Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Hey all!  First thing's first, I just wanted to say I've spent a shitload of time on this site the last few days and enjoyed every minute of it.  I've been checkin' out all the current GNR boards as of late and decided to go with this one as I know it's been around a long time now and seemed to fit me best.  Now that I've joined I've got a little story from the other night I figured some of you hardcore gunners would enjoy.  A little background about myself just to put it in proper context.  I'm a 26 year old singer/songwriter/guitarist type based in Chicago and life long Guns fan.  In fact, it was Guns that largely inspired me to pick up a guitar in the first place when GNR and "Appetite" were just beginning to take over the world.  I got my first electric a few years later right around the time UYI came out and the rest as they say is history.

So to get back to the story itself...  Just the other night (January 7th to be exact) I played on a bill with Dizzy who was appearing with Happenin' Harry and The Haptones at Chicago's famed Double Door.  Now, I know to some people he's "just" the keyboard player or whatever (and a damn fine one at that) but I must admit, I was pretty stoked about meeting him, as I would be with any Gunner.  Sure enough Diz was one of the first people I met upon my arrival and promptly introduced himself.  I've met a few big name musicians recently who were big influences on me but having never met anybody in the Guns' sphere before I admit I felt a little nervous.  Of course, Diz was pretty cool about it.  Very gracious, maybe even a little shy actually.  It was an all acoustic show so it was actually held in DD's basement lounge giving the whole thing a pretty casual vibe.  I was the first act of the evening and starting at 8 on the dot there was nary a person in sight during the first part of my set but people started filtering in as it went on.  At one point I did a quick scan of the bar and noticed Diz sitting there watching me.  He ended up watching most of the set and was pretty complimentary.  He may have just been being nice, ya never know, but that was kinda cool.  After I played a few other Chicago based acts played (including my friend Phil Angotti who I had got on the bill) and by the time Harry/Dizzy and co. were set to take the stage the place had filled up pretty well.  I think Harry and maybe some of the other guys were a bit annoyed more people didn't show but that was about all I was expecting for Monday night, and really, most of the people that I knew there were having a good time.

By this point I had a few drinks and was feeling more confident to engage Diz a bit.  I had promised myself I wouldn't bring up anything about Axl or "Chinese Democracy" to him, as I know that can get to be a pain in the arse but I was getting pretty buzzed and I guess I couldn't resist.  All's I really said was how much I was diggin' the new tunes and how successful I thought the album was going to be and Dizzy replied "the album's done dude" and that yes, there's now something going on with the label (didn't quite catch what he said there and didn't want to press him on it).  Now, I know this is apparently old news to you guys, but it was news to me a week and a half ago.  I wasn't planning on really mentioning that at all until I did some googling the next day and learned that info was already going around.  Of course it's continued to spread like wildfire since then, so I guess now it doesn't really matter.  I also asked him about the piano solo in "Estranged" whether it was Axl or he himself who played it on the record (having forgotten all about the individual track credits in the CD's liner notes 'til just the other day) and he said that it was Axl, but of course he always planned to have him do it live.  Now here's the cool part about that.  At that point he starts going into the solo, and though he said it had been so long he wasn't sure if he remembered all of it, he ends up playing through the rest of the song just instrumentally as a soundcheck of sorts.  That was without a doubt the highlight of my night.  It was very cool actually.  Once the other guys started joining him they also did "Patience" as part of this extended "soundcheck".  Once Harry got up there they did "Used To Love Her" (featuring some great piano from Diz) and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" with everybody singing along and what not.  Like I said, it was all very casual and it was getting kinda late by then so it was almost more of a party atmosphere which was fun.  I ended up getting completely smashed and insisted on helping Diz carry his keyboard after the show.  I'm sure he didn't really want my drunk ass carrying his shit which would have been completely understandable but he was cool about it.  I was pretty out there by then.  Kinda funny, but also a little embarassing in retrospect.  Just glad I didn't drop it!   

