4 Years ago Tonight!!!

[D]

oh that was so awesome sitting up all night on here.. the excitement was off the charts!

One of the 3 or 4 greatest moments on the forum.

[Voodoochild]

That night had some really interesting new elements for us. After almost 4 years of silence, the band was finally playing live again - for the first time since the MSG show in 2002. Some shocks back then:

- Axl voice was really different, with his rasp back
- Three new songs (leaked earlier in that year) performed live: IRS, TWAT and Better
- New member Bumblefoot made his debut - nobody really knew 100% sure it was him untill the earlier updates came
- Robin looked totally different, leaving that goth-style look
- The new arrangements of the new songs like Chinese, The Blues/SOD and Madagascar.

I think that was one of the most exciting nights of the new band along with Vegas/Rio and the newer gigs at Hong Kong.

[HBK]

New leak BETTER Live:   

New Look ROBIN: 

Beatiful Moment In My Lyfe

It-s Only Memories... OOhhhh, OOOHHH, ohhh, OOHHH... OHH

 

[cotis]

wow, really?

Yeah, seriously.

If you have a moderating question, just ask me. No need to spam threads with your "was this moved?" or "what section did you post this in?"

I'm sure nobody else gives a fuck! It doesn't seem to be an important discussion for anybody else in this thread except you since nobody else has asked.

Wonder why.


And yes, I moved it here because it's a GN'R thread.



/jarmo

There's no need to attack me because I asked a question.

Thanks.

[willow]

thoughts shows were the best damn time of my life! So hope to be able to afford to do something like that again someday!! Met lots of great people outside and had a fucking blast inside!!
Had a blast the last night singing along and hanging with fellow gunner LittleFly!!
amy

[prairie]

That was such a great night, it was so cool to be there.  The other cool new thing that happened that night was the first Axl / Baz "My Michelle".   I'm still very greatful to the organizers of the pre-sale for that one.

prairieboy,

[cotis]

Anyways, I remember standing in line at Hammerstein waiting to be let in -- my first GNR show and the whole night just kept building and building until the lights went down. It was insane, I'll never forget it.

Shame I went to the one on Mother's Day -- I think that was the least exciting show in comparing it to opening night, and then the closing night with all the surprises and such.

[prairie]

I thought the mothers day one was cool, Axl talked alot.  That was the night he told a story about during the break in November Rain.  I think the sound was a little better too, I found the first show, Axl's mic wasn't turned up high enough.  Just my opinions though, all in all that was just a sweet experience.

prairieboy,

[w.axl.rose]

agreed, the 2nd night did sound better then the first one. Even bullet for my valentine sounded better then the first night.

[gnrjanus]

guns did a great job and came a long way since the departure of the former members (slash/duff/matt/Gilby)
trouble with the company's and what not, trying to be a band again..  figuring out what to do.
and then Oh my god in 99 blew us away(it did with me and I still like that song) the 2001-02 tour wich wasn't bad in my eyes. all members are as tight as they are now and still they are getting better.

I liked richard back in 02 when I first saw him with the band and after all these years I can say damn man... you've evolved! he's a f*Cking great guitar player and perhaps the best of em all (in terms of Style,playing,his attitude.(hope I don't die soon and wake up as a Gibson guitar for him... damn he would Beat me up!

and still with everything that was bad in gnr's way I think they really came a long way. and I'm proud of em

[One.In.A.Million]

I also remember people looking at the earthcams in times square and on broadway, to try to see if they could see the line of people waiting to get in. 

It was indeed an amazing time to be a GN'R fan, with Axl's radio interview a few days earlier as well. I was so excited to see how the songs sounded compared to 2002, and how Bumblefoot would add to the songs, ( similar to DJ in Tapei ). And who can forget how excited people was when the first photos and videos came in. I remember people saying " Jesus has risen to play guitar for GN'R " meaning Robin's new look. 

[Halo69]

hahaha true, i remember the first updates. i saw all of it on newgnr.com. Axl looked amazingly healthy and in shape on those shows and it was the first time we saw that new cd  i think

to me the happiest day to date though was the skwerl day its funny but i was just so happy, i had a arguing with my gf just like 5 minutes before it happened. It was like a blessing.
I remember i was trying to pick which links i would download first and doing it really fast because i was afraid the links would be taken out, i was franticaly laughing and almost crying looked like a little kid with his first video game console.

[cotis]

I thought the mothers day one was cool, Axl talked alot.  That was the night he told a story about during the break in November Rain.  I think the sound was a little better too, I found the first show, Axl's mic wasn't turned up high enough.  Just my opinions though, all in all that was just a sweet experience.

prairieboy,

Yes I do remember that now!

