OK, maybe I'm off base here but why does

[MikeD]

everyone constantly say Axl and GNR are starting their shows late? I see it in reviews, I see it on these message boards. In New York GNR hit the stage every night between 11 and midnight. That's pretty consistent, and as someone who was at the show and been to many, many concerts, there is rarely a listing at what time the show starts. There is only a listing of what time the doors open (in New York it was 7:30). With that said, I've been following the oversease shows here on the board and it appears that the band again is hitting the stage between 11 and midnight (overseas time anyway). So what's the deal? If the band is consistent, then there is no lateness. This isn't like work for christ's sake where it's mandatory that you're there at a certain time. It's a fucking concert, so who is to arbitrarily say the band is late. If they keep going on at the same time, then they are not late!
And personally, I think Axl is doing this on purpose. Hell, I want to see a late night concert, and I think Axl wants to paly a late night concert.
That's my two cents anyway.

[BD888]

Um, actually it is like work.

That's how the venue see it.  You know people who work at the venue such as security, catering staff, parking attendents, riggers, managers, cleaners, office staff, etc all want to go home when they usually do.  Transport such as buses, trains, tubes and taxis all close at certain times too.

[faldor]

Yeah it would be nice for them to play a little earlier, but they are consistent so it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone by now.  Show up around 10:30 and you should be all set. 

The show usually starts around 7
We go onstage around 9
Get on the bus about 11
Sippin' a drink and feelin' fine.

[GnR-NOW]

You know GNR is going to start late, thats just how it is.  Fuck ,... on the 15th at Hammerstein BFMV went out on at 8:30 and were off by 9:15, GNR didnt come on until about 11:05.  No big deal, as long as they show up

[johnnythunders24]

they're aren't late, gn'r is the the after hours bar of bands, and for the people that work at venues tough shit, ive worked at clubs, and you never know when you get to go home, and if you have to be home by midnight, you probably should stay home, or go see eddie money or somethin...

[MikeD]

they're aren't late, gn'r is the the after hours bar of bands, and for the people that work at venues tough shit, ive worked at clubs, and you never know when you get to go home, and if you have to be home by midnight, you probably should stay home, or go see eddie money or somethin...

Thank you, that's what I"m saying. And if you want to say it is like work, then fine. But they're they bosses. They are the ones who call the shots. The promoters, vendors, etc. just say show up and play on such and such a date. There is no time, and if they're going on at the same time every night, then they've set the time (if that makes sense). Now if they start going on at 2 a.m., OK, then I'd say they were two hours late. But until then . . . .

[Origen]

Yeah it would be nice for them to play a little earlier, but they are consistent so it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone by now.?

How? Only a very small portion of concert goers visit these boards. People who don't come here or have the internet have know idea what's going happening. So I don't see why they should be expected to know about this just because Axl can't get on stage at the right time.

[MikeD]

Yeah it would be nice for them to play a little earlier, but they are consistent so it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone by now. 

How? Only a very small portion of concert goers visit these boards. People who don't come here or have the internet have know idea what's going happening. So I don't see why they should be expected to know about this just because Axl can't get on stage at the right time.

Again, what is the right time. If he keeps going on at 11, then that's the right time. The reviewers will eventually get this, and so will the fans. I'll grant you that it is going to take a couple of shows. But, for example, I went to the second New York show. I asked around beforehand and learned got the times for when the opening band went on and when GNR hit the stage. A LOT of people did this, because we all jammed the door around 10 p.m. The same thing the next night. Everyone realized that Axl wasn't going on until 11 p.m. or so. This will happened eventually on the Eurpoean tour, but because they're jumping countries, it's going to take a little while.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Hmmm, I don't remember my ticket saying, "GNR will take the stage at --:-- time."  Until it does, go with the flow.   

Complaining about the start time just tells me alot of folks are getting old!  Grandpa Simpson from The Simpsons comes to mind. 

Now about the poor workers working overtime...not only are they probably getting paid overtime, alot of them dug the show!  I was there May 12th, and this big brotha working security had a big smile on his face up in Mezz2 after the show saying to me, "That was one hell of a show!"

   

[gabble]

There is no time

Most contracts ought to specify a time by which the band has to hit the stage. ?Hence the reason why the first gig of the 2002 tour was pulled. ?And hence one reason why Axl is constantly renegotiating late fees. ?The other reason ought to pertain to local curfews.

