AXL's Rant in San Juan last night

[russtcb]

I'll have to agree to disagree. I just feel GNR's legacy is what kept them alive, and the fact they went out on top in 1993. Not internet message boards. The boards may have given people the heads up on stuff, but the large majority, no.

Die hard fans kept the porch light on all these years.  We sold out Hammerstein and sent the band off to Europe with an understanding that the album would follow later this year. I dont think we should be dismissed so haphazardly, especially by Del.

Message boards did not sell out Hammerstein.

I'd say at least a great deal of Hammerstein goers were board folks.

[HamsterDemocracy]

I'll have to agree to disagree. I just feel GNR's legacy is what kept them alive, and the fact they went out on top in 1993. Not internet message boards. The boards may have given people the heads up on stuff, but the large majority, no.

Die hard fans kept the porch light on all these years.  We sold out Hammerstein and sent the band off to Europe with an understanding that the album would follow later this year. I dont think we should be dismissed so haphazardly, especially by Del.

Message boards did not sell out Hammerstein.

How do you think word spread so fast?

They barely had any promotion - if any. They relied solely on the Internet for word-of-mouth. A large number of the people who attended those shows were forum members.

[The Legend]

Maybe 1/5 there were board members. Tops.

[tHeElEcTrIcSiNtAr]

Here's Axl's exact words. Maybe, i guess. This is from a review at newgnr.com.

"It's been a long time since I have done this, but like all good things it must come to an end"  He was talking about the people who are writing in the internet or wherever, negative stuff about him and the band.  He said " I don't have anything against bootlegers or that's stuff 'cause I have come to terms with that but it's funny how some kid in Iowa or whereever the fuck it's bitching about we doing this and that. Oh they change the setlist is it beacuse the band doesn't know this song or that one, or the band didn't sound that good, Axl was this and that, bla bla bla and then we have every other little paper or site writing the same shit that a fucking kid that never comes to a show is bitching about ". And then concluded "Anyways, I just want to shove it up there asses. We don't care about those things we just want to have a good time right here, right now with you guys" Then they played "Roquet Queen" saying "this is for you motherfuckers".

[dont_damn_me]

Alright,

but how about the guy from Canada who's seen the show 8 times and are about to see the show 3 more times.  Although it's a blast regardless of what they play, I wouldn't be completely disappointed if I was suprised by a change in rotation by the time they hit Toronto (let alone a few new songs, either Illusion or new material).  I know some may say, "well, if you don't want to go see the same show, don't buy tickets."  Fair enough, and hence why I still am going to the show and plan on having a great time (always do).  But not everyone who logs on to these type of forums aren't going to the shows.  When I saw GNR six times in 2002, by the end of it I was still having fun, but hearing the same thing over and over again got a little stale.  Maybe my expections of GNR should be different than what I see most bands do.  Moreover, what about people in New York and Toronto (or Chicago or Cleveland for that matter).  They've heard this setlist before.  After Quebec City, i'll have seen this band 11 times in three countries (to Europeans, that's not much, but to a Canadian, where to get to another country besides the US is a trip, that's something). 

Anyway, I've made this argument on this site several times, so out of fear of sounding like a broken record, this will be the last time I lodge this objection.

Cheers,

Andrew

Exactly! Very well said.  Doesn"t sound like a hilarious rant to me at all, actually pretty pathetic(i never thought i"d ever say that about an axl rant) True die hard GNR fans like myself want new GNR songs...thats a fact!  We will allways love the old stuff but come on allready is this new era or old? I don"t even care if we don"t hear any more new songs, but at least mix up the old GNR songs. The ones who are bitching aren"t just kids by a computer not going to shows.....they"r  fans all around the world like my self who travel the world to see the best band in the world but for some fucked up reason are denied hearing alot of the songs which define GNR.  I don"t know why axl picked this to "rant" about? Very surprising. The show in Toronto in a couple wks on Nov 15th I can"t wait for and is going to be totally awsome!.... but also predictable.

