Robin Finck

[killingvector]

Robin is a good player and a cool addition to the band, he's one of the main reasons I've stayed interested in GNR. 

We all know his creative resume' isn't that of his predecessor in GNR but that's no reason to rip the guys ability.

Let's see what he brings to the table before hammering him unmercifully or praising him overzealously.

If and when that time comes, it's open season either way.

I'm not so sure that I am expecting him to be Slash's caliber but I do expect him to be able to take a piece of music and play it like a professional. As some here, I was mystified by some of the sounds I heard eminate from his guitar; hours of listening on the treadmill will alert you to the sour notes. I cannot say that I've been impressed with any of his work.

As Saul said, Bucket is world class. 

I can imagine him playing anything and playing it extremely well. His Maddie solo at Rio was incredible; I love his extension to the Chinese Democracy solo. Losing him extinguished alot of my interest in the new group; I'm hoping someone new hops on board to restore my faith.

[estranged.1098]

So, what's Robin been up to lately? 

[Nytunz]

well, he havent been updating his website in a loooong time.

[Nicos]

But you cant compare Robin to someone like Buckethead. Buckethead is world class .. pretty much in a league of his own right now .. up there if not ahead of players like Satch , vai , petrucci and the like. Bucket is a phenom. I still think it would be in axl roses best interest to do what it takes to make an effort to get B back in GNR .. if that means sacking somebody like Finck then so be it.

Furthermore , I think the combination of B and Axl would garner much more attention , fame and accolades not to mention the attention of fans much more then finck and axl. IMHo axl and B coulda been the next axl and slash in alot of fans eyes.

True, you can't compare Robin to someone like Buckethead, that's why they were and Robin is still in the band. Both are world class and in a league of their own. As is Richard. I believe you don't see three differently world class geetar players?

I believe Axl did everything he could to keep Bucket in GN'R. Regarding Axl's own words, even more than he should have for GN'R.

You say: .. if that means sacking somebody like Finck then so be it.
Axl, I believe, would never sack Robin for Bucket. Robin is key (in or out ;-) for Guns' nowadays

As for the amount of attention GN'R would gather, I think you right about Bucket, but they will do fine without him as well.

 


N ! 3 |(

I really didnt look at like 3 world class guitarists at all ... I saw one guy , Bucket ..

I see.

 


N ! 3 |(

 

[Warren]

If he's that good why Finck did not play on NIN albums ?

[Nytunz]

hes not with NIN anymore! Slash is a good Guitarplayer even if hes not in GNR

[Warren]

hes not with NIN anymore! Slash is a good Guitarplayer even if hes not in GNR

I know Finck is not in NIN anymore.

I'm saying that Reznor only used Finck for the concerts, not for songwriting or the recording of NIN albums in the '90s...

[Voodoochild]

Finck doesn't suck, but he's not all that good either. (For people who dont know) When you play the guitar, you cant just play anywhere on the neck you want. There's something called the key of a song. The key of the song, along with scales, will basically outline for you what and where to play on the neck. If your not playing within the key or scale, than your pretty much messing up. For a professional guitar player, this guy is constantly playing notes that just dont fit the song, or aren't in the key (or any particular scale for that matter either).       

As someone that has played guitar for 11 years and been in bands that whole time, I will say that while the notes outside the scales or the key of the song may be technically "wrong", I don't think he is doing them by mistake. That is his style and most guitarists out there would encourage people to break the rules and go outside the technical theory because it becomes way to limiting. If everyone stayed inside your parameters, you would have people that play guitar all sounding very similar. robin IS great, and i am sure he is aware of your theory and regulations, but chooses to dismiss those for a unique style. judging from what you said, i bet you are one boring ass guitar player.

That's one of the most uninformed posts I've ever seen a "musician" write. First of all, there's no need to denigrate the guys(ATREAL's) talent. You don't know if he's boring or not. However, saying playing out of key & sloppily is some form of "style" is fucking idiotic. Look, I've been playing over 20 years, I could care less you're playing for 11 years.  If Johnny Hiland, Eric Johnson, Ritchie Blackmore, Mark Knopfler, Steve Morse, Brian May, Joe Satriani, Buckethead, Nels Cline, Steve Vai, George Lynch, Alvin Lee, Alex Lifeson, Joe Perry, Slash, Nils Lofgren, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Yngwie Malmsteen, Chet Atkins, Keith Urban, Jimi Hendrix, Trey Anastasio, alex Scolnick, Keith Richards, Chuck Garvey, Ric Emmit,  Al Schneir, Eric Clapton, Al Dimeola, Steve Lukather, Les Paul, Danny Gatton, Tony McAlpine, Jimmy Page, John Frusciante, Stone Gossard, Robyn Hitchcock, Al Pitrelli, John 5, just off the top of my head,& hundreds more can all play within the so called "rules" you so cavalierly dismissed, and still keep their unique style, so can Finck. Or maybe he can't, & therin lies the problem.