Personally, I expect them to start playing around 11:00pm or 12:00am. ?So, it's not until 1:00am when I consider them to be late. ?I'm sure the promoters have a different idea in mind, though. ?

That being said, I'm forever thankful GN'R didn't hit the stage until 3:30am at HOB, 'cause I didn't even find the venue until about 2:00am (despite the 1:00am promotion). ?God love 'em.

[Communist China]

No one wants to stand in a venue waiting for a show that starts "sometime in the next two hours....probably". When they are sheduled to go on stage at 10 and they go on at 11-12 it makes them late. Just because they're late all the time doesn't mean it isn't late. Just because you always go to work at 10 when you're scheduled to go at 9 doesn't mean you're not late. It means you're fired.

[MikeD]

No one wants to stand in a venue waiting for a show that starts "sometime in the next two hours....probably". When they are sheduled to go on stage at 10 and they go on at 11-12 it makes them late. Just because they're late all the time doesn't mean it isn't late. Just because you always go to work at 10 when you're scheduled to go at 9 doesn't mean you're not late. It means you're fired.

Wait, though, part of my point is that who says they are going on stage at 10 p.m. It's always ASSUMED that they're going on at 10, but never stated. I agree if you slide into work at 10 a.m. when you should be there at 9 a.m. then you're late. But (and I'm assuming here) your boss tells you to come in at 9 a.m. No where does it say GNR is going in on 10 p.m. It just says the doors open at  . . .  and the show is on such and such a date.

[Axl4Prez2004]

No one wants to stand in a venue waiting for a show that starts "sometime in the next two hours....probably". When they are sheduled to go on stage at 10 and they go on at 11-12 it makes them late. Just because they're late all the time doesn't mean it isn't late. Just because you always go to work at 10 when you're scheduled to go at 9 doesn't mean you're not late. It means you're fired.

Communist China takes Axl to Trump's boardroom..."Axl, you've been late one too many times, Axl, I hate to have to do this because I think you're a very talented guy...Axl you're fired!"

Where did your ticket say 10 o'clock?  Mine didn't. 

[Communist China]

^^ and ^

Fine, it's not late to be after ten. It's late to go on over an hour after your opener has finished. Which is what they are, night after night.

[Axl4Prez2004]

^^ and ^

Fine, it's not late to be after ten. It's late to go on over an hour after your opener has finished. Which is what they are, night after night.

C. China, it really isn't anything new.  I saw GNR in '92 in Buffalo.  I have no idea how long it was between Matallica and GNR...but it was a loooong time!  Did we mind?  Hell no.   
We had a great time.  My 2nd show was Boston '02, and I got a kick out of the guys behind us who appeared very nervous and kept talking about how Axl might not show up.  The show went past the time public transit was running.  We had to pay for a cab, but damn it was a blast!  Forward to the Hammerstein, May 12.  A friend of mine coming along was convinced the show would be starting around 10...I tried to tell him!   

C. China, have you been to any of the shows?

[Communist China]

^ As was presented earlier, the people working their might not feel the same way about shows going past the public transports time. Is Axl paying for their cabs? I don't think so.

[Axl4Prez2004]

C. China, well, there is a cost to everything in life.  Nobody's saying you have to stay for the whole concert.  For those folks at the show, if the extra $10 or $15 per person for a cab is too steep, well, yeah, unfortunately, you're gonna miss out on Night Train and Paradise City.  It's a rock concert.  Have some fun with your buddies.   

again, have you been to any of the shows?

[MikeD]

hell, people working late get more money or overtime. I work late all the time. The fact of the matter is, if the show doesn't say GNR comes on at 10 or 11 or hwatever, then there is no start time. That means tehy can come on whenever they want and it can't be considered late. But since they contineu to come on at the same time - about 11 or midnight, then they set the norm. Therefore, only after midnight are they considered late.

[vince41090]

Unless there is a listed time that they should hit stage, i don't think they should be considered "late".

[ARC]

Axl Rose will hit the stage when he fucking wants to.

You know why...? Because he's a fucking rock star. A REAL rock star. Not your "flavour of the month" wannabe...

Personally, I wouldn't have him any other way............