Here Today... Gone To Hell!

I just finished reading the "Axl's Voice" thread and I'd like to make a comment about the VMA performance.

What happened? After stumbling a bit in WTTJ, Axl proved that this band is as entertaining, unpredictable, and talented as ever. Bottom line.

Now. Many of you (you know who you are) are focussed primarily on Axl's "windedness" during the beginning of the
performance and are judging his singing abilities based on this one screw up...rather than the rest of this AMAZING PERFORMANCE.

What some of you are not concentrating on is that fact that Axl was as excited about performing for a televised audience as we (and everyone else who lived, breathed and ate up MTV in the 80s) were. He's stated how nervous he was but at the same time how exhilerating and exciting the experience was.

Taking this into count, I think it's easy to determine what set off Axl's minor fault (and I don't really buy the whole "running from security" thing, although I guess it could be true). He's backstage, ready to be announced, ready to show his face, ready to show the world that this band is back and better than ever and he starts WTTJ with the most evil sounding, resonant and prolonged scream I've ever heard him use in this intro (longer that any one of those "...time to diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiies"). Listen to past recording on how he usually screams that intro. He usually breaks it up into two or three screams that are pieced together by lowering the volume of his voice. But not this night. No, this night he gave that first scream ALL he had...and it sounded friggin' Amazing!!!

After this intro, the curtain is going up and he realized this is it and he started running around like a madman from a heafty dose of adrenaline and excitement...and by doing so (after that wickedly loud and long intro scream) through his own breathing rhythym off causing him to become winded during some of the next few lyrics.

I think it's disapointing to see so many "fans" look down upon this performance. It was legendary and it will forever remembered as a great start to a great comeback from a great band. Period.

The rest of the performance was incredible and went off without a hitch in true GnFnRs style!

What more could you ask for?

Well, it is a fact that I am one the biggest Axl supporters on this board as you might know, but I don't agree with you here.

First: I also was blown away when I saw the VMAs but I think that was more according to the fact that GN'R were live on my fuckin' tv screen for the first time since nearly a decade.

But I think the performance was not too good. The band played and behaved more powerful during the warmup (August) and the Tour (November) than at the VMAs. And Axl ... well, I heard the rumour he wasn't able to hear himself during the performance, and if that is true (look at it, it might be true, he always grabs the little speaker in his ear) then it is clear to me why his singing wasn't too good that day.

He messed some parts up and didn't nearly hit the notes during Paradise City.

But I know that's not the usual case according to the fact that I heard countless of the other new performances. Axl is still an amazing singer and I think his voice is now better than 10 years ago. Some people say they miss the "scratch" in his voice. Well, listen clearly to some of the bootlegs (a very good example is Nightrain from Pukkelpop, Belgium in August). He still has the "scratch". And he uses it more thoughtful than back in the day. Most of the time his voice is very clean and high and that sounds way better than this permanent and "overstretched" "scratch". Just listen to his screaming during SCOM in the Tokyo vid. It sounds awful. Now compare this to the SCOM recording from Belgium - Sounds nearly like on AFD.

Ok, these are my 2 cents for Axls voice.



/lastroots

Uh....everyone I have talked to said it was hurrendous. In some cases I didn't even have to ask.

Did I mention, I thought it was horrible too. Not the band per say, as they were tight. Just axl. It was an embaressment I think for most.

Of course thats just my opinion along with a few others.  [smoking]

Haha. Ha. Ha. Haha. G N' R without a hitch, true G N' R style?!? HAhahaha.  [rofl]   [rofl]   [rofl]  LOL.

Just to clarify, saying GNR's style is "going without a hitch", is like saying Jesus "isnt included" in the Bible.

Its just not true.  [smoking]

It left me with goosebumps.

Bucket was awesome.

Axl wasn't his best for whatever reason, get out there and do it better if you dare.

Axl at 70% is better than anybody currently out there.

You say it sucked, I say it rocked.

 I think Axl was more on with his vocals in the concert bootlegs I have heard before and after the VMA`s.  Axl did sound a little off.  Especially on WTTJ.

 BUT... It was an amazing performance. The band was right on. Buckethead really shined at the end of Paradice City.  I`d like to see anyone do better. Axl did not lip sync and granted he wasn`t his best, but I`d like to see anyone else who performed that night do better.

 Some may not agree, but in my opinion they stole the show.
 
 

(in my opinion)

one of the main reasons axl sounded bad/tired/messed up had to have been because something wrong with his ear piece... look at him... he keeps adjusting it.

and  i also agree with the scream in the beginning of WTTJ.  in other shows its done in pieces... while this one was axl all out with no stopping... any human being would get tired after that.

once he had a chance to catch his breath in madagascar... it started to pick up.

he was also probably freaked out a bit... being on stage in the U.S. for the first time in almost a decade... not cuz hes old or any shit like that..... listen to the japan show... axl sounds great, which wasnt too long before the vmas.

but even with the mess ups... the performance kicked ass!

theres my two cents.


 [beer] [beer]

It was Axl's decision to let out that first scream (which was incredible btw)... but he fucked up the rest of the performance.  Yeah, I 100% agree that he was a little over-excited, but that's his problem to deal with, why should we have to make excuses for a grown man??.

Jungle: Terrible, he ran out of breath, that's not making a good impression.

Madagsacar: Not a good performance of this song, "aaaaahhh aahhh aah" was a fuckin joke, but "free the ball and chain" was good.

Paradise City: Axl sounded like someone had stepped on his nuts, his voice was higher than Mariah could go.

The band was good, but who really cared about the band?? It wasn't the lineup everyone was expecting to see under those curtains.  Axl was the one everyone was focused on and he fucked up, now he has to deal with the onslaught he is getting in the media.

Someone mentioned this was a great start to a great comeback... WTF are you smoking and how can I get some... GOOD COMEBACK?? Two riots, half a tour cancelled, and a bad debut on television.  Some comeback.


Saying bullshit like "the reason they sucked was because Axl was excited" is fuckin stupid.  They are performers, if they can't handle shit like that then they aren't good performers.

You know what, my band is the GREATEST EVER.  The only reason my performance last night was bad is because we don't know how to play our instruments, that's the only reason. Puhleeeze STOP making lame excuses for Axl.

So in a nutshell, Sky & 5's....is what you're saying is that because of the subpar VMA's performance, the tour being cancelled...........Axl and whatever form of "his" GN'R he brings out in the future.......is done??

As in, it doesn't matter how good Chinese Democracy is.....you think it's over??

I really enjoyed the VMA's, I thought the band sounded great, Axl didnt, but I still thought it was cooler than anyone else all night, in fact I cant remember a better performance in the last several years, by another band.

Sorry 5's..........Sky then, it appears from what you said....you think Axl has fucked it up for good??  As in, he's done??

No of course I don't think that (although it is possible, we have no idea what's going on behind the scenes right now).  Axl fucked up his great comeback, he waited for ten years and he screwed up when he finally got around to doing something. There's no way you can disagree with me there.... had he been successful the tour would not have been as shitty as it was.

I'm saying that everyone is bashing Axl right now, and he needs to get moving and get the damn album out there, or put out a single, or do an interview, SOMETHING.  His silence is only drawinig Michael Jackson comparisons...  but to say that the VMAs was a great start to a great comeback is the biggest load of shit I've ever had the displeasure of hearing.

I agree, the next step is the promotion of, release of....then more promotion of CD.  

