New Dj interview at LegendaryRockInterviews.com (Sep 2014)

[GeorgeSteele]

people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is not GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people

That is true.  So is this:

"people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people"
 

Where are all these people?  Witness protection?

If what you are alleging is true, they would not be having the problems they are having right now with smaller venues and unsold tickets in larger ones.

Of course, it important to define what you are really saying.  If you are saying there are still enough people willing to buy a ticket to see present day GNR if they want to go to a GNR concert in some capacity, I'd agree with you.  It may not be in huge numbers, but those tickets are being sold.  And no one buying them is under any delusions as to who will be on that stage.

But if you are saying people look at the current state of affairs and are willing to consider them Guns N' Roses, that's a harder sell.  Not much supports that.  No one really knows who these guys are or any of their songs.  If you put a gun to people's head and asked for such answers, you'd have to shoot a hell of a lot of people.  

You can't keep using bad logic.  Less demand is not no demand.  Less popular than old band does not equal 'everyone thinks this isn't Guns N' Roses'.  Basically, what you and Jaeball are saying is this:  

Because it's what you've done, just about all the people who have bought CD (multi-millions) and people who have been going to shows since 2006 are really Slash fans spending money on a band they don't acknowledge.  

If that's what you believe, then we'll just have to move on.

[D-GenerationX]

edit: i also missed the brooklyn bowl... had an important family matter going

Yeah, and I missed the Electric Factory show in 2012 because of work.

Then I hear the bootleg, and its probably the best he sounded all year.  God damn it.

Maybe it's karma. 

Hey, I went to Camden and he actually showed up.  I didn't want to tempt fate only 3 months later.

[EmilyGNR]

people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is not GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people

That is true.  So is this:

"people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people"
 

Where are all these people?  Witness protection?

If what you are alleging is true, they would not be having the problems they are having right now with smaller venues and unsold tickets in larger ones.

Of course, it important to define what you are really saying.  If you are saying there are still enough people willing to buy a ticket to see present day GNR if they want to go to a GNR concert in some capacity, I'd agree with you.  It may not be in huge numbers, but those tickets are being sold.  And no one buying them is under any delusions as to who will be on that stage.

But if you are saying people look at the current state of affairs and are willing to consider them Guns N' Roses, that's a harder sell.  Not much supports that.  No one really knows who these guys are or any of their songs.  If you put a gun to people's head and asked for such answers, you'd have to shoot a hell of a lot of people.  

The reason for MANY popular artist not selling out large stadium is the high cost
of ticket prices in a down economy. Many popular artists have resorted to selling
discounted tickets and many tickets are given away. Even Bruce Springsteen tickets
went to Groupon.

Also who is the "we" that you referred to when you said "we" moved on?
I'm stuck on this:

Why not answer for everyone else's sake?
Were you even aware of Guns N' Roses in 1991?
Were you old enough to go to shows without a parent?

[GeorgeSteele]

You don't think a lot of people who bought CD and have been going to shows the past 8 years in every corner of the globe accept the current band?  You think just about all those people are patronizing a band they don't acknowledge to exist?

I think over half of the people in those buildings (and I'm being conservative) are in the "take what we can get" camp.

If your options are to hear GNR music played by these guys, or not hear GNR music played by anyone, they'd rather the former.  But it that a ringing endorsement, really?

For one thing, I don't know about over half, but neither do you, so we'll let that go.  Either way, we're still talking about a lot of people, not just 6 people on a message board (yes, I know you were exaggerating).  

Second, "take what we can get" does not mean "we don't think this is GNR".  I'm a take what we can get guy, but it's still GNR to me.

[D-GenerationX]

So the fact that the Hard Rock Hotel wants the band back means there's a lack of demand....

You asked me to stop using the Philly Electric Factory show as an example of a place not selling out.  So I offered you Las Vegas, which didn't sell out either.

Your sole example one was show in your hometown that happened three months after the band last played in the area. Yet you didn't even try to find a reason. Something you're quick to do regarding anything that happened before 1996....

