Review of Sex N' Drugs N' Rock N' Roll

[echrisl]

To sum this review up, it sucks.

Here it is in long form:

Everything that people said about this dvd being half assed is completely true. I was hoping for something with a collection of interviews with band members or something along those lines. I believe that there were clips from two or maybe three at the most. And they were not longer than 30 seconds. The presentation of facts in the DVD is dismal, most of the history of the band is completely ignored in favor of a more broad overview of the LA Music scene in the 80's. Yes, that's right, the same shit that you've heard about the music scene is regurgitated for your viewing pleasure rather than any details of the bands formation. What little pre-GNR history that is presented is commonly known. Previous bands and such figures as Traci Guns are almost completely ignored. Neither Wes Arkeen or Del James are even mentioned. Dizzy is ignored. The band is presented as Axl Slash Duff Izzy and Steven virtually from day one. The factual accuracy of the DVD is quite questionable at times, they actually say that Slash urinated on a plane. The break-up of the band is virtually ignored until the end of the DVD when it is mentioned for about three or four minutes. No insight is offered, and no original theorys are produced. If you know anything about GNR, then this DVD will provide virtually no new or interesting information at all. There was one antecdote during the entire DVD that had me mildly interested and that's all. Now I didn't expect much from this DVD, but I didn't think I'd be so bored with it as to postpone viewing the last 30 minutes until I watched a rerun of That 70's Show. However, I actually found myself so disgusted with the pathetic effort that I did stop for just such a rerun. I plead with anyone not to buy this DVD, watch a making the videos instead, even if you've watched it 100 times before, it will be a much better use of your time.

I just thought of one more complaint, I don't believe that Matt or Gilby were mentioned even once by name. No mention of the selection process or anything of that nature.

[No Fate]

Thank you! You just saved me some money. I was thinking about buying that dvd, but was hoping someone would give a review of it. Too bad they did such a half-assed job with it. Oh, well! Thanks for the review.

No Fate

[erose]

agree! it sucked big time!

[kupirock]

Traci Guns are almost completely ignored. Neither Wes Arkeen or Del James are even mentioned. Dizzy is ignored.

What? is there anything about Gilby & Matt ?? ?? [nervous]

[Savage Rose]

Traci Guns are almost completely ignored. Neither Wes Arkeen or Del James are even mentioned. Dizzy is ignored.

What? is there anything about Gilby & Matt ?? ?? [nervous]

who cares about those two anyway? though even i gotta say they should've been mentioned and had some info. put on about them... [rant]

[echrisl]

I just thought of one more complaint, I don't believe that Matt or Gilby were mentioned even once by name. No mention of the selection process or anything of that nature.

[MR.BROWNSTONE]

Thanks for the review echrisl. We should all remember one thing that this is an unofficial VHS and DVD.    

[2NaFish]

Whoever made it was just taking advantage of the fact that we've had nothing official for ages and will buy anything we can. Sneaky bastards....

[theblues]

Traci Guns are almost completely ignored. Neither Wes Arkeen or Del James are even mentioned. Dizzy is ignored.

What? is there anything about Gilby & Matt ?? ?? [nervous]

who cares about those two anyway? though even i gotta say they should've been mentioned and had some info. put on about them... [rant]

 [no]  Dont say that!!!

[Gunner4Life]

I didn't think it was all that bad. Certainly not top quality, and it did have a lot of flaws but there are a couple of nice insights. They interview people all around L.A. and there are a couple of interesting stories such as: When GN'R was opening for the Stones at the L.A. Coliseum Axl did a full lap around the Olympic sized track while singing, the whole band was in Tower Records behind a one-way glass wall when the Illusion albums were released at midnight on Tuesday, Axl once refused to go on stage in Long Beach unless the city threw out his limo driver's ticket.

[slashedguns]

I bought it out of curiosty but really its an uninteresting disgrace. [peace]

[echrisl]

When GN'R was opening for the Stones at the L.A. Coliseum Axl did a full lap around the Olympic sized track while singing

That's the one story that I hadn't heard before, and the one that made my smile.  I couldn't remember it last night, but that was it.

[marknroses]

agreed.

The DVD is a piece of shit - totally unauthorized - totally unlicensed and probably as poorly assembled and documented a DVD on GNR as you can get without the legal freedom to compose it...

I still bought into it though because i think it shows GNR members past and present, and people who follow this stuff, that GNR still can make a business killing, even on stuff not-authorized by them. Besides, I had never had a GNR dVd before and I thought it would be cool to have one.

The only bright moment in the dvd is when Shannon Dohtery presented GNR with the Billboard aWard in 1992 and GNR was in Argentina at the time, so Slash accepted in televised, and he was chillin in his hotel room, thanked the academy and then directed the cameras to the crowd below where hundreds of screaming Argentina fans cheered loudly (gotta love South American GNR Fans  [beer])

MNR

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

When GN'R was opening for the Stones at the L.A. Coliseum Axl did a full lap around the Olympic sized track while singing, the whole band was in Tower Records behind a one-way glass wall when the Illusion albums were released at midnight on Tuesday, Axl once refused to go on stage in Long Beach unless the city threw out his limo driver's ticket.

 [rofl]  thats some stuff I hadn't heard before either
thanks for sharing...
i'm thinking though along the lines of what MN'R said...
think i'll buy it just to have it cuz its GN'R...

wait, does unauthorized mean that Guns N' Roses doesn't make anything off of it?  if thats the case then...  [no]

[the dirt]

Iim realy rhinking about putting together some sort of G'N'R
doc...

I'm gonna have to get some of axl in it, though

[echrisl]

I still bought into it though because i think it shows GNR members past and present, and people who follow this stuff, that GNR still can make a business killing, even on stuff not-authorized by them. Besides, I had never had a GNR dVd before and I thought it would be cool to have one.

I must confess that even if I'd read my own review I would have bought it anyway, for the reasons mentioned above.  I intended my post as a warning for those not quite as hardcore(moronic) as I am.  There were a few bright spots.  A very few.  The best plan for anyone who wants to see it is to trick your friend into buying it and watch it at his house

[kupirock]

who cares about those two anyway?

 

[moons]

is there any footage from concerts or in the studio, or is it pretty much all interviews?

moons

[echrisl]

It's almost entirely interviews.  With Axl's tattoo artist and so on.  Not really inteviews with any band members, except for a few from tv.

[theblues]

Saved me some cash