Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Two years ago today, I remember driving into NYC on our way to Hammerstein Ballroom in great anticipation of the GNR  "warm-up "  shows. I can  VIVIDLY  remember , what I was wearing, how many Jack Daniels I had at Mustang Harry's, the electric feeling in the air, the sense I had while standing on the pit floor and thinking is AXL really gonna come out here on this stage ? Axl walked out on stage and the rest of the night (early morning) was history. GNR was back !!!   So I thought.  Off they went to the Europe tour, back to some more warm up shows in Vegas and then a US tour. With each tour a slight glimmer of hope for a new album.

We are still here and we keep waiting for that "new" album. "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life" as the great C-3PO  said to R2D2 wondering the sands of tatooine. We all just have to learn to accept it. I know I have. If the album never comes out I am fine with it ,  but I can still have hope. The new album will not restore them to Rock N Roll Gods anyway.  It is a different industry now then back in the 80/90's. There is too much pressure being put on this new album.  It's quite simple for us purists, I only want to hear some new tunes by AXL and the band. I don't even care if they make radio airplay or not. I am not consumed by thinking I get to walk around and tell everyone "See GNR is back baby !!!"  and strut my feathers like a peacock. We (fans)  have nothing to prove to anyone or any nay sayers. The music is for us, the fans.

We keep wondering around  in the desert , no matter how long it will take we don't care, (oh we care) but not enough to drive us away for good , yet.

I have an 75% feeling that we will get to the 3 year anniv of Hammerstein before the new album is out . But that's ok,  it  gives me something to talk about next year.  Until that time, I just stare at my Hammerstein Ballroom ticket stub and a ziplock bag of confetti I scooped up off the floor. 

Lagada in the highest.  :beer:

I remember wanting to go to these gigs so bad. I even stayed up all night, waiting for updates being posted on the forums from people who were in attendance. I almost shit myself when I read that they played Better. :smoking:

Yup, I remember the shows well.....

GREAT shows.  Great time meeting the other fans, too.

Saw the second show. Awesome, electric. One of the funniest momenets: Happy Mother's Day, Motherfuckers!!!!!

I joined this board when I saw the Hammerstein concerts on the news section of the site... hehe  ;)

Was there the first night...great experience seeing 'em in a theatre like that! Came sooooooooo close to seeing 'em on the Illusions tour at Giants Stadium but the day before, the ticket I was about to buy from a friend was already sold.

Hammerstein definitely cured the sting of that experience  : ok:

My God! It's been two years? I flew all the way from California to see that show, met some cool people.  :hihi:   

went to the second night. mothers day. great times

I was there the final night. I still remember checking the board the previous three nights. Boy, that was such a busy time for us, right? Trunk's show as the teaser of teasers. Sightings of Axl in the city.

Bumblefoot's debut. Baz's involvement. and IZZY that night. One of the few times in my life where you are part of a giant crowd just GASPING in disbelief all at once.

I've seen countless shows there before and since. Yet there's still nothing close than feeling the electricity of when Jungle started and the pyro went off. Pure electricity and magic.

I Remember, Emotions... Day & Night, Look Forums... Excelent performance, Surprise, New Look Of ROBIN, Presentation Of Bumblefoot, Special Guests: Sebastian, Izzy, kid Rock...

 :beer:

HBK *

I was there....including at the bar we met at (Mustang Grill?) before the show. Then, I was in line with Sebastian Bach to get in...very cool. It was cool to meet some of you. One dude came all the way from Detroit for the show.


The first night was awesome.

I remember the excitement
of standing by for GNR in a front of my pc every nite.
I couldn't go to nyc but thanks to the board and the updaters, I managed to enjoy the shows, sorta ;D.

I logged in just for this thread!!!

Great times, great times was New York.... I remember it like it was yesterday.


