Guns N' Roses @ Reading/Leeds Festival! UPDATE: Setlists n' pics in 1st post

[don_vercetti]

Hi all, just got home and killer tired.  But just wanted to say, that was MENTAL.  Gnr were killer, seemed really on fire and after they had played WTTJ the crowd seemed won over (to me).  I couldn't hear much boo-ing of the new songs, everyone was singing to the old songs, couldn't see many people leaving during the set. 

And the ending...just to add what I saw, Axl said something (i couldn't make it out) and stormed off at the end of Nightrain, but they basically finished it (solo-ing etc).  He then came out with his mic and appeared to have a rant, but it was turned off so no idea if he was slagging off the council or what.  He looked pretty angry though.  After that, they started playing Better but only DJ's guitar was working, and the drums (obviously).  No mic's or anything.  After that, they got pissed and started trashing the stage a bit, kicking mic's and stuff.

Then, people started singing Paradise City of their own volition, then Axl joined in/tried to direct it.  And then, Bumblefoot went and got an acoustic guitar, and obviously started playing it,although we couldn't hear it.  They then went and lay down on the stage, as seen in the pics, then the megaphone was bought and we started PC again.  After that, Axl and a couple of the other guys (Tommy I noticed, but maybe others) came and high fived the crowd. 

Throughout all this, the crowd was being supportive, chanting that they wouldn't budge, singing PC, and generally trying to get them allowed to finish.

At some point, DJ's guitar was working, but only the amp, no PA or anything.  He played a few PC riffs as well.  I could only hear it though being at the front. 


Anyways, I had a wicked time, most of the band's before Gnr were shit (aside from QOTSA) especially NOFX and Lost Prophets...Biffy Clyro were pretty average as well, just seemed to me like Death Metal but with clean vocals.  But Gnr were very exciting, songs sounded great.  Also, it rained during November Rain, which I thought was pretty cool.

Apologies for the long post, and sorry if some of this stuff has been said already.  And major thanks to Julia for getting me the ticket!

[jarmo]

Thanks for posting!

Glad you enjoyed it! 





/jarmo

[Spirit]

WTTJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaySoVawlH0


Some booing at the beginning of the vid, but pure cheering at the end. I guess they won the crowd over pretty quickly. 

[tastyfish]

Well, I want to get a ticket for Sunday but people are saying Axl said through the megaphone Sunday is cancelled?  Can anyone confirm?  This has come from a few places on twitter and some guy also posted it on mygnr

[norway]

Sound like a funny evening, how cool that they protested.

And omfg, how fucking vicious he sounds, he just gets more and more wrenching. It's not pretty, but it's SO rock'nroll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaySoVawlH0

First it's like 'dun dun dun' then some people are like, 'boo'

and then, the voice: 'do you know where you are'? *silence* 'you're in the jungle baby' *people starts hailing*

then that scream... oO

*whole crowd sings*

[tastyfish]

I love the fact theres so much controversy around the band I love, you could always go and listen to fucking coldplay

[kyrie]

Wow. Just wow. At least things are never dull when this band is on tour.

I'm not going to address late start times or anything else, it's ancient history, but a few quick points:

If they do pull out of Leeds I hope they announce it soon, for the fans sake.

Organizers could have been a lot better about this, if as reported the band wasn't given notice til during Nightrain. It's clear they were allowed to go past curfew after all - so there was no need for the sudden move. You can argue they were told in advance but that goes down the drain when the curfew was already pushed back.

Someone with a guest pass on MyGNR also posted that Axl was spotted ready to go at the side of the stage with the rest of the band, so I'd love to know what the hold up was. If it was a technical glitch or something, then Reading reps should have said something.

You've got fans chanting Let Them Play at a once a year concert that brings in tons of revenue to the city... seems simple to me...

[Spirit]

From the man himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOpEiwl99ts

They seem pretty fed up with the promoter

[faldor]

Well at least they ALMOST got an entire set in.  Just a few songs short.  You just never know what's going to happen next with this band, for better or worse.  They keep you in suspense.

[fieldsy]

Ok, havent been back for that long and had 3 hours sleep and now dealing with a 7 week old baby, so bear with me 

Before the show, there were a LOT of people that were either there to see GNR or were very interested about how they would be, how Axl would be etc.  The name GNR clearly still holds a lot of interest as an infamous persona in the world and it was great to see it the festival.

