Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Out of the stuff we heard in '02, this song has definitely faced the most changes. Got a lot less guitar, a lot more piano, less synths, some heavy stuff. Personally, I LOVE the new version. Mr. Foot on the acoustic really adds this sort of, I dunno, fairy tale, gentle dream-like sound to it, especially during the beginning. Anyone else really love the '06 version? I have to say, I'd grown really fond of Richards little 5-note dooey in the old version. It's strange how this song has constantly changed. They played it much more bluesy, up-tempo in '01, then came back in '02 with a more arena/glam vibe to it, now it's a much softer, more mellow song. I love it to death...

To me the faster RIR3 version is still the best... Maybe they could combine the RIR3 tempo with the new changes...

I hate it, boston version is the best IMO

Pittsburgh was my favorite edition.

The Blues has always been a favorite of mine and I love this current incarnation of it just as much as the other two.

The version at the HOB is the best IMO.

Less guitar? The earlier versions werent exactly screaming with guitars either. :confused:

where can i get a bootleg of the new version?

I still prefer the faster Rio version of The Blues as well. Although that may have more to do with Axl's vocals than the song itself. Love that performance.

I kinda like the newer version better but it's close

Still my favorite version too.

My fav too especially Richard's outro.

I hate this new version. It went from a masterpiece in 2002 to possibly becoming an REO Speedwagon type ballad. Only thing that saves it from that fate are the brilliant lyrics.

This is pretty much a typical side-effect of working "too long" on something before committing to it as a finished product, you get bored with it so you change it. I've done it myself, as a musician, and then realized that the first version of a song I wrote was the best. But hey, if this version of The Blues is the one the band likes and wants, more power to them. But I liked the RIR3 version the best.

yeah I have to say the RIR3 version is the best. I'm not that happy with this new slowed down version...

i like the 02 version the most i dont like the piano thing intro as much

I loved the 2002 tour version. But now in 2006 it's pretty good as well. I just miss Richard's guitar part that used to be at the very begining.

i like them both actually but i'm pretty happy with the version they are playing now...

02' :beer: :beer:

i was alittle unpleased with the 06' version, only 'cause i love the 02' so much :-\

ask me when the cd comes out and I can actually give you my real opinion, other than that this songs is sure to be a classic 

i like it now the way theyre playing it, in 02 it was too slow.  but you never know how it goes, i mean look at kohd, on uyi its a mix of slow rock, during the uyi tour it was much faster, and now its more like the bob dylan version, i like it better now

Personally I prefer the '02 version a lot better, I agree that Richard's guitar part at the beginning gave it a better feel.  To me, that version sounded very "Illusion era" and that beginning guitar part is what did it

Bumble on the acoustic ruins this song for me. I love the 02 version, and was pissed off that they changed it for the worse, in my opinion. I also think Madagascar isn't quite as good now. I just prey that Axl doesn't fuck up the studio versions by erasing Buckets parts.

It is (was?) my favorite of all the new songs, but I don't care for the piano only intro.  In 02 the rest of the band kicked in sooner, and now it is just piano for a few more bars.  I liked the old version better.

Someone got a DL-Link to a good MP3 of the 2006-version?

im to lazy to even read 2 pages of post as it is 4:30AM here and im off to bed in a second...

but anyways.. i like The Blues from 2002 better than this new version for many reasons including the guitar work in the 2002 version sounded alot better to me..

anyway this song still rocks and is going to be big.. im sure of it ;)

ok, off to bed now :lmao:

i love that smiley

its beeter than the 02 version.. its sounds better slowed down

02 version is better, Boston soundboard is perfect to me.

I do think the House Of Blues 2001 performance, was a masterful display, fucking sweet. : ok:

Bang on. RiR3 was perfect. New changes detract, but only slightly.

RIR3 -> the best of the blues

Now it's hmm I don't know worse than it was in 2002, it was ballad with some power, now it lost something :P

Not to be an asshole but I have a slight feeling they just played The Blues too fast at RIR3 because they were rather nervous....

Rio 2001, best version ever. The tempo was perfect.

I like the faster version myself, even if it was an accident. Got a bit more umph to it, which brings out the electric guitars more. The only bad thing though is that the last verse is hard to understand.