[dub05]

I believe uncle axl gave me a mention a few nights ago??


Anyone want to know why??

[polluxlm]

I've given some additional thought to the comments Axl made on stage that night.

It's under my impression that Axls main response when he feels hurt is anger. There's evidence of this in the past. Lashing out on Slash, Buckethead, Izzy and Duff after their departures from the band. Dedicating a long rant to Warrren Beatty on a pay-per-view show after he stole his girlfriend. Bitching about his parents when he found out what they'd done to him as a child.

Naturally, alot of these examples are justified a burst of anger, but some of them are also a little more complex than that. It's no wonder to us why some members left the band. We've heard their reasons and often understand them. Now, Axl is not an idiot, so he probably understands alot of them himself. But still, atleast often, he don't seem to be able to reflect on the situation, face the facts and move on. He turns it around, at times, to irrational anger. A fairly known and common mechanism among humans who have experienced alot of pain in their childhood. Every new emotion can trigger the feelings from the past, and since those feelings are so intense the solution is very often to block them out and turn them into something you can deal with. Like anger.

I believe this also applies to what happened in San Juan. Alot of fans had been complaining about the setlist after the first couple of shows, and many of these complaints were justified. Not in a way that he owed us these changes, but that he could have given the fans a little bone while waiting for Chinese Democracy. Show some goodwill.

I have since come to the conclusion that the reason for not changing up the setlist more than they do has more to do with certain aspects of Axls mind, rather than carelessness for the fans. I'm sure he would like to please us, and I'm sure he understands our complaints, but more on a subconscious level. He's got his reasons for doing the set he do, and while many of us don't see the big deal of changing it up a little, it most likely feels very rational to him.

So he gets hurt when the fans he feels should be the most loyal to him, don't seem to understand him. Granted, it's very difficult to understand a man that doesn't talk all that much. That however is of no consequence to Axl. He ignores the logical aspect of the situation of fans complaining and concentrates fully on the sting he feels in his stomach. The result is him bashing alot of us for telling him what to do. He takes on the mask of I don't care what you think, I do what I damn please, when in reality he does care, alot. But his inability to come to terms with it, the pain and struggle it involves, results in what many here sees as a meaningless attack on the ones that have supported him the most.

Hope this almost essay of a post is of use to some of you. It has certainly given me a larger understanding of the man while thinking it out. In some ways I've come to terms with all the bullshit that's has happened and will continue to happen. I will of course continue to engage in the discussions of such, but I will no longer take them personally. I will not believe that the man hates us even though his actions could indicate it. It's just his way of expressing himself.

[Megaguns]

I've given some additional thought to the comments Axl made on stage that night.

It's under my impression that Axls main response when he feels hurt is anger. There's evidence of this in the past. Lashing out on Slash, Buckethead, Izzy and Duff after their departures from the band. Dedicating a long rant to Warrren Beatty on a pay-per-view show after he stole his girlfriend. Bitching about his parents when he found out what they'd done to him as a child.

Naturally, alot of these examples are justified a burst of anger, but some of them are also a little more complex than that. It's no wonder to us why some members left the band. We've heard their reasons and often understand them. Now, Axl is not an idiot, so he probably understands alot of them himself. But still, atleast often, he don't seem to be able to reflect on the situation, face the facts and move on. He turns it around, at times, to irrational anger. A fairly known and common mechanism among humans who have experienced alot of pain in their childhood. Every new emotion can trigger the feelings from the past, and since those feelings are so intense the solution is very often to block them out and turn them into something you can deal with. Like anger.

I believe this also applies to what happened in San Juan. Alot of fans had been complaining about the setlist after the first couple of shows, and many of these complaints were justified. Not in a way that he owed us these changes, but that he could have given the fans a little bone while waiting for Chinese Democracy. Show some goodwill.

