GNR Keyboardist CHRIS PITMAN Apologizes For Calling Reunion 'Nostalgia Tour'

[dmathski]

No?

No.

Chris was a part of NuGuns since the day Axl moved the band forward with new players.  Chris and Richard are the only two left standing from that day one.  Richard hasn't had to eat as much shit from day one as Chris because everyone accepted that Izzy did not want to be a permanent part of GNR.  Plus the fact that there is such a strong resemblance between Richard and Izzy, it probably took 80% of the casual fans years before they realized it wasn't Izzy.

Richard joined in 2002 after Paul Tobias. Tommy has been there sense 98 or 99

[GypsySoul]

Richard was not a day one member, for starters.

I stand corrected.  Chris is the ONLY one left standing since day one.

But more to the point, again, where has Chris taken heat?

He's had to deal with shit remarks like this since day one and that tweet was the first time in 20 years he's lashed out.

Sizable chunks of folks aren't 100% sure what he even does.  "keyboards & stuff" is probably going to be your most heard answer.

[D-GenerationX]

Is that wrong?

Let's look at this, 'Family Fued' rules : We asked 100 people...top 5 answers on the board.

[GypsySoul]

Is that wrong??

Yes it is wrong that he has had hate spewed at him for 20 years for no reason.  Just because the fans do not understand the extent of what Chris' contributions have and do mean in the scheme of Axl's vision of the direction Axl wanted/wants for GNR, shouldn't result in some fans dismissing or demeaning Chris' value to the band.
 

[D-GenerationX]

Is that wrong??

Yes it is wrong that he has had hate spewed at him for 20 years for no reason.  Just because the fans do not understand the extent of what Chris' contributions have and do mean in the scheme of Axl's vision of the direction Axl wanted/wants for GNR, shouldn't result in some fans dismissing or demeaning Chris' value to the band.
 

Yeah, this is getting a little deep. 

Little too deep, maybe.

[Dead N' Bloated]

Drunk or not, Pitman absolutely has a point. He has been there for longer than anyone aside from Axl and Dizzy and has been shafted because a couple of former members have returned. Don't get me wrong, I am more excited for this reunion than I ever thought I would be, but I entirely get why Chris is pissed.




 

[Factory Girl]

Well, that's what it takes to be in Axl's band.
If it was too much pressure for him, he could always leave. I'm sure there would be a line of guys who play "keyboards and stuff" ready to replace him, take his paycheck and the pressure if they had to.
He cannot expect love and recognition from the fans just because he's been with Axl for fifty years. No offense to Chris, but if that's what's he is looking for, he should start his own band.

[Virolec]

In general, I think that the guitar players have had far more shit than any of the other new/nu/CD-era/ whatever members.  People probably don't dislike Chris as much as not notice him, really.  People scoffed at the revolving door of guitarists (comparisons to Spinal Tap's drummers and so on), but it was the absence of Slash and to a lesser extent other classic-era members, that bothered people, not the presence of Chris Pitman.

Anyway, what he said is no big deal.  It's not like he called someone a cancer, or anything.

[GNR4LIFEJD]

I hate to say this but if Axl had come out at some point to give his vision or direction he wants go in with his band whoever he wants with him this could all be avoided because all thats been going on is speculation outside of Axl, Slash n Duff being in.

[GypsySoul]

If it was too much pressure for him, he could always leave.

Too much pressure??  He made in a moment of frustration and apologized for ONE stupid comment in 18+ years of collaborating in the ever evolving dynamic that is GNR.  Hardly a case of not being able to handle the pressure. 

It's not like he called someone a cancer, or anything.

Don't think we would have gotten to this point in time if an apology and it's acceptance hadn't taken place.
Maybe that one stupid comment made in a moment of frustration was the catalyst for the subsequent re-connection.
Maybe the consequent rejoining is truly an intercession from heaven above.

[CherryGarcia]

If it was too much pressure for him, he could always leave.

Too much pressure??  He made in a moment of frustration and apologized for ONE stupid comment in 18+ years of collaborating in the ever evolving dynamic that is GNR.  Hardly a case of not being able to handle the pressure. 

It's not like he called someone a cancer, or anything.

Don't think we would have gotten to this point in time if an apology and it's acceptance hadn't taken place.
Maybe that one stupid comment made in a moment of frustration was the catalyst for the subsequent re-connection.
Maybe the consequent rejoining is truly an intercession from heaven above.

