Here Today... Gone To Hell!

You`ll be over in the UK in a few weeks to play a series of shows.  Are you looking forward to getting back over here?

Of course, I always look forward to coming over to the UK.


What sort of show can we expect from you this time?  Will you be bringing the big Rock production or will you be doing the more stripped down show and concentrate more on the music?

I think we`ll have more of an expanded set list than last time.  It`ll be between 2 and 3 hours of kick ass Rock `n` Roll.


The first time you played with Guns n` Roses  in England was  in 1992 with Soundgarden and Faith No More.   What do you remember about that tour?

I remember that it was a really fun, cool tour and I remember that the beer there is just great.


You also appeared at the Freddie Mercury Tribute show at Wembley Stadium that year?  How did you feel being part of such an event?

That was magic, it was so special.  Looking back it was so cool being part of that.  We`d already played at Wembley Stadium a few times over a short period so we felt almost like the house band there.  I didn`t quite grasp at the time what we would become a part of.  Once I saw what was happening it was just incredible. I was so happy to be there to pay tribute to such a legendary person and also to help promote AIDS awareness to a global audience.


When you were back stage what did you think when you saw such legendary names as Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, David Bowie and Elton John?

Where we were hanging out everybody was milling about and there was Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin and the guys from Def Leppard so it was very cool to be there.  It was just great to be able to celebrate the music of Queen with so many big artists.


Last time you played at the Metro Arena, Newcastle you not only had Sebastian Bach guesting on stage with you but also Izzy Stradlin too.  Do you have any plans to feature any special guest appearances on this tour?

You know, I`m never really part of the whole special guest thing so they are just as special to me as I have no idea who`ll be playing.  It`s great for us and it`s pretty awesome for the fans so bring them on, bring on the special guests.


What about the songs.  Will you be doing everything from Appetite For Destruction up to Chinese Democracy and everything in between?

There`ll be a good spread of music from our catalogue.  Since the last time we played there`ll be more songs from the Illusion era of the band.  People seem to like hearing those.  We never have a set, set list.  There`s some spontaneity involved every night.  We have a master list and if there`s a song that we haven`t played for a while we might just give it a run out.   We change things around every night so it keeps things fresh for us and the crew and for the people too.  Hopefully they`ll get their own special show every night that is different to the previous nights of the tour.


Are there any that you particularly want to do?

I honestly love playing all the songs, I really mean that.  I love playing the piano stuff obviously like ?November Rain? but I do love all of the stuff.


The current line-up that features Axl Rose and yourself alongside Tommy Stinson, Richard Fortus, Ron Thal and Frank Ferrer have been constants in the band for over 10 years. Do you think that this shows that there is a strong harmony within the band?

Absolutely, we`re a real tight unit and I like to think that it shows too.  That`s not taking anything away from the guys that have come along more recently like DJ Ashba.


Over the years the band has mainly operated with two guitarists whether that was Slash and Izzy or Gilby Clarke.  You`ve currently got Ron and Richard along with DJ Ashba.  Why does the band need a third guitarist?

I think at some point there was the need for three guitar players and it just worked so well that I think it would be hard to go back to two now.  They all contribute different parts to the show and it adds to the overall sound of the band.  The main thing I see with that is that I think we have three of the best guitar players in the world.  It`s a treat for me to see them play and I know it`ll be a treat for those that come to the shows too. Everyone is in a cool place about it.  We are far enough along in our careers to see the big picture and we can leave our egos at the door and enjoy being in Guns n` Roses.  The guys work so hard to work together and that`s so important.  A lot of bands don`t see that when they are starting out but you do have to be a unit, you have to work together and this is a prime example of once you do that and you have that level of musicianship then it`s going to be better than everything else in the long run.  I appreciate the hard work that they`ve all put in. So what people will see are three of the greatest guitar players in the world in a great band playing great songs.


DJ Ashba has a wealth of song writing experience ranging from Motley Crue to Neil Diamond.  He`s going to be something of an asset when you start working on new songs?

I`ve known DJ for a while and he`s such a talented writer with great ideas.  He`s been so inspiring to me as well to see how much he puts into it and has such an incredible song writing resume. I grew up listening to Neil Diamond, my Dad loved his music and his songs are embedded in my whole soul really.  Neil Diamond is truly one of the greatest songwriters we`ve ever had and to get those credentials of writing with him and for him is super impressive to me.  That`s just one aspect of what DJ brings to the table and he offers a lot and he`s a great performer and great to be around too.