Once again, Las Vegas did not sell out.  Philly was not an isolated incident.  

And if you want to get international about it, some of the places down South America way didn't come close to selling out.  But I left them out because they were still some big crowds.  The ones in this country are troubling because you should be able to move 3-4,000 seats in a major city.

You and your real world. Let's see, you keep telling me how things are at shows I attended. And yet you're the one in the real world?

Your credibility was gone the day you admitted you don't consider this Guns N' Roses. That kind of chip on one's shoulder says it all. You're as biased as everyone else. Something that's apparent by the fact that giving credit for the current band is only something you do very rarely.

I'm just up front and honest.

I'm not looking to get my hand stamped for trotting out a bunch of arguments and positions I know to be erroneous and often laughable.  There's no laminated pass at the end of my rainbow, so I can speak freely.

If your options are to hear GNR music played by these guys, or not hear GNR music played by anyone, they'd rather the former.  But it that a ringing endorsement, really?

Yes. It means people WANT TO HEAR AXL ROSE sing the songs. They might not care who plays what as long as they get to hear the voice of Guns N' Roses. The one thing that most people recognize as identifying an artist or a band. The singer.

I know, it hurts.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT

Did someone hack your password?  Because that's exactly what I've been saying for a year.  You are suddenly onboard?  Praise Jeebus.

This has just become my most memorable day at this place.

[LongGoneDay]

people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is not GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people

That is true.  So is this:

"people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people"
 

to a lot of people?

I know it is for some..and im totally cool with that.... but a lot of people?

You don't think a lot of people who bought CD and have been going to shows the past 8 years in every corner of the globe accept the current band?  You think just about all those people are patronizing a band they don't acknowledge to exist?

Maybe a lot of them are there for the new members. I don?t pretend to know for sure one way or the other.
I will say that in 2006 I convinced 8 of my friends to give the new band a chance and check out their show in Worcester, MA.
They were/are all huge fans of AFD-SI Guns, but not interested in the overhauled incarnation. They were there to see Axl.
They didn?t leave feeling as though they had just witnessed a Guns N? Roses show.
I suspect our group was far from alone in that regard.

When I go see Megadeth, I?d prefer it was Marty Friedman and Nick Menza up on stage, but that?s not an option, so I pay to see the next best thing.
They always deliver, but it?s a different feel than the shows I caught back in the mid nineties when the players on stage were the ones that recorded the songs I was there to hear.

[Spirit]

people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is not GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people

That is true.  So is this:

"people don't want to say it or admit it...but this is GNR to so many people without Slash...I know it stings...but thats the way it is for a lot of people"
 

Where are all these people?  Witness protection?

If what you are alleging is true, they would not be having the problems they are having right now with smaller venues and unsold tickets in larger ones.

Of course, it important to define what you are really saying.  If you are saying there are still enough people willing to buy a ticket to see present day GNR if they want to go to a GNR concert in some capacity, I'd agree with you.  It may not be in huge numbers, but those tickets are being sold.  And no one buying them is under any delusions as to who will be on that stage.

But if you are saying people look at the current state of affairs and are willing to consider them Guns N' Roses, that's a harder sell.  Not much supports that.  No one really knows who these guys are or any of their songs.  If you put a gun to people's head and asked for such answers, you'd have to shoot a hell of a lot of people.  

I think,

If GN'R comes out with a set of new songs and the marketing is done right, and the songs reaches out to the whole world. If the quality of the material is there, with people liking the music, the venues will fill up.

The break-up of the old line-up is so long ago now that I think the amount of people caring whether or not Slash is part of the group to the extent that they won't attend shows is shrinking for each year that passes. The quality (and presence) of new material is more important.

The only way Axl can run a sold-out tour right now, is releasing quality material. That's also how it should be I think. That keeps the spectacle rolling.


