Happy New Year - a little tour diary from Asia

[jarmo]

Taipei





December 11

Took the subway to the Banqiao station and walked outside. Had to think what way to walk since I knew the stadium was south of the station. Once I figured it out, I started walking. A few steps later I could clearly hear the sounds of Welcome To The Jungle coming from somewhere. I knew the direction that I needed to head from the station exit, but now navigation became even easier. Just follow the sounds coming from the stadium. Easy!

As I walked inside the band was playing It's So Easy.

No, I hadn't missed the start of the show because I was drinking coffee somewhere else in Taipei, I had gotten to the venue just as the band was doing an afternoon sound check ("So, this is a sound check!").

The venue was in the middle of a somewhat residential looking area with high apartment buildings, some of which were still being contructed. Seeing cranes lift huge concrete blocks that were assembled into apartment buildings while GN'R was playing was a bit surreal. The sun was still out so it was a warm December day in Taipei as the band kept playing. Warm December day is a really weird concept for me. In a good way.

The band played through a bunch of songs that I hadn't heard live before in front of a small crowd of fans and athletes practising on the track. Things looked very promising as the sun began to set.

Had a cold can of coffee before the show. It was called Mr. Brown. Remindmed me of one of my favorite movies!

Since the show was outdoors, there was Wifi at the stage. Which was perfect for somebody like me posting updates from the show.

Around 8:30PM, the lights go out and the familiar intro from Chinese Democracy starts.

The first ever GN'R show in Taipei, and the first of the tour, had begun.

After the song Axl greets the crowd and the band kicks into Welcome To The Jungle. The band plays a set with plenty of new tracks mixed with old favorites. The show marks the first time the band has performed If The World, Shackler's Revenge and This I Love.

It's also the first time Tommy sings lead vocals at a GN'R show when he sings The Who's My Generation. On top of that, it was DJ's first show with GN'R.

During the show, it starts raining in Taipei. The weather had been sunny earlier that week, but the rain starts and as the band is playing November Rain, Axl acknowledges the change in weather by singing December Rain instead. Something which doesn't go unnnoticed by the Taiwanese crowd. They loved it.

Axl tells a story about meeting Bob Dylan and how he asked Axl when GN'R would record their version of Knockin' On Heaven's Door so he could get the royalties from it...


Setlist: Chinese Democracy, Welcome To The Jungle, It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, If The World, Live And Let Die, Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond), There Was A Time, Frank Ferrer drum solo, Tommy Stinson bass solo/My Generation (The Who cover with Tommy on lead vocals), I.R.S., Rocket Queen, Dizzy Reed Piano Solo/Street Of Dreams, DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (The Ballad Of Death)/Sweet Child O' Mine, Jam/November Rain, Ron Thal Guitar Solo (Pink Panther), You Could Be Mine, Shackler's Revenge, Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Encore: This I Love, Jam/Better, Paradise City

As I leave Taipei in the early morning, it's raining.



Seoul





December 13

Chilly winter day in Seoul. A total contrast to Taipei's warm weather. Cold December is not weird to me at all.

This is also the first of three indoor shows.

The venue is one of the Olympic ones built for the 1988 Olympics and is located in the Olympic Park.

The cab driver thought I was going to the hotel next to the park. Only when he asked a park attendant for help, did he realize I was going to the Guns N' Roses gig. The attendant looked at me and asked "Guns N' Roses?", then gave the cab driver instructions on how to drive to the venue.

Lights out at 9:20PM and Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen is used as intro music.

More songs from Chinese Democracy is premiered tonight. Axl mentions how this was the second time he sang Sorry (the first time was the soundcheck in Taipei). The band jams on Black Betty before Tommy taking over lead vocals on My Generation. The band also jams on a cover of Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side during the show.

Axl surprises everybody by playing an instrumental version of Elton John's Someone Saved My life Tonight before November Rain.

The show is a bit special because the set doesn't have an encore break. Full speed all the way to the finish line.

Great crowd in Seoul. They sure know how to keep the temperature up!

Setlist: Chinese Democracy, Welcome To The Jungle, It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Shackler's Revenge, There Was A Time, Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond), Live And Let Die, Frank Drum Solo, Sorry, Rocket Queen, DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (The Ballad Of Death)/Sweet Child O' Mine, Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (Ziggy Stardust)/Street of Dreams, You Could Be Mine, Jam (Black Betty), My Generation, Jam, Someone Saved My life Tonight/November Rain, Walk On The Wild Side, Better, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Ron Thal Guitar Solo (Pink Panther), Paradise City

[jarmo]

Osaka





December 16

GN'R is back in Osaka which is where the last tour in 2007 ended. That's when I went straight from the club to the hotel to pack and then to the airport to fly home.

The city is the same, the opening act is the same, but the venue is the Kyocera Dome.

Since it's a "school night", there's a bunch of salarymen rocking out to GN'R in the crowd. Men in business suits having a great fucking time. Quite the sight if you ask me!

The show itself just won't stop. I lose track of time and it's not until I check how many songs were actually played that I realize this was a long show. I obviously noticed that they played songs they hadn't done before, but I just didn't keep track of time. I was enjoying the show too much!

My personal highlight probably was to hear Prostitute for the first time in a concert. And Scraped. That was quite unbelievable.