I have since come to the conclusion that the reason for not changing up the setlist more than they do has more to do with certain aspects of Axls mind, rather than carelessness for the fans. I'm sure he would like to please us, and I'm sure he understands our complaints, but more on a subconscious level. He's got his reasons for doing the set he do, and while many of us don't see the big deal of changing it up a little, it most likely feels very rational to him.

So he gets hurt when the fans he feels should be the most loyal to him, don't seem to understand him. Granted, it's very difficult to understand a man that doesn't talk all that much. That however is of no consequence to Axl. He ignores the logical aspect of the situation of fans complaining and concentrates fully on the sting he feels in his stomach. The result is him bashing alot of us for telling him what to do. He takes on the mask of I don't care what you think, I do what I damn please, when in reality he does care, alot. But his inability to come to terms with it, the pain and struggle it involves, results in what many here sees as a meaningless attack on the ones that have supported him the most.

Hope this almost essay of a post is of use to some of you. It has certainly given me a larger understanding of the man while thinking it out. In some ways I've come to terms with all the bullshit that's has happened and will continue to happen. I will of course continue to engage in the discussions of such, but I will no longer take them personally. I will not believe that the man hates us even though his actions could indicate it. It's just his way of expressing himself.

Well said, you know, that was a very interesting read and made alot of sense. 

[The Legend]

I've given some additional thought to the comments Axl made on stage that night.

It's under my impression that Axls main response when he feels hurt is anger. There's evidence of this in the past. Lashing out on Slash, Buckethead, Izzy and Duff after their departures from the band. Dedicating a long rant to Warrren Beatty on a pay-per-view show after he stole his girlfriend. Bitching about his parents when he found out what they'd done to him as a child.

Naturally, alot of these examples are justified a burst of anger, but some of them are also a little more complex than that. It's no wonder to us why some members left the band. We've heard their reasons and often understand them. Now, Axl is not an idiot, so he probably understands alot of them himself. But still, atleast often, he don't seem to be able to reflect on the situation, face the facts and move on. He turns it around, at times, to irrational anger. A fairly known and common mechanism among humans who have experienced alot of pain in their childhood. Every new emotion can trigger the feelings from the past, and since those feelings are so intense the solution is very often to block them out and turn them into something you can deal with. Like anger.

I believe this also applies to what happened in San Juan. Alot of fans had been complaining about the setlist after the first couple of shows, and many of these complaints were justified. Not in a way that he owed us these changes, but that he could have given the fans a little bone while waiting for Chinese Democracy. Show some goodwill.

I have since come to the conclusion that the reason for not changing up the setlist more than they do has more to do with certain aspects of Axls mind, rather than carelessness for the fans. I'm sure he would like to please us, and I'm sure he understands our complaints, but more on a subconscious level. He's got his reasons for doing the set he do, and while many of us don't see the big deal of changing it up a little, it most likely feels very rational to him.

So he gets hurt when the fans he feels should be the most loyal to him, don't seem to understand him. Granted, it's very difficult to understand a man that doesn't talk all that much. That however is of no consequence to Axl. He ignores the logical aspect of the situation of fans complaining and concentrates fully on the sting he feels in his stomach. The result is him bashing alot of us for telling him what to do. He takes on the mask of I don't care what you think, I do what I damn please, when in reality he does care, alot. But his inability to come to terms with it, the pain and struggle it involves, results in what many here sees as a meaningless attack on the ones that have supported him the most.

Hope this almost essay of a post is of use to some of you. It has certainly given me a larger understanding of the man while thinking it out. In some ways I've come to terms with all the bullshit that's has happened and will continue to happen. I will of course continue to engage in the discussions of such, but I will no longer take them personally. I will not believe that the man hates us even though his actions could indicate it. It's just his way of expressing himself.

Eh, I see what you're saying.

But the complaints weren't justified is the problem.

You're still missing the point.

They didn't lash out to all of the fans. Just like in Del James article, he said a "minority" of fans, complaining about the setlist, who aren't even at the shows.