I don't agree that he fucked up his comeback.  Maybe he realized he jumped the gun and attempted to make the comeback too soon.

I'm guessing he's not too shook up about the tour being cancelled.

Everything hinges on how soon we see CD and how good CD is.

Until then, the final chapter may have started but is not completed by any means.

I agree that it is way to early to say he fucked up his comeback, just a couple stumbling blocks that nobody will remember IF the album is great.

You know what????

I would like to see the people on this forum walk in Axl's shoes and get up in front of a live television performance, nervous, excited, whatever the fuck you decide to call it after a long duration of being a recluse and I would like to see how you handle a performance with new band members and see how you do. [rant]   Ease up people....or I will have to cyber kick your ass!! [hihi]

I think Axl did okay...not great, but not bad.  

If you had 1/8th of the talent Axl had, you all would be better people.  I know I would.  I can't sing worth shit, except in my Mazda Tribute when I am cruising the beach [hihi] nor can I play any instruments.  I wish I had talent.

I'm of the opinion that Axl's voice was not very good at the VMAs. But I don't think it deviated too far from what he's been doing at other live performances.  

Basically I think Axl's voice runs on solar power these days, where it used to be nuclear powered, and certain parts of certain songs reveal it more than others. But when you are actually at the show, or listen to a single track recording made at the show, with those mammouth amps, you don't really notice it because the sound of the band covers it up. I've been at two of the recent shows, and I can tell you that even when Axl's voice isn't overpowering, the band sounds awesome. The fact is, Axl's voice isn't really featured a lot of the time in the live mix.

What I think happened with the VMAs is that we got a soundboard feed, which featured Axl's voice without camouflage. (It reminds me a lot of a video that I have of Noblesville, IN 91, where his voice is awful and it's on prominent display because it's a soundboard recording.) And on top of that he was singing sections of Jungle and PC that he can't screech out very well anymore.

If you listen to the same sections of Jungle and PC at MSG that he sang at the VMAs, he really sings it the same way both times. It's better, but not radically different at MSG. What makes the difference at MSG is the rest of the band is recorded on a single track with his vocals, so the vocals are covered up quite a bit.

With the VMAs I kept waitng for the part after the Jungle bridge, which is where he can really let loose, regardless of the setting. But instead we got that silly medley.

Probably if he would've sung Live and Let Die people wouldn't have been talking about his voice problems, because the lyrics in that song provide lots of long notes for him to open his throat and shriek. Then again, I hate that song and I'm glad they didn't do that either.

That's exactly my point... Axl Rose is not a charity case.

He's supposed to be the talented one, and getting up in front of all those people is his talent.  If Axl is going to only do "ok", then maybe he shouldn't be closing MTV's biggest show of the year since all eyes will be on him.

did anyone see when Axl almost swallows confetti???

that was kind of funny [hihi]

it is during paradise city

you know what would be cool?????if GNR did a surprise performance at the Superbowl [ok]

Fuck suprises, how about they let the entire world know they're playing the super bowl so they can lay the VMA performance to rest.

Maybe he was just running from security or just nervous or excited? I don't care because I thought it kicked ass but, the only thing I got upset about was they did not play the whole song.  :(

I thought the VMAs were awesome and I won't let anyone ruin it for me. It was one of the greatest moments in Guns N' Roses history! I don't know why I keep responding to these stupid VMA topics.

If Axl's performance was truly great at the VMA's then I dont think people would need to defend him for it.

Lets get real people. It was the VMA's. Granted that means its a national audiance, but they barley played 3 songs. In the history of music I have never seen so much hinge on a small little 3 song medley performance for one band.

Of course its Axl Rose so anything is possible I supose.

Ughh you need help boy.  [beer]  

I agree with you 100% [ok]

I think it doesn't make me less of an Axl fan when I think that the VMA performance wasn't too good. I'm not saying that he's lost his voice or that I don't like his "new" voice, but I just think that he didn't do too well on Jungle and Paradise City (Madagascar was amazing). And I do think that he was fuckin' nervous so considering all the circumstances (nervous, couldn't hear himself properly) he did a pretty good job. It was just not his best "voice-performance".

I wonder what Axl would say about his performance on the VMA's if you were able to sit down with the man and have a one on one conversation with him.

He was nervous because during Madagascar, when he sang the part, "never...too late"  his lips quivered. [nervous]

Speaking of the VMA's, I taped GNR and everytime I watch it, I see new things.

The crowd was pretty lame, imo.  And who was that guy who gave Axl the high five during Madagascar.......hmmmm
[headscratch] anyone from this message board?

[lmao] [lmao]

All i have to say about it is this:

the performance was for 8 mins.... for 7 mins 30 Axl was perfect theh other 30 secs went off key.

But who cares the performance ruled.

I think Madagascar was perfect

Jarmo...was this you? [lmao]

Madagascar was really good I thought

WTTJ sucked because Axl ran out of breadth, same with PC
But BH made up for it a little with his guitar

Hey guys! I'm new to this board but I"ve been coming here for over 2 years. Anyways I was wanting to know what everyone thought of the VMA performance, thats the only tape  I have of GN'R besides the double set in Tokyo in 92. I thought the performance was okay but Welcome to the Jungle sucked, and Paradise City was alright. I wonder why they didn't play Sweet Child O' Mine? That would of made the crowd go psycho!

Oh yeah Madagascar is the only new song I"ve hear besides Oh My God, but Madagascar rocks, I like it a lot. What did you guys think about it? I thought it was cool to get them back up there and perform on TV again. Peace...

I thought it was great, but i think they should've played one new song instead of 3 mixed together

I think for the people on the message boards it was a bit of a dissapointment, because we kinda knew in a way it would happen, so after hearing other bootlegs from Rio, Leeds etc we knew his voice didn't reach it's potential....

but for people who didn't know it would happen, it would've been very cool to see...

I found that when watching it, I didn't find it very flawing, because I was so engrossed in watching each of the band members perform...

but when I listened to it afterwards, the flaws were quite evident

for me personaly though, when watching it, I thought that it rocked

Does anyone know why Axl throws his microphone at the end of the VMA's.  Wouldn't he hit someone?  Do you think he threw it because of the mistakes he heard?

Just curious coz if he ever hit me with a microphone...lawsuit...just kidding [rofl]

I thought it was great also. It was the first time I ever saw Guns N' Roses live.  :D I just wish they would have played all 3 songs full.  :(

he chucks the mic into the crowd at the end of every show

Well, the VMA performance was already discussed over and over here, but anyway... I think it was Ok. It for sure wasn't their best show, but maybe for people who haven't known or heard about the rumours that Guns will close the show it was cool to watch. Since most of the people here have at least heard about the rumours they have maybe put up their expectations a little bit too high. But it was a good thing that they've done it coz it has brought GN'R back in the spotlight.

can someone tell me what all the songs they played during their performance? cus they played welcome to the jungle, paradise city, and i something else but i dont remeber what else, any help will be apreciated

It was WTTJ, Madagascar and Paradise City. It was a medley. They did not play the whole song for any of them.  [peace]

thanx a lot man

Any time and Welcome to the board  cg-gnr4life.  [peace]

glad to be here  ;D [peace]

 ;D ;) :) :D 8) [love] [ok][ok] [peace] [peace] [beer] [wow] [smoking]

I know its the 1,000,000,000th times that a post is being made about Axl's performance at the MTV VMA's, but this is different.

