The 'Free Fallin' scam of 1989

[jameslofton29]

 When Axl and Izzy performed with Tom Petty in the surprise finale at the 1989 VMA's, alot of people were blown away. Myself included. Alot of people were talking about it at my high school. Axl doing a song with Petty was a complete surprise. Petty's 'Full Moon Fever album had just been released. I called Payless Drug Store(they sold CDs) and asked if Axl appeared on this album. They said yes. I then called the Wherehouse and asked the same question. They also said yes. So I went an bought the album, and as we all know now, Axl wasn't on it. I was VERY pissed! I have a couple of questions about this. Did Axl do the VMA's with Tom Petty to boost his album sales? Free Fallin was not yet a single, so people wouldn't yet know that Axl wasn't on it. The single at that time was 'I wont back down'. Did the record company misinform music stores about Axl appearing on Full Moon Fever? Did anyone else here have a similar experience when inquiring about or actually buying the album?

[Vicious Wishes]

I just thought Axl did it because GnR were big then, Tom had his album out, and the VMA's came a callin. I never inquired about the album, though. I remember it well, Arsenio Hall introduced them, and didn't seem too thrilled about it.I thought it was great, and the audience really cheered when Axl came out.

[blasphemer]

Fuck Arsenio,  he was prolly still pissed about 1 in a million.  Prolly the part when they ripped on fags cause well he is a fag.  lol

[jameslofton29]

blasphemer, you can hate Arsenio all you want, but he isn't a fag. I remember on his talk show back in late 92/early 93 he had actress Halle Berry on his show. He told her she was the most beautiful woman that had ever walked the earth. Through the whole segment he just kept going on and on about how sexy she was. I kinda felt sorry for her. She couldn't talk about the movie she was doing because he kept discussing her looks. You should have seen the look on his face and the look in his eyes. Its like he wanted to rip her clothes off right then and there! Not only is he not a fag, he has great taste in women!!

[blasphemer]

omg wtf.  You cant take a joke for what its worth.   I know hes not gay, the song one in a million rips on black people and gays.  Im actually sure he was mad about the black rip cause hes black. So I said he was mad at the fag mention instead as a joke.  Next time read between the lines


Also when guys dont like certain other guys they sometimes call them fags even though there not.
So yes, Arsenio is the biggest fag of them all.

[Thorazine Shuffle]

I still remember the priceless looks Tom gave Axl when Axl was singing a full 3 octave screech over the chorus. ?Frreeeeee Frreeee Fallliinnn!!!

[blasphemer]

Yeah that was great because Axl made Tom look like a little bitch.

[Thorazine Shuffle]

Yeah that was great because Axl made Tom look like a little bitch.

Yea it was funny.  I coulda have sworn that Axl was wasted.  Good times.

[2NaFish]

i always thought axl did it because he really loved the song. he performed it live with petty a few others times i think.

[Falcon]

Doubting there was any record company conspiracy going on...

[jameslofton29]

Then why were record stores implying that Axl appeared on the album? Did anyone else buy it thinking Axl was on it? When I heard Axl was gonna be on Don Henley's album i called the record store and asked them, and they said yes. He was on that album. So why would they give out disinformation about Axl/Tom Petty?

[snakepiter]

yeah it happened the same exact thing to me......but i wasn't really pissed because I liked the album it is a good record........yer so bad,free fallin,a face in the crowd attention kmart shoppers!!!!

[AxlStaleyWeiland]

Yeah that was great because Axl made Tom look like a little bitch.

what a fucking stupid ass comment, Tom Petty is a badass songwriter and is a legend, if anyone looked like a bitch, it was Axl, who was so blatant in his attempt to have his voice heard over Tom's. I personally loved it though, two of my fav artists singinga kick ass tune together, Axl in his prime baby!

[D]

in Paris Steven Tyler made Axl look like a bitch though, U couldnt make out a word he said before Steven.

[jameslofton29]

snakepiter, you're right, its a damn good album. 'Face In The Crowd' is one of Tom's best songs. But I was pissed because I was told Axl was on the album by people who are supposed to know those types of things. Dont work in a record store if you dont know information about albums. Back then, you depended on information from people like that. We didnt have the internet back then, so you couldnt find the answer for yourself in 5 seconds.

[madagas]

I am about 99% certain that Axl did it because Erin loved the song. I think I read this in a Petty interview at the time. Axl called up Petty when he found out he was performing and ask him if he could join because his girlfriend/wife(?) really liked it. ps easily one of my favorite Axl performances of all time, when Petty points to Axl and? says "and all the bad boys  are standing in the shadows and the good girls are home with broken hearts" then Axl smiles, it was a classic moment for us Axlites.

[Falcon]

Then why were record stores implying that Axl appeared on the album?

Who knows, I just find it hard to believe that Tom's label would go to the trouble of having certain employees at selected music outlets go out of their way to misinform customers about a guest spot.  Being the letigious type Axl is, a safe bet would say we would of heard something if this was indeed the case.

Maybe we should call Oliver Stone again, a possible non-collaboration conspiracy abounds..

[dave-gnfnr2k]

Then why were record stores implying that Axl appeared on the album? Did anyone else buy it thinking Axl was on it? When I heard Axl was gonna be on Don Henley's album i called the record store and asked them, and they said yes. He was on that album. So why would they give out disinformation about Axl/Tom Petty?

I never once heard that Axl was on that album. What are  you talking about?

[McGann]

Then why were record stores implying that Axl appeared on the album? Did anyone else buy it thinking Axl was on it? When I heard Axl was gonna be on Don Henley's album i called the record store and asked them, and they said yes. He was on that album. So why would they give out disinformation about Axl/Tom Petty?

I never once heard that Axl was on that album. What are? you talking about?

If you mean Henley,
"I Will Not Go Quietly"
Is Don and Axl.

Splash

/Mike

[Kitano]

Then why were record stores implying that Axl appeared on the album? Did anyone else buy it thinking Axl was on it? When I heard Axl was gonna be on Don Henley's album i called the record store and asked them, and they said yes. He was on that album. So why would they give out disinformation about Axl/Tom Petty?

You could have checked the liner notes when you bought the cd instead of listening to some minimum wage store clerk.