All in all, my impression of Diz was that of a pretty cool dude.  Low key in his way, but definitely no dummy.  Scotty Griffin from L.A. Guns was also in the band and he seemed pretty cool to.  Not sure who the other two cats were, they were a little younger.  It was an absolute pleasure meeting Diz and even cooler getting to play a show with him, even if it was just some low key acoustic thang.  I had a blast.  I just wish I hadn't gotten quite so drunk at the end of the night.  We bought Diz a couple shots of jager, but I don't think any of those guys were as out there as I got.  So yeah, that was a lil' embarassing but what are you going to do?  I'm sure they've all been there!  So that's the story in a nutshell or most of the parts worth sharing anyway.  After doing all that lurking I didn't really see any other posts about something quite like this so I figured you guys would appreciate it.  Hopefully you did as I'm definitely planning on sticking around and contributing here, or of course I would have never bothered posting it in the first place.  Anyhow, here's a few pics from the night....

me and my dirty ass guitar

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2716.jpg)

Happenin' Harry and The Haptones

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2738.jpg)

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2744.jpg)

Dizzy "fukin" Reed

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2758.jpg)

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2759.jpg)

a candid shot of me and Scotty Griffin after the show....

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2771.jpg)

from R to L: me, Dizzy, the drummer from The Haptones and my buddy Scott Jackson

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2776.jpg)

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g47/badgerecords/CIMG2777.jpg)

Incidentally, my buddy Scott (the guy with the blonde streak) did a lot of the old Rock N' Roll Comics covers, including some of the GNR issues.  You can still find them floating around on ebay and what not. 

Cheers!  :)

Dizzy = awesome. Why isn't their some fansite worshipping him?

Thanks for the pics + post.

You lucky son of a bitch!  Congratulations!  I'm jealous as hell.  Thanks for sharing man...seriously, congrats.  :beer:

Yeah, sounds like an awesome, unforgettable night! congrats for sure!

There is....have you been to the catclub?  :hihi:

Thanks for sharing dude! Estranged getting back to the (soundcheck) set is still awesome  : ok:

Awsome story dude  dizzy is the man!


Peace

Dizzy is the COOLEST!!  :peace:

There's a forum or 2 out there :)  I know there are....just....hard to find is all lol  :hihi:

congrats dude  :peace:

what a crap looking venue,  but congrats on your rise to stardom and meeting dizzy.

Thank you for the warm welcome guys!  Glad y'all enjoyed it! 

And yeah, it's crap lookin' 'cause we were playing in the downstairs lounge they call the Dirt Room (normally the bands play upstairs which is much nicer).  Double Door is actually one of Chicago's top rock clubs but I guess recently they started doing acoustic stuff and DJ sets down there.  I'm not sure why it had to be acoustic but I assume it's a Monday night thing.  I'm pretty sure the rest of Harry and Dizzy's shows here were full on electric but those were all out in the 'burbs and what not.  :)

Great read, thanks.

I wouldn't be too worried about the being more wasted than the rest of them.  Dizzy's been far worse than you could ever have been and we've got the photographic evidence--lol

"Hopefully it will express my sentiment..."
(http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4038/geffendv0.jpg)

That is the funniest picture I have ever seen!

LOVIN the picture...sounds like the other night when I met Buckethead and I was so fucked up I was tellin him how much I LOVED his life with my girl standing next to me...lol.  GREAT STORY though and GREAT NEWS!!!

Great story...Thanks for sharing it. :beer:

fucking awesome! dizwald's da coolest


and also.. Welcome dude  :smoking:

Dizzy is so nice, he doesnt seem to have any ego at all : ok:, the fact that he let your drunken arse carry his keyboard speaks volumes.

Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed reading it.

Hhhaha, bucketfoot, your the apple of my eye,
ur posts always make me laugh,

by the way, I think in the picture,
everyone of thos children would have a computer in front of em,
if their a guns n roses fan, otherwise they wouldn't exist!

cool story, thanks for posting it and welcome !
I would have loved to hear Diz doing Estranged... i've tried that piano part so many times - but i dont play enough nowadays to make it sound anything decent! Sounds like you had a great time, and Dizzy as always seems to be a great guy.  :beer:  We should have jager-shot smileys for Dizzy!

Cool story dude, thanks for sharing. I also met Dizzy (in 2006) and he was a pretty nice guy :)

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Thats really cool. Sorry I didn't make it down there for one of the shows. I was trying to get there, but I can't drive down there (poor eye site) maybe next time.