I just played the first 35 second of my video file of the MTV Medley, in which Axl sings for the first 22 seconds straight :o...I dunno if anyone has caught on this or has noted it yet on these message boards, but it is the most amazing 22 seconds of Axl's banshee howl that I personally have ever heard...even better than those 11 seconds of bashee yelling he did back in Rock In Rio 2 before WTTJ:

...the way he straddles up the stage with his head down (at first) [ok]
...the way he plants the mike stand and shifts hands on the mike  [smoking]
...the way he holds on himself on the mike stand [yes]
...the INSANE glare of a reflected stage light on the camera coming from his phat sunglasses as he steadies himself up easily on the mike stand  [wow]
...the way he bobs up and down as opens his mouth completely and lets the vintage Axl vocal sound roll THUNDEROUSLY from his mouth  [beer]...

then at the tail end of this 22 seconds of one of Axl's greatest recorded live vocals, his voice goes DEAD and implodes instead of exploding on the television audience [crying]

We've all discussed the rest of the performance before anyways, I just want some opinions from people who would like to comment on these 22 seconds.
 [peace]
MNR

I just watched it earlier and honestly I agree. I think the opening is bad ASS! He really draws that howl out in the begining of Jungle.

I will agree this doesn't need to be discussed again though. I just found it funny because I was just watching it like 10 minutes before getting on and I watched that one part maybe five times.

Best 22 seconds on MTV last year.

Haha, yeah, definitely! [ok] [smoking]

I was totally impressed too by the intro to Jungle even though for the rest of the song Axl didn't sound at his best but the beginning was simply amazing! [smoking]

I've heard like 40 different live versions of this song, and this intro was the best of all. It scared the shit outt me, it pumped me up...it had it all.

Yeah, absolutely true [ok] When I realized that Guns would really take the stage I was so excited and then I heard that intro... as someone else already said: Probably the best 22 seconds on MTV in a fuckin' while! This intro was definitely way better than the major part during the Illusions tour. [yes]

 [smoking] even before the howl, when the guitar chords kicked in on the start of welcome to the jungle it was brill just hearing it and in some way sounded so much more dominaring and brillant and fucking roses, ok so its not the slash co but it was cool.  [peace]

it was a kickass screaming introduction that gave me goosebumps and all that good shit. ill admit it wasnt the best performance that could have been given but it was an amazing moment ill never forget [hihi]

something i always wondered was why axl chose to start the song with that scream instead of the famous "YOU KNOW WHERE THE FUCK YOU ARE!!!!!????" nothing gets a gnr crowd more pumped than to hear those words i mean CMON!! its like  [drooling] ;D [nervous] anyways i suppose he didnt use it cause it wouldve killed the moment if MTV dubbed the profanities that axl used. plus saying "you know where you are" just doesnt sound nearly as badass.

Yeah, the well known "do you know where the FUCK you are?" would have been great, but as you say, maybe not that great on MTV coz it probably would have been like that on TV: "do you know where the - piep - you are?" That just doesn't sound good at all... [peace]

I agree whole-heartedly!!!

Unfortunately I also believe that it was this most incredible scream that sparked Axl's "windedness". I mean how do you recover from a 22 second scream from hell while running around and singing a song whose lyrics have such balls?!  :-\

it went out live so they wouldn't be able to bleeb it would they?

Yeah, sure. But all the repeats would have had the "piep" in it. [peace]

It would have been bleeped because they run it on a tape delay....for the specific reason to catch profanities.

I mean--they caught Fallon saying the f word. "Guns, n' bleepin roses"

~KYI

Axl stopped using the You know where the FUCK you are part in the US tour he only said "You know where you are" which sucked! Better just scream like VMA instead of taking the F word and sounding zero bad ass

SO it's not "badass" anymore just because he doesn't curse? Get serious people. Grow up just a tad bit. You don't have to swear or curse to sound badass nor do you have to sound badass. Axl didn't even say a word at the vma and that was badass. That simply blew away EVERYONE in the room!  The reason why he probably only did it that time is because it obviously stole away his breath for the rest of the song (almost).  Also, funny how the topic title is "22 seconds"...did someone really time it?  ;D

I seem to remember hearing him say Guns N' Fucking Roses. I watched the live broadcast.



/jarmo

I remember it so clearly, I was studying in the last minute for an exam.
It was in the middle of the night(sweden) and I had heard rumours on the internet that they might perform on the VMA and yes they did.

I almost had an heart attack from the excitement of seeing them, that also made me give a f**k about the exam. And it made me walk around for a month with a smile on my face, but one thing bottered me. No one I knew had seen the VMA, so that kind of sucked not having anyone to share it with.
But I have to say that those 22 seconds where awsome.

Know why they started using a delay on live award shows like that?

Slash
Duff
American music awards
 [rofl] [hihi]

Without a doubt , those 22 secs were entirely engrossing...I was fucking pumped.....I wasnt chatting on the boards and I didnt hear rumors.I was just watching the show and as it went on near the end I saw Fallon in a GNR shirt.....and I was like WTF........the excitement started to build I ran into the bedroom where my BF was and almost screamed "I think GNR are gonna perform!!!!!!!!!".........Fallon kept mentioning a surprise and when at last as he was just about to announce them I freaked the fuck out!........I was a lunatic.....turned my 56 in HDTV up to the max and with surround sound......the words Guns n Fucking Roses came out and Tears of joy fell from my face.......it was indeed a beautiful moment! [ok] [peace] [beer]

Yea, I too thought that was an incredible scream!  Too bad the rest of the performance was a little shaky  :-\

But the scream in Madagascar near the end was one of Axls all time bests  [peace]

Yea it was bleeped.  but I think they knew before hand because the show was supposedly "live"

My mp3 is uncensored...

I watched it on MTV Nordic/Europe.



/jarmo

Oooh ok. I watched it on tape.  I went to bed during the TLC thing because I thought GnR wouldnt show up  :(  

I'm glad you all liked it as much as I did - even to a point where you could make a good case that that was the greatest (and maybe the longest) Banshee Howl that Axl ever let out on stage. [wow]

It was definitly vintage Axl, though it was also delivered so smoothly as to make me think that his voice maybe in some small way has actually improved over time, though definitly not as consistent. But those 22 (or 35) seconds had everything a rock n' roll fan could want besides the sounds - Axl in that short span of time has never looked so cool since he did the Ritz Show in NYC in 1991.

But like I said, I was very dissapointed his voice didn't explode all the way in the end, rather it imploded and with that, his performamce never achieved the same height afterwards.  [crying]
BUT if he's got that voice down, even if only to record a few lines at a time every song in the studio, we may expect a real treat.
 [peace]
MNR

as soon as he started fiddling with that damn earpiece, it all fell apart.

the VMAs were a big missed opportunity for axl. A big mistake. Since that performance, the American media began dogging him for being over the hill and mainstream America, known for its reprehensible taste in the talentless and manufactured artists, formulated an opinion of the new GnR.

All in all, it was a bad time to have an off night.

Yea it was a bummer that it turned out that way and the media started on him. Actually on his first apearance in LV and then again the following year (plus RIR) all had positive write-ups from what I read. So yea, VMAs were a bad place to drop the ball. I still never thought it was THAT bad, but then again I'm probably biased.

It for sure wasn't the very best performance, but I wouldn't say that it really fell apart. I mean, Madagascar was still really great and people know that. I wouldn't say that it was a mistake to do the VMA's coz it did bring GN'R back into the spotlight. Unfortunately Axl didn't have his best night and the media cannibalized it.

