Does Guns only exist now for nostalgic purposes?

[Limulus]

As others have pointed out, Nostalgia acts setlists aren't loaded with songs off of their latest release.

on the other hand the setlists always have been heavily AFD loaded, too.

[LongGoneDay]

As others have pointed out, Nostalgia acts setlists aren't loaded with songs off of their latest release.

on the other hand the setlists always have been heavily AFD loaded, too.

Yeah, you could probably make the case when they were touring in 2006-07, as those were certainly very heavy on the early stuff(no complaints here).

I think it's more likely that they were attempting to keep the bulk of the Chinese Democracy songs a mystery until the actual release date.

[Limulus]

probably right, it got different since end of 2009. but it doesnt change the fact they did tour under the GN'R name 2001-02, 2006-2007 with many AFD songs on the setlist, hell they always started with jungle, easy, brownstone then!

[westcoast_junkie]

Of course a band play songs from all the catalouge, but that doesn't necessarily turn em into nostalgic acts...But I do agree that some more UYI-stuff in the setlist would be great. Then again, I would miss the ones left out....

And Limulus (alias Twister ), the concerts in 2001-2002 and 2006-2007 did feature lots of CD-songs. Even one that didn't make the album. That's not something a nostalgia-act would do..........

As I said before.........What an unnecessary thread..........

[D]

Axl doesn't for Nostalgic purposes, i think the 2002 and 2006 tours were just to gel the band and build the chemistry i don't think u can build by just jamming in a studio together.

Now I am sure there is a casual fan that goes strictly for the nostalgia but that isn't the band's fault.

[AxlReznor]

A band that exists only for nostalgic purposes don't play music at their gigs that was only released three years ago. If they were interested in being a nostalgia act, a reunion would have happened by now, only playing tracks from the 87-93 era.
Also, we've had confirmation from pretty much everyone involved that Axl is constantly writing, and I'm sure the other guys are coming up with potential Guns tracks, too. The only question is if/when they get around to getting them out. I think they will... eventually. But at the moment they're still touring, and Tommy has some of his own stuff to get out of his system in down-time (he's been in Guns mode pretty much full time since he finished the VGH tour).

[One.In.A.Million]

No, I don't believe for one second that GN'R are a nostalgic act. In fact the Chinese Democracy era has cemented GN'R's place into a legendary band who kept on growing and evolving, rather than a band like Crue for example. GN'R in reality cannot be further from that idea really, with new members, music and a new image which has always slowly evolved.

But the problem comes with the US, because I do believe the people there see GN'R as a band in the same category as Poison, Crue, Kiss....and this makes me sick. GN'R are regarded as Gods and legends in places like South America, Europe and Asia. And the places afformentioned see GN'R in the correct manner, which is evolving artists who are legends.

But the US has always seemed to put GN'R into the "nostolgic" catergory, which is plain wrong...

[faldor]

No, I don't believe for one second that GN'R are a nostalgic act. In fact the Chinese Democracy era has cemented GN'R's place into a legendary band who kept on growing and evolving, rather than a band like Crue for example. GN'R in reality cannot be further from that idea really, with new members, music and a new image which has always slowly evolved.

But the problem comes with the US, because I do believe the people there see GN'R as a band in the same category as Poison, Crue, Kiss....and this makes me sick. GN'R are regarded as Gods and legends in places like South America, Europe and Asia. And the places afformentioned see GN'R in the correct manner, which is evolving artists who are legends.

But the US has always seemed to put GN'R into the "nostolgic" catergory, which is plain wrong...

I don't think the US puts them in the same category as Poison, but I do think MOST Americans long for the AFD or UYI GNR lineup.  Although, aside from South America, I think that's the case throughout most of the world.  People generally do love nostalgia.  They love to see something familiar and think back to the good old days. 

IF the new lineup made themselves a little more visible and put their stamp on the scene, then things might change.  Unfortunately though, that hasn't happened as of yet.  At least not in the US.