I'm so sick of anyone and seemingly everyone who meets Axl or the band that uses the line..."I didnt want to upset them by asking about the album" like they are some crazed lunitic about to go off at the very notion of the topic. Newsflash ...They are just humans like everyone else!!!! and the seem pretty cool at that. I actually cant imagine anyone not asking about the Album ....It has to be expected comon, its past the point of rediclious.

In fact every time i read "oh I didnt want to upset so and so by asking when the 14 year overdue album will come out" it makes me wanna barf...like your talking to some demi god that will crush your being for asking such and annoying absurd question.

Comon people grow some nuts and say and ask  whats on your mind.....after all Im pretty sure gnr adhers to that sort of idialogy .....dont you think?

Cool story.

Thanks for sharing. :)



/jarmo

Great story and pics, thanks so much for sharing it here!

Dude thats not the point. We don't ask because its stupid to ask. We all know the answer they are going to give. And lets face it. They are sick and tired of everyone asking. Would you like it if someone came up to you at work and asked you the same question 50 times a day? Its mind numbing. It isn't like they can do anything about it.
peace out
amyl

Thanks for sharing! What a great story. You look like a guy who could tear it up on the guitar! Anyway, I think it's cool that Dizzy still takes the time to play smaller gigs with small bands like this. It gives us a different perspective on what life in GNR is like. It's not all midnight recording sessions, drinking and naked women backstage. These guys are just guys like anyone else. It's also cool to see fans (who may have been musically influenced by GNR) get to interact with band members like this.

Anyway, great story. I wish you all the luck in the world in your musical endeavors! Thanks again for sharing.

Hey there, "TeamAxl" AWSOME POST!!!!  :peace:...... thanks for sharing, and those are some pretty cool pics....... Dizzy's better than eva..  : ok:

Man, I didn't know they were playing at Double Door.  I figured they always only play East and West coast shows, so I didn't even bother looking.  Fugg.

nice read  nice pics.  Welcome to the board.  :peace:



maybe a visual trick but I'm seeing something rather strange at the upper left of this pic. to the rear of your head.

Nice job.  I'm glad you had a good time and good luck with your future.  It's always cool to meet guys who are regular dudes even though they are known all over the world.  I happened to hang out with Pete Townsend who was just hanging out at The Ritz watching I don't remember who?  We hung out and just talked about normal crap, like friends do.  He did drink about 10 Rolling Rocks in 30 minutes and I was paying. HAHA  (I thought he was totally sober at the time but he said beer didn't count and beer couldn't get him drunk anyway.)  After an hour people started hounding him and he shook my hand and ended up leaving.

Cool story  :peace:

Good eye ppbebe!!

Nice story to enter onto the board with, welcome Teamaxl. I am endvious of your time shared with Dizzy.  I have yet to meet a member, but then again I have never put myself in a position to do so.  Nice.

 ???whooooaaahh, your right...  ???what is that????????  :peace:

Exactly.  You gotta figure these guys are asked about it on a daily basis and have been for years and it's got to get old after awhile.  Especially given the fact that Dizzy and some of the other members may not even know what's going on behind the scenes when they're not on tour.  Not on a daily basis anyway.  There's also only so much about that they are probably even willing to get into with people outside their circle anyway, which is totally understandable.  I felt a little funny about even bringing up "Estranged" let alone the whole "Chinese Democracy" thing and probably wouldn't have had I not started getting so buzzed.  And that's simply because I don't want to be "that guy" ya know, and I said as much at the time.  Like it's one thing to give somebody props and tell them you're a big fan or whatever, but you don't want to start bombarding people with questions about that shit upon first meeting them.  At least I don't.  And that's why I didn't push him on it.  I fear I may have been a bit of an ass as it is by getting so wasted, but I know what you guys mean.  Ain't like they haven't all been there, I'm sure! 

As far as the picture thing goes, I didn't see it at first but I do now.  Just the formation of the snow on that roof I guess, but I think I see what you mean....  :)

It looks like a swordfish to me.

Nice teamaxl!!!!  excellent story!  I went to see HNB when I was in L.A. a couple months ago...and you're right, Dizzy's an awesome dude...I esp. appreciated that he took requests, and did Don't Cry...it was 2nd best version!  : ok:

Sweet story cheers for sharing  : ok:

Cool stuff man, thanks for sharing!