Well it's MTV Nordic/Europe here and they don't bleep The Osbournes, the only blur out trademarks. And the VMA was aired live in the middle of the night. So the kids should be asleep.

I totally agree with how powerful that intro was fucken fantastic we had a part to watch it and i didnt even notice the weakness in the performance on the night cause we were all just loving the fact that was our axl ! lol

Having seen a couple of the american shows that took place after the vmas - he seemed to be more concious of doing the full impact jungle intro - as a result of the rest of the performance that night.  He does it alot tamer than the way he  did it in europe before the vmas.  Which is a shame cause one weak performance doesnt need to spoil the whole damn bunch ...so to speak lol and thats got to be one of the most powerful intros in rock history.  sends shivers down the spine!

Yeah, there wouldn't be much left besides the bleeps... ;D

Those were the best 22 seconds in that damn show and the best performance of the night.  Also, it was a great introduction by Chris. If you live in NY (like I do) you know how exciting it is....and for those who don't know WELCOME TO THE FUCKIN' JUNGLE!!!!!

yeah, Talkin Jive u got that right  [rant]

People haven't caught on that part yet where I say that Axl's voice "IMPLODED" after his initial thunderous roar that almost shook the foundations of the music industry for 22 second. Just watch the performance and u will all see what I am talking about. [no]

But still, I want this post to be a tribute to those 22 second of magnificence that only a "vintage" Axl performance could bring - I don't think most of us could have cared if Axl was backed up by Safari Animals, as long as he had the voice down, which he did (for only 22 seconds). It wasn;t only the voice though - it was the attitude, and if Axl could only recapture that glory on the regular, most of us would be glad to welcome him back as the new GNR.
 [peace]
MNR

Yes.  To bad he missed that line in WTTJ  [nervous]

On a whole i thought it was a great performance.  

 Ok This is the first time I'm posting here, but I've been checking this message board out almost everyday since the VMA performence near the end of Aug.They were re-playing the show at Much Music tonite and something happened that I wanted to share with you people.

Ok I was sitting there watching the show and they were 2-3friends of mine watching along with me.2of my friends didn't even know about the new band.Anyhow before Guns takes the stage we were arguing about how important the ol' members were and how the new band would never be any good.
The band takes the stage, they do the 3songs, and inspite the fact that Axl was a little outta breath, everyone agreed that Axl is STILL THE MAN. That the performance blew away everything else that had happened that nite during the show.
The highlight was when they were playing the solo at the end of paradise city, and my friends were like, damn this band can Still Rock [yes]. I felt quite happy hearing that.
Gawd I just can't wait till the Album comes out. It's nice to see that people that still understand what good music is, have faith in the band.
Rock on People

 :) yeah that's nice to know. just a little bit of encouragement here and there is very welcome.

was anybody actually at the august vma show and get see gnr live that night???

Well, the fact that GN'R medley at the end of the VMA's blew everything away that night isn't that astonishing to me coz I could barely stand through the whole show until the end. One song worse than the other... But it's still nice that people are still getting into GN'R - even though the VMA's really weren't their best show so far. [peace]

Madagascar wasnt that bad   :P

I would say that Madagascar was actually really great at the VMA's and I know a lot of people who recently got into GN'R where the performance of Madagascar at the VMA's was the trigger. The opening of Jungle was great too, it was just Paradise City that wasn't that great and most part of Jungle after the opening scream. [peace]

I liked paradise city.... infact i liked it all :-[

Compared to GN'R level it wasn't really their best, but on the other hand... compared to MTV's average program it was probably the best eight minutes in 2001's program. [hihi]

the music was great, but i felt that madagascar was axl better performance of the 3 songs, he hit everything, alot of people i knew who aren't huge rock fans (embarrassed to say one of them likes justin timberlake's music) said that madagascar sounded really cool, and they can't wait to hear the album

I thought the whole performance was unbelievable except for about that 15 seconds or so in Jungle.

What do you think was the bigger problem?Axl getting tired or his earpiece malfunctioning?

I'm not going to say one was worse than the other,because IMO they were both problems to that preformance.Look at RIR3 he did very little running,then WHAM VMA'S roll around and he's runnin around like a chicken with his head cutt off.So ya his breath was a problem but obviously so was his ear peice. [smoking]

Can someboy tell me what the hell happened with his earpierce? I've watched the performance about 20 times and never noticed such thing....

I believe it kept on falling out, or something to that effect.

Thanx dude..I was just wondering..didn't know what the hell was all that about...

Yeah, but he was allready running around alot all the way through the illusions. Remember, he didn't run nearly as much early on. There was more dancing and more of that great snakedance.

I think he should revert to that style again, and run around less. It would also help out with the loss of breath factor many believe he has a problem with.
And dare i say, many of us that would go to the shows want to hear him sing, not run a marathon...

When I first saw him running I was afraid he would fall down.......how big of a disaster would that have been for his return to T.V?

the earpiece was a lame excuse, i mean come on u could see him huffin and puffin, if anyone has ever played a sport or did wind sprints, u know that at first u get out of breath very quick, but once u get your wind u can run all day, with the nerves and adrenaline running axl blew himself up to early by comin out the gate sprinting, hell world class athletes would b out of breath if they sprinted and sang like axl did at first, so its no big deal he just got a little to caught up in the moment.

if u notice on the 2002 tours he only ran etc during guitar solos and didnt try a whole lot of sprinting while singing. sure he did it like on the tokyo videos but he had a whole tour being in shape to do it, plus he built up to the sprinting with the singing, which like i said once u get over that first winded phase u can run all day without getting winded again.

When he was doing his Axl skip dance, i was so sure he would skip over the edge of the lip and fall into the pit.

I think the lag from the European trip may have affected him. He was probably tired, nervous, and then winded himself by running around too much. It wasn't that bad in retrospect, but far from his best performance. It's a shame because he did a nice job of arming his critics.

Yah, the ear piece is a lame excuse. When Aerosmith played the Grammy's (perhaps it was the Oscars, they played both that year) all their monitors went down. So they couldn't hear where each other was in the song, Tyler couldn't hear where to come in..........they did a kick ass job, anyway.

Blame it on the earpiece if you like, the biggest problem was that Axl sucked that night.

There's more to it than that. For a start, he was motioning a lot to his sound techs e.g in the middle of 'Iiiiiii....*turns and waves for more volume*...Iiiiiii'.

I've also heard from three different sources including the guy doing the mix that thay had major sound problems.

Personally I think the biggest problem was Axl seemed to have not warmed up his voice at all as it was as weak and thing as i've ever heard it. He began Jungle with the long growl instead of the scream because he blatantly couldn't do it.

His voice is so much stronger on every other thing newgnr have done, it was just an unlucky night. He'll have his time.

As a result of his ear peice falling out...and sound problems....he couldn't hear how he was singing....so he didn'e know if he was on or not....and, except for a couple small parts...he sounded great

I am not kidding Axl fitness was not an the issue. I saw Gnr a few days before this and Axl kicked ass he never stopped. I am not saying he was early 90,s Axl and he did keep disapearing off stage but his voice was unbelievable I think there are other contributing factors i.e. ear-piece or panic attack. Has anyone noticed he seems to get the words wrong to wttj. Although I am not a 100%  I believe he tries to finish the song too early and recovers well. What do you think?  

