Why wasn't Don't Damn Me ever played live?

[hyperionmax2003]

I was reading the FAQ for new guests and noticed the only song from UYI1 that was never played live was "Don't Damn Me".  Does anybody have any ideas on why not?  The song is one of my favorites and doesnt seem to difficult for the band to do(unlike say "Garden of Eden")

[Steve McKagan]

But didn't they play it once in 1989?

[Genesis]

It is a tough song, tougher than 'Garden of Eden'. The solo is a killer. Prob that's why...

[hyperionmax2003]

But didn't they play it once in 1989?

-Steve Mckagan

I dunno.  Mr. Jarmo?

[Steve McKagan]

My source:
www.gnrontour.com

[hyperionmax2003]

12.06.89 - Is this the date you refer to?
According to the site, the song was only played during a rehersal.  I dont think that counts...

[Steve McKagan]

If they just had a very small audience like 100 people, i think it counts.

[Rob]

That's one of my favorite songs on either Illusion album.  I would love to hear a live version of it...sucks there isn't one.

[plasmabeam]

That's one of my favorite songs on either Illusion album.? I would love to hear a live version of it...sucks there isn't one.

same here. it's probably too hard t play though

[hyperionmax2003]

Dammit.  I wonder if Scott would ever sing it....

[Skeletor]

I wonder if Scott would ever sing it....

That would be blasphemous, considering how personal the song is.

[psycotron]

its one of fav songs. maybe they were going to play it at some shows but axl walked off the stage. what is that song about? is it about being your self and talking and not care about what people think or axl writing whatever he wants.

[hyperionmax2003]

This is directly from "The band time forgot" book:

"DDM"was fairly self explanatory and refleted Axl's predicament of "damned if you do damned if you don't".  As he speaks of in the song "don't damn me and don't idolize the ink or I've failed in my intentions can you find the missing link."   Axl did not want to be revered as the messiah (prehaps also a reason why he wrore the "kill you idols" t-shirt  so often) but he did not feel he deserved constant chastisement either.  As elsewhere it was a statement by a man struggling to come to terms with his own status, an almostgraphic explantaon of his potential mind swings, "sometimes I wanna kill, sometimes I wanna die, sometimes i wanna destroy, sometimes i wanna cry, sometimesi could get even, sometimes i could give up, sometimes i could give, sometimes i never gave a fuck."  Perhaps this verse more than any other on the album summed up where Axl Rose was at in 1991.

[polluxlm]

This strikes me as one of the biggest mysteries of this band. To me this is one of their best rockers ever, only second to nightrain. I know not everyone agrees on that, but that the song is atleast one of the best on UYI 1, has to be a given.

Yet, the band never played it. That puts it in the company of songs like My World, Get In The Ring (I think) and perhaps Bad Apples. In comparison this just doesn't make any sense. I've heard that it was too hard to play. Well, maybe for me or the guy in Motley Crue, but not for Slash. No way.

I'm left clueless on this subject. Anyone with more information who want to share?

[EFISH]

Because they prefer Dead Horse

[EccoTides]

Aside from Coma, I think this is GNR's most "lyrically packed" song...  I think it'd be difficult for any singer to pull off live without forgetting an entire verse or two.

...And just my opinion, but aside from the chorus, there's nothing particularly memorable about it - Just kinda one long rant (albeit a well-written one).

[polluxlm]

Because they prefer Dead Horse

Did I post this in the wrong place? Hehe, well ok, sorry about that.

[1badapple]

Maybe it's vocally difficult to do, so that's why it's never been performed. just a guess.

it's one of my favorite guns songs of all time actually.

[polluxlm]

Aside from Coma, I think this is GNR's most "lyrically packed" song...? I think it'd be difficult for any singer to pull off live without forgetting an entire verse or two.

...And just my opinion, but aside from the chorus, there's nothing particularly memorable about it - Just kinda one long rant (albeit a well-written one).

Yeah, I get that, but then why did they play Coma and Perfect Crime? I know they didn't alot, but atleast they did.

In fact, on the forum show in 91 I think this was the only song in their whole cataloge they didn't play. It's like they forgot it existed.

[WhosGilby?]

It isn't that vaocally hard to do, Axl has sang much harder songs, You'll have to ask one of the guys in the band why it didn't get played It's definetly a great song