I said the only way, but there's also of course the possibility of reunion shows. But, I would rather attend a GN'R show which is sold-out because of a new single/album release than seeing the original line-up for nostalgic reasons. I think that would have been a short-lived sort of heaven. In the aftermath of a reunion I don't think Axl would want to continue with the GN'R name.

If they're up for it in some years time, and ready to set the definite period to the life of GN'R, it would be perfect.

[gnrfan1797]

Just to throw in some financial talk. If the illusion tour was at this day n age what would be the gross? I know when it happened I think it was like 90 million.

[D-GenerationX]

The reason for MANY popular artist not selling out large stadium is the high cost of ticket prices in a down economy. Many popular artists have resorted to selling discounted tickets and many tickets are given away. Even Bruce Springsteen tickets went to Groupon.

Very true.

Stadiums are a rare breed for rock.  You can count those acts on hand and not use the thumb : Stones, U2, Springsteen.  There's your list.

But like you said, the cost is a bitch.  Even the Stones haven't done stadiums here in the U.S. in over 10 years.  They just do 20,000 arenas at $600 a pop.  Yikes.  Last your was the first Stones tour I missed since 1994.  Can't justify paying $600 unless I had literally never seen them and it was a bucket list thing.  

Also who is the "we" that you referred to when you said "we" moved on?

The few of us that tried in vain to get you to defend your own point at least 3-4 times.  You weren't having it.

Perhaps, one day, after you've gone to see the Wizard, we can revisit it.

I'm stuck on this:

Why not answer for everyone else's sake?
Were you even aware of Guns N' Roses in 1991?
Were you old enough to go to shows without a parent?

<insert unhinged name calling rant and non-answer here>

[D-GenerationX]

Maybe a lot of them are there for the new members. I don?t pretend to know for sure one way or the other.
I will say that in 2006 I convinced 8 of my friends to give the new band a chance and check out their show in Worcester, MA.
They were/are all huge fans of AFD-SI Guns, but not interested in the overhauled incarnation. They were there to see Axl.
They didn?t leave feeling as though they had just witnessed a Guns N? Roses show.
I suspect our group was far from alone in that regard.

When I go see Megadeth, I?d prefer it was Marty Friedman and Nick Menza up on stage, but that?s not an option, so I pay to see the next best thing.
They always deliver, but it?s a different feel than the shows I caught back in the mid nineties when the players on stage were the ones that recorded the songs I was there to hear.

Magnificently stated.  Wouldn't change a word.

[GeorgeSteele]

Maybe a lot of them are there for the new members. I don?t pretend to know for sure one way or the other.
I will say that in 2006 I convinced 8 of my friends to give the new band a chance and check out their show in Worcester, MA.
They were/are all huge fans of AFD-SI Guns, but not interested in the overhauled incarnation. They were there to see Axl.
They didn?t leave feeling as though they had just witnessed a Guns N? Roses show.
I suspect our group was far from alone in that regard.

When I go see Megadeth, I?d prefer it was Marty Friedman and Nick Menza up on stage, but that?s not an option, so I pay to see the next best thing.
They always deliver, but it?s a different feel than the shows I caught back in the mid nineties when the players on stage were the ones that recorded the songs I was there to hear.

Those are all different things.  

A person not being there for new members doesn't mean that person doesn't think the band is Guns N' Roses.  That person may not have had any connection to any particular members, past or present.

Also, I would agree your group was 'far from alone' in the crowd in feeling that the band was not GNR.  But I also suspect anyone who did not share that sentiment was "far from alone".

A "next best thing" approach is not a rejection of the band.  Having a favorite incarnation that is different from the current one is not equivalent to rejecting the current incarnation.  

[jarmo]

Hey, I went to Camden and he actually showed up.  I didn't want to tempt fate only 3 months later.

Axl hasn't canceled a show in years. You should know better since you are so concerned with credibility.
Production issues that are out of his hands don't count.

Obvious trolling detected.

You asked me to stop using the Philly Electric Factory show as an example of a place not selling out.  So I offered you Las Vegas, which didn't sell out either.

