Axl Rose brings auditory Democracy to the huddled massesGuns N Roses frontman tours in support of long-gestating album
Axl Rose is that rarest of rock and roll luminaries. Where others sprint to the finish line, pumping out disc after disc (lest they disappoint their fans), the legendary frontman of Guns n' Roses prefers to saunter. But, 15 years after starting work on Chinese Democracy - the band's sixth studio album, formally released in 2008 - Rose is touring the world to both acclaim and clamour. He brings his signature sound to the Moncton Coliseum February 3.
As for what took him so long, the normally media-wary Rose told Billboard Magazine, "There aren't too many issues of the hundreds [we ran into] that happened as quickly as anyone would have preferred, from building my studio [to] finding the right players. All that aside, it's the right record and I couldn't ask for more in that regard. The art comes first. It dictates if not the course [then] the destination."
Fair warning: this is not exactly the Guns n' Roses of old. In fact, Rose is the only original member to survive the turbulent shake-ups that saw such prominent figures as Slash and Izzy Stradlin take their embittered leave. The band's current incarnation features Dizzy Reed on piano, Tommy Stinson on bass, Chris Pitman on keyboards, and Richard Fortus on rhythm guitar. Add to that Frank Ferrer on drums, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, and DJ Ashba on lead guitar.
Some critics wonder whether Guns 'n Roses actually died years ago, replaced now by a pale simulacrum. Rose's persistent elusiveness (until last year, when he agreed to an interview with Billboard Magazine, he hadn't held a press conference since 1994), his oft-bizarre behaviour (such as clocking a paparazzo for hassling a woman in his entourage), and his legendary perfectionism hasn't exactly burnished his reputation.
Still, with 100 million albums sold and chart-toppers like Sweet Child o' Mine and Welcome to the Jungle, who cares what the media thinks? Since forming in 1985, fans have rocked to the band's fusion of metal-punk-pop melodies and rhythms. The Chinese Democracy tour demonstrates that Gn'R has lost none of its ability to delight live audiences.
Rob Williams of the Free Press chronicled the band's first tour stop, transpiring on a frosty January night in, of all places, Winnipeg.
"A series of fireworks encircling the stage exploded to start the show before the opening chords of Chinese Democracy kicked in and Rose ran on stage, zigzagging his way through his seven-piece band. More explosions signaled the end of the opener before the familiar riff to Welcome to the Jungle rang out and a huge roar erupted as Rose screeched: 'You know where you are? You're in the jungle, baby. You're gonna diiiiiieeee.'"
All of which is to say Axl Rose - media-shy bad-boy, perfectionist, and studio-marathoner - does nothing by half measures.
Get your Guns n' Roses tickets by phoning 857-4100. Show starts: 8 p.m., Wednesday, February 3, at the Moncton Coliseum.
Source: http://herenb.canadaeast.com/news/article/935979
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