Just a general observation, you know the MTV UnCensored where they showed U2 and how the power kept going out when Carson Daily was going to introduce them?  Well I guess people handle stress in their own way, but you gotta hand it to those entertainers that have accepted the fact that live performances always leave the door open for the unexpected.  I'm not a giant U2 fan or anything, but I thought that the band "rolled" with the electrical issues (and we're talking broadcast TV, not an isolated concert), pretty well.  Very professional, didn't get "mean" about it and start ripping people new assholes.  I can't imagine GNR (what I really mean is Axl) being in that same postion and taking it in stride...but that's Axl...for better or worse.  You have the choice to deal with it, or walk away, or just keep hoping like hell that he takes a breath and makes the better choice in his reaction to dealing with things that are out of his control.

yes axl was awesome every show before and after the vma's but what one thing did axl do at the vma's that he didnt do at leeds or the shows after the vma's? he didnt sprint full speed while singing at these live shows. if axl's earpiece was the problem how come madagascar kicked so much fucking ass? why did jungle the first half kick ass? thats cause he wasnt out of breath, u can clearly see him gasping like a motherfucker

come on stop these crazy excuses, like i said the most in shape basketball or football players get out of breath during the first couple plays, axl let the emotion and adrenaline get the best of him and he overdid the sprinting at the beginning. the ear piece could make him off key, but it wouldnt cause him to huff and puff gasping for air, watch your tape unbiasely u will see.

did anyone notice axl's finger?  it was the middle finger sign. i wonder if it was on purpose.
do you think he ment it to someone watching the show? while he was holding the mike in his hand.

If anyone has this video interview, post it here.  It's been a while since I've seen it. :beer:

lol i have always wonderd that too. He leaves it out there for a long time so i think he is doing it. Not at loder just at the question i guess cause i think he likes loder

i was thinking maybe at the other guys from the band. like slash.  it is very obvious that he is doing it too.  :hihi:

when Axl said "replace every person, every single thing" he ment Slash, Duff etc ect

so perhaps it was a secret message for them or what he thinks about them today  8)  fuck off slash ;)

maybe that is so then. cause he had a suddle way about it. so im thinkin like the old band that he replaced.

Download it on kazaa.

-EM

I think some of you guys have waaaaaaayyyyy too much free time.

It's just the way he's holding the mike. I doubt he did it on purpose.

@#$%Muther

Yeah, get a hobby!

He's not doing it on purpose..

an episode of Seinfeld comes to mind! ;D "she gave me the finger!" :hihi:

i dunno id watch it again if i were you and decide after that.maybe it's nothing but who knows with axl. :nervous: h a h a i love those smilies lol.

I've never noticed that. :nervous:

I didn't notice it too

he did NOT do it on purpose.. i watched it today...if it was it was a stupid thing to do! if it was a "blow" on slash &CO it was the most childish and pathetic thing he could do!

it was not on purpose! it cant be!

Lately, (and most notably at the 2002 VMAs) Axl has been wearing these red shades.

http://www.gnrsucks.com/e107_plugins/coppermine_menu/albums/userpics/fullimages/axl_gnrii.com_14_f.jpg

Can somebody tell me the make and if there is anywhere online to buy them?

I don't know where to buy them,but if you are gonna you better make a loan.

Here are better pix:

http://www.gnrsucks.com/e107_plugins/coppermine_menu/albums/userpics/oldpics/axlrainbowmay02.jpg

http://www.gnrsucks.com/e107_plugins/coppermine_menu/albums/userpics/oldpics/axlrainbowmay04.jpg

Cool  8)
Axl should show off his beautiful white teeth when he smiles! ;D

Sort of look like Gargoyle Legends too hard to see for sure

 well they look cool , I want to try them too if I get them somewhere....AXL DA MAN ROCKS!!!

Where are those pics taken from? :)

Ok, if you go to http://www.gnronline.it/Home.htm (download--> video) you can download the VMA 2002 in 7 parts.
AXL: Sincerely, I want to be honnest: ok Axl didn't sound good at all BUT he had "it" at the moment. The exitation was here and you can feel it even 1 year and a half later. It's difficult to explain, the feeling was here, I still feel it today. The audience seemed really amazed.
THE BAND: the band sounded great. I don't think Ive already read one negative comment about the band, about the musicians behind Axl.

In fact, it's just 1 or 2 days later that I started to hear some negatives comments about how Axl sounded bad. BUT at the moment, during the performance "live", I think everybody was really, really into the thing. At the end, you can hear the exclamation of the audience for Axl, it's very loud. You can see on jimmy falcon's reaction how happy he was.
The following day, did anybody see this poll on MTV.COM? somethinkg like "what was the best thing of the VMA 2002?". I remember the results were something like:
1) Guns n' Roses return: 41%
2) Eminem: 19%
etc...(I don't know if it's the exact figures but it was something like that with GN'R with more than 40% and eminem under 20%!)

Just want to know: am I the only one to think that the VMA 2002 wasn't THAT bad? IMO, exept Axl's voice, the rest was GREAT. I still believe it was the best performance of the whole ceremony. Just before,  puff daddy sucked! people seemed so bored! then came Guns n' Roses and yeah, you can feel still it today, it was very exiting at the moment.

GNR was great that night.... :

I realy dont know how the reaction were if Axl sounded like in the 90'.
Do you think the reputation of the public were better? I dont think so, what the pple want is Slash, Duff and Izzy back. You cant go on stage with 15 year old material and one new song and a complete new lineup and make the whole world happy. During the performance I guess most pple really dont realize the whole Buckethead, Robin thing. They were blown away by a rockstar performance which people dont know from popbands and softcorecrap which usually play at the VMA's today. People will start to like the new GN'R if they put CD out. The problem is and was that the world dont know GN'R anymore and in memories there was Slash&Axl. For the pple at the VMA's there was only the "bad axl voice" and NO SLASH. But soon, I realy hope so they will know the new GN'R if they put this fuckin CD out and show the world that there could exist a kick ass GNR witout Slash etc.
I  think if Slash and the old lineup were on stage at the 2002VMA'S pple didnt even critizise Axls voice. They dont respect the new GNR, but soon they will.
The problem is that you cant indentify with a GNR "cover band" which dont have own songs but this will change :)

So yes, GNR were great but the pple wanted the old GNR or a NEW GNR with new kickass songs. Both didnt happen till NOW.

just my opinion

Axl didn't sound great - but it was great just to see they were all still alive

But us GN'R fans have had the option to download and watch the show over and over, convincing ourselves it wasn't to bad.

Most people who aren't huge GN'R fans would have watched the live broadcast and thought "Uhh...this isn't great".  The majority of  audience wouldn't have thought "Gee i'll have to buy these guys album when it comes out".  

It wasn't a great performance, there were some obvious mistakes with the band as well as Axl.  Check the ending of WTTJ, the band are confused as to when they should switch to Maddy.  Start of PC is messy also.  Not to mention Axl vox...

Sorry to be negative, I'm a huge GNR fan but that night i felt very disappointed by their performance.  Non GN'R fans with a mild interest would've just been left wondering what all the fuss was about that scrappy band that finished the VMA's show....

VMa's show was fuckin' great, but Axl didn't sounded very good... but I still thinking it was amazing.

Quite the opposite, everyone thought they kicked ass until us fans watched it over and over and started picking out mistakes and shit.


Of course.... you're qualified to tell us that  ::)


Are you kidding, the band were fucking great, they kicked ass. Axl's vocals were fucked up during WTTJ, but that's cuz he was messing with his ear piece. His wail at the beginningwas amazing, and his performance during madagascar and PC was great.