There's a difference between thinking outside the box, breaking the rules, etc...... and playing bad notes & mistakes.

DUDE THAT IS A TRUELY GREAT POST! WOW, AWSOME! You fucking hit it right on the head. People think , "oh your following the rules, so you suck. No you suck cause you dont know the "rules". With that said, its called "MUSIC THEORY, NOT MUSIC LAW". Its ok to break or bend the rules, but Robin F'in Finck does not know how to do it melodically. Oh, and playing out of the scale is ok in some cases, but playing out of key is 100% not, some of you people have no clue. He may be excellent as a rythm guitar player, as i said earlier w/vid i like some of his rythm work, but as a solo specialist...please. And for the people saying their content with the current "line-up". If everything is so great in your minds, then why did Axl himself cancel their RIR appearance becasue Buckethead left? If everything was cool, and Robin could handle the show on his own, AXL WOULD HAVE PLAYED.  Thanks again providman, you know what your talking about.

believe me, we come from completely differant schools of playing and it is no use arguing with you about it. if i were a betting man, i would say you probably enjoy rush, dream theatre and queensryche and i just can't get into that shit at all, as technically proficient as it is........anyway, to question someone who played in cirque du soliel (sp?) is fucking retarded anyway, they only hire excellant musicians.....

Same here, dude. 100% agreed. This is what I was talkin about earlier. 

If he's that good why Finck did not play on NIN albums ?

Huh? Trent wanted to do the albuns alone, this is not something against Robin. 

[Mikkamakka]

Not really. It's true that Reznor wrote his songs alone (although in the latter days he cowrote some of hem for example with NIN guitarist Danny Lohner), but Reznor had guitarists to play the songs in the studio, but Robin wasn't needed for that work.

[Warren]

If he's that good why Finck did not play on NIN albums ?

Huh? Trent wanted to do the albuns alone, this is not something against Robin.?

I don't think so...

There's always been guests on NIN albums because Reznor doesn't work alone.

[Intercourse]

I think this argument about sums up the turmoil surrounding our favourite band. Robin represents the new face of GNR and  since that is the type of face Axl wants, who are we to argue? It's his band at the end of the day. It's been made clear that Axl wanted to move towards a direction that Robin comes from and Slash wouldn't do it. I personally think Slash was right but hey, I'm waiting for CD as much as the next demented, starved, gibbering fan on this board. Robin is not a blues player and Slash is not an industrial/alt. rock player so comparing the two is just wrong.

Slash was the audio cornerstone of GNR but he's not anymore and that's the way Axl wants it.  I think Axls vision in the long run is to leave AFD & UYI behind and become an entirely different band, much like Radioheads progression from mainstream rockers with 'The Bends' to art rock trance heads in 'Kid A' etc. I think the general feel of the band will remain the same but the way the new songs sound will be different forever. Robin obviously fits Axls vision and has earned his place at the captains table.

That said, I think Fortus should play Slashs solos because he's a better blues player and many of us out there miss that old sound and are not ashamed to say so. All the people who play and have made criticisms of Robins work on this thread are absolutely right. Frankly, for a paid professional he has been awful at times. That clip of Robin playing Patience in Detroit 2002 where Axl walks off is frankly jaw dropping it is so bad. To play at that level you should be able to play these things with style and panache whether you like the stuff you are playing or not. You can be sure a lot of people in that crowd had been looking forward to Patience all night and it's just disrespectful to them to serve up such half baked bilge. GNR are still known as a guitar band so if they insist on playing all the old hits the guitar work should be flawless, I've seen guys in wedding bands play guitar better. Some can argue it's Robins style, I see it as a man pushed into something he is not comfortable with and that's wrong for Robin and the fans.

 Let Robin take care of business on the new stuff because him an Axl seem to be the nucleus for the new sound GNR wants. Just don't serve up the old stuff sounding off key, or badly played, it ain't a 'style' it just ain't right.
Peace,
Intercourse.