Couldnt figure out what the lyrics were till I heard a few other versions.

Im in doubt if I agree with you or not...

I think Im sticking to the new version..it's more clean..more approached in some ways..

RIR 3 was just something....couldnt make out if it was a rock song or a ballad or whatever.

But I always change my mind about this

Good post. I just realised thats actually exactly what I like about it. Especially after Axl copping all that flack for making ballads in the 90s, he comes back in 2001 with this song that fuses ballads and rock into this weird package. At the same time as being a fairly straight forward song, its also very unique.

Anyway, we've always got the 2001 and 2006 soundboard no matter what comes out on the album  : ok:

I'd like to see the Vegas tempo with the new changes.

And I agree with everyone who says Pittsburgh is the best recording we have of the song right now.

I hate the new version.  Quit fucking with the songs, and release the damn CD already.

I like this new version, but Richards outro on Pittsburgh 2002 should be the final version IMO. :D

i like this version better axls voice is stronger sounding in it and i like it.

Calling him "Mr. Foot" is gay. I liked the version from pittsburg as well though.

I still adore this song, but theres no denying that without Richard's intro at the start of the track, it takes alot longer to really pick up steam and leave you speechless...

There was just something about that opening riff that added so much more "edge" or "spice" to what is now a very mid-tempo ballad, and now the extended intro by Dizzy just doesn't do anything for me :-\

02 version owned my soul

to be honest, they keep getting worse.

the RIR version kicked ass, the 2002 version was great, and this one is...eh.  i miss Finck/Chard's guitar in the intro and the synths.

you better get used to it - i'm sure the album version has an acoustic guitar track in there.

I like the faster Rio version also, the bass is soooo great in that.

But the vocal performance at the House of BLues is unmatchable, it's great.

i really dig this version. look at the rating i gave the blues prior to these new shows......

i could never understand why that many people liked the 2002 soundboards....  the drums and axl`s voice sounded like shit for the most part on pittsburgh and boston. cleveland and nampa were quite good though..... but axl?s voice is SO much better now....

recordings i still love are vegas 01, osaka 02 and the two soundboards i mentioned earlier.

but on topic: richard`s work on the song in 2002 rocked, but the synth stuff destroyed everything for me..... it sounded way to cheesy to me...

I keep singing "Ok, nevermind" during The Blues, and he doesn't say that anymore  :hihi:
Yesterday I was singing as loud as I could, and I shouted: "Ok, nevermind", but he didn't say that... Oops!

If you listen to RIR 2006 version, the bass line is still there.

Yeah i actually miss the synths in this song aswell...amazing i actually miss some work by Mr. GNR (Pittman)

Maybe I'm not entitled to say anything about this one as I'm yet to have much of an opinion of this song.
the 2002 version sounded complete as it was. a potential major hit with the general public but doesn't do much for me.

Personally I prefer the new version (esp the beginning) save for the bit voodoo mentioned.

To me as well. As much as I love chris's synth works, I don't like the one on the blues. Yeah as tothe synth, I prefer silkworms. :yes:
I agree the music on the osaka one sounds much interesting but I thought Axl's voice was bloody excellent on the blues throughout 02 tour.
I thought it would make "MY Way" of GNR.

I like the 2006 version a lot. It took a couple listens because of the 2002 version, but now I like it A LOT. Especially the Budapest version.

It's alright. The '01 RIR3 version is still by far my fave - Upbeat ballad or mellow poprock song, it was a great fusion of styles.

the 2002 version is heads and tails better imo.

I second that.  I miss the guitar in the intro...

You do know that he was talking to the sound guy, or some other fool, when he said that......

 :nervous:

For me, I can't help but feel that the Rio version, the first one, is the closest to what the album version will be, or at least to what it was at any rate.

I'm not too bothered about any changes, I don't listen to the old new songs anyway..... I want those that are on the album to seem fresh, I think I killed them a bit.

Me too, it gave the intro more energy and then they took it down beatiful into the verse...

yeah the pittsburg was by far the best... there were some really cool keys in there.. i think its pittman.  I hope its in the final mix.

Haha. Nah, it'll be on the album!

Oh man...truth.

