Proving grounds ...

[mikegiuliana]

I think Saul is 100% correct.? This tour serves several purposes, perhaps the most important purpose being to prove to American Tour promoters that they can tour successfully and worth being promoted.? No disrespect to European audiences or anything, but being able to tour North America is of the utmost importance if this album and band are to be successful.?

I hope that for their first tour of the States, they stick to more theatres, instead of going for arenas.? The next go-around in the States can be in arenas if the first time around goes well.

Ali

they couldn't do smaller theatre venues because all the musicians that are in the band now couldn't fit on the stage

that made me laugh.... be more people onstage then at the gig ? We're only taking in 25 people tonight, we need room for the piano bongos, & keyboards

a far cry from the early days...
but I agree, they should set thier sights on smaller venues.? That way the real FANS enjoy the show!? I personally LOVE small clubs, but even theaters would work (either way, I'm front row baby!)...
I HATE stadiums (unless of course I'm first 5 rows)...but from what I understand, Axl always links sucess=big shows....

No questions the smaller gig is great, when I saw vr in a club it was awesome... ?New guns would have to be stripped down to play the smaller venues like say the ritz.. Otherwise you'll have to have like a tag match where only certain guys can be in at once

would that prevent Pittman from getting on stage

yes him and dizzy will be tagging in and out.. Must stand behiond the ropes and cheer before you get back in..

[oldgunsfan]

I just think it would be safer to tour 5-6,000 seaters at first, play great shows, develop a huge buzz, and then do arenas on the next go-around.? Of course, this is dependent on how successful the album is when they hit the states.? If the album is going over well, then they can play bigger venues.

Ali

that's a big assumption the album being out that is

[ppbebe]

Once upon a time, an unknown band called GNR made a big hit in the UK first, then in the US second or third.

[Ali]

I just think it would be safer to tour 5-6,000 seaters at first, play great shows, develop a huge buzz, and then do arenas on the next go-around.  Of course, this is dependent on how successful the album is when they hit the states.  If the album is going over well, then they can play bigger venues.

Ali

that's a big assumption the album being out that is

Well, it looks like they will hit the states at the end of the year, so I think it's reasonable that the record will be out then.

Ali

[kunzerd]

i also agree with the smaller venue shows.
when i was at philly in 02 there were a lot of empty seats, and his show at the spectrum across the parking lot the next night was also rediculously undersold (not that it mattered in either case).

also a word on philly: i went in around 10 pm, around 10:30 they stopped serving beer, which i thought was strange, then after 11 pm people started chanting asshole. i saw a guy in the road crew by one of the sound boards and went over to ask him what was going on he told me axl never showed up. a couple minutes later they announced that someone in the band was sick and that the show was canceled.

i dont really think that the arena knew hours in advance, i think they knew a little before 10:30, cut off the alcohol flow, and wanted to give people an hour to sober up a little to make them more managable (also they had to give the police and fire crew time to show up, by the time i walked out they were there).

[oldgunsfan]

i also agree with the smaller venue shows.
when i was at philly in 02 there were a lot of empty seats, and his show at the spectrum across the parking lot the next night was also rediculously undersold (not that it mattered in either case).

also a word on philly: i went in around 10 pm, around 10:30 they stopped serving beer, which i thought was strange, then after 11 pm people started chanting asshole. i saw a guy in the road crew by one of the sound boards and went over to ask him what was going on he told me axl never showed up. a couple minutes later they announced that someone in the band was sick and that the show was canceled.

i dont really think that the arena knew hours in advance, i think they knew a little before 10:30, cut off the alcohol flow, and wanted to give people an hour to sober up a little to make them more managable (also they had to give the police and fire crew time to show up, by the time i walked out they were there).

I had heard a rumor at the bar I was at on the concourse there was a rumor Axl was still in NYC and wasn't showing; buy than, me my sister and her fiance all had our "exit strategy" in place in the event the rumor was true......

I was out by the where all the TV's were stacked up and the huge glass windows after I saw the first few beers fly down from the rafters

[kunzerd]

yeah, when i was talking to the road crew guy a basket ball flew by my head, i remember thinking, where the hell did they get that?

[kunzerd]

someone shouldve jumped on stage and played raw hide.

[Minneapolisnewsman]

I think Saul is 100% correct.? This tour serves several purposes, perhaps the most important purpose being to prove to American Tour promoters that they can tour successfully and worth being promoted.? No disrespect to European audiences or anything, but being able to tour North America is of the utmost importance if this album and band are to be successful.?

I hope that for their first tour of the States, they stick to more theatres, instead of going for arenas.? The next go-around in the States can be in arenas if the first time around goes well.

Ali

I think maybe doing some unannounced club shows would be a great/cool way to generate some buzz, especially if those shows went off great, like a house of blues or viper room type show.? But if he comes to a major city, hes gotta play to a major crowd and sell out a 20k arena.

After reading more about the Philly show, I really don't think it was the bands fault there was a riot....it seems that the arena didn't announce that the band wasn't going to show up when they KNEW they weren't going to hours before they finally did...this allowed people to sit there and get pissed and most of all, to drink their faces off and get fired up.? the security seemed non existant.? If axl tells philly that hes not showing up, isn't it their job to convey the mesage?? just my two cents on 2002.

but i do think you'll need an album release in order to have a promoter and a successful tour in NA.? Its a good sign that the euro shows are selling though.

I hope he doesn't pull an MJ and only cater to his non US fans?

Exactly Hanna, they wanted the vendor revenues.

[duga]

Of course he can be booed off the scene when it comes to festivals.

This tour SHOULD be promoting a new record released somewhere april-july.

[oldgunsfan]

I just think it would be safer to tour 5-6,000 seaters at first, play great shows, develop a huge buzz, and then do arenas on the next go-around.? Of course, this is dependent on how successful the album is when they hit the states.? If the album is going over well, then they can play bigger venues.

Ali

that's a big assumption the album being out that is

Well, it looks like they will hit the states at the end of the year, so I think it's reasonable that the record will be out then.

Ali

like in 2002