VR better than GNR live: My Maxim Bash review

[slashedguns]

the last half of the UYI tour was very ordinary..i dont think anyone wants to remember the greatest band of all time like that,,i sure dont...

[the dirt]

I've read on boards that the "Dust n' Bones" leg of the UYI tour was the best leg of the said tour.
Wasn't this leg the last?

I've never seen GNR live, and i'm sure they were at their best around '87, '88, but didn't they even ditch the background singers and some of the exess in this period?

[Slashly]

I never saw GNR live, but judging based on the shows I've seen on video, such as the Ritz show, the UYI DVDs, I'll say this....

I don't think VR is better live than the original GNR was 1988, though I think VR is infinitely better live than the half-complete GNR band of 1992.  Many people at other sites with whom I have spoken who saw GNR live in 1992 say the show really sucked, the band had lost all chemistry (I won't even comment on the "new" GNR's live performances so as not to spark a furor).  And I saw VR live in Philadelphia, and they just flat out kicked ass.

 

Just like u Dizzy, I?ve never seen Gn?R live.But from what I?ve heard from bootlegs, videos, and coments thsi  is how I see it:
1987:Awsome shows
1988:The best shows from Gn?R were in 1988.the band in their best moments.
1989:There werent that much of real (like with a complet long setlist)  shows here.
1990:No complete show.
1991:The last shows with Izzy in 1991.Pretty good shows until Izzy quits.
1992:Worst Gn?R shows here, lots of them with the band showing no chemestry between them.Axls voice is horrible
1993:the last "original" band active year.Some good shows but they were already losing the feeling.






Baby Slash//

[K-Rock]

My wife told me that she had never seen anybody move and dance the way Scott did.

What stood out to me was that Slash & Duff appeared to enjoy being on stage last night.  They never seemed that way when I saw them live before.  Granted in '88 my view was not that great.....I was on the lawn at Pine Knob in Michigan.

Last night was so incredible that I won't miss this band anytime they come near me (Philly) in the future.  I just might hit multiple shows near me......NY, Pittsburgh.....when they come back around.

And as far as comparing VR vs. GNR.....I think it will be great for the return of rock 'n' roll if it happens once Axl & company hit the road.  It will mean people and the industry are paying attention.

I think Axl will welcome the attention as well.  It is he who said, "Round 1" on the MTV special and I'm one of the few who actually enjoyed that performance.

It should come as no surprise that I feel that VR topped any performance I had seen by GN'R after reading Axl's own words posted by Booker (thank you Booker).  Not much heart and soul shined through those guys while they were on stage in the later years.  The UYI albums came as a big dissappointment to me.

I'm not anti-Axl...pro-Slash....I'm pro every member who's ever been in GN'R including the recently departed Buckethead.

Something to note: This thread comes from a guy, yes me, who thinks that Contraband is the best album since AFD.  My opinion is in no way designed to stir the pot around here.  It is simply my opinion and I believe that there are those around here who have come to appreciate my opinion.  If only a few...then that's just fine with me.

And hey if any guys from VR read this board on their downtime, then to you guys......"thanks for one rockin fuckin night."

[Dizzy]

It's funny how the band lost all chemistry. Shoud'nt a band that had great chemistry to begin with only get better?  The lead guitarist, singer, and basist remained...

But two very important members that held the band together were gone.  Izzy was the one who kept everyone grounded, especially Axl, and Steven made it fun for (at least) Izzy to be there.  Without those two, the band fell apart.  And success, and in turn excess, played a huge role too.  The fact that they had all these luxories which kept them apart as musicians played a huge role in their loss of chemistry.

[D]

i will give u that Contraband is one of the best albums since the use your illusions though, bon jovi and prince excluded because of my bias its right behind rhcp's by the way for best album in the last 13 years, it doesnt beat by the way though and to be honest its just ahead *ducks bullets* limp bizkits results may vary, i listen to contraband the same amount as i did that cd, and i love both of those cds

so it is awesome

im not judging axl by boots, boots dont do bands justice

i have bon jovi live from london and the crush tour and this left feels right dvds and they are fuckin amazing

but i have a boot dvd of them from albany and its pretty terrible

i think boots suck some of the energy away, i would like to watch a VR boot and make comparisons that way

Scott is an awesome performer, i give him all the credit

however the point i made no one read

scott sings a much easier style of music than axl

so  axl has to win based on that alone, suckertrain blues or welcome to the jungle which would be harder to sing and move?

thats why axl wins over most of the competition in my opinion cause his style is 10 times harder than scotts so the fact axl sounds halfway decent is a miracle in its self

[Old Man In Chains]

Axl's singing style is so hard, he can't even do it live.  With Scott, you don't feel disappointed because his voice isn't 10 times shittier when you go to the concert than it is on the album.  