You have played keyboards with Guns n Roses since the Use Your Illusion albums in 1990. The band started out as mainly a guitar based  Rock`n`Roll band.  Why do you think they felt the need to bring in a keyboard player. 

I think that the band just wanted to expand their horizons  and be able to play a greater variety of music than they did when they started out.  The keyboards just give the band an added dimension.


It`s difficult to see how ?November Rain?, ?Estranged? or? Civil War? would have turned out if the musical base of the band hadn`t been widened.

Those songs were written on the piano and if you took the piano away there would be a lot of empty space and a lot of drum sticks clicking together, that`d be about it  They`re great songs and great to play.


You`re now also joined on stage by Chris Pitman as a second keyboard player.  What has he added to the band?

I think if you go through the songs we`ve done over the years, especially the newer songs but also the Use Your Illusion material, then you would realize that I only have two hands.  Chris brings an incredible amount of himself and creativity to the songs.  It`s a good thing to look over and see him doing his thing on stage.


Richard Fortus stepped into Thin Lizzy for a tour last year during a break from your touring schedule.  Did his involvement with Thin Lizzy have anything to do with Lizzy being added to your UK tour as Special Guests?

I don`t know really but Ricky Warwick, their singer, is a very good friend of mine and I`m so happy for him that he`s doing that gig as I  don`t think there`s anybody better to do that.  I can`t wait to see them play.  I heard from Richard how great they are playing at the moment, but I guess he`s a little biased.  I just can`t wait to see them for myself.  It`s great for us but for the fans it`ll be incredible.


Do you think Richard may pop out on stage for a song or two with Thin Lizzy?

Well if he doesn`t then I`m going to get up on stage with them.


Your latest album Chinese Democracy, was a long time coming.  Did you think that there was a time when it might never have been released?

I knew we`d get there in the end.  We just wanted to be sure that we had the best songs that we possibly could and we wanted everything to be right and I think we achieved that.


You were there right from the start of the recording process.  How did the finished album differ to those earlier recordings?

There were so many ideas and songs that were tossed about and arranged and those initial ideas were developed over time sometimes into something very different from the original ideas but I think they picked the right songs and it worked great.  There`s a lot going on and it takes a few listens to truly appreciate what`s going on there but I think the songs are cool and I think the album still sounds great.


Having recorded so many tracks for the album, and recorded many different versions with different band members do you think that at some point in the future you`ll consider releasing a boxed set for the fans chronicling the development of the album from start to finish?

I`m writing that down right now as that`s such a great idea.  In this day and age there`s so many tracks available online and there may be too many possibilities for people to hear but I think there`s a tale to be told and it would be great to tell the story in some way.  I hope that people enjoy the album as much as we enjoyed making it and I really can`t wait to come over and play those songs live.

Read more:


http://www.metalexpressradio.com/menu.php?main=interviews&id=989 (http://www.metalexpressradio.com/menu.php?main=interviews&id=989)

From the sound of it, going to b a great UK tour!

I would be interested in a musical biography of CD, a book with CD's that chart the process involved with the recording of CD.

I would like to hear older versions of current songs, versions that chart the progress of the recording of CD through the 90's and into the past decade.

I'd expect to see some of the songs played during the Up Close and Personal tour like Crazy, Used to Love Her....maybe Mama Kin or Dead Flowers?

This looks promising. The shows I saw this year and last were just all sorts of AWESOME!!! All those attending the upcoming shows are in for a treat. I love that they are getting more material for the shows like Civil War, Estranged, Used To Love Here, etc. Keep it up!!! Dead Flowers would be a wonderful one to have as a regular too.

Also, I love the Illusions albums. I hope they dig out some more like Yesterdays, Dead Horse and (dare to dream) Locomotive or Coma. Not sure where they would put these in a setlist as long as it is was the last year or what songs would need to be dropped or rotate every now and then....

I'm not expecting a box set of CD era anytime really, even though it's a great idea, sounds like something that is unrealistic.

GNR was never a band that would release demos or b-sides...

It would be a grand idea for when  CD does its 10 years of existence for example though... to release a special package with a bonus cd with the b-sides and the original artwork.  : ok:

I love B-sides and demos, it really lets you appreciate the artist's creative development on the songs and it gives you a better perspective on what turns they take to make those songs. Some artists don't like to share it though, and consider it to be kind of a private thing cause they're so attached to those songs

: ok:

I hope to get Estranged at the show in Belgium ;)

Then I will have heard all my favourites live (This I Love, Sorry, Estranged, ISE).