No one bashed fans who are at the shows, and want to hear something new.

[polluxlm]

It's not about getting the point, cause the point is made out ambigious. It's about what you yourself believe. I'm not to tell you what that is, nor you me.

This isn't an attempt to make an argument, but rather expressing some thoughts. If it fits with your own perspective, great, if not just ignore it.

[SharonM]

Here is a clip, so this is exactly what Axl said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUhSa1_Cmu0

[cyllan]

Here's Axl's exact words. Maybe, i guess. This is from a review at newgnr.com.

"It's been a long time since I have done this, but like all good things it must come to an end"? He was talking about the people who are writing in the internet or wherever, negative stuff about him and the band.? He said " I don't have anything against bootlegers or that's stuff 'cause I have come to terms with that but it's funny how some kid in Iowa or whereever the fuck it's bitching about we doing this and that. Oh they change the setlist is it beacuse the band doesn't know this song or that one, or the band didn't sound that good, Axl was this and that, bla bla bla and then we have every other little paper or site writing the same shit that a fucking kid that never comes to a show is bitching about ". And then concluded "Anyways, I just want to shove it up there asses. We don't care about those things we just want to have a good time right here, right now with you guys" Then they played "Roquet Queen" saying "this is for you motherfuckers".

If I remember correctly, people claiming an understanding into the workings of Axl's mind or an insight into the GN'R decision-making process have been a source of irritation to him in the past.? So, I don't find it strange in the slightest that this continues to frustrate him, especially when he's doing his best to provide a bloody good show for those fans who can be bothered to get their arses off the sofa.? In fact, I think he pretty much hit the nail on the head; if indeed this is an accurate account of what was said at the show.

[CAFC Nick]

Here is a clip, so this is exactly what Axl said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUhSa1_Cmu0

That was brilliant. When he says it like that I do actually totally agree with him. Fucking hilarious.

[Dead N' Bloated]

Here is a clip, so this is exactly what Axl said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUhSa1_Cmu0

Is that pro shot?


 

[anythinggoes]

Here is a clip, so this is exactly what Axl said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUhSa1_Cmu0

Is that pro shot?


 

no the audience zoom out shot is a still added in from what i can make out it caught me out 1st time though

[Dead N' Bloated]

Here is a clip, so this is exactly what Axl said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUhSa1_Cmu0

Is that pro shot?


 

no the audience zoom out shot is a still added in from what i can make out it caught me out 1st time though

Is the whole show available? The is nothing in AFC section/


 

[SharonM]

I don't know if the whole show was taped, but I found some clips from the songs.
?
WTTJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAWiQ_y-LLE&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=3


LALD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIZPOinU-2M&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=4

SCOM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtHekPm-5NU&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=5

KOHD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbmRzry8c6A&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=6

YCBM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMdUgFfCsLk&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=7

NR1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnHP6O8V_j4&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=8

NR2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nooeaWIwlGY&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=9

MM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6QuV8QTWWE&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=10

Patience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO6_SvV35JA&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=11

PC1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bJ4invbB0E&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=13

PC2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZ9HimB8xk&feature=PlayList&p=896CAE26AE4A3901&index=14

[russtcb]

Thanks for the link! I just finally got to hear the rant for myself for the first time. I was surprised to learn that Axl said "some kid from Iowa" not "Ireland" as I originally read. Now I'm all sorts of upset, I was depending on kids from Ireland for my info, now I gotta start looking at contacts in Iowa. Damnit! Oh well, guess you can't believe everything you read on the internet. 

[FunkyMonkey]

Thanks for the link.

After hearing the rant...it is not as big a deal as I once thought.  He gets in a jab but does not go off on a long rant.  And yea, he says Iowa.

[marino95]

Die hard fans kept the porch light on all these years.? We sold out Hammerstein and sent the band off to Europe with an understanding that the album would follow later this year. I dont think we should be dismissed so haphazardly, especially by Del.

 I couldn't agree more.