Jungle of Sex and Rock // Toronto Sun Gn'R Concert Review

Okay, I tried to post this in the Gn'R News section, but I wasn't able to.? Feel free to move it to the right area.? Thanks!

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Jungle of Sex and Rock

by Jane Stevenson
Jam!ShowBiz Section of the Toronto Sun (page E4)
Friday, November 17, 2006

Sex and rock n' roll were on display Wednesday night when Guns n' Roses played the Air Canada Centre for the first time in four years.

As for drugs?? Short of doing a urine test on Axl Rose - the last man standing from GNR's original lineup - and his seven piece band, we wouldn't dare suggest.

The sex part came via one of three opening acts, Suicide Girls, an 'alternative' burlesque show borne out of a indie - minded porn website featuring "hot, tattooed, and pierced chicks", as one of the members explained from the stage.

The female troupe wiggled, jiggled and stripped their way through 25 minutes of recorded music by Steeler's Wheel, Led Zeplin, The White Stripes and others, but they never really got naked - save for black pasties and G- strings.

By the time the Gunners had started - at 11:40 p.m. (who else does this on a weeknight at an arena?!) - the audience was more than ready to rock desipte the ACC not being completely sold out [edit from Eeebs - 18,500 is pretty much sold out by my standards].

Anticipation for the GNR tour was heightened with the belief that their 12 years in the making new album, Chinese Democracy would be hitting stores next Tuesday.? Turns out that was a tentative release date only, and now we are told the disc likely won't be released this year.

The album's delay didn't prevent Rose and his band from playing new songs, such as the piano - driven The Blues, the Anthemic Better, and the Asian - influenced title track.

Joining Rose in this incarnation of the band were long serving GNR member and keyboardist Dizzy Reed plus a trio of blazing guitarists - Robin Finck, Richard Fortus, and Ron Thal.

The majority of their two hour and 15 minute set compriseed songs from a nearly 20 year old album, GNR's 1987 monster debut Appetite For Destruction with has sold 20 million copies world wide.

The oldies were the evening's standouts, especially the exciting opener Welcome to the Jungle (complete with dry ice, explosions and firebursts), Sweet Child O Mine, Out Ta Get Me, November Rain (featuring Rose on the piano), and the rip - roaring closer Paradise City (with more explosions, firebursts, firewords, and red confetti).

Also good were the GNR Lies' classic Patience, covers of Paul McCartney's Live and Let Die and Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door, the Fortus - Finck guitar instrumental of Christina Aguilera's Beautiful and Thal's trippy Jimi Hendrix like version of O Canada.

Sadly, there were some less than riveting moments in between, which were a lot to bear given that many people in the audience had been at the ACC for almost four hours before GNR even took the stage.

"I remember how great a crowd we had last time we played here and I thank you, I thank you," said Rose, 44, who was in decent voice for not all, but most of the songs.

At least he provided to be an energetic sprinter and dancer.

Opening act and Peterborough's own Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame joined Rose for an iffy duet on My Michells after an introduction by the Trailer Park Boy's Bubbles.

During his earlier 40 minute set, Back dropped the F - bomb as often as the Suicide Girls dropped their gear.? He also went down memory lane, recalling Toronto nightspots of yesteryear, such as Larry's Hideaway - the site of his first ever rock concert - and Gasworks.

"Toronto, you're responsible for Sebastian Bach," he screamed.? "It's all your f---in' fault!"

Not even an appearance by all of the Trailer Park Boys during Bach's set could erase those haunting words, but at least the trio's rendition of Liquor & Whores was a welcome distraction.

Plucky Toronto thrash trio Die Manniquin delievered a spirited if messy half - hour opening set, with the singer - guitarist making mad forays into the crowd.?

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