/Coliseum were NOT bad for GNR concerts. At all. I went deaf at all 3 of those in a good way. My ears weren't even ringing after the Hard Rock. Rock concerts like the ones GNR did were fun. Massive tailgate parties, tons of weed smoking and beer just flowed like crazy. It was obnoxious and out of control. Not at all what these are or can be. But they are fucking awesome in their own ways.

Boy, maybe they should start touring with Poison then.

Dude are you on crack? You act like your opinion is fact, and seem to be completely oblivious to where you are. If you really think the new songs aren't that special, then you will not lilke the new album. So I will ask you again. Why are you here? Do you think the majority in here agree with you? Dude, does it pain you to know that I don't want the old group back. That I think the new songs can take the Pepsi challenge with the old. That the new Guns N Roses fit today better then the old could. You think Im alone in this? If you dont like Axl, not just yesterdays Axl, then you better prepare for a beating on this board.

When you are talking about art, there is no compromise. But that is exactly what you are saying Axl should do with his vision of where he wants his music to go when you say they should put away their differences. If Axl is creating the songs on the level we are only getting a taste of in the demos, then Axl should keep on keeping on because I like where GNR's music is going. I think its cooler to get into Zepplin territory then churning out the same thing they have done already. Maybe you need to free your mind a little.

If you don't like it then find yourself a new place. There are very hardcore Axl fans here. So if you keep posting crap like this or that he had plastic surgery, then you are just being a dick for assholes sake.

Axl,

Please come to minnesoooooooooooooooota!!!

I thought this was a general GNR forum - not a post-1994 GNR forum and that is why I am here. ?I didn't register to be bashed for giving my opinion. ?I am merely expressing my extreme dissapointment in the new "GNR". ?The new group is an absolute embarassment - there I said it. ?A bunch of hack no names being Axl's yes men. ?He himself who was too much of a dick to work things out with Slash and Co. ?How many stories have we heard of Axl having his own dressing room, leaving in the middle of sets, going off on other band members for no reason? ?He brought this on himself, and this is what he gets - barely sold out shows in hillbilly towns like Estero, FL. ? He should have buried the hatchet, got back with the real band and moved forward with their music...I GUARANTEE it would have been much better had Izzy been writing some of the tracks and Slash creating some of the guitar riffs. ?Axl alone may be a good lyricist, but he can't create a song all by himself.

I go to these shows only because I want to hear him belt out AFD and UYI tunes...as do 95% of the other fans at these shows which is why I'm ecstatic that the setlist is 90% old stuff. ?I never got to seem them live in their prime and now is my chance. ?Perhaps I'd be more receptive if the new songs were GOOD - but they are not and as I said its partially a result of not having Izzy and Slash. ?It is a pipe dream to think GNR will come anywhere near what they were in the early 90's.

Its sad, but I think Axl could join up with Wham! and you guys would think its awesome...too bad, but you need to get a grip on reality and put things into perspective - this band will never fill the void left by GNR when they disappeared in '94. ?He made the wrong move and now he's paying for it. ?He's touring on name and reputation alone. ?Wait until CD comes out, and tons of people will say "WTF is this?" ?

So you're the guy who throws shit at the stage.

I'd be really suprised if a Twin Cities date is not in there, I hope this time its a GA floor, all 4 times I've seen them in the Twin Cities they have had setas on the floor, its just not as much fun. Axl should play the Xcel, half arena set up, then hit Mankato Civic Center or the DECC in Duluth as well, hey I can dream.

I'd love a half house at the Xcel, not a bad seat in the place. I know most people like the GA floor, but because I fancy myself too old for rock concert floor tomfoolery, I prefer the reserved seating. Especially since I can show up for the show at 10-10:30 and have my seat waiting for me, and I don't have to suffer 3-4 hours of jockeying for a good spot, plus have to listen to people bitch that "they are late". It looks like most of the shows are GA, so you'll be in luck if they do come to Minneapolis. As for me, I will be 1st row lower level next to the stage.

go watch you old dvds..
and dont posts opinions about an upcoming GNR tour

I love that they are playing the small venues.  Right now it is the smart thing for them to do.  It is not 93' and they are not the biggest band in the world right now.  Not to say that they couldn't be again but they need to put out a couple great albums before they are selling out the big stadiums again.  Nobody wants to see a half full arena.  I love seeing concerts in 6000 seat venues.  They are always the best ones and there usually is not a bad seat in the house. 

You know what dude. You are starting off your stay here spamming. You are hating on things the majority of us love. If you started a thread with your attitude it would be locked and moved into the Dead Horse board or something. You have had at least 10 years to get over the inevitable. The only reason we are all here is because we love the music, Axl, GNR, and cant wait for Chinese Democracy to be released. So you are being a real downer resurrecting shit we have all discussed a ridiculous amount of times before. We are all just really excited about the music now. Maybe you should too. But if you can't then you need to stop trying to bring people down, and redirect your energy to more positive things you little negative nancy you.

I also think the fact that the floor and orchestra sections of a 6,000 seater selling out without any promotion by the time I was even made aware of the tickets going on sale, is very telling about the excitement out there for GNR. And I along with others who were blindsided, have the advantage of getting the heads up by this place, and still couldnt get tickets down there.

All I want is for people to admit this new incarnation of "GNR" is not as talented nor as good as the old.  Yes, Axl is trying and I give him credit for that but it will never be what it once was.  I think almost everyone would agree that if they continued on post 1993 as the same group, this whole thread about smaller venues, etc would not even exist.  I wouldn't even care if they continued to evolve their music, because what the songwriting combo of Axl, Izzy and Slash would produce would be much better than Axl on his own.

I don't think one can just assume the orginal lineup could sell out arenas without a new album in 12 years either.

I'm not puzzled by the venues and the dates they are playing so far. I think it is a nice mix they have going. I'm alittle shocked they are not playing any shows in PA and after Pittsburgh in 2002 went very well. I thought for sure they would have played it again or ven maybe Wilkes-Barre. Also no Boston and Albany both did well also on the 2002 tour. I though they would have one up state New York like myabe Buffalo which was on the original North American tour press release. It's just great to see they are playing again and I'm sure more dates will be added on the next leg.

whast the difference witha stadium show and an outdoor amphetheater, that has a massive lawn?

It's time to get over it.  It's been 10 years since Slash left.  15 since Izzy left.  Either appreciate what we have today or move on with your life.  Slash will never rejoin the band.  At least the new version of GnR is branching out and trying different things.  I'd rather have it this way than have GnR turn into AC/DC and releasing the same album over and over again.  Or Metallica and releasing a string of average albums that collect dust.

I'm with you on the Pittsburgh deal.  I was really hoping to see them there, which now makes Cleveland the best bet.  Maybe next round, perhaps...