Apart from this the whole thing was put together at the last second, and the band still pulled it off. How do you know the transitions weren't supposed to be like that? They sounded fine to me.


Again, your logic just floors me, you must be right.  ::)

@#$%Muther

I like how you said that!  It's hard to identify with newGNR essentially "covering" old Guns music, but there's much more feeling of a "band" when they play their own new music.

The first time I saw the VMA performance (I downloaded it), I was shocked to see how much Axl had changed.  But he seemed happy and excited to be on stage, and I think he communicated that well with the live audience.  That's what makes him a great frontman.

I dont think The VMA's Sucked I thought it was good and shocking but it could have been better

In Paris, it was about 5 AM. I didn't sleep all the night because I KNEW that Guns n' Roses were going to show up. 2 or 3 days before, there were lots of rumours and then I saw jimmy falcon Guns n' Roses tee-shirt... :D
During the thing, I was totally exited, I just noticed that Axl fucked up the "welcome to the jungle, we've got fun and game, we've got everything..." his voice was "strange"and I saw he was out of breath  but in fact I didn't care at the moment, I was just here watching him and thinking "HE is back". I would have loved to see Slash and the old band too but only Axl made me fucking crazy. I LOVED the confettis and the pyro during Paradise city, and then Axl's interview. I recorded the whole thing. I was shocked ,well shocked. It was great!

The performance was great, highly underrated. Their performance of 'Madagascar', if you listen to all of them 1000's of times like I have, remains the single best performance of that song since we first heard it in Rio.

The fact that we're even having this conversation 18 months after the event and the title of the thread that you created point towards the idea that on the night GNR didn't put in a great performance and convince people that they were a superb band.  There was doubt.  You suggest that yourself with your thread title.  Just add "...even though the general consensus was that they weren't great that night".  See what i mean?

I think a few nights after the event Matt Damon dressed up as Axl on SNL and poked fun out of Axl's performance.  It definetely didn't go unnoticed.  Thats just one example.

Don't get me wrong, it was great to see them back on the big stage, so to speak.  i just think that on the night it was a bad performance.  Thats my opinion.

If you think it was a bad performance, your opinion blows! I've listened to that entire performance too many times to count, and it was a GREAT performance! The only half-bad thing was Axl's voice got weak at the end of 'Jungle', but that was the only blemish on the entire performance...

look at the audience, look at their reaction, look at their face, look at jimmy falcon...oh yeah they all seemed VERY happy! once again, "something" happened at this moment. you can't say you can't feel it...1 year and a half later I still feel it.

Correctamundo  :smoking:

Besides that Matt Damon thing which would have been done whether they were great or not, you won't find many people who have said they were shit. The reaction at the beginning was amazing, the reaction of the whole place at the end was amazing, and everyone's reaction after was amazing. I believe words were: "I don't think anything can top that". Not to mention the fact that Jimmy Fallon is a huge fan and mentioned AFD, UYI, and said that the band was still unbelievable.

Having said that, it's also important to remember that discussing technical hitches like sound troubles or the odd mistake if there was any is not the be all. Fact of the matter is, it was electrifying, the place went nuts, it had huge impact, and was enjoyable. End of story.

@#$%Muther

@#$%Muther

The band sounded great, and Axl was great on "Madagascar," but he sounded pretty bad on the rest.  Give any excuse you want, thats how it appeared to most who watched it.  Every single person that Ive talked to about it always brings up how bad he sounded.

Of course, people were going crazy, it was a high-energy affair, that doesnt change how Axl sounded.  The last "Sha-na-na-na..."s are cringeworthy and his tone in "Paradise City"... :nervous:

But by all means, continue with the excuses and denial.

All in all it rocked.

Jimmy Fallon sucks, he's so unnatural. Surely he didn't even heard a song of AFD

Fuck the excuses, Axl was nowhere near his best maybe, but that doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that this was TV. What people saw was crowds going wild, a performance with huge energy, presenters saying "wow", confetti and shit everywhere. It doesn't matter how good Axl's singing was, the energy was there, and the precense was there, and it was impressive.

You think the average person watching this is gonna be sitting there going "hmmm, well that was a hell of a surprise, and a great spectacular finale, but, hmmm... I think Axl's vocals weren't the best" Fuck are they.

@#$%Muther

it was fuckin awsome at first it almost made me piss  the living hell outa me damn good. :hihi:

...here comes the denial...


Maybe?


To some more overzealous fans, perhaps not.  But blown notes and winded off-key screeching make an impression to the average viewer.


 :confused:

I saw the crowd go wild all night?


I agree, the presence was great, but that doesnt change that much of his singing was cringeworthy...


Hahaha, of course they are.  One of the people I was watching that show with was laughing at his singing, adding that "He sounds like shit".  It wasnt that Axls vocals "werent the best" - they were bad (at least in the beginning and end).  When hes blowing notes, squealing, and butchering the "Sha-na-na.." part, people notice and decide that it sucks.



@#$%Muther

What is this 'denial' you're fucking obsessed with. Axl's singing was not the best. End of story. Everyone knows that. All people are doing, is looking at the positives from the performance and there were plenty.

If you choose to be obsessed with the quality of Axl's voice then so be it.

The singing wasn't important in this context. You think many people were sitting their commenting on Axl's voice? You must be delusional. Oh, hang on there was one person sitting next to you who did that, so most people must have done it too.  ::)

Now here comes the post where you analyse every word again......

Just pointing out that youre in denial, about Axls performance and peoples perception of it.  Hardly an obsession, but if thats your defense mechanism, I wont take it away from you...


Heres the denial...

"Not the best"?  I think most would describe it as "bad," or "not good" if theyre kind.


Looking at the positives is fine, but ignoring or denying the bad...well thats denial.


Obsessed : ok:

How are you going to judge a performance and ignore the actual performance?  You focus on the host and crowd reaction and confetti, and downplay the actual performance.  :confused: :hihi:  If his singing was spectacular that night, my guess you would be among the first to play that as your trump card..."Listen to how great his singing was!"...and it should be.  But because it sucked, youre choosing to downplay its importance.  



Of course not, because it su...wasnt his best. : ok:


Judging by media reaction (radio/TV comments, articles on the show, etc.), the many people Ive talked to about it in person, and even the online GNR fan community - Yes.


Defense Mechanism #2?  Turn it around on me...clever!


And theres been tons of people in person, and on here, whove said the same thing.

Bleh, whatever. You make up your own stories. The majority of people in this thread have said how much they enjoyed seeing gun n roses at such a big event, and so did I.

I'll happily watch that performance many times and enjoy it.

Yet again, the whole of your post was dedicated to Axl's voice and you're constant talking about people's denial, defense mechanisms, etc

Get over it, learn to enjoy things, it'll make you a happier person  :smoking:

Good luck!  : ok:

@#$%Muther

I enjoyed it, it was exciting to see the new band on tv.

I'm also aware of the fact that singers have bad nights. If you don't believe me, go listen to U2 live in Sarajevo 97.  : ok:



/jarmo

I thaught the show was amazing and axls voice was awsome and u could tell how excited he was to be up thee on tv : ok: :beer:

I think they gave off more energy than anybody else that night.