[ppbebe]

And for the people saying their content with the current "line-up". If everything is so great in your minds, then why did Axl himself cancel their RIR appearance becasue Buckethead left? If everything was cool, and Robin could handle the show on his own, AXL WOULD HAVE PLAYED. 

Because both elements were needed to realize the sound? It's a band being.
besides, I hear a tour was cancelled once because Robin left.

It's you who are using petty elementary Music theory like some inviolable rules, not us.
Which grade do you have?

[alternativemonkey]

Has anyone listened to that "Ghost of Mars" soundtrack that Buckethead and Robin played on back in 2001? Is it worth the purchase?

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

And for the people saying their content with the current "line-up". If everything is so great in your minds, then why did Axl himself cancel their RIR appearance becasue Buckethead left? If everything was cool, and Robin could handle the show on his own, AXL WOULD HAVE PLAYED.?

Because both elements were needed to realize the sound? It's a band being.
besides, I hear a tour was cancelled once because Robin left.

It's you who are using petty elementary Music theory like some inviolable rules, not us.
Which grade do you have?

It should be obvious reasoning that the band were not prepared, at that time, to go ahead without Buckethead - which is why Axl himself cancelled thier RIR appearance.
A year has passed since then and I personally believe that at this time they may be prepared/preparing to go ahead without a 3rd guitarist and/or may have shifted the parts so that Robin and Richard play all the leads/solos with perhaps Paul filling in where a 3rd guitar part is required.

I apologize - this is not a "Buckethead" thread, but as the topic of being pleased with the lineup despite Buckethead's departure has been raised, it is necessary for my reply to include my feelings on Buckethead's departure.

I personally would be concerned about what affect Buckethead re-joining the band would have on the other members.
I personally would imagine that the band may have some issues of resentment for the manner in which Buckethead left them 'high and dry' before RIR4.

I personally don't want anyone in the band that doesn't want to be there.

Pretty much on topic - Robin could very well be fulfilling his creative/artistic needs in some form, albeit out of the general public's eye.
But in the small amount of communication he has offered to us "GN'R fans" he expresed he is looking forward to "touring and touring..." with GN'R.
And despite the criticism of him in this thread - I highly doubt there is one amongst us who is not also looking forward to seeing Robin on that stage with GN'R.
You can all talk about Robin - but can't deny you would be very unhappy if he were not there.
I'd be heartbroken.   

Robin, whatever you're up to - so long as it makes you happy and keeps your artistic juices flowing - that's great.
We just wanna see you back on that stage when GN'R tours!
Looking forward to it very much. 

[mandy2965]

Robin is amazing, if not the best today. I can feel the chords run through my blood. It will be an awesome ride for him, the band, and us.

[Saul]

But you cant compare Robin to someone like Buckethead. Buckethead is world class .. pretty much in a league of his own right now .. up there if not ahead of players like Satch , vai , petrucci and the like. Bucket is a phenom. I still think it would be in axl roses best interest to do what it takes to make an effort to get B back in GNR .. if that means sacking somebody like Finck then so be it.

Furthermore , I think the combination of B and Axl would garner much more attention , fame and accolades not to mention the attention of fans much more then finck and axl. IMHo axl and B coulda been the next axl and slash in alot of fans eyes.

True, you can't compare Robin to someone like Buckethead, that's why they were and Robin is still in the band. Both are world class and in a league of their own. As is Richard. I believe you don't see three differently world class geetar players?

I believe Axl did everything he could to keep Bucket in GN'R. Regarding Axl's own words, even more than he should have for GN'R.

You say: .. if that means sacking somebody like Finck then so be it.
Axl, I believe, would never sack Robin for Bucket. Robin is key (in or out ;-) for Guns' nowadays

As for the amount of attention GN'R would gather, I think you right about Bucket, but they will do fine without him as well.

 


N ! 3 |(

I really didnt look at like 3 world class guitarists at all ... I saw one guy , Bucket ..

I see.

 


N ! 3 |(

 

Was that slag at me needed? I fully explained how I felt about the other guitar players in my reply. As are you so am I entitled to my opinion. Most will agree that Buckethead was head and shoulders above the other two in terms of ability. It's hard to argue that. But Fortus and Finck can still play , at their own level. I think Dizzy and Tommy are probably in the same league as Finck on guitar to be honest.