[Falcon]

I saw GNR open for The Cult in '87 and they were a tight, conhesive unit.  A fantastic rock band.

I saw them in '92 and they were a shadow of their former selves.

I caught VR on the 2 night of the tour in KC, very reminiscent
of GNR circa '87, a great, cohesive outfit.

[matt88]

I have seen many concerts on video and dvd. And many audio recordings.

I have never been to a GN'R concert. I'd prefer to have seen them in the late 80's cos Steven was with them and so was Izzy.

But i have seen a few shows from 92 and 93 and IMO they were still a fuckin good band. The best band in the world still. I would love to have gone to a UYI world tour concert. But i'd prefer a late 80's show.

I think people get confussed with when GN'R first came out with AFD and then the UYI albums and the world tour.

The AFD era albums and the shows are the stuff of legend. No band IMO can match the intensity and power of this group at this time.

Wheareas the UYI tour and albums were slightly less better than AFD era GN'R. I found the group the best at around 93 when they ditched the horns section and came back to their main 6 man outfit, Axl, Slash, Duff, Gilby, Matt and Dizzy. These shows were fucking rocking. Next would come while Izzy was still with them and then the 92 shows when Izzy left and GN'R IMO were still getting adjusted to Izzy's departure.

But the UYI tour fucking rocked. No band IMO can match them at this point either. But AFD era was obviously better.

[jarmo]

I saw GNR open for The Cult in '87 and they were a tight, conhesive unit.  A fantastic rock band.

I saw them in '92 and they were a shadow of their former selves.

GN'R went from playing small clubs to arenas and then to stadiums. Not many bands can pull off a stadium show, I think GN'R were one of the bands that could.

The UYI tour was almost two years. How many big bands do that kind of tours?

I haven't seen VR live yet so I can't comment. But it seems like they play around 90 minutes, GN'R used to play 2-3 hours. Another factor ro take into consideration.

If you want to compare the two bands' live shows, I think you should compare GN'R the club band (AFD era) to VR. Both had one album out and were playing the same kind of venues.




/jarmo

[D]

exactly jarmo, thats what i was tryin to point out and failed to do so with axl's style is 10 times harder

let them be on the road for over 2 years straight and see how things are, no wonder axl's voice turned to shit, tha style of music for 2 years, i mean cmon


also its the difference in fighting a 3 round fight and a 12 round fight, if u fight a 3 round fight u can come out swinging the entire fight, whereas a 12 round fightu have t conserve and pace yourself some

and shit most of the time axl swung the whole fight for 12 rounds which is truly incredible

[PhillyRiot]

I was at this Atlantic City show as well.  A huge mash pit broke out during Mr. Brownstone.   Anyone who likes the old GNR must see this band.  I also saw Duff McKagen at the slot machines in the Borgata.  He was alone at the slot machine but I didn't want to bother him.  I would have if I had a camera.  It was a great time.

[Mikkamakka]

I saw GNR open for The Cult in '87 and they were a tight, conhesive unit.  A fantastic rock band.

I saw them in '92 and they were a shadow of their former selves.

GN'R went from playing small clubs to arenas and then to stadiums. Not many bands can pull off a stadium show, I think GN'R were one of the bands that could.

The UYI tour was almost two years. How many big bands do that kind of tours?

I haven't seen VR live yet so I can't comment. But it seems like they play around 90 minutes, GN'R used to play 2-3 hours. Another factor ro take into consideration.

If you want to compare the two bands' live shows, I think you should compare GN'R the club band (AFD era) to VR. Both had one album out and were playing the same kind of venues.

I saw GN'R only once, in 1992. And it was the best concert of my life until now. They were fantastic, Axl's voice was one of the best during the '91-'93 live era, Slash fuckin' rocked, so did the others. The only thing I didn't like was the drum solo.

I agreee that GN'R had 2 periods, a club era and a stadium one. You canno really compare these two because it's a lot easier to rock a small place than a stadium... I remember when they played in Hungary there were 60,000 fans! Damn, who can beat that?

I think that during the club era they played with more feel and they had more joy in playing, however in '91-93 they were much better musically. I saw some UYI tour concert with Izzy, and I admire his genious, but he didn't play with any feeling then, he was out of the band mentally. Gilby was a great choice, not a frontman, but a good entertainer. The UYI-Get in the ring-Skin N' Bones shows were not as raw and powerful as the earlier ones, but sometimes they played with an amazing feel, especially Slash. Axl wanted to do his best every night, he really did a hard work, but his voice sometimes were just horrific.