I just came home from town, and decided to watch some GNR videos i have recorded over the years!
So i Started with the VMA performance! And DAMN! I started with the last award to Eminem,
and when Fallon began to get excited about the next performance, the goosebumps started to
take over me! This is a feeling i never get, watching other GNR videos! And all the excitment shows,
that this is somthing very very special! Its something that will be written down in the music history!
Axl and the new band was amazing! Look at the great start of the show! Look at Brian! And Fortus!
They give all theyr energy, and just prove that this is a big event! Even if Axl dont sound like one of
he`s best performance, he give EVERYTHING! He run like hell! And dont lay back anything of the old
Axl! He prove that he is still the same Kickass Rockstar he was in the early 90`s.
 This is really a great show! You just have to watch it over, and over again!! I dont think there
ever has been so much excitment over a performance on MTV or VMA before!! Its just Sanctuary!

What do u think will happen when Chinese Democracy come out??? I actualy dont care! As long i like it!
But enyway, im sure there will be a big hype! They will be so fucking big, that only God knows how to
handle the whole thing! Just take good notice to the crowd, how they yell when Fallon Introduce GNR!
This is fact! GNR is soon ready to start from scratch again, and they will make a musical revolution!
I just gotta say this, even how bad it sounds, but this guy called Axl, has got som magical, sanctuary
in hes eyes! Maybe its just us longtime fans who can see it! but im sure that we all can the same flame
of greatness, and starlight in this guy`s eye!

Well... I hope u all got to see this sunrise performe soon in the future!

the VMA 2002 was one of the most exiting musical moment I have ever seen. ok, Axl's voice wasn't great, but his CHARISMA totally blew me away. I was just like "wow"? :o
Axl Rose stage presence is absolutely phenomenal. can't explain that. the man is a legend. this is a feeling. You can see his whole life when he is on stage. You can feel it. It's sincere. You can feel he lives for music.
oh yeah and Richard Fortus was really great too, especially on paradise city he moved everywhere on stage.

it was an amazing performance, my tape's fuckin' worn out!!!

I think Axl's pretty nervous at this show too, his voice just loses it after the intro scream..BUT..wasnt that scream just fucking kick arse : ok: : ok:, everytime im shivering, unreal!! :smoking:
if they do MTV again i hope they do CHI-DEM, its got the sounds that everyone will dig. :peace:

i suspected something was up when pink mentioned in the preshow if axl had brought buckethead and sat watched the show blowing of a date with a hot chick, oh well it was worth it, that performance raised the hairs on my arms and it still pumps me up, that is truely one of the great VMA moments in history . : ok:

peace  :peace:

I show it to everyone all the time, I've even brought it to party's and made them play it over the speakers.  Great sounding show.  Axl sounded best when he busted out MADAGASCAR.  Can't wait for the studio version.

Ive never seen the show where can get download

I love the performance the band look like they are having a really good time and I thought WTTJ was ok and the Maddy and Paradise City was great that was such a kick ass performance I remember seeing it I was like  :o Guns N' Fuckin' Roses  ;D

u can get it on Kazaa

I just downloaded the nuGN'R's performance at the 2002 VMAs.  I'd only seen it the one time it was broadcast, and I remember thinking that it was merely okay; my biggest problem was that Axl seemed a bit winded and out of key.  In the time since, I've spent countless hours on this message board talking about the possibilities of nuGN'R.  Today, I decided that I should take another look at the performance that, for better or for worse, defines nuGN'R for most of the world.

The first thing I noticed was that the video clip I'd downloaded was the whole performance.  There were like two or three verses of "Madagascar", and I only remembered one from the original broadcast.  The thing that stood out to me the most on viewing this performance again was that Axl sounded winded, out-of-breath, and out-of-tune on the old material.  "Welcome to the Jungle", "Paradise City" - he tried, but he didn't seem to have the energy anymore.  I know now that he was having problems with the monitors, and indeed, he was adjusting his ear thing the whole performance.  But conversely, I was struck by how powerful the performance of "Madagascar" was.

It just seemed to fit in so much better with the new band, with the new Axl.  Not to mention that Axl's vocal performance on this song was easily the best of the medley.  I also liked seeing the  band perform a song that was THEIRS, not playing a cover version of songs that they had no part in creating.  Seeing Axl sing the old songs was disappointing; it had a bit of a fat Elvis feel.  Still, it's clear that Axl still has The Voice.  Whenever he screamed, it was exactly like the days of yore, every bit as powerful.  It's just that the rest of the time he couldn't stay in tune.  That's really too bad...I could see Axl trying to readjust his monitor the whole show, and I couldn't help but cringe.  Axl Rose, my favourite singer ever, and rock's ultimate recluse, finally comes out of his cave, and THAT is the time when his monitors break down.  Goddamn Murphy's Law.

All I can say is that watching the performance revived my faith in nuGN'R's future.  And by that, I mean their own original songs.  Their performance of "Madagascar" was great; their performance of the old hits was weak.  Okay, Axl's singing was shaky.  The band did alright on the material.  Especially Buckethead - watching solo at the end of "Paradise City", I was gripped with a wave of disappointment about how he quit the  band.  That guy had techniques like I'd never heard before.  The logical outgrowth of Eddie Van Halen.  I really hope we'll get to hear some solos by him on the album.  But as I was saying, it's time for nuGN'R to stop being the world's greatest Appetite For Destruction cover band, and start releasing thier own material.  They have the songs; "Madagascar" is as good as most of the classic Guns N' Roses ballads.  It's time for them to release them.  Axl needs to stop living in the past and realize that his future could be bright if he could only realize it.

He seemed so cool at the end, like he was having a lot of fun, in his interview with Kurt Loder.  He sure didn't seem crazy or delusional there, he just seemed like the cool Axl that I know from old footage.  Even the braids and sports jerseys didn't put me off so much after seeing them in a performance again.  I mean, really, they aren't so bad.  Axl will be Axl, and he's not 28 anymore.  He looks almost the same now as he did when he was younger anyway, just with braids and a shinier face (hmmm...).  And he still has decent moves onstage, too.  He's not a feeble old man...he can still move around.

Whoa...I think I'm having a dave-gnfnr2k moment here.  :nervous:

Not to be in a rush to make the first negative post, and maybe someone will beat me to it while I'm typing, but every time I watch the 2002 VMA's or any shows from the 2002 tour, I get depressed and think about what could have been.

You want to feel downright awful about the state of the band, go watch Paradise City from Madison Square ... See you next summer indeed ...  :-\

Every time I watch them I get excited and think about will be

Something like how crazy it is to be at the VMA's in New York, this crazy city full of excitement
and then he says, "...if you don't know what I mean, welcome to the jungle!"

At least that's how I remember it.  : ok:

I wish that was happening again tonight.  :drool:  The excitment that day and night was fucking wicked.  :beer:

Yeah too bad when he starting singing every gnr fans heart dropped.  Axl would have sang great if he just stood still and didnt mess with his ear piece.

WTTJ and PC was VERY .. erm ... shakey ... but Madagascar was pretty good. I've heard him nail it ALOT better but out of the 3 he did at the VMA's he sang best on madagascar no doubt.

Although I think his earpiece had a lot to do with his problems that night, I think Axl's adrenaline also played an effect. He had that nervous excitement type thing. YOu can tell in the interview with Loder how he appears.
It must have been a somewhat nerve wracking performance to do becuase this was GNR first offcial performance in the big spotlight since the old days.

The opening to JUngle was great, Maddy was beautiful, and the band during PC was amazing. These were the highlights of the performance imo.,,and Axl saying ROund 1 was cool as well...