Hopefully we'll get the album before this time next year. :peace:

My whole crew was from Detroit. :beer:

Was there the 3rd show ( should've been the first)

It was a great show and that week alone, was one of the best for a Gnr fan

Now we're here, with no album, talking about Finck being gone, Brain being gone and being told that this thing is in " negotiations"

Unfortunately, they blew a big chance to get the album out there back then, when the buzz was rather large about Axl's return

Fortunately, if they announce an actual release date and repeat history and play the Hammerstein again, they can start the buzz again

We'll see

I only went to the first show but it was AMAZING.

I remember being WAY stoked when they played Better as well. It was also awesome to be the first to hear There Was A Time live!

Went to the 2,3 and 4th show!! I would have gone to the 1st but I bought my plane ticket before the two shows were added. I was lucky to go to the 2nd one.
Most amazing shows I have ever been to for any band! Met some great fucking people too! Would love to do that again!!

I really hope that they play there again soon. Hammerstein is a great venue and the shows were blowaway. The vibe was incredible.

I was at the first show, and I remember how stunned I was to be so close to the stage, and to see my heroes right in front of me;  realizing that Robin's look was *drastically* different from the MTV-Goth gear, and trying desperately to figure out just who Ron was....the concert highlight of my life, to be sure.

opening night was simply amazing

I was at the first show... I was 21 and had been listening to GnR since I was about 9. I was also at the Philly show that never was. Waiting that long to see your favorite singer ever could have easily been a let down because of the tremendous build up but I was blown away. Fantastic show from start to finish.

Great thread!  I was thinking about May 12, 2006 all morning at work and then again at the gym after work.  I can't believe it was exactly 2 years ago today I was taking a day off from work and driving up to the Big Apple from little ol' Delaware to see GNR.  God damn that day was perfect.  Me, a buddy, and my bro-in-law met a ton of great GNR fans who were just genuinely cool people to meet and talk with at the pre-party at Mustang Harry's.  I had the most expensive hamburger and fries I've ever eaten...but who cares!!!  It was great visiting Manhattan.  That line outside the Hammerstein seemed to stretch forever!  The buzz in the air was just fucking amazing.....

I remember bounding up the fucking staircase headed up to mezz 2 not knowing what I'd find when I got there.  Then, to see Axl bad-ass again, looking and sounding better than '02...I'll never forget that day, or night!  I was sooo fucking stoked There Was a Time was played.  My favorite new song...and I was there for the first live performance.   :love:

 :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:


 

I was thinking about this yesterday. I always remember the "Happy Mothers Day, motherfuckers" comment on Mothers Day.

I took the week off from work and went to all 4 shows. Just an amazing week that I will never forget. Have to thank all the people involved with setting up the presales for those shows as well.

Also saw Spamalot twice. GnR and Monty Python, does it get any better?

i had a good time myself.but the late show had us stuck under the subways.till the weeee hours of the morning.some strange people under there at night.but the concert was all worth it. it rocked and i had a great time.

Hopefully soon we'll all be posting crappy camera phone pictures again and going wild. The only thing for sure about Guns N' Roses, is that nothings for sure.  :beer:

lets hope there's more life in guns n' roses yet !
rock on my brotha's rock on !
 :beer:

I remember this concert. I couldn't get any of my friends to go to the concert since they are not GNR fans. I decided to go by myself and had a great time meeting new people.  It was such an awesome experience hearing the  opening riffs of Jungle and hearing Axl scream during TWAT. It was a great way to make a comeback!

Without a doubt that was a great fucking night.. and all the shows rocked, but that first show,and Mustang Harrys, and meeting so many of you guys, was itself awesome, but the show was mindblowing.. and I so yes look forward to doin it all over again!

those were good times. that friday night show was one of the best nights of my life.

on friday, i had a somewhat sad flashback of that day. in 2006, i was rushing home to my house in philly heading south on 95 around 1pm. i was pissed cause i was running about 30 minutes behind my planned schedule. next thing i knew, i was passing a long funeral procession for a police officer that had been murdered in the line of duty. i remember feeling almost guilty that i was so angry for being behind schedule, yet here is a hero that lost his life. it helped put things into perspective, and i it gave me an even greater appreciation for the day/night i was going to have.

so this past friday, i'm driving south on 95 and again, and i pass another funeral procession for a police officer that was murdered in the line of duty. i immediately thought of the day of the first gnr show. and then i realized that it was the same day - not the same date, but the friday before mother's day. kinda strange.