[LongGoneDay]

No, I don't believe for one second that GN'R are a nostalgic act. In fact the Chinese Democracy era has cemented GN'R's place into a legendary band who kept on growing and evolving, rather than a band like Crue for example. GN'R in reality cannot be further from that idea really, with new members, music and a new image which has always slowly evolved.

But the problem comes with the US, because I do believe the people there see GN'R as a band in the same category as Poison, Crue, Kiss....and this makes me sick. GN'R are regarded as Gods and legends in places like South America, Europe and Asia. And the places afformentioned see GN'R in the correct manner, which is evolving artists who are legends.

But the US has always seemed to put GN'R into the "nostolgic" catergory, which is plain wrong...

I'm really not sure that's the perception of GN'R in the states.
In their heyday anyway, they were considered the lone cool band that came out of that scene of cheesy bands you mention. I still think people feel that way, the only difference is their heyday is long over.
A lot of people consider them the last great rock n' roll band, up there with Zep, Stones etc.

In my circle of friends, no one likes GN'R any less today than they growing up.
They just aren't into the post Illusion era, so to them, GN'R is dead.

[One.In.A.Million]

I know what you guys are saying... I guess I feel the same way as Axl in regards to it's alot more of a longer road about old guns in the US, compared to Europe and other districts.

I just feel that the rest of the world see's GN'R more as legends, the way they should be seen... than the US does.

[Albert S Miller]

I totally get what you guys are saying, I am one of those fine americans who are the exception to the rule.  If they would just come to Seattle I would party so hard with them it would make up for" the lack of" the others here seem to be missing .  Guess I am one who has never forgotten and never stops appreciating the finer things in life, GNR are in my book  "So Fine"!!

[Verasa]

Axl said it himself in the 2002 vma interview. How do you rebuild something that was so big, so huge, replace every member and  re- create something that already was?  I do think he has done a fantastic job, but america is just a tough sell for it. Most Americans have a vision or a preference of what GnR is/was and its just not going to be changed. Not to mention, Axl doesnt really do alot to change it in the states.  I cant speak for anywhere else around the world. It seems to me that other places around the globe have a much more open mind about music than the states. The states are perfectly fine being force fed top 40 and any new hip hop or R&B FOTW artist. The states will never warm up to the new band. It doesnt matter how many albums will be released..the next one will sell less in the states than CD.

[D]

Well, last i checked gnr did very well in the big markets... Axl just has to stop going to these small Midwestern markets and keep the tour in the big ones like Chicago,NY,Boston,LA etc



.

[One.In.A.Million]

I totally get what you guys are saying, I am one of those fine americans who are the exception to the rule.  If they would just come to Seattle I would party so hard with them it would make up for" the lack of" the others here seem to be missing .  Guess I am one who has never forgotten and never stops appreciating the finer things in life, GNR are in my book  "So Fine"!!

And that's what makes me still have hope for the US fans, are fans like you. But in all seriousness, there are thousands of fans who thankfully share your desire for GN'R in the US. It's just that it's alot less compared to other countries, and in more cases than not the majority of US fans can't get passed the old band...

That's what I've come to see from what I've witness over the years... I've seen GN'R 3 times in North America, 2 times in Las Vegas and once in Toronto, Canada. And I must say that those crowds were the exception to the rule, but in places like Florida, and similar markets, I can imagine the crowd being stuck in 1987.

I agree with D about GN'R sticking to the main cities like NY, LA etc, but I would like to see GN'R do more intimate club shows, so that they know only hardcore fans will turn up, especially in those smaller US markets...

[Bodhi]

If you look back at some of my posts in other topics similar to this you see I have tried to explain the American mindset towards modern day Guns N Roses as opposed to other countries.  This is just my interpretation of what I hear and read from American fans. 