Bring back the Towley-from-south-park style vocals and upbeat-ness.  :yes:

My favourite version is the one from Las Vegas 01-01-01. Maybe this has to do with the recording of it though. I do, however, enjoy the synth parts that was added later on, so if those could be combined with the the faster tempo of the earlier versions, that'd be a keeper.

Erm... No I don't  ;D

But thanks.
I have the video and never noticed that... lol!

I know there have been some discussions of this in the past but never in one single thread, and I'd like to start a thread about it to hear what people have to say. If the moderators wish to relocate this to Dead Horse I will not object; however, I think it's a pertinent issue and something for us to talk about as we count off the days till CD. As I said, it hasn't been discussed in-depth before so I don't think it's necessarily an automatic Dead Horse.

Anyway, I try not to complain about any aspect of this song because I love it so much, and when I first heard them play it in '06 I didn't understand why everyone was saying "they ruined it!" People on the forum were saying how they butchered it, and I totally didn't understand where they were coming from. In fact I loved the piano intro at first and the "old rasp" being used on it. However, as time progressed, and I began listening against to RIR, Boston and Tacoma versions of the song, I realized there was indeed something missing.

It's still a great song. But it sounds more "standard" now than it did in '02. Back in '02 it was kind of raw (in terms of emotions) and somehow that's lacking now. Maybe Axl just doesn't connect with the lyrics as much now. Maybe not. I don't know. But there's something I can't quite put my finger on.  It's like he isn't quite singing it with conviction. He's just going through the motions now - the feeling isn't there.

Musically there's definitely something lacking - Buckethead. And I'm not saying this to be a prick. But when you listen to Boston '02's outro or Tacoma you can hear underneath Fortus' crispy power chords and Finck's emotive bends, Buckethead is playing these dizzying melodies on (what I assume) is the pentatonic scale and it sounds amazing. It adds so much to the song. Ron Thal does not play these notes, and that is why the outro - in my opinion - sounds more "flat" than it did than. It also makes it sound more standard and not quite as overwhelming.

Pit(t)man is always bashed here but dammit, he adds something to it, too. His synth (especially audible on Tacoma) gave the song an offbeat edge. Back in 2002 it sounded similar to "old" GN'R but also had a very new sound to it.

And that's kinda my outlook on 2002 in general. Axl's voice wasn't at its best but there was a definite style, musically, that was brilliant and ahead of its time. Their image didn't quite settle well, but fuck that. The music was what it was about, and the music was awesome. Axl was onto something there. Buckethead's avant garde styling mixed with the unique qualities of Finck and Fortus' excellent rhythm guitar - it was fantastic. It was way ahead of its time - a fusion of classic rock, alt-rock, avant-garde, industrial, and something I'd never heard before. They could have formed a new genre with that stuff. Did anyone notice how funkier Think About You sounded in '02? Sounded like a completely new song. It kicked ass.

Anyway, back to The Blues. If you listen to Boston '02 it's the perfect example of what I'm talking about. Here's a link for those who haven't heard it before or want to refresh themselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4DSakDCyVc

This is a music video I made a few months ago, by the way.

But if you listen to Axl's crisp vocals on that, they match the song better. And I think I expected this would happen in 2004 when Axl wasn't around and people were complaining. I thought, "The reason they're bashing his voice on the old songs is because they have something to compare it to. If he came back with a full rasp and started singing the NEW songs with it, we'd complain because it didn't sound like 2002, which is what we had grown accustomed to."

And that's what happened, basically. I think Madagascar sounds better with the new rasp but a lot of people even prefer '02 Madagascar.

I think I just prefer The Blues from '02.  The other songs sound cool now but The Blues needs to be re-transformed again. It seems like Axl tries to fluctuate back and forth today between rasp and squeaky-clean vocals on this song (it's impossible to hit those high notes with a rasp - try it some time, it's literally impossible, and that's why Axl will sing lower notes with rasp and then suddenly switch to the helium voice).

I think he should just start playing it like it was played in 2002, because that was breathtaking genius and something totally unique. Now it sounds like a kind of generic rock ballad - still a good song but not the draining, epic masterpiece it was in 2002.