Isn't that just the clothes store's ad with someone laying down? I can see his/her arm there...

teamaxl,

Welcome to the board and thanks for sharing your story. It's refreshing to see someone with good communications skills.

sure enough. Welcome to the paranormal state! :nervous:
thanks god I'm not alone.


looks like a torso :o to me.
I guess (/hope) it's either a snowdrift or a big Benetton ad or something not spooky. 

LOL!  Yup, that's exactly what it is.  And that's what I was seeing but I thought it was some random formation in the snow.  Come to think of it, I'm not sure there even was snow that day!  LOL!  It's a sign for the American Apparel store actually.  I thought I was seeing a man's body in that one and it may well be but usually their ads feature the hottest of women (wearing very little clothes of course).  I'm not talking plastic model hot either.  Trust me on this, if anyone here has seen these ads they'll know what I'm talking about!

And thanks again you guys for the positive feedback and welcoming vibes and all.  For real, I appreciate it.  The timing of the show was just kinda funny for me 'cause I had been going through a bit of a Guns things lately.  I had got those unauthorized DVD's ("Sex, Drugs, Rock N' Roll" and "Prettiest Star") as a Christmas gift from my mom and yeah, they turned out to be total crap but I watched them.  That coupled with Slash's book, which I of course read, kinda got me thinking about GNR more and playing with Dizzy sealed it.  I've always kept up with the new songs (which I love) and whatever else is going on with Axl and the band, but lately I've been spending a lot more time looking up stuff both old and new, be it old interviews, relatively new youtube clips I hadn't seen, whatever.  That's what led me here and I'm glad it did.

Ok I will give props like everyone else too... congrats, etc.  but dude... YOU LITERALLY TYPED "ALL's"........... Hahahah I mean.... I am at a loss for words.... That is even worse than typing "I seen" because at least both words are, well, actual words........ "ALL'S?????"  ??? ???

hahahah this is really just a joke and i'm not actually trying to be a dick but... just.... i mean... you typed "all's"

^How's the sauce treatin' ya buddy?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For the Chiodos album, see All's Well That Ends Well (album).
All's Well That Ends Well is a comedy by William Shakespeare,

Looks like you'd be wrong about that all's--lol

Now when he says pop instead of soda we'll all laugh.

this should be a t-shirt.

hysterical!

yea but 'All's' in that context means 'All is' and that doesn't make any sense here

anyways this isnt the Grammar N' Reading board...

Seems kind of an odd little thing to point out or fixate on when I obviously write in a very conversational manner.  That's how I talk and I try to write as I talk.  Obviously it's not proper English, no.  But it is a very common use (or misuse) of that word ("all's I was trying to say....", "all's I said...." etc. etc.).  At least it is here in Chicago anyway.  So it may very well be a midwest thing as cineater inferred or it may be just me.  Regardless, I think I'm pretty good at getting my point across despite the conversational manner I write in, or perhaps largely because of it. 

And yes cineater, we're all about the "pop" here in Chicago.  Don't think I've ever used the word "soda" my entire life.  :)   

lol  I moved from up by Rockford to St. Louis and thought I had moved to the hillbilly capitol when I heard soda. 

We have to be careful when get into these rules cause Dizzy's wife is a teacher and she'll come along with her red pen and we'll all get marked up.  I'm pretty sure, it's been a long time, but she verified it's Guns N Roses is, not Guns N Roses are.  GNR is singular but lets not get into that discussion!  It goes places you don't want to go.

lucky me I always say GNR is. as in 'all for one and one for all'.

Pop? LOL, you northerners!

ah fine.  you're right.  i'm sorry.  the fact that you write like you speak is pretty sweet, i think. 

yeah, re: "soda vs. pop,"
i felt the same shock when i moved from new hampshire to michigan for a few years... soda was "pop" and lollipops were "suckers." The first time I was asked by this girl I worked with if I wanted a "sucker" i was pretty excited.

Thanks man.  No harm, no foul as they say!

And yeah, much like soda, I don't think I've ever used the term lollipop.  Rarely, if ever.  They've always been suckers ever since I can remember.  I can see how that could be misconstrued though....  :)

Yah I get where your coming from since you were playing on a bill with the guy, I can understand your rational.