There was a lot of chatter during that night, I'm going to go watch the DVD of it -- reliving it all over again.

[jazjme]

Was definitely a time to remember, and holy shit 4 yrs, damn!!. Was def cool meeting a bunch of you rocking out at the pre-parties and show!!! great times!!!

[scans n' copies]

I just really hope they do something like that again this year (or whenever they tour the states).  I've already got the plan ready to go to be there this time!  I haven't seen any of the new lineup shows yet and can not wait!!!

And Janus is right, Fortus's beats the hell out of those guitars.  I could watch him play that riff in Better all day long!  Incredible energy

[faldor]

On Thursday 13th May 2010, @bumblefoot said:

It was 4 years ago from last night that I played my first gig with GNR. Since then we played about 40 countries, released Chinese Democracy, and weathered many storms (literally). ***THANK YOU*** to all the GNR fans for an amazing 4 years.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Great to hear it was a special night for tons of folks...so many had written the band off...almost 3 1/2 years after the previous tour had ended mysteriously with the cancelled tour in December, 2002...who was going to replace Buckethead?...what was the vibe gonna be like?...how would the band look?  sound??...were fellow GNR fans gonna be cool to meet at the pre-party?

I remember seeing the entry line into the Hammerstein Ballroom stretching across city blocks.  I remember a tremendously positive vibe...a hopeful vibe was running through the crowd...Once cleared by the security friskers, I remember just standing there arms spread apart, CLEARED!  I'M GOIN' IN!!!  IT'S FINALLY FUCKING HERE!  I remember bounding up the stairwell to the 2nd mezzanine, literally 2 to 3 steps at a time my feet light as air.  I felt like a kid on Christmas morning not knowing what the fuck I was gonna get, but I knew it was gonna be great.

Bullet for my Valentine was loud as fuck.  I thought, oh shit, this place is small...time to break out some earplugs.   I ventured down to the front of the mezz 2 just to get a look around the ballroom.  It was beautiful.  The ceiling was ornately decorated...the sides had fancy balconies...there was a lot of history in this place, you could feel it. 
When Bullet was done, got the earplugs out and could actually talk with my friends.  My voice was shot by this point, and nervous anticipation was filling the air. 

Then, it happens...the opening chords of Jungle...and there he is, Axl looks and sounds fucking amazing!  I was like HOLY SHIT!  Fortus had always looked bad-ass, but now Axl and Finck looked like they were out to conquer the world!  The Bumble rumor had been out there, and now it was confirmed.  What a talented guy and quality human being as well. 

In the nosebleeds at Hammerstein was not bad at all...the section was jumpin' up and down just like the floor.  Fuckin' great stuff.  To hear so many new songs live for the first performance was something special...I will NEVER forget the ending of There Was a Time...Macy Gray was right, Axl just poured everything he had into that vocal, especially the ending.  Pure emotion. 

My Michelle with Sebastian was fucking great.  By the time Nightrain was concluding, the audience was going fucking nuts! as was the band.  Robin was crowd-surfing.  By this time I was completely dehydrated, WHO CARES!?  I was having a blast! 

It was a 3 hour drive from Delaware for me and my friends, and what a great time.  I don't know if that experience can ever be topped.  The fans were so cool.  Mustang Harry's in NYC was fucking great...they had all GNR music playing upstairs, I had a phenomenal burger, fires, drinks...met BigCash2002 along with many other Guns fans. (see ya next time Sinshine!) just great folks all around.  The city was easy to visit, getting in and out was a breeze. 

I hope you all get a chance to experience a day that great.   

P.S. A big thank you to Axl for never giving less than 150%.  He's appreciated more than he'll probably ever realize.
   

[Annie]

Yes, it was truly an affair to remember! And I had a teeny tiny pic of me under Axl's mike in Rollingstone!

Did you get his mic? Cool

No, I was up in the balcony. I really wish that I could have a high quality copy of that pic. Anybody here know George Chin?

[circusboy666]

went to 3/4 hammerstein shows and was so full of anxiety/excitement the memories are still so fresh. truly a special group of shows and very glad to have experienced them. it was a rejuvination for rock music for me personally and i am truly grateful to axl and company for giving me faith that rock n roll is not dead!

[MR.BROWNSTONE]

I was lucky to be able to get to tickets to all four shows. This was also my 1st Guns N' Roses show. It was a great night and week. One I will also never forget. It eas so cool to see them play in a arena of that size. I think no one had a bad spot in that arena. I was able to be on the floor 3 of the 4 nights. I hope one day I can see them play again in a arean like that. Thank you Axl and the rest of Guns N' Roses for a great time.