Honestly... I think they're one of the few bands in the world that are capable of flicking on the "buzz" switch whenever they feel like it... 2006/07 would have been a great time to drop the album.... but 2008/09 could be just as great if not better.

Anyway, was at the first show... and had an absolute blast. I remember being especially blown away by how well Axl and Robin performed together in particular...

Just reading this thread pumps me up and makes me want to do it all over again.

Imagine if Axl and Co. announced a 4 night stint again somewhere again in the United States by New Years. :peace:

I'd be there again in a heartbeat. No questions asked. Even with Robin in limbo currently, I'd be all over it like stink on a monkey.

I can't believe it was 2 Years AGO !!!  I got tix to the 5/15 show before the 12th was announced.  And the night of the 12th I was all boosted checking online updates, I still didn't believe it would happen until the 15th.  The whole day was awesome, went to Mustang Harry's around 12, hung out there for a few hours, went to Friday's during happy hour, then got on line in the front.  Standing online was like one big party, met so many people, since my seats where in the Mezz2, once the doors opened I practically ran upstairs, sat right in front .... it was just awesome.  Nothing will ever compare, not even the shows I saw in the winter of 06, the Hammerstein shows were once in a lifetime shows  :beer:

Yeah, I don't think anything can compare to the excitment of the first Hammerstein show.  That was a blast.  Hope they play some smaller venues again next time out.  By the way, much props to all those involved with the presales back then...I was one of the most memorable experiences of my life and was much appreciated.

Aw...I wanted to make this thread. Oh well.

Hard to believe the time passed so quickly. I remember all the excitement building up to this day so clearly...I hope we can soon experience that again.

That day went from bad to absolutely amazing.  I had a friend going that didn't care for GnR but was going cause I paid for the ticket.  An hour before we leave, he says he can't make it. So I went alone and one ticket was wasted. I tried giving it away in line but everyone had tickets and I didn't want to act like a scalper and have a run in with the law.  
At one point, I thought I saw a KFC bucket poke out from behind the curtain while waiting for GnR to come out.  Then Brain threw his drumstick and it hit the girl next to me and I didn't even see it coming. The highlight was hearing There was a Time live.  Yep, great night that was.

Yup the best weekend i ever had. Got in line at 10AM sunday the 14th and was 2nd in line. The dude 1st in line was sleeping on the ground from the night before lol. It was great to see afew of you on here there. It was suck a good fuckin time.  :beer:

I flew to NYC from Kentucky for the 17th show and had the absolute best time of my life. I'll never forget it...

Yeah kind of funny that I started this thread. Back then I was new to the forum and couldn't get a sniff of presale passwords in fear that I was maybe a scalper/broker. I ended up buying my tickets off e-bay for around $200.00 a piece (right on the floor). I dont hold a grudge it was one of the best nights of my life. I would pay $500  today if I could have it all happen again.

Detroit guys you were very cool. I flew up from Florida for the gigs 12th & 17th, as there were no gaurantee there would be a US tour at that point.

I remember myself sitting in my computer like 3 hours before the start of the show. I think I smoked like 20 cigarettes that night, and drank like 10 coffees. It was a very cold night in Buenos Aires, and I was extremely nervous and anxious.

My internet explorer had like 12 opened windows with different sites, to try to catch all updates possible. I remember also chatting with a lot of people, people from all over the world, speaking different languages.