Let's see what's going to happen tomorrow!

more illusions will mean civil war & estranged I would have thought.

And Locomotive. And Breakdown. And Coma. And Back Off Bitch. And Don't Damn Me. (in my dreams  ;D)

Sounds like we're in for a treat. Gonna try to avoid tweets/set lists etc in the run up to the show, I wanna be surprised!

Haha I did the same thing when GNR started touring in 2009, before I finally saw them in November 2011.  I plan to do the same with this tour.  It was a long wait, but it was worth it in the end.  Good luck and don't give in to temptation. 

yep. I will suck a toe if they play DDM

Dude i'll give birth to something if they play DDM

I see we have the same dreams!  Unfortunately looks like they will stay dreams.  :'(

Ya don't get me wrong I love love love love that they play Estranged every night (& Civil War) but
Kinda a bummer that it's pretty much same old gig as 2011 U.S. tour :nervous:

Same old gig as 2011 ?? I don't get what your saying... it hasn't even been a year, and already people aren't pleased with the setlist.  I'd rather have GnR tour and put out 3 hour shows, with the same setlist then no touring at all.

Vaguely recall Perfect Crime as having been rehearsed and on a couple of setlists since DJ joined.

I'm not displeased with the current setlist - but it's just human nature to want more variety.  It would be more exciting if they altered a few songs each night - but then of course if you only go to one show then you'll be disappointed if you miss a song they played the night before ...

Yea totally agree there is nothing like watching GN'R perform live! That is what Axl Rose was born to do! Be the greatest frontman on the planet! Trust me I seen them live 3 times last year and 5 times since 2002!

That being said it just makes ya want to see this group whip out something new! No previous leak(s) first time for them an us fans watching/listening ! It's just an exciting thought! To take that next step as a band. Watch them grow even closer !

Just think about that Hug Tommy and Axl shared in the spring of 06 at Hammerstien Ball room right before they introduced TWaT for the first time live! Axl (you have no idea what that ment to me)  :peace:

kind of offtopic  but this just crssed my mind yesturday.

how amaizing would breakdown sound with the current lineup  :D

lots of guitars, lots of keys. that epic song woud match the set set list perfectly! ... imagine the clip from vanishing point in screens... :drool:

I would love to hear dead horse for me that would fucking rock I sure hope they come back to Saskatoon that was a truly epic show

BAD OBSESSION!! and DOUBLE TALKIN' JIVE M/F!!

Axl needs to pull his balls out and crank some more ILLUSION!!

How about finally playing "Don't Damn Me"? I never understood why that song was never played in concert. It's one of the best rockers that GNR has.

Pretty Tied Up, Back Off Bitch... One In A Million

CATCHER IN THE RYE!!!

catcher in the rye what a amazing song live!

Slash song, not gonna hear it

dont they play any SLASH songs?? :hihi:

I don't know or even think that's the case of why they haven't played 'Don't Damn Me' or other songs for that matter. Axl's never come right out and said he would never play any Slash songs, nor can I ever see him doing so. There's the fact that he's at peace with the past (for the most part). Several other major facts are that he's had such a tight group of players for several years now who want to do the majority of the catalog from night to night, go out and kick ass, and look to the future and beyond. Maybe he'll break it out, like he did with 'Estranged' last year when he found out or saw how many wanted to hear it again? I'm sure there's a lot more that goes into making a seamless set list that works from start to end than any of us even know...so I'm sure if it works for Axl and it works for the rest of the band...we'll see some more of the proverbial dark horse songs of GNR! 

good luck nailing the Don't Damn Me solo. I don't even think Slash could : ok: I'm sure Buckethead would have a killer take at it

Maybe that's the reason why "Don't Damn Me" was never played? Because of that solo. It really is one of the most underrated songs that GNR has.

I could swear that I read somewhere (and I could certainly be wrong) but I've always thought the reason this song, along with Get in the Ring (which I've always thought was cool) were never played was because Axl said that those songs were essentially all he had to say about critics or whatever, and there was no need to play them. Again, maybe this is just something someone told me. Not trying to start rumors or shit.

He said something to that effect during a concert regarding GITR... he got a lot of flack for that song and of course One in a Million, but I don't recall any controversy about Don't Damn Me.

He said that about Get in the Ring and One in a Million only

When did Axl say he was not playing Slash songs?

I wish they would go into more Chinese Democracy songs-I would drop Estranged and bring back Prostitute.