Oh my God. You're pathetic.
Fine, as far as I know, Guns N' Roses has never managed to sell out all their shows on every tour. Happy now?

And if you want to get international about it, some of the places down South America way didn't come close to selling out.  But I left them out because they were still some big crowds.  The ones in this country are troubling because you should be able to move 3-4,000 seats in a major city.

Most bands might play a handful of shows in South America, or Brazil. GN'R didn't. They went to the people instead of making the fans travel.
Did you expect all shows to sell out? No, you probably expected nobody to show up. Because there's less demand....  

If something is troubling, it should be the fact that Meallica for example find it difficult to do a proper tour in the US. That says something about the situation. Not exactly GN'R specific. Once again...

I'm just up front and honest.

Your so called honesty is colored by your disliking of the fact that Axl kept going and people go see GN'R.

Did someone hack your password?  Because that's exactly what I've been saying for a year.  You are suddenly onboard?  Praise Jeebus.

This has just become my most memorable day at this place.

Onboard what?

So you're admitting people don't necessarily care if Slash isn't there, or Izzy, Steven or whoever. That's been what we've been telling you all along. A bunch of people don't associate bands with the people who play instruments, it's the voice.

If you say people don't care who plays guitar as long as Axl sings, it applies to all guitar players. Not specific to today!
The difference is that you say they care about one guy but not the others. Not necessarily true... Sorry.

The general beer drinking concert goers are a different group than GN'R fans in general. As we said earlier, most of these people couldn't name the "original five" if you asked them.

But the longer the tour went on, the more people realized what an amazing band it is. Even if they didn't know the band members' names at the beginning of the show. If you would've gone to a show, you would've seen this.



/jarmo

[D-GenerationX]

Just to throw in some financial talk. If the illusion tour was at this day n age what would be the gross? I know when it happened I think it was like 90 million.

Oh, HUGE bank.

Summer 1991, U.S. : ampitheaters & arenas
Summer 1991, Europe : stadiums

Winter 1991 / Spring 1992, U.S. : arenas
Spring 1992, Japan : stadiums

Summer 1992, Eurpoe : stadiums
Summer 1991, U.S. : stadiums

Winter 1992 / Spring 1993, South America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand : stadiums

Spring 1993, U.S. : arenas

Summer 1993, Europe, South America : stadiums

Now, you factor all that in, but with today's prices?  They make an absolute mint.

And that's even with the 1992 stadium tour here not really selling out and having to split the gate with Metallica.  We are still talking HUGE bucks.

[jarmo]

Summer 1991, Europe : stadiums

Not true. All shows in Scandinavia were indoor arenas. The one German and English gig were stadiums/outdoor.



/jarmo

[McGann]

I became a fan
In 1987
And never looked back.

This lineup is Guns,
Legally and by action
(And word of McGann)

Know The Four Freshmen?
Longest touring band ever...
Members always change.

Fan base stays loyal
Few complaints are heard, indeed...
The Freshmen live on.

This is GnR
By the letter of the law
Let's shoot this dead horse


/Splash

Mike

[EmilyGNR]

The reason for MANY popular artist not selling out large stadium is the high cost of ticket prices in a down economy. Many popular artists have resorted to selling discounted tickets and many tickets are given away. Even Bruce Springsteen tickets went to Groupon.

Very true.

Stadiums are a rare breed for rock.  You can count those acts on hand and not use the thumb : Stones, U2, Springsteen.  There's your list.

But like you said, the cost is a bitch.  Even the Stones haven't done stadiums here in the U.S. in over 10 years.  They just do 20,000 arenas at $600 a pop.  Yikes.  Last your was the first Stones tour I missed since 1994.  Can't justify paying $600 unless I had literally never seen them and it was a bucket list thing.  

Also who is the "we" that you referred to when you said "we" moved on?

The few of us that tried in vain to get you to defend your own point at least 3-4 times.  You weren't having it.

Perhaps, one day, after you've gone to see the Wizard, we can revisit it.