It seems the American audience has a sense of ownership of the band, since its an American band.  To them, GNR is the "Appetite" or "illusion" line up and any deviation from that is usually met with negativity.  To them GNR is also a  classic hard rock band, and any deviation from that sound is also met with negativity. 

I truly believe that GNR would sell millions of records and play stadiums in the States if they had the original line up and just played old Slash style riffs with Axl singing over them, even if the songs were not as good as "Chinese Democracy."  Look at bands like Metallica, Aerosmith, and Ac/Dc.  Those bands sell out arenas and stadiums no problem here in the states, and they sell a lot of records too.  "Death Magnetic" and "Black Ice" were just weaker versions of those bands previous efforts and both of them dominated the Billboard charts.

The bottom line is Americans like familiarity.  They like a familiar looking line up putting out familiar sounding songs.  Guns N Roses today is not only a totally different sounding band, it is a different line up.  Those are the two things Americans identify with most and they are not there. 

I thought GNR tried to do something with "CD" that had never been done before and pulled it off brilliantly.  I was one of the fans like many of you who checked the bands movements on this site everyday for the decade leading up to "CD."  I was completely happy with the album and can't wait for more from them.  I see GNR live every chance I get, and I always will.  I am the exception to the rule though here in the states.  For every one of me there seem to be 10 "fans" that spread nothing but negativity.

[Limulus]

I truly believe that GNR would sell millions of records and play stadiums in the States if they had the original line up and just played old Slash style riffs with Axl singing over them, even if the songs were not as good as "Chinese Democracy." 

all subjective but dont rule out the big chance that those songs could have been much better 

[LongGoneDay]

If you look back at some of my posts in other topics similar to this you see I have tried to explain the American mindset towards modern day Guns N Roses as opposed to other countries.  This is just my interpretation of what I hear and read from American fans. 

It seems the American audience has a sense of ownership of the band, since its an American band.  To them, GNR is the "Appetite" or "illusion" line up and any deviation from that is usually met with negativity.  To them GNR is also a  classic hard rock band, and any deviation from that sound is also met with negativity. 

I truly believe that GNR would sell millions of records and play stadiums in the States if they had the original line up and just played old Slash style riffs with Axl singing over them, even if the songs were not as good as "Chinese Democracy."  Look at bands like Metallica, Aerosmith, and Ac/Dc.  Those bands sell out arenas and stadiums no problem here in the states, and they sell a lot of records too.  "Death Magnetic" and "Black Ice" were just weaker versions of those bands previous efforts and both of them dominated the Billboard charts.

The bottom line is Americans like familiarity.  They like a familiar looking line up putting out familiar sounding songs.  Guns N Roses today is not only a totally different sounding band, it is a different line up.  Those are the two things Americans identify with most and they are not there. 

I thought GNR tried to do something with "CD" that had never been done before and pulled it off brilliantly.  I was one of the fans like many of you who checked the bands movements on this site everyday for the decade leading up to "CD."  I was completely happy with the album and can't wait for more from them.  I see GNR live every chance I get, and I always will.  I am the exception to the rule though here in the states.  For every one of me there seem to be 10 "fans" that spread nothing but negativity.

I agree with just about everything you said here, with one big exception. I don't view it as a negative.

I would say just about every band has it's shelf life creatively. The average bands is not long, and the greats are longer than most, but for the most part, bands that stick around eventually put out less than fantastic records.
The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Metallica, etc have almost as many weak albums as great ones, but that is just something people have come to expect from bands that have been around as long as they have. I don't think the majority of fans are really going to a Stones concert to hear "A Bigger Bang". I'm sure most people are hoping they won't hear anything off the latest record at all. Regardless of the setlist, they get to see the people that created the music they love. I think somehow people really underestimate that.

Like you said, Chinese Democracy is a new band and sound. If the original lineup was touring, you are right, it would be a huge success.
They would not even need a new album, because at the very least, people would have a chance to see the members that created those sounds on the records they love.