Band came on around 10.30 - people around me were getting restless, I guess a lot of people expected them to be on time and got pissed but whatever.  I'm certainly not going to go into 'they should have been on time, it was a festival' because I don't know the in and outs of why or what happened.  However, it reminded me of Download 06.  Bascially, a restless crowd, waiting for Axl to fall and the band having to win the crowd over.

Band came out strong - Axl sounded great, DJ looked like a man possessed (this man is a seriously good player and has a great stage present).  Highlights were TIL where Axl sounded great.  Crowd were into the new stuff but went mad for the usual favs like Jungle, SCOM.  Overall, the set was short but very sweet.  They sounded great and were getting the crowd on their side when the 'Nightrain incident' happened.

Overall, it was a great show albeit cut short.  Truely hope they still play Leeds and can sought out the disagreement but whatever happens, the Euro tour is here and has started with a bang.  As my brain is fried, it may be easier for people to ask questions about the show and me answer them.

[wight gunner]

This sounds like a gig that will go down in Folklore, like HoB's, Philly, Osaka et al. Its like riding the Gn'fR roller-coaster    that made me love the band to begin with. 

The pulling the plug/promoter warning is just like a story line from WWE. Tune into the next exciting instalment on 29th August where you can find out if Axl gets the last word, will the promoter slam dunk the band, but be sure, THIS WILL be an epic fight to the finish with another show business, Rock n Roll master class....

[jarmo]

Thanks for your report fieldsy! 



Next up, Leeds!

Safe travels to those of you heading up there today.



/jarmo

[horsey]

my theries are '' better late then never '' so im glad the show still did go on.and that the tour is in fact starting up again.

[badapple81]

Thanks for your report fieldsy! 



Next up, Leeds!

Safe travels to those of you heading up there today.



/jarmo

Is Leeds on? I've just been catching up with all the events of the last 24 hours, and I saw a video with Axl saying it wasn't on? (obviously in the heat of the moment).

[wadey]

if leeds is cancelled ill still be going rather than waste ?75+ booking fee

ill be there no matter what tomorrow so fingers crossed 

[Jonx]

Jarmo are you with the band at the moment?

If you are, could you explain why it took so long to hit the stage? Axl tweeted "Bkstage at Reading. Tour's ON! Our apologies 4 any inconvenience. Peace!" almost two hours before they went on. What caused the delay? Presumably the 'apologies' was not a reference to the cancelled tour tweet but an indication that the band was having problems backstage at the festival? If so, what were those problems?

When the BBC went live at 22:30 the presenter said they couldn't show any footage due to 'contractual reasons'. So either Gun's didn't read their contract properly, showed up, found out that the set was going to be broadcast live and tried to change the terms/renegotiate at the last minute, hence the delay. The BBC presenter implied that they would 'hopefully be able to bring us something' which, if this is what happened would seem to indicate that a compromise was reached, i.e you play, we get to broadcast it later once you have signed off on the footage etc.

I find it hard to believe that Reading Festival and the BBC, with their army of overpaid executives, lawyers etc didn't sort this out before hand, they have been working together for years and the BBC were clearly working under the assumption that they were broadcasting the set (they started removing the band from their schedules rights after Axl tweeted).

The above could be absolute crap. There could just have been technical problems, GnR seem to insist on using their own kitt and people which at a festival can take time to set up etc.

Either way, it would be good to find out what really happened. I doubt we will see any footage now, their is probably a lot of bad blood between the band and the organisers and the BBC.

Jonx

[HBK]

  GUNS N`ROSES

Forever EVER !! KICK ASS !!

Fuck You Reading !!    Fuck You Reading !! 

 

[jarmo]

Thanks for your report fieldsy! 



Next up, Leeds!

Safe travels to those of you heading up there today.



/jarmo

Is Leeds on? I've just been catching up with all the events of the last 24 hours, and I saw a video with Axl saying it wasn't on? (obviously in the heat of the moment).

You answered your own question.

Jarmo are you with the band at the moment?

Not at the moment....


I don't know why it wasn't broadcast on the BBC.

But it's not anything GN'R specific.

GN'R isn't the only band who has chosen not to have their concerts live on TV.


Who knows, maybe they'll show some clips later on....


/jarmo

[feestybaby]

I think we are going to be in for an awesome Leeds show!!!!

[GNRVahland]

I don't know why it wasn't broadcast on the BBC.

But it's not anything GN'R specific.

GN'R isn't the only band who has chosen not to have their concerts live on TV.


Who knows, maybe they'll show some clips later on....


/jarmo

Later would be great....and please please Mr. BBC....also for other regions than UK only