My only problem with the 3 UYI-era tours that after Izzy left, they played almost the same setlist on every concert. Weel, sometimes Steven Tyler dropped in, or a surprise performance of Nice Boys, but most of the shows sounds exactly the same...

And Velvet Revolver... I saw some of their shows on bootlegs and they had a lot of energy, a lot like early GN'R. It was a bit suprisingly, 'cause they are around 40, but it's great to see that they enjoy te shows so much. A VR bootleg is like a riot! I'm happy for them.

[Doc Emmett Brown]

GN'R went from playing small clubs to arenas and then to stadiums. Not many bands can pull off a stadium show, I think GN'R were one of the bands that could.

If you want to compare the two bands' live shows, I think you should compare GN'R the club band (AFD era) to VR. Both had one album out and were playing the same kind of venues.

yep - it is the only fair comparison to make.  And judging by the responses, it seems that VR (an older band) is just as cohesive and exciting as the younger AFD-era GNR.

Some people enjoy stadium shows as much as club shows.  If VR ever does stadium tours, let's see if Scott W can pull it off.  And after their second album is out, their setlist should be longer and that does factor into their overall performance.

And last but not least, it seems that Slash & Co are determined to make things work and have the desire to be professional and put on great shows.  I'm not sure if they had that mindset during the late UYI tours when they were constantly drunk and drugged out.  I think that's the biggest factor affecting their performance.

[PhillyRiot]

I like the fact that VR doesn't use a keyboard player too.  

[Will]

I'd go see them live if I had the chance, but they're not doing any town near where I live.

I saw GN'R live in 2002 and this was the best concert I ever attended. I must admit I would have loved to attend a 91 show (like L.A or Wembley) but I can't go back in time. Saying VR is better than GN'R live and that Weiland "outperforms" (did I get it right?) Axl is a matter of taste. I've seen the DVDs of VR's Kansas City and NYC. While Duff and Slash basically put on a great show, I was not impressed with Weiland's performance though. Like I said several times, I don't like the way he moves on stage and I've not been impressed by his voice live (I prefer it on the album).
If one prefers VR live over GN'R all I can say is: good for you, because you will probably have the chance to see them live again soon. For the rest of us, well...

[K-Rock]

And last but not least, it seems that Slash & Co are determined to make things work and have the desire to be professional and put on great shows.  I'm not sure if they had that mindset during the late UYI tours when they were constantly drunk and drugged out.  I think that's the biggest factor affecting their performance.

Exactly!!!

I saw GN'R live in 2002 and this was the best concert I ever attended. I must admit I would have loved to attend a 91 show (like L.A or Wembley) but I can't go back in time. Saying VR is better than GN'R live and that Weiland "outperforms" (did I get it right?) Axl is a matter of taste. I've seen the DVDs of VR's Kansas City and NYC. While Duff and Slash basically put on a great show, I was not impressed with Weiland's performance though. Like I said several times, I don't like the way he moves on stage and I've not been impressed by his voice live (I prefer it on the album).
If one prefers VR live over GN'R all I can say is: good for you, because you will probably have the chance to see them live again soon. For the rest of us, well...

I agree on taste.  Nobody has ever come close to Axl, in my eyes/ears until this past Saturday night.

I got the sense that Scott was excited because of that particalur show and the level of coverage.  Maybe he "a-rose"   to the occassion (sorry   )

[starchild_666]

Many people at other sites with whom I have spoken who saw GNR live in 1992 say the show really sucked, the band had lost all chemistry

Axl himself said basically the same...

"For me, when I hear certain things on the "Use Your Illusion" tour, I... on that record, it's... since I'm in it, I can hear a band dying. I can hear when Izzy was unconsciously over it. I can hear where the band was leaning away from what Guns N' Roses [had] originally been about."

"I can hear when Izzy was unconsciously over it" sorry about my bad english, but what does this mean?

[jd#7w]

i was there also dizzy it kicked fuckin ass. where were u standing? i was the tallest dude there by far and wearing a cammo hat like 10 ft. back didja see me?

[K-Rock]

i was there also dizzy it kicked fuckin ass. where were u standing? i was the tallest dude there by far and wearing a cammo hat like 10 ft. back didja see me?

Are you talking to me?  I don't think dizzy was there.

If you are......no, sorry I didn't notice you.  I pretty much paid attention only to the constant stream of hot chicks walking by me.

The Maxim/Stuff model search was a beautiful thing!!!

I was standing against the railing in front of the VIP section about 50 feet from the stage.

The concert had a "stadium" feel.  It was outdoors, no seats.....at least 6,000 people I'd say.