Let's put it this way - there was something magical about The Blues in 2002 that propelled me to listen to it as many as 30 times a day, possibly even more. I played it nonstop - on my computer, in my car, around the house, out and about, etc. I still listen to those versions of the song. But when I listen to '06 I don't get that same feeling. There's the occasional screech that sounds reminiscent, but the overall song sounds different. Not drastically, mind you - but enough that it doesn't produce the same "emotional high" that I received from it in 2002.

I never liked the song.

I know most do, it just never got me going.

That's unfortunate. I think it is a beautiful song. And it's the perfect length, too. I could do with a longer version, of course, but this would make people compare it even more to November Rain. It's a testament to the strength of the song that it is half the length of November Rain and yet fans already compare the songs to each other. It says a lot about the quality.

It seems Axl has gotten past some of the pretentions he had in the early 1990s. I will always love songs like NR and Estranged but this is a more appropriate ballad, I think, in some ways - it's "short and sweet" and because Axl is restricted to about five minutes he tightens up the lyrics a bit. They're some of the strongest he's written, I think. They, too, reveal a new side of this album that people don't discuss very much. There's a very definite lyrical "motif" going on here - a certain style - that is overlooked (painfully so). It's almost like a concept record to some degree. Axl has definitely matured and wisened as a lyricist - this is heart-wrenching stuff - honest and emotional yet not pretentious, either.

well, i don't think that most ppl don't like the blues. it's highly liked, just as don't cry. there are lots of similarities between those two songs, e.g.
first song written by the band (old new)
length
style
feeling
boring (at least for me)

it's a nice track and i don't think there is much of a difference between 2002 & 2006. the basic structure is the same.

I know. That was my point.

The song is already drawing comparisons to great GN'R songs like "Estranged" and "November Rain." This just goes to show what a great song it is.

And while the basic structure is the same, it's the "little things" that make it sound different. On first listen it sounds the same - but if you're a die-hard fan such as myself there's something lacking. I think it's the extra stuff like the synth, the Buckethead melodies underneath the power chords (which have been replaced by Thal's acoustic power chords), the "clean" voice, the extra scales through the solo, etc., that make it have a different effect then as opposed to now.

I agree with you Russian Roulette. The Blues is an intricate song- with lots of interesting layers, guitar work and vocals. I also agree that 2006 live version doesn't stack up to the Buckethead era... but that could be for any number of reasons that have to do with performing it live with a new guitarist.... and your thoughts about Axl's state of mind may be a part of it too... in 01-02 he seemed much more like a beaten dog to me... and I think a song like The Blues really showed that side... but, to me, songs like Better and TWAT, and the way he performs them, show a guy who's been through hell but COME OUT ON TOP. Maybe that's more where his head is these days...

Anyway, let's hope the studio version captures the 01-02 sound... b/c it really is a beautiful and honest expression of heartbreak.

The 2002 version was moving for me. But now ... I don't know, it feels kind of empty.

I miss Axl's high pitched voice. I think the raspy voice doesn't do justice to the song.
And I miss the intro & outro guitar parts.

Awesome  analysis, R.R, many times I listen to the song , from various boots, of different shows from 2002-2006. That example from Boston, was great, somehow , Axl pulled out magic vocally,as some other shows, he doesnt "go for it". Could be a breathing thing I suspect.  Musically the band and everyone around have been solid, and on point , in the live performances, and even Ron though hes a new member, isnt gonna be the guy on the record, so I cant fault him as he got swept into this, and apparently is turing out to be a real deal member of the band but I am left as always, wondering , and anticipating, how the song truly will be left and what mark it will leave, when the album comes out.

I honestly believe its gonna be not to far off vocally as was performed in Boston, and BH, parts I am sure will still be there. Its a great tunem complex musically on many levels, and lyriclly , right to the point, not over blown , and works.

HERES TO CD WHEN WE ALL FINALLY GET TO STEP BACK AND LISTEN! :beer: :peace:

I agree, but I'd like to talk specifically about the voice since I already addressed the other issues more in my OP.