A lot of people were underwhelmed with Chinese Democracy, so it's tough to find fault with someone who doesn't want to spend $70+ to see a new band they were never a fan of to begin with.

There are fans of the classic lineup. There are fans of the new lineup. There are fans of both.
I don't view any as a negative (except maybe for the sick fucks who's aren't fans of GN'R, period).

[LunsJail]

I truly believe that GNR would sell millions of records and play stadiums in the States if they had the original line up and just played old Slash style riffs with Axl singing over them, even if the songs were not as good as "Chinese Democracy." 

all subjective but dont rule out the big chance that those songs could have been much better 

Maybe. But we should also acknowledge the fact that some people just don't love CD. I know people who didn't connect to the songs at all. It isn't always just a "it's not the old band" thing.

[Verasa]

If you look back at some of my posts in other topics similar to this you see I have tried to explain the American mindset towards modern day Guns N Roses as opposed to other countries.  This is just my interpretation of what I hear and read from American fans. 

It seems the American audience has a sense of ownership of the band, since its an American band.  To them, GNR is the "Appetite" or "illusion" line up and any deviation from that is usually met with negativity.  To them GNR is also a  classic hard rock band, and any deviation from that sound is also met with negativity. 

I truly believe that GNR would sell millions of records and play stadiums in the States if they had the original line up and just played old Slash style riffs with Axl singing over them, even if the songs were not as good as "Chinese Democracy."  Look at bands like Metallica, Aerosmith, and Ac/Dc.  Those bands sell out arenas and stadiums no problem here in the states, and they sell a lot of records too.  "Death Magnetic" and "Black Ice" were just weaker versions of those bands previous efforts and both of them dominated the Billboard charts.

The bottom line is Americans like familiarity.  They like a familiar looking line up putting out familiar sounding songs.  Guns N Roses today is not only a totally different sounding band, it is a different line up.  Those are the two things Americans identify with most and they are not there. 

I thought GNR tried to do something with "CD" that had never been done before and pulled it off brilliantly.  I was one of the fans like many of you who checked the bands movements on this site everyday for the decade leading up to "CD."  I was completely happy with the album and can't wait for more from them.  I see GNR live every chance I get, and I always will.  I am the exception to the rule though here in the states.  For every one of me there seem to be 10 "fans" that spread nothing but negativity.

I think you're spot on on several points. Honestly, I  think Americans  just dont give a shit. They dont care. Even if the original lineup in some bizzare turn of events got back together and toured, after the initial shock and going to the first few dates I think it would die off and they would be playing to 3/4 full houses and that would be that. Especially if Slash had his way and they were going on stage every gig on time and there was nothing to gossip about. I could very much be wrong and not have the full grasp of how bad the casual person wants to see a GnR reunion across the entire US, but I'd imagine smaller markets would still be a tough sell.

As far as the US goes, I think Axl, in reality has made the best decisions he can make. He doesnt draw a lot of attention to the new lineup, doesnt do many interviews, the band in general doesnt do a lot of US interviews for major media outlets and he just put out the record and let it speak for it self. I thought it was HIGHLY underrated and haters couldnt listen to it for what it really was, they had their minds madeup before they even listened to it. So for him to go out and try to sell it when he has that to deal with is just setting himself up for rage!! 

Do they exist for nostalgia reasons? No, They are a rock & roll band.. and a damn good one

[D]

U have to remember also, in the United States we got a million different things fighting over our entertainment dollar......... I think in some other countries, choices aren't as prominent so when GNR comes to town or any big concert.. there isn't a lot competing for your money.

That isn't suppose to sound like a diss or like an asshole thing...... if im wrong please tell me


so here... I think its the reputation of the late starts etc... most people these days just don't want to stay out that late.

In the United States, we have become a microwave society.. we want what we want when we want it and we have little patience and definitely don't like to wait on anything. So there may be 5 or 6 choices coming to town... and most weigh it out and decide to spend their money on what seems to be the "safe" choice.