Other things I remember:

* The rumours about the new lead guitarist
* All the collapsed updates websites due to the insane online traffic
* I said ''yeah, sure'' when I read somewhere GNR played ''TWAT''. I didn't believe it until I've heard the first audio available, that low bitrate mp3 that Jazjme recorded.
* The updates saying ''Axl's is singing like a motherfucker'', ''the rasp is back''

well, it was a very emotive night, one of the best setlists EVER, and one of the happiest moments of 2006 to me.

Myself and my buddy drove over from Detroit as well for that first show.

Uffff...is hard to describe. All the emotion, the curiosity, the doubts...

Then when I saw Axl Rose (with his new awesome look - Sorry Axl but football jerseys sucked a lot) and when I hear him i thought: "Axl is better than ever".

I can believe  that a guy of a foreign country, miles and miles away from my home and even my country, a guy who doesn't know that I exists have that influence in my life sometimes (the tours are an example...I always online looking for preview, audios, pics, etc.).

And I'm not a psycho-sick-fan but Axl Rose is a part of my life...I mean, I have 20 years old and I listen to him since I was six...(yes, believe or not...six)...

Like Esteban said on GNRLA: "Two years of the return of the beast"...

I can't even explain what it was like being at 2 of these shows, I saw the 2nd and the 4th.  I had seen GNR in 2002 at MSG and after what happened with that tour I was afraid they might never tour again.  Being at Hammerstein, seeing Axl in full force and command of his voice and with an awesome band was just one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

Hey Axl,

Yeah, I know you're reading this (NOT!).

How about doing another set of Hammerstein shows.....just for old times sake. 

No pressure to talk about the album, no bitching and moaning about a release date, none of that shit from the fans....just let us do a "GNR Hammerstein Reunion".  Because the shows were awesome and meeting the forum denizens was great, too.

Can't believe its gotten to the point where we are reminiscing about the new band!

Would be cool if they could release a DVD of these shows though, I guess with Robin's status as unknown there is a chance they will never see the light of day.

In comparison I went to the London Hammersmith which was really cool, I never thought I would see Axl so close

can't believe its been 2 years.   What an exciting time to be a GnR fan.    :beer:   I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat if GnR booked more shows at the Hammerstein.

alot has happened since then to me.but i can't believe it's been two years to.that went fast really we need more ! ! ! ! !

I will always remember the first night as they were finishing WTTJ and Axl is on the ege of the stage looking into the crowd. He had a serious look on his face through out the whole song, but as the lights came up a bit and he saw how ape shit people were going he got the biggest grin on his face.

I seriously think that he came out there not truly knowing what the crowd reaction would be. That moment and his reaction to Tommy saying that he was having a "great fucking time" where two of the best moments for me, and explained alot of these delays as well.

I remember driving to New York for the first time from Louisville, Kentucky for the opening show May 12th with a few people.  We all rocked out and went nuts the entire time obviously...great memories.

Hammerstein, The LEGENDARY shows... tHANKS guns n 'roses...

 :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

HBK *

Ahhh - great memories! the boards were on fire at this time and I was glued to my pc waiting for updates and clips - and my god... must have watched this one you tube clip of WTTJ from the first night 100 times!  Seeing that explosion when it kicked in and the crowd BAYING and going FUCKING MENTAL almost had my in tears!  I have goosebumps right now!  Would have loved to have been there - but SO happy i got my chance a bit later on at hammersmith!  If they played NY again - I'd be there in a heartbeat - that city and it's people are amazing.  what a way to get back on the live scene... these shows will always be special, its obvious that Axl and the gang loved doing them.

 :beer:

That is probably the best way to describe the crowds reaction. I know it's what I did.  : ok:

It's hard to believe it's been 2 years.  It was the first time I'd travelled transatlantic to see the Gunners, but after finding it difficult to connect with the live performances in 02 and yet still not feeling able to consign them to the 'good times archive' section of my life, I decided that if I was to reignite the fire and passion I'd felt when seeing them before, I'd have to go for broke and get myself to NYC for what promised to be a set of very special shows.

