Good post. As a guitarist myself of 20+ years I consider Fortus to be the strongest of the 3 guitarists, though I must say Robin Finck's live playing has come along way in the last few years.
It will be nice to finally hear all their contributions to the CD when it comes out (eventually).
Certainly can't deny that the new GNR plays the new songs very very well. It's the "Don't Cry II" rule - the new stuff always had a deeper meaning to the players when it came out.
That's why the record must come out if they want to sell-out shows again, cuz otherwise I many others can just stay back and watch old bootlegs. No matter how hard they try, they can never top older performances of the older songs - In my opnion (and I own 30 shows on DVD).
MNW
Did you hear Gilby on Camp Freddy radio saying how GN'R sucked live in the club days? He saw them before AFD was out and he thought they never sounded great live. Only Axl was great live according to Gilby.
So not everybody shares that opinion.
GN'R was one of the best live bands in the world in 1987-1993, but that doesn't mean they weren't in 2006.
You can compare bootlegs all you want, but it's not the same thing as seeing them right there and then.
Obviously they're not trying to recreate the past because they play the songs their way.
GN'R didn't use three guitars in the past. (or four when Izzy is guesting).
But if you have the attitude that you've seen them on bootlegs and it can't be that good, then you won't like it.
/jarmo
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