2006 European Guns N' Roses Tour (The retrospective thread)!

[IndiannaRose]

Guns N' Roses Pillage Europe

On this day, July 30th, 2006, Guns N' Roses will finish their 33 date European Tour in which an approximate 320,000 tickets were sold (this number excludes the 10 festival dates played). This awe-inspiring summer saw over 700,000 fans attend one of the most acclaimed Rock N' Roll shows in the planet.

This 2006 incarnation of Guns N' Roses is composed of Axl Rose (Vocals/Piano), Robin Finck (Guitar), Ron Thal a.k.a. Bumblefoot (Guitar), Richard Fortus (Rhythm Guitar), Tommy Stinson (Bass), Dizzy Reed (Keyboards), Brain Mantia(Percussion), and Chris Pittman (Synth/Effects). During these last months this band has more than proven that they can brake the sword of malice, which the press has repeatedly tried to impale the group in.

The band's eclectic soul and energy was demonstrated on the following tour dates:

May 25th, 2006 - Madrid, Spain @ Auditorio Parque Juan Carlos I
May 27th, 2006 - Lisbon, Portugal @ Parque da Bela Vista (Rock In Rio 2006)
May 31st, 2006 - Budapest, Hungary @ Papp L?szl? Budapest Sportar?na
June 2nd, 2006 - Eifel, Germany @ N?rburgring (Rock Am Ring)
June 4th, 2006 - Milan, Italy @ Idroscalo (Gods of Metal Festival)
June 7th, 2006 - London, UK @ Hammersmith Apollo
June 9th, 2006 - Dublin, Ireland @ RDS Arena
June 11th, 2006 - Donington, UK @ Donington Park (Download Festival)
June 13th, 2006 - Prague, Czech Republic @ Sazka Arena
June 15th, 2006 - Warszawa, Poland @ Stadion Legii
June 17th, 2006 - Burgenland, Austria @ Pannonia Fields II (Novarock)
June 20th, 2006 - Paris, France @ Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
June 24th, 2006 - Dessel, Belgium (Graspop Metal Meeting)
June 26th, 2006 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Globen
June 28th, 2006 - Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum
June 29th, 2006 - Roskilde, Denmark @ (Roskilde Festival)
July 1st, 2006 - Z?rich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
July 2nd, 2006 - Nijmegen, The Netherlands @ Goffertpark
July 5th, 2006 - Helsinki, Finland @ Hartwall Areena
July 6th, 2006 - Helsinki, Finland @ Hartwall Areena
July 8th, 2006 - Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum
July 10th, 2006 - Malakasa, Greece @ Terravibe (Rockwave Festival)
July 12th, 2006 - Istanbul, Turkey @ Kurucesme Arena
July 14th, 2006 - Bilbao, Spain @ Kobetamendi (BilbaoLive Festival 2006)
July 15th, 2006 - El Ejido-Almeria, Spain (Natural Music Festival)
July 18th, 2006 - Sheffield, UK @ Hallam FM Arena
July 19th, 2006 - Newcastle, UK @ Metro Radio Arena
July 21st, 2006 - Glasgow, UK @ SECC
July 23rd, 2006 - Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena
July 25th, 2006 - Birmingham, UK @ NEC
July 27th, 2006 - Nottingham, UK @ Nottingham Arena
July 29th, 2006 - London, UK @ Wembley Arena
July 30th, 2006 - London, UK @ Wembley Arena

This tour proved to be a succesful return for W. Axl Rose after secluding from the spotlight after the events of the ill-fated 2002 Chinese Democracy World Tour. This singer, legendary in many people's eyes, brought a sense of ferocity back into the art of arena based musical performances.