I'm stuck on this:

Why not answer for everyone else's sake?
Were you even aware of Guns N' Roses in 1991?
Were you old enough to go to shows without a parent?

<insert unhinged name calling rant and non-answer here>

Since my questions bother you enough to evade them four times, let me rephrase:
Were you even aware of Rolling Stones in 1984?
Were you old enough to go to their 1994 show without an adult?

[D-GenerationX]

Hey, I went to Camden and he actually showed up.  I didn't want to tempt fate only 3 months later.

Axl hasn't canceled a show in years. You should know better since you are so concerned with credibility.
Production issues that are out of his hands don't count.

Obvious trolling detected.

But how many other major acts do people go to making gallows humor jokes about them not showing up?  That's more what I mean.

Percentage wise, that's asked at a GNR tailgate in far higher numbers than other comparable acts.  The track record is what it is, I'm afraid.  Not unringing that bell.  When your big trump card is that he hasn't pulled a no show lately, its a topic best avoided, I'd think.

I'll also ask this, even thought I'm pretty sure I know the answer : has any cancellation or storm off stage ever been his fault, as you see it?

You asked me to stop using the Philly Electric Factory show as an example of a place not selling out.  So I offered you Las Vegas, which didn't sell out either.

Oh my God. You're pathetic.

Fine, as far as I know, Guns N' Roses has never managed to sell out all their shows on every tour. Happy now?

If my answers frighten you, Vincent, then stop asking scary questions.  

Of course they haven't sold out every show, ever.  Which has never actually been said, of course.

What has been said, is being said, and will be said until they retire as a live act, is that 0% of shows in small club venues should have trouble selling out.  That should never, ever, EVER happen.  All the more so as we are consistently told how well things are rolling along.  Inability to move 4,000 seats in a major U.S. city is a red flag of Paul Bunyan proportions.

I'm just up front and honest.

Your so called honesty is colored by your disliking of the fact that Axl kept going and people go see GN'R.

Good call by you.

I'm scouring the internet for every possible leak for 6 fucking years, paying to see the band in its current incarnation, and beating the drum louder than anyone for a new album from this line-up...which are all GREAT indicators that I'm butthurt Axl decided to keep going.  That follows, logically.

Give me a fucking break with that.
 

Did someone hack your password?  Because that's exactly what I've been saying for a year.  You are suddenly onboard?  Praise Jeebus.

This has just become my most memorable day at this place.

Onboard what?

That people go to see the band these days because its Axl Rose singing GNR tunes backed by who the hell cares who.  

That's been my stance all along.  They are taking what they can get and rolling with it.  I'm glad you came around.  

See?  Real world isn't such a scary place.  Welcome.

[D-GenerationX]

Summer 1991, Europe : stadiums

Not true. All shows in Scandinavia were indoor arenas. The one German and English gig were stadiums/outdoor.

Well, that changes EVERYTHING.

[D-GenerationX]

I became a fan
In 1987
And never looked back.

This lineup is Guns,
Legally and by action
(And word of McGann)

Know The Four Freshmen?
Longest touring band ever...
Members always change.

Fan base stays loyal
Few complaints are heard, indeed...
The Freshmen live on.

This is GnR
By the letter of the law
Let's shoot this dead horse


/Splash

Mike

Hahahaha

"splash"...nice reference.

[D-GenerationX]

Because it's what you've done, just about all the people who have bought CD (multi-millions) and people who have been going to shows since 2006 are really Slash fans spending money on a band they don't acknowledge.  

No, I have always rejected the talking point that Axl is trying to fake people out by using old shots of the band in ads.  By 2006 (and I'd argue some time before) everyone knew the score.

I'd say the people buying tickets since 2006 know the deal and have made their peace with it.

A far, far bigger portion of the original fanbase simply stopped caring.  They aren't putting 6,000 to 8,000 people in a basketball/hockey arena because that's all the Guns N' Roses fans left in that city.  Its because that's how many Guns N' Roses fans in that city will accept this version of the band.