That's cool. Thanks.

To say that they would not play Slash songs is ridiculous since all old GNR songs are "Slash" songs and they've been playing them for years.  That obviously has no bearing in song selection, otherwise they'd play nothing but Chinese Democracy tunes, or maybe stuff from The Spaghetti Incident.   :hihi:  They certainly wouldn't play songs like "Sweet Child o Mine" and "Estranged".

FYI.... while "Don't Damn Me" and "Get in the Ring" have never been played live, GNR did indeed play "One in a Million" live on January 31, 1988.  That said, I seriously doubt it will get added into the current band's setlist for obvious reasons.

ALSO..... In the Q&A with Axl (which is posted on this board), he was asked about adding old songs to the set and people asked about Use Your Illusion era songs.  Axl's response was that he wanted to try to move away from older songs and focus on newer material.

Great - so we should be expecting some new songs any day now - HAHA!!!!

I would love to see the band continue to move away from older songs like Axl said he would like to do...

but that is the majority of the GNR catalog.... so at this point i dont see how they can do that

and naturally it would end some of the old vs new comparisons...if they played less of the old songs

WTTJ SCOM etc ...id imagine will always be performed as long as GNR performs

whatever Axl wants to play tho....ive got no problem with ! its his deal

the "More of an expanded setlist than last time" only fits for 2010 vs. 2012 european tour legs and most likely was just meant to be like that.
but with the exception of 2 songs (on 3 shows) the setlists -again- are very predictable on this european tour leg right now.
eh, Axl talks his way out of his AFD HOF induction last minute but then goes on tour right away with 3 of the first 4 songs being from Appetite  :-X

yeah, off course i'm looking for new (or old new) music to be released sometime in 201x !!

Eh, it's two completely different things to reunite with your former band mates because you're being inducted to a rock n' roll museum, and playing songs people know and love.

Only a special kind of person would manage to make the connection between the two.






/jarmo

oh, it's totally 2 different things, really? then you must be some special kind of person, too  ;)
eh?, lets face it: he was inducted for the music the AFD/UYI members have created and the fans have been fallen in love to, but talks his way out just 3 days before the event to

a) not look too bad for declining the induction,
b) to give the rest GN'R members and the HOF less time to set up an induction performance (which they've succeeded to do last minute anyway though).

just to run on tour playing 3 AFD songs within the first 4, ouch!

and lets not forget Axl himself in person inducted Elton John into and @ your "rock n' roll museum".

You're just silly.


Axl just played with Izzy in London, Izzy also didn't attend the museum ceremony.

Axl and Izzy wrote a shitload of songs together for GN'R.



Explain that.


Sorry you didn't get your reunion and it hurt your feelings. You can't always get what you want, as they say.

But to tie it all together with your oh so very old and tired setlist whining... Priceless!


GN'R are playing three hour shows on average. What do you expect them to play?

Wait, knowing you, don't even answer that.



/jarmo

off course its leaving the past behind-argument again...but then its still the same 3 AFD songs out of the first 4. Explain that  ;)

i didnt create any of those stable setlists in 2012, so dont blame it on me, thanks.

i'd like to have "unpredictable" and different setlists. arent you a Pearl Jam-fan? smth. like that. not hard to do...and a win-win situation for bands and fans.

What do you need explained to you? That they play three songs from AFD among the first four and it's got NOTHING to do with reuniting the old band.

They were playing those songs in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Before there were any talk of any kind of Hall of Fame induction and forced reunion ideas.


What's your problem?


So because these people thought they could  force Axl to reunite, and he didn't, he shouldn't play the old songs?
Are you that thick?

They play the songs they wanna play. Not for you. Not for people who read set lists, but for the people at the shows who paid for the tickets and get an amazing show.






/jarmo

well...1 of the reasons why i started liking GN'R more then any other band was the reason they where unpredictable, in setlists, length of shows and starting times

well nowadays none of the shows are unpredictable anymore....not that i don't like the 3 hours shows....but i do miss the unexpected.

I think their setlist is great and I don't get how it has anything to do with the HOF snub.

But I too would find it preferable if they were a little less predictable.

I like to have Guns N' Roses playing shows and I believe I'm a fan. I get to those I can, but unfortunately I'm not in Europe or South America much and Axl is, so it bothers me not that GNR are playing 3 hour shows from a relatively small pool of songs. If I had attended 10 shows in a row and not a single different song was played, maybe I'd be upset just like you, but I'm not going to those shows, I am happy that those who are seem to be enjoying themselves, as the videos plainly show.