Rose performing in Madrid, Spain

Although, of course, as every fan of this tenacious band knows; no Guns N' Roses tour is fully free of danger. On the first date of the tour the crowd in Madrid, Spain was to the point of riot as the band went on to play 2 hours late using "technical difficultes" as an excuse. Also, after an endearing performance of Sweet Child O' Mine on the night of the Download Festival Tommy Stinson was hit by a bottle, which enraged the bassist into a Rose-like rant addressing the crowd of the issue. Rose seemed angered himself as he showed an emotionless pose during the performance of one of the groups new songs "Better". Although, after the addition of Guns N' Roses legend, Izzy Stradlin, the show turned into one of the best of the tour.

During the middle of the tour a show in Z?rich, Switzerland was postponed due to the near birth of Mantia's (percussion) new child. Mantia left the tour in order to be with his pregnant wife, and understudy drummer Frank Ferrer filled in for Brain at this point.

Guitarist Robin Finck joined the band in mid-1997

After a sold-out show in Stockholm, Sweden Axl Rose was arrested for allegedley biting a security guard after the guard tried to stop a tirade between a drunk Rose and his close assistant, Beta. Rose was released from a Swedish jail at approximately 7:00 p.m. on June 27 after paying 50,000 Swedish kronor (approximately $6,800) in fines.

Axl Rose is seen here with guitarist Robin Finck

Merck Mercuriadis released this statement following the band's sold out show in Oslo, Norway:

"We are very unhappy about Tuesday's events in Stockholm. To put this in context, we are in the middle of a tour - with sold out shows last night in Oslo, tomorrow in Copenhagen, and Saturday in Zurich rounding out this week alone - and continuing until the beginning of August. The Swedish authorities were very aware of this, yet continually threatened us over a 12 hour period with between 5 days and 3 weeks incarceration without bail if Axl did not "cooperate."

After the Sweden scenario Rose joked casually in reference to the incident in following dates. A few incidents have followed since but none have been as sudden and as abrupt as the incident in Sweden.

Yes, there have been some moments in concerts since then were a rowdy crowd has initiated into throwing objects at the band, which seemed to have almost pulled the plug in some shows (Newcastle, UK in particular) Although, isn't this normal and natural in the Guns N' Roses world? Most hardcore GN'R fans would probably say yes to that.

Ron Thal is seen here at the Roskilde Festival picking up a ball from the crowd

This summer, with an audience of about 3/4 of a million, the group has proved to be a tremendous force in today's Pop dominated music world. Maybe, just maybe, there's a little hope for those hoping for a resurgence of the essence of hard rock. Guns N' Roses could possibly be that reviving essence.

The band has played 6 songs off their Chinese Democracy LP during this European tour. There Was A Time (T.W.A.T.), Better, I.R.S., Madagascar, Chinese Democracy, and The Blues have all provided enough evidence to show that the wait for the new record was probably well worth the while. These songs performed through out various dates this summer have proven that Guns N' Roses is still able to rock hard but with a touch of modern poison. These new efforts show a band willing to experiment with an antithetic sense of musical and genre-based aspects while ignoring critics who think that this band is not capable of doing so. Many think this road is a dead-end for this band who was once at the top of their game.

Although, many others do think that these minds have got it wrong, and that Guns N' Roses will once again pillage the now barren land of Rock. Rose announced earlier in the year that the forthcoming Guns N' Roses album is scheduled to be released later in the fall of this year. Will this actually turn out to be? Only time will tell. The tale of a silenced album made during years of internal inquisitions may come to an end erratically soon this year.

Or...Is this just the beginning?

[dolphin]

 


Cheers dude.

Thanks for posting that.

And thanks to GNR for coming back to us.  It is appreciated.

[Jezza103]

awsome review dude summed up my opinion very well

[Irish gunner II]

Great review.Liked the pics used. Twould be a great thing for a casual fan or a non fan to read to show the name GNR is back.

[Lea]

Great review!!!!

GNR

[willow]

Great job guys!!! glad you made it all the way!
amy

[andypa1]

Brilliant review, brillaint tour, congratulations to Axl, congrats to the band, and a well earned pat on the back for all us guys who have had faith and stuck with the band through all the years of silence. Heres hoping the rest of the year brings a release of CD to finish the job.