To me it sounds weak because when he tries to handle the rasp, it's very difficult and he often ends up struggling to shift berween rasp at low points and clean "helium" voice at high points. Listen to Rock Am Ring - it's a pretty weak version of the song IMO because he sounds like he's really trying with the rasp in the beginning but it isn't very effective. If he could perfect this then it may sound good on the song, but I far prefer the cleaner vocals which sounded much better. If he tried "clean" vocals now it'd sound better than 2002 because he still doesn't sound as "helium"-ish as he did then. It would sound more like Freddie Mercury or Elton John, which I think is important to this song anyway.

I'm glad this thread was started...I've always had one version of this song that I've shared with others, but I'm not sure where it's from.  The version I have has always been highly praised by everyone I share it with (which has to be over 50 people by now), but I have no idea which version I have.  I guess that the only thing I could say about it that might shed some light on the version I have is that before the main guitar solo Axl says "Okay nevermind".  Where is this version from.  I've heard atleast 6 other live versions of this song, but I keep coming back to this one as the one I love best.  I love the way Axl hit the high notes at the begining of it, and I think the guitar solo is as good as it gets from all the other versions I've heard.  This one is my deffinite favorite, so can someone please tell me where it's from?  And is this version anyone elses favorite version? (sorry for spelling errors...it's late, and I've been drinking  :beer:)

That's Rock in Rio III, from 2001. As usual, Axl was having "technical problems," which is why he shouted at the guy backstage.

I swear he has problems with his microphone way more than he should. He's always fiddling with it on the belt clip. I think the problem is the instruments are turned up WAY TOO LOUD. They have four guitars on stage, what do they expect? Of course he can't hear himself. I can barely hear him on bootlegs! He's drowned by the instruments. They need a new soundboard crew.

Anyway, RIR3 isn't my favorite but it has particularly grown on me within the past few months. Axl's vocals in 2001 were different than in 2002. The song was also a bit more fast-paced and less of the straight-ahead rock song it was in 2002 - seems every time they resurface the song sounds more like a standard rock song. It was unique in 2001 and I do love that rendition of it.

its funny, im so used to the "OK Nevermind" version that its part of the song for me, and its wierd when i dont hear it in the newer versions. Anyways,we wont have a definative version until the album comes out, so it doesnt really matter.  Songs evolve over time.  Social Distortion completely changed thier song "Angels Wings" from how they played it live to how it was recorded, and a lot of the fans were mad because of the change. That being said, we shouldnt get used to the bootleg vesrions, or complain when the real version differs.

I wouldn't worry about it too much... at least from the album's perspective. I can't imagine Axl giving the "OK" to a flat standard rock ballad. Every track will be tinkered with so as to achieve maximum effect. The Blues will be no different. : ok:

The "ok nevermind" version is still my favourite performance of the song by the band. The speed is right, and the ending guitar work is still the best of all the live gigs. Sure hope the album/studio version matches this mix. Have a slight feeling it won't though, as here now in 2006 the Blues has been changed a little, the begining is slow and theres less going on  :peace:

no way in hell you can compare NR and estranged to the blues. two pair of shoes, oranges and apples...

I like the 06 version, but the tempo is too slow. The first part of the song (until the Finck guitar solo) sounds empty, but the 2nd part is fantastic, more intense. I think they really should re-work the 1st part of the song.
Anyway, the Rio 2001 version is absolutely the best ever for me. Especially the tempo.

Well that's exactly what I feel. It's boring now, until the solo arrives. It was so good back then but I think the first verse only with the piano doesn't do any good. It's not powerfull enough, and those damn Finck riffs are missing :rant:

I hope they will be on the album ... :nervous:

Overall I like both versions.

I completely agree about missing the Finck riffs at the beginning.

The first night at Hammerstein, I was really pissed about it. But the new versions grown on me quite a bit.

Who knows, maybe we'll get both mixes in the form of a CD single or something.

The New Years show before Rio and the Rio Versions are the best.  Even though they are missing Fortus on them Axl does this really high falsetto voice on the O's and on the Rio Version he's totally pissed off 'OK NEVERMIND'.  Not to mention the songs are upbeat and flow really well.  The new version of the blues, though it does have Axls Scratchy Vocals Lack the elements that really made me fall in love with the song.  Axl... speed of the song, add the guitars to the beginning... which were really heavy sounding and cool, and bring back your cool ass falsetto voice and your edgy attitude.  And then, I will LOVE the Blues. 