I also happen to like the shows, regardless of what they play. All the songs are fantastic and when we get different songs, I appreciate them. In the last 6 months or so we've seen Shacklers, TWAT, Estranged and Civil War re-introduced and we're seeing new solos and solo songs from Tommy and Bumble. We know they have rehearsed other songs not yet played (Perfect Crime and OMG) and I'm sure we'll hear them at some point and enjoy their inclusion in the shows too. Just like the tens (or probably hundreds) of thousands of fans have done with so on this tour already with the existing "setlist"...

I'm sorry that it's not living up to your expectations. I'm sure Axl will get right on it... My number 1 desire however is for GNR to come back to Australia. Should they do so, they can play a rendition of Sweet Child on the kazoo for all I care, I'd still be putting it on Youtube 3 hours later...

I don't expect Axl to be unpredictable nowadays. The guy is 50. At some point you sort of lose that. I like the setlist and the 3 hours playing time. One thing that I do miss though when I saw Axl at the Izod in November was his rants. He always had the most awesome rants back in the early 90s.  However, he's 50 and I don't expect that from him anymore.

Playing with no setlist sounds cool, and might have worked in the early days, but with Pyro involved, not sure you can do that, and I think playing with no setlist would ruin the flow of the concert-while I loved the Rock in Rio 2001 concert, I think the were playing with a loose setlist (you could hear them shouting out songs), which kind of slowed things down.

                         The Pyro will be programmed into a song. not a set-list order, when Axl says, via the tent, lald, the control deck will have the lights, pyro, sound and imagery settings in place and hopefully they will good to go.     the production team will then ad-lib any stops, extended plays or changes that occur during the songs as they happen. Each song is organic, it's a living thing, its where the production team need to be on their game, and where Axl might get a bit pissed  :rofl: if they aren't doing their job properly.

Just saying, there is a setlist they are sticking to for a reason-I would imagine for safety reasons everyone need to be informed when a song is coming up-they are not gathering at Frank's drum riser, then launching into a song.

It's just more predictable than the past because of the internet, it has nothing to do with the fact the GN'R 'changed'... in the UYI concerts they also had a 'fixed set of songs' in their set. During that tour they only made some small changes in the order of the songs during the years
Nowadays, you can read the setlist of any show they play, on multiple sites, people record with their smartphones and put it on youtube...
All bands have more or less stable setlist. I don't mind it.

Its like jarmo said, most people who are not as hardcore as we are, just want to see the band playing their hits, without knowing which songs they played the day before at another gig.

They did have pretty much a fixed setlist during the Illusion years also-I remember seeing pics of setlists-the only thing that would change much was the beginning song-I think I remember reading somewhere they have a setlist and 4 or 5 extra songs they may go to at any point also-these days you can pretty much guess the first 4 or 5 songs, and that they will end with Paradise City-I think the no setlist thing was from the mid to late 80's club days, mostly-I do remember at Rock in Rio 1991 you could clearly see Axl mouth the words "Jungle" into Slash's ear-I prefer a more formal setlist, it just makes for a better concert.

they didnt have set lists during the illusions tour(but like you said they had a pick list and/or song list that they might play). you rarely saw two shows in a row with the same songs in the same order. also it was common that you would hear the bad discussing about what will they oplay next

Went to see Pearl Jam on thursday they played 26 songs the night before at the same venue they played 27 songs only about 5 or 6 were the same!!
It does make each show seem like its special to you, to be fair not many if any other bands i know do this but its fuckin awesome.
         
Pete Townsend once said "we have to decide whether we want to be a circus and give people what they know we can do and what we know we can do every night and  in the end turn into a caberet act , which is inevitable, its ridiculous "
I love GnR and saw them again recently at Nottingham they were very good i just worry without releasing and playing new music they might turn into a big caberet act one day !! hope not

Dunno why people think that's so awesome. Pisses me off when a band plays my favourite songs the night before I see them, and then changes almost every song on the list on the night I'm there.

Sorry, but to say they didn't use set lists during the Illusion tours is just not true-they may have changed a song or 2 for each concert, but when the backup singers and Teddy were on the tour, they played most of the same songs every night-the opener usually changed.

you cant flex it up too much i suppose cus of the pre programmed lighting?
Unless allthe light stages are saved ina bach file named by each song and they can just change the lighting at ta press of a button ?
I dont know how  the lighting works so cant say tbh :S