 

[Spirit]

Thanks for the great review, good job!

It got me thinking, maybe we could do something similar to what they did in 2001 with the newspaper ad. If we could somehow show our appreciation for the European tour they're about to finish, by a "thank you GN'R, come back anytime" type of ad..

[slash666]

great review 

[mlewis]

So tonight the European tour came to an end.

I've followed the new band for about 6 years now, through cancelled tours in Europe, bad press and lots of shit, so tonight marks the end of a triumphant chapter for Guns n' Roses. The most successful tour for 13 years, a band coming together on tour, and the promise of lots more still to come.

So I'd like to start this thread- for us to share great memories, but also for more general discussion of the tour. What have we learnt? What's changed?

We've got to know this band a lot more, I feel. The guys are not just characters I watch on an old Rio DVD, but living, breathing embodiments of Rock n' Roll. They've embraced the fans and we've taken them so much more to heart too, and got to know a little of them as personalities, just as we did the old guys. They seem so much more real, now. A band I can imagine sitting round, and writing and recording an album together, in a way I couldn't before. How do the rest of you feel.

[DunkinDave]

I'll give it a 9/10 rating.

New songs, drama onstage and off, setlists that varied each night, good performances by all band members.

[NickNasty]

Probalby 9\10, here too.

the band is clearly a cohesive unit, much more so than 2001-2002, the players are tighter too

axl seems more comfortable performing and looks a million times better

we got to hear new material live

axl is still axl when it comes to the party scene, and it could cost him, though he made it to every gig, only ending 2 early, one (newcastle) due to fan misbehavior and tonight due to ill health.

all in all, a success, with hopefully better things to come.

[agropolus]

yeah, near perfect IMO, but if there wasn't any incidents then it wouldn't be GN'R

But I think things are going quite well, if this thing doesn't take off and album doesn't come out this year, then Axl better quit and go home

[busngabb]

Fantastic from start until two songs from the finish.

The tour has, tonight excepted, been far better than I thought possible. No cancelled gigs, no band members quitting and no particularly bad incidents. I think the band is far, far better than in 02 and there is a real chemistry there now, which was lacking in 02. Brilliant stage presence, brilliant musically and the crowds responded to it.

Download I feel will go down as a classic GNR moment, for their ability to thoroughly win over a brutal metal crowd and the reviews were improving with each gig. My own personal experience of the band at Donnington and Manchester was amazing, truly two of the greatest nights of my life.

It is a shame that instead of capping the tour with a glorious ending, the band rather limped across the finishing line. I just hope the ridicule that follows in the press doesn't tarnish the improving image the band was developing.

The only worry is the lack of any information relating to the album or any material from it (Singles, videos etc). Most people who claim to be in the know spoke of announcements being made during the tour. If we don't get one before September in LA, then its safe to assume the US tour will feature a similar setlist as this tour, and that CD really isn't as close as we hope it might be. Fingers crossed for the next 6 weeks or so.

8.5/10

[sisterofyu]

Yeah Great Tour, it was fantastic to have GNR fans around the world post pics and updates Immediately, GNR is like the Millinium "deadheads" only Futuristic style, they have cell phones and megauploads and share with all the other fans at home, This was amazing and great and Axl sang and performed better then he did with his original gang. Thanks to Axl GNR and the GNR fans for the 2006 Summer Tour.

[Mandy.]

Awesome review. Not everyone thought they would make it through the whole tour.

[cineater]

Bravo GNR!

[Axl4Prez2004]

Great stuff...congrats to the whole band!!   

[busngabb]

You posted it too soon. It's your fault what happened tonight

Great wrap up of the events of past few months.

[A Private Eye]

Overall I've been impressed, these guys put on one hell of a show, would defiantely go again if they came back just hope there's a new album of material to play when they do 

It's been a crazy 3 months in the GNR world and expect a hectic August, this place is going to be a giant rumour mill until the first US show