What was the purpose of the 2002 tour?

[nesquick]

The tour was poorly promoted and was titled after an album that didn't even have a tenative release date.  Looking back it was a very bizarre and illogical tour

- the tour was poorely promoted, I agree, definitely.
- going on tour without an album is a terrible mistake.

[grog mug]

To get the band on the road.  Axl was going through a midlife crisis and decided he did want to be seen by the general public.  When he gets his act together and the music is done in his mind we MIGHT see GN'R come back out again.  If not that might be the last tour we'll see for a while.

[HoldenCaulfield]

In my opinion, it was just to get out of the studio and let the public know that Axl hasn't become a fat, bald new-age guru. There was no grandiose plan about releasing the album any sooner, depending on how the tour went. Who knows...

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Friday 23 - England Leeds Festival
Saturday 24 - Belgium Pukkelpop Festival
Monday 26 - England London Docklands Arena

Look at the above 3 shows, plus MSG and Toronto - it seems like most of the people on this board registered due to the success of these 5 shows.  So there was at least good thing coming from the failed 2002 tour.

I just cant reconcile the contradictions stated about the album during 2002.  Axl said something about the cover art and tracklisting being completed! But then he also said you wont see it soon...  I dont know what to make of that.

[the dirt]

I just cant reconcile the contradictions stated about the album during 2002.? Axl said something about the cover art and tracklisting being completed! But then he also said you wont see it soon...? I dont know what to make of that.

That Axl's quite a tinkerer

[Doc Emmett Brown]

I just cant reconcile the contradictions stated about the album during 2002.? Axl said something about the cover art and tracklisting being completed! But then he also said you wont see it soon...? I dont know what to make of that.

That Axl's quite a tinkerer

Maybe the tour caused him to want to tinker with an (apparent) finished product.  Did being out & about on tour, instead of holed up in his mansion, inspire him to do some tinkering?

[killingvector]

This topic has been pretty much covered.  After the Vma's, any hope for CD diminished. Axl clearly said that it would not be anytime soon. In lieu of that, the tour seemed to be a catalyst for the band to generate some chemistry and propel their subsequent recording. From what I understand, CD was being created in long jam sessions after which pieces were isolated and worked on independently by each player. I think the tour was meant to gel the players so that when they went back to work, the lightning of MSG or Toronto would move the recording new directions. Remember these guys had only done a few shows together before the US blowout. Pretty remarkable.

[Mikkamakka]

Axl 2001:

'See you next summer with a bunch of new songs'

[noonespecial]

I've come to the conclusion that the tour was basically a way to make some money and it didn't go as planned. Things started out on a bad note and that was that...I mean if you were "on the fence" about getting a 65.00 dollar ticket for the new GNR, Vancouver (the very first gig) certainly wouldn't have had one pulling out their wallet...know what I mean?

anyone ready for round 3?

[axl_rose_700]

To promote the band (not the album) and show that this band can play the fuck out the old songs!   

[mikegiuliana]

I've come to the conclusion that the tour was basically a way to make some money and it didn't go as planned. Things started out on a bad note and that was that...I mean if you were "on the fence" about getting a 65.00 dollar ticket for the new GNR, Vancouver (the very first gig) certainly wouldn't have had one pulling out their wallet...know what I mean?

anyone ready for round 3?

I can't imagine anyone being on the fence in regards to seeing a band they love or axl for the first time live in the states since 1993.. My floor seat was 75 dollars plus about twenty beers an other junk I bought.. I've spent like no money on gnr(End of days soundtrack, live era) for years n years so to spend ?a few bucks for one show was no big deal, the thought never crossed my mind.. I would have payed a hundred per ticket..

The tour itself was fucked up and everything was ran piss poor, but for me the money had zero factor..

[SINSHINE]

I agree with most of your reasons for this tour (get out of the studio, gel as a road band, quick bucks, etc.) but above all I believe this tour WAS meant as a teaser to a forthcoming full blown tour for Chinese Democracy. I also think that tour was supposed to come about the following summer at some point, but many, MANY things seemed to go downhill from the point of the CD tour cancellation. It's a shame because of the momentum they had just started to gain (the VMAs, tour, a few interviews, etc.) but SHIT happens and unfortunately we, the fans, caught most of it.

The year following seemed to be in chaos as well with the seemingly sudden departure of Buckethead. Personally, I really enjoyed his playing at MSG, but if what Tommy says is true and BH NOT being around anymore is a good thing, than I'd rather it go in that direction. I really hope their chemistry as a band has gelled more because of BH's departure.

So, that brings us to late 2004, solo tours, solo albums, and still no word from Axl. Honestly, though, this summer ('05) is only two years off from when I believe they were ready to release CD and tour on it. I think with all the examples I've listed above, Axl & Co. needed to fully REBOOT the GN'R machine. They needed to give it some time as well. As they weren't yet ready to push ahead full throttle, they needed to go the other route and let time heal some of these fresh wounds before it turned fatal for the band.

All in all (long winded, I know) I think we WILL see a new album of new material from our favorite Gunners by the spring/summer 2005...and if I had to be specific, I think the February rumors just might turn out in our favor!

[noonespecial]

"I can't imagine anyone being on the fence in regards to seeing a band they love or axl for the first time live in the states since 1993..."

The 2002 incarnation of GNR was not the same configuration as 1993--the band "I love" is no more...get it?
If you're not an Axl worshipper\lover (which I'm not and never was, even from back in the day) then you do have to think about well, gee do I really want to see this new version of GNR...all I'm saying is if you were thinking of checking out the new version, Vancouver would have made me spend my money else where...I'm happy you got to see 'em...though sounds like you  had a blast

[mikegiuliana]

"I can't imagine anyone being on the fence in regards to seeing a band they love or axl for the first time live in the states since 1993..."

The 2002 incarnation of GNR was not the same configuration as 1993--the band "I love" is no more...get it?
If you're not an Axl worshipper\lover (which I'm not and never was, even from back in the day) then you do have to think about well, gee do I really want to see this new version of GNR...all I'm saying is if you were thinking of checking out the new version, Vancouver would have made me spend my money else where...I'm happy you got to see 'em...though sounds like you? had a blast

Well of course this isn't "GNR" like we knew, but most people here are just going to see axl, he could have hand picked any idiots to play and it wouldn't matter one way or the other.. I'm definetly not a worshipper like some crazy unhealthy people on the board, but the money it costed me was less then my old average bar tab, so it was no big deal.. I also wanted to catch him before he vanished.. Lucky I caught him the day before he did.. He's similar to marlon Brando, recluse who pops out every so many years then goes back into hiding never to be heard from..

[estranged.1098]

I don't know about you, but I heard from Axl this year, a few months ago.

[mikegiuliana]

I don't know about you, but I heard from Axl this year, a few months ago.

What did he tell you?

[ppbebe]

Shhhhhsh! estranged.1098, you big mouth. He said that was between us.




Seriously, what is that? You can always IM me if confidential. 

[coondogg]

I don't know about you, but I heard from Axl this year, a few months ago.

What did he tell you?

estranged.1098 is probably talking about the letter we got concerning GNR not going to RIR

[ppbebe]

It was more than several months ago. Well it?s GNR time.

[mikegiuliana]

I don't know about you, but I heard from Axl this year, a few months ago.

What did he tell you?

estranged.1098 is probably talking about the letter we got concerning GNR not going to RIR

Oh the big few months ago, it was only said in march..