Anyways , Eva brought up about the other members feeling bad if Bucket came back cause he "left them high and dry before RIR4" ... 1st off I dont think for one second B left them high and dry just before rir4 ... the guy left a couple months BEFORE the announcement .. the announcement came a couple months BEFORE rir4 ... geez , theres NO reason that band could not have made the rir4 gig. No reason. Especially with their tried and true AFD setlist!

At the time it looked more to me like another excuse to cancel a show , delay the album .. now a full YEAR later one can assume that it did give them more time to sit and stew in a studio.

I think it's a shitty thing that Buckethead wouldnt be welcomed back into the band but Robin was after he up and left the band so he could go tour and work with trent.

[usurper]

RIR4 was canceled because, of a few things being:

1. Buckethead left (2000-2004)
2. Axl was unsure of what to do, should he release the album before or after the gig?
3. GNR's your rider said "Redbush Tea" RIR4 could only give them "Herbal Grey" Big mistake!

[chineseblues]

But you cant compare Robin to someone like Buckethead. Buckethead is world class .. pretty much in a league of his own right now .. up there if not ahead of players like Satch , vai , petrucci and the like. Bucket is a phenom. I still think it would be in axl roses best interest to do what it takes to make an effort to get B back in GNR .. if that means sacking somebody like Finck then so be it.

Furthermore , I think the combination of B and Axl would garner much more attention , fame and accolades not to mention the attention of fans much more then finck and axl. IMHo axl and B coulda been the next axl and slash in alot of fans eyes.

True, you can't compare Robin to someone like Buckethead, that's why they were and Robin is still in the band. Both are world class and in a league of their own. As is Richard. I believe you don't see three differently world class geetar players?

I believe Axl did everything he could to keep Bucket in GN'R. Regarding Axl's own words, even more than he should have for GN'R.

You say: .. if that means sacking somebody like Finck then so be it.
Axl, I believe, would never sack Robin for Bucket. Robin is key (in or out ;-) for Guns' nowadays

As for the amount of attention GN'R would gather, I think you right about Bucket, but they will do fine without him as well.

 


N ! 3 |(

I really didnt look at like 3 world class guitarists at all ... I saw one guy , Bucket ..

I see.

 


N ! 3 |(

 

Was that slag at me needed? I fully explained how I felt about the other guitar players in my reply. As are you so am I entitled to my opinion. Most will agree that Buckethead was head and shoulders above the other two in terms of ability. It's hard to argue that. But Fortus and Finck can still play , at their own level. I think Dizzy and Tommy are probably in the same league as Finck on guitar to be honest.

Anyways , Eva brought up about the other members feeling bad if Bucket came back cause he "left them high and dry before RIR4" ... 1st off I dont think for one second B left them high and dry just before rir4 ... the guy left a couple months BEFORE the announcement .. the announcement came a couple months BEFORE rir4 ... geez , theres NO reason that band could not have made the rir4 gig. No reason. Especially with their tried and true AFD setlist!

At the time it looked more to me like another excuse to cancel a show , delay the album .. now a full YEAR later one can assume that it did give them more time to sit and stew in a studio.

I think it's a shitty thing that Buckethead wouldnt be welcomed back into the band but Robin was after he up and left the band so he could go tour and work with trent.

Robin left because his contract was expired and there was nothing planned. So he left for a few months to tour. Bucket on the other hand left while he was still under contract and there was at least 1 show planned, and possibly in the stages of being planned.

[Jim Bob]

Robin did the coolest solos on the 2002 tour.. before SCOM and PC    I enjoyed them, they sounded good .. and at least they didn't drag on and on and on like the solos on the illusion tour.

[Saul]

Robin left because his contract was expired and there was nothing planned. So he left for a few months to tour. Bucket on the other hand left while he was still under contract and there was at least 1 show planned, and possibly in the stages of being planned.

It must be really nice to always have other people to blame when you fuck up. Buckethead was still under contract? There was a show planned? Isnt that speculation really? We dont really know when buckethead "left" .. Buckethead has been rumored as "left" near the end of 2002 to be honest. Maybe Axl should keep better communication with his band members to see where their heads are at?

Anyone who blames the rir4 cancellation solely on B or blames democracy not being out right now on B are really clinging to every excuse as to not blame axl and the rest of GNR.

The band could have easily played rir4 if axl had WANTED to bad enough.