I'll still take a studio version of the new style of it though.... just cuz that song is that damn amazing.

I think the 2006 version is pretty damn good. Maybe you guys were attached to the old versions because, you know.. We've been listening to those bootlegs for what? 5, 4 years... Maybe you still need time to get used to it. IMO, the guitar riff in the begining was way more standard.

I'm not sure what are you talkin' about, but Buckethead played barely nothing on the song. It was just the low notes, like adding an extra layer to Tommy's bass. I don't know wich sound are you refering to though, maybe you're mistaken with Pittman's synth.. But I'm 100% sure Buckethead played nothing but this lame rhythm that was almost lost in the mixing. In fact, Ron actually added the accoustic part that can be heard at least in the first part of the song (tho it may be something brought by Buckethead in the studio version).

It was Paul Tobias and then Richard Fortus riffs. ;)

It's absolutely amazing. It's beautiful. The studio version will be brilliant. It's one of the songs I've been waiting to hear the most.

The Blues is an amazing song. The lyrics are so deep and heavy, unbelievable...

What I thought was true before were lies I couldn't see,
What I thought was beautiful is all in memories...

Nearly makes me cry, everytime i hear this...

Allthough I thought the 2002 version was good, I prefer the 2006 version. I really dig the intro and the rasp voice. I have a recording from Nova Rock in Austria 2006. Surely, it isn't the best recording, but I can hear it over and over again... Btw, it's the most rasp voive version I heard till now.

after listening to all of the leaks/live songs endlessly, i believe 'the blues' stands above the others as the best New GN'R song. the arrangements and lyrics are simply beautiful.

also, isn't 'the blues' the only new song thats been played at every sinlge show in 2006?

I gotta go with the RIR3 version.? When I heard it the first time I couldn't get it out of my head.? I thought about it all day at work and couldn't wait to get home and listen to it again.

The newer version is good, but not quite as memorable in my opinion.? The vocals are less powerful and the song sounds a little flat to me now.? That said, The Blues is still the song I'm most hyped to hear the studio version of.

It sucks. The worst part is Axl's voice, he just can't sing it like he did in 02.

destroier,  when did you see him sing this live last.  I saw him sing it at the warfield both nights in september and it sounded pretty damn good.

I love the 2006 version! This is one of my favorite new songs. The lyrics are beautiful.

Anyone wanna drop me a link in  PM?  I gotta hear this.

the new Blues sucks

The 2006 version is much better!!!!.....PrettyTiedUp got this one absolutely right.....what are some of you people talking about?.....I value your opinions, but the new version is what I DEFINITELY want to hear on the new album. The intro is so much more attractive and intimate AND welcoming....it doesn't even compare. To each there own... :peace:

Just a little precision: the "little riff" as you call it at the begining was not Finck, it was Fortus.

It was Paul Tobias before, and then Richard. :P

I hated the new version the first time I heart it, but I realize why the changes were made - The song's pacing feels much more natural, and less "stop n' go" like the 02 version.

Part of me is still partial to the faster-paced Rio '01 edition of the song, but the current '06 one is at the very least much better than the '02 modifications.

If that made any sense.  : ok:

I like it, also the changes to Chinese Democracy.

I like 2006 version more. i'm sure Axl will put the best version on the album, because he always does.

I like the 06 version. I liked the 02 version too. The 06 version sounds better to me personally.

Its my favorite new GNR tune as well.........return of the ballad!!

2006 version better, but check out hob version 2001............awesome

i was at the warfield on 9/20 and i can honestly say that the blues was the highlight of the night as far as the band really comming together and axl getting into it... don't get me wrong, better sounded great, irs on the other hand sounded like shit, and i can't remember much about madagascar except i was beginning to wonder if it would even be played (i think it was in the encore, fuck i don't remember)

oh yea, and i think the old rio version everyone likes so much was plain sloppy, like an old nirvana performance

Yeah, I don't understand why ANYONE would think that the RIR3 show in general was good....It was terrible and VERY sloppy.....I was so disappointed....They sound so much better now......It has to be because a lot of these new fans never saw them back in the day when nobody touched them live.  Some of you new fans that are between 14 and 24 just didn't know any better at the time. But they sound amazing now..