Just when you think you've had enough surprises for one evening, they throw in Catcher. I was more than amazed at this point and the surprises just kept coming. Did anybody expect Whole Lotta Rosie? With a piano!


Setlist: Chinese Democracy, Welcome To The Jungle, It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Shackler's Revenge, If The World, Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond), Live And Let Die, Sorry, Rocket Queen, Prostitute, Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (Ziggy Stardust)/Street of Dreams, Scraped, Frank Drum Solo/You Could Be Mine, Jam (Waiting On A Friend), Axl Piano Solo (Someone Saved My Life Tonight)/November Rain, IRS, DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (The Ballad Of Death)/Sweet Child O' Mine, Catcher In The Rye, Out Ta Get Me, Ron Thal Guitar Solo (Pink Panther), Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Whole Lotta Rosie, This I Love, Nightrain

Encores: Madagascar, Better, Sonic Reducer (Tommy on lead vocals), Patiece, Don't Cry/Paradise City


After the show I go out and have a few drinks before going back to the hotel. End up staying awake until the 11am bus to the train station and subsequent Shinkansen ride to Tokyo? I was a bit tired that evening in Tokyo but still went shopping in Shibuya.




Tokyo





December 19

Once again, I get to the venue by subway and make my way out from the station. I'm trying to find a caf? where people from the board are supposed to gather. Unfortunately that mission fails because I'm looking for a place that doesn't exist. As I walk inside the legendary Tokyo Dome, the opening act MUCC is on stage.

This is the final show of the Asian tour and I have a feeling it might be the best one.

The Tokyo Dome really is huge. I've never seen GN'R in an indoor venue of this size. Amazing setting. One thing I remember from 2007, and it's still true, is the way everything is in order here. Everything is organized and the fans are so respectful. They might seem mellow to the outsider, but that's only the impression you get.

The show itself is like the one in Osaka. It's amazing, long and it's full of surprises. With one little difference. It's better!

The band is playing their asses off and playing longer than ever before. Truly a memorable moment and show.

What a nice early Christmas present we got at the Tokyo Dome!


Setlist: Chinese Democracy, Welcome To The Jungle, It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Catcher In The Rye, Sorry, If The World, Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond), Live And Let Die, Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (Ziggy Stardust)/Street of Dreams, You Could Be Mine, Rocket Queen, My Michelle, DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (The Ballad Of Death)/Sweet Child O' Mine, Shackler's Revenge, IRS, Axl Piano Solo/November Rain, Whole Lotta Rosie, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Scraped, Prostitute, This I Love, Frank Drum Solo/Out Ta Get Me, Ron Thal Guitar Solo (Pink Panther), Don't Cry, Nightrain

Encore: Madagascar, There Was A Time, My Generation (Tommy on lead vocals), Better, Patience, Nice Boys, Paradise City


After the show I go out for some "goodbye to Asia" drinks. Get a cab back to the hotel in the morning, sleep for two hours and leave for Narita. Everything on the trip has gone smoothly until I land in Europe and my flight back home is first delayed and then canceled. Spend 15 hrs at the airport over night (awake) until I manage to catch a flight back to Sweden. Small price to pay for two weeks of fun in Asia!



Thanks to everybody who made this memorable trip so amazing, the band, the crew, the fans and the people in Taipei, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Thank you for 2009, Happy New Year!

See you in 2010! 




/jarmo

[Fernando]

Not one mention of seeing me.

I hate you, so stabbing you in the face next time I see you.

[jarmo]

Not one mention of seeing me.

I hate you, so stabbing you in the face next time I see you.

People might get jealous......

 



/jarmo

[Naltav]

The Asian gigs were exciting even for (most of) us who didn't go, thanx to your updates, Jarmo! 

Looking forward to 2010!

Happy New Year!   

[GypsySoul]

People might get jealous......

 



/jarmo

People = AdZ, right? 


Thanks for sharing, Jarmo.
Those pics look AMAZING!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! 

[Manets]

Thank you for everything jarmo, good work.

[Pinball Wizard]

Great pictures, awsome journey this must had been. Can't help getting a little bit jealously, though! 

Happy new year, everybody! 

[LordRazZ]

Not one mention of seeing me.

I hate you, so stabbing you in the face next time I see you.

Psst....I think Fernando's lost his freakin mind....

That being said, I'm not stopping him...not that he scares me...just that we can smell our own kind, and it would be fun as fuck to watch....haha

But beyond that, nice reporting J-man

[banachkevin]

thanks jaramo

[AdZ]

Sounds like quite the adventure!

Not one mention of seeing me.

I hate you, so stabbing you in the face next time I see you.

You're such a people person.

[bolton]

Great diary

HAppy new year

[poorlakers]

Thanks for the updates & pic's Jarmo. Nice to see some of the "East"!

[redrose]

Great done Jarmo,

Happy New Year Everyone

[Marion68]

Thanks for sharing with us jarmo


HAPPY NEW YEAR to all people

[willow]

We have loved the stories, updates and pics Jarmo. Glad to see you get to rock your ass off. And Fernando seems to put up with you. lol So I am guessing you will have a blast in Canada! Can't wait to hear all about it.

[Jan-Christoph K?hler]

Great, thanks! Happy new year everyone! 

[Annie]

Sounds like a great time!

[Jim Bob]

excellent read, happy new year jarmo.

[CheapJon]

Sounds fucking great, look forward to see your summary of the canadian shows   happy new year to you all