And I'm so glad that I did!  To say their performance was electric is so clich?d but also so true.  As I sat on the plane going home and tried to write a review, I realised that the whole experience had been almost beyond words. But the best thing of all was the realisation that for Guns N' Roses the good times were set to continue and that I was going to be a part of it.

I really thought that it couldn't get better than that but then came the gig at the Hammy Odeon.  Like Scabbie, I never thought they'd play there again, but they did, and what an incredibly special night it turned out to be.

In fact, the entire European tour of 06 was bloody brilliant from start to end and to think that if I'd given up on them after the 02 tour, I might have missed out on all that.  Well, actually, it doesn't bear thinking about...

Just want to say a huge thank you to Axl and the lads; GNR has been the soundtrack to so much of my life and I can't wait to see you all back in action over here doing what you do best.   : ok:

The first night they played was the very first concert experience of my life at the age of 18. Met up with all the people from here at Mustang Harry's and had Robin jump on me at the end of the night when he went crowd surfing. Greatest night of my life.  :)

and damn all of you that went to Mustang Harry's and damn guns n roses for being the first concert of my life because all the other shows (iron maiden, tool, dream theater, misfits, aerosmith, alice cooper, ozzy, rob zombie, just to name a few) i've been to after that paled in comparison. not that they weren't amazing shows, but just the atmosphere, the fans, the people brought together by a glue that is guns n roses was a feeling that i haven't felt in the 18 years of my life prior to that day or the two years after. here's to all of you  :beer:

even general music fans are saying the same after they saw GNR in 2006/7. maybe it's not just because of it being your first concert or the other conditions you mentioned.  :D

i think it's the band and especially the fans that follow the band that's the difference. I saw them again later that year in madison square garden. now, i've seen other shows there prior to it but that night total fucking strangers, a dentist in his mid 30's that drove there in his lexus and a 19 year old sales clerk that took the subway there, were standing on their seats hand over shoulders drunk off their asses screaming paradise city on top of their lungs. and when bumblefoot played don't cry, the WHOLE stadium drowned him out by singing it themselves. that's something i've never seen again.
The hammerstein shows set the bar SOO damn high for a concert in my eyes. i'm very humbled and feel that i'm very privilaged to have been a part of that show as my first concert experience because it boggled my mind how complete strangers that only maybe vaguely know eachother from an internet message board can treat eachother like their own. i've got my ticket stubs framed and i get people asking me why bother if its not signed by a band member? i don't think it's something they'd understand if i told them unless they were there

Estranged, we spoke at the bar for a couple minutes...I'm looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the gang again when GNR finally gets a tour together again.  I will never forget that day/night...ever. 

The only negative I see is, how can a day/night like that be topped? 

Wow!! Two years!!!

That's a lot of time!!!.

I hope to see Axl on stage back again sometime.

PS: 6 years old??? give me a break... :hihi:

Went by myself and didn't hit any of the bars. I got to meet some really great poeple in line but next time I have to get up the nerve to hit the bars. Cineater that means you have to go with me!! Lars you too!!!

Waste my time in the bar when there is a whole city out there to see?  And a parade?  We're hitting the streets!

flew from Missouri for the mothers day show.. got in line that morning around 9 and there was only 3 ahead of us, really cool guy that slept there allnight and a cpl from bAHSton..lol

the vibe was great and the crowd was singin tunes outside in line all day.. my wife got to go in the venue w/ a security guard and check the stage set up out before..i told her if she saw axl that i didnt want any details after that..lol
we got front row center and my god did we pay for it.. if any of u guys were on the floor that night i hate u all :D
the crowd was sooo intense that night from jungle to rocket queen i couldnt breathe, couldnt move  and got kicked in the back of the head more times than i can count  :hihi: it was a blast and the hell we went through to get there and the hell when we were in on the floor was all worth it

i remember looking to my right and seeing lenny kravits and fred durst in the first mezanine(sp?) section rocking out to ISE and Axl pointing to fred durst at the part of " I see you standing there"  :rofl:

we had a great time. Guns please go back!