There are like 2 0r 3 different versions of that performance in terms of camera angles that were shown after the vmas. Theres 1 where they show Robin leaning into Bucket after they meet and depart at the front of the stage during PC solo. Its a real cool moment. TOo bad he isnt here anymore :{

Another thing .. I wish there was a way to get the FULL soundcheck video footage from MTV.  :drool:

You see Bucket up there with that war jacket , hat and different mask? awesome.

yea ive seen clips of that. looks really cool. Plus theres footage of Axl like dancing with the mic as well

He was all excited, aparently he's a big Axl fan, and he said excitedly, "For those who live in New Yrk, you know how powerful, and electric, and it's the greatest city in the world, and for those who don't live in New York, Welcome to the Jungle, Ladies and gentlemen GUNS N' FUCKIN' ROSES."
Damn good intro if you ask me.

This is kind of a "Dead Horse" topic but I still say the VMAs were, overall, good. It was great to see Axl again and the band sounded good. Axl was winded but it was still cool and I was proud to be a Gunner at that moment.

Axl showing up at the 2002 MTV VMA's was just one of several blown opportunities.

I think GN'R were gr8 at the VMA's.

 Yo,
? ?I just wanted to clarify something that I've heard for awhile and been reading on here recently.
? People have been saying that Axl sounded terrible at the 2002 VMAs. I don't believe that is entirely true.
Speculation ran rampant as to why. "Oh! His voice is shot!!" Blah,blah,blah.? FALSE!
 
? Here is why:

 His earpiece failed almost immediately into the set. If you look at the tape,he touches his left earpiece a good FIVE TIMES. FIVE!!! He clearly couldn't hear himself.

? I always wondered "Whatthehell?"too,right?? It wasn't until I read it in Rolling Stone,maybe a year plus some ago-they were doing a recap about GN'R and VR and what each has done to date-and they documented that his earpiece failed and he went on with the show.
 
 You have to admit,it sounded weird in some parts and great in others. THIS is why.

 Have you ever tried to sing and not be able to hear yourself over loud music?? It can be frustrating.

Believe me,I've tried and this was just singin' a song,back-up,with my friend's band at a bar. I couldn't hear myself at all and was wondering how the hell I sounded.
 People said later that it was good but,when you're up there,you have NO fuckin' clue.

I can't imagine the butterflies when it happens in front of millions of people. Not to mention during a "comeback". I mean,come on.

 We all heard his voice in Rio and he sounded great. So how the hell could he "lose" it by 2002??? This makes no sense.?
 He hasn't lost anything.

Now you know.? And knowing is half the battle.?? G.I. JOOOOE!! ok:? ;D

 
? ? ? ? ? ? GNR FOREVER!!

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?MATT
? ? ?

 

bingo


I think it was a combination of things. His "new voice", sound issues but overall it was simply nervous excitement. You can see it in his face. You can see it in the Loder interview. The guy was pumped/nervous about what he was doing. FIrst time in a decade he had officially been seen. Not a normal live appearance....

he soudned good anyway. The intor, some of jungle and Madagascar were all fine. Maddy was great. He mostly fucked up on PC. But the band picked up the slack. They tore PC up....

If this isn't a dead horse topic, I don't know what is.
 :beer:

U know the rule - everything has to be discussed 80 times - this is only the 73rd time :hihi:

really? 73rd,seems like much more!

mmm Yes he had troubles man, but, You also have to realize that he has lost part of his voice, so its not only a matter of "not being able to hear himself" forget it dude...

Slash vs. Buckethead?

Oh yeah, whoops.

that was the feeling by so many people including myself.. Everyone that knew I was an axl rose fan that had causght the performance broke my balls for a while back then... I can't believe it's october 2005 and we still have nothing :confused:

Hey guys. I'm not sure if this is the right place to be posting this topic so if its in the wrong place please tell me. Anyways I don't know why but this has been on my mind for a while... What is the team on Axl's jersey at the 2002 VMAs? I pretty much have no knowledge of sports whatsoever (I grew up on video games :smoking:) and I was wondering if the brilliant minds at HTGTH may know. Thanks for your time :peace:

Ok well after looking aroung I believe its a Raiders jersey. Boy I feel dense.lol

Yes, it's the jersey of Warren Sapp #99 DT for Oakland Raiders

Axl was wearing a #80 jersey at the 2002 MTV Awards. That's not Warren Sapp, it's Jerry Rice.

Does anyone else think Richard Fortus was amazing on guitar at this show?

He made Madagascar his own.

Seriously, what instrument does Fortus play?

Why is it that that this performance is always slagged off, I think Axls voice on madagascar is awesome and its a wicked little medley...hey maybe its jusy me but i dont think he sounds that bad and the 'bucket' gives the band a certain presence

maybe cuz he didnt sound so hot during wttj, i thought the whole medley ruled, and it was surprising to see axl wearing those clothes, i can see people wearing that gear like in 10 years.. :P

Sometimes I feel like I'm beatin' a dead horse

Madagacsar was the ONLY thing good about that Medley.....that was the best instrumental sounding version of Madagascar I have ever heard...PERIOD....all the sounds worked in all the right places at all the right times... :peace:

the main "slag" was how winded he was ..in front of millions for the 1st time in years and hes out of breath ?

thats why ... As axl himself stated they weren't prepared and it showed.

Ive seen so much worse thats all....

We all have, but this is Axl Rose....people sometimes forget that he is not a superhero and that he is only a man.....as talented as he is.... :peace:

I watched it again yesterday to now have an unbiased listen (at the time I was so pumped to actually see them performing again I didn't REALLY listen.)  I have to say WTTJ and PC were pretty ordinary. Off key, and I really thought it sounded shithouse. Maddy although still made me tingle

LOCK THIS THREAD...its 4 years ago..who cares...u wanna know why it sucked..for the last time

no slash, no duff, no izzy, axl was fat, axl was dressed liek fred durst, axl had too much botox and plastic surgery, his voice was trash

case closed

His scream at the beginning of Jungle was awesome. They just never should've tried condensing the song into 2 minutes, it's just too hard to sing that way, and the same with PC

I guess the case isn't so closed then seeing as that part of the list had nothing to do with the performance being bad.

Russ.....you beat me to it buddy......

It was the night I was most embarrassed of being a GNR fan. :-[

people say it sucked because it did, even axl said it was a "catastrophy"...jungle sounded like he was out of breath, and paradise city i have no idea what key he was singing in...god awful...although madagascar was good...listen i love the performace because i love everything axl does, axl can fart on a cd and ill buy it....but it is hard to watch...especially now with his band being so much tighter....

WTTJ he was out of breath, and PC he was extremely off-key.

Maddy he kicked ass, but 2 out of 3 he bombed. It was cool to see them after all of that time, but now it seems that performance completely fucked their image, and now it's all people seem to remember.

They really need to do a high-profile performance, like say this year's Super Bowl or something, and kick ass. It'll probably really repair their image. All people seem to remember is the 2002 VMA's.

Best performance of Madagascar to date IMO, makes the hairs on my neck stand up watching that just as it did when I watched it live. I miss Bucekts shit on Maddy from '02 too ?:-\

I dunno, Inland Invasion 2006 was the best i've heard of Maddy live so far.

VMA's 2002 was definitely the best Maddy performance of 2001-2002. To me at least.

I hate that performance just because it is the only thing most people remember about the new gnr and they have totally written them off because of it. It just sucks that that is all people think of, especially when Axl is capable of so much more (just look at the Inland Invasion performance).

the performance wasnt the worst in history but it was in no way a good one with exception of madagascar which i thought was played well