One album in 15 years isn't exactly an "ever evolving dynamic".
Also, I thought day 1 of NuGuns was when Slash left and Robin came into the band in 1997?
Cause Pitman didn't join until 1998. After Josh Freese and Robin were already there.
He added some keyboard parts and played some live shows. It's not exactly like he's the MVP of the band. I can't even hear most of what he's playing on the record.

[faldor]

One album in 15 years isn't exactly an "ever evolving dynamic".
Also, I thought day 1 of NuGuns was when Slash left and Robin came into the band in 1997?
Cause Pitman didn't join until 1998. After Josh Freese and Robin were already there.
He added some keyboard parts and played some live shows. It's not exactly like he's the MVP of the band. I can't even hear most of what he's playing on the record.

These are some of the comments I imagine upset him. Among others such as, who needs a 2nd keyboardist? He's useless. What the hell does he do anyway? What the hell is sub bass? He has no business being included in a reunion.

I can see how reading those things might strike a nerve. He lashed out before thinking things through, he's now apologized. So I guess it's back to business as usual. You're now free to commence complaining about what he does or doesn't do and how he doesn't deserve to be in the band anymore and never did in the first place. Have fun!

[raindog]

Sorry, are we actually supposed to be feeling sorry for a guy who has spent the last 15 years travelling the world and making a large amount of money (and then proceeded to have the nerve to shit all over the organisation) because some big meanies on the Internet said a hard rock band doesn't need a second keyboard player?

A guy who made his money very much for the most part on the back of songs that he had no hand in and a reputation he had nothing to do with establishing? Who then whinges and cries "nostalgia tour" and "money grab" when those self same people who made those songs and built that reputation return? Who blames his entire outburst on too much of the silly juice? "Oops I accidentally shit all over my employer....but it's ok, the alcamahol made me do it. Don't drink and text, kids! Lol lol.....lol?"

He had to 'deal with' what sounds an awful lot like fan preference and criticism, posted on Internet forums that he could always choose not to read and merely enjoy being in front of cheering crowds of thousands night after night? Let's throw him a pity party?

Here's a thought - let's not.

[Top-Hatted One]

hey maybe the real issue is Chris needs to stop acting like its 1986 getting obliterated like he is 21.

That certainly won't jive with Slash & duff these days. Or Frank/Richard for that matter

[ice cream sand pig]

oh come on.

[Nikki_Sixx]

Yes it is wrong that he has had hate spewed at him for 20 years for no reason.  Just because the fans do not understand the extent of what Chris' contributions have and do mean in the scheme of Axl's vision of the direction Axl wanted/wants for GNR, shouldn't result in some fans dismissing or demeaning Chris' value to the band.
 

Nobody (outside of the forums) is dismissing him or has been giving him crap, because no one knows who he is, nobody knows he's there, and nobody gives a shit about anyone who wasn't in GNR before '95...

All these hired guys should do the right thing and go 'this is history in the making, I have no place in this' and leave, the sooner the better...

[ITARocker]

Pitman should blame Axl if nobody cares about him, if he really wants to blame sameone. 20 years of what? A forever delayed album, no videos, small arenas, factually nothing more than a "behind the curtains" man (and even if he is on stage who knows what the fuck is doing there? He could stay at the mixer table.).

You really want to fuck with Slash and Duff (or people who loves them) which , wanted or not, made history? Be serious man, you've been lucky enough in your life, trust me...

[D-GenerationX]

Sorry, are we actually supposed to be feeling sorry for a guy who has spent the last 15 years travelling the world and making a large amount of money (and then proceeded to have the nerve to shit all over the organisation) because some big meanies on the Internet said a hard rock band doesn't need a second keyboard player?

A guy who made his money very much for the most part on the back of songs that he had no hand in and a reputation he had nothing to do with establishing? Who then whinges and cries "nostalgia tour" and "money grab" when those self same people who made those songs and built that reputation return? Who blames his entire outburst on too much of the silly juice? "Oops I accidentally shit all over my employer....but it's ok, the alcamahol made me do it. Don't drink and text, kids! Lol lol.....lol?"

He had to 'deal with' what sounds an awful lot like fan preference and criticism, posted on Internet forums that he could always choose not to read and merely enjoy being in front of cheering crowds of thousands night after night? Let's throw him a pity party?

Here's a thought - let's not.

Well said.

I think its one tough sale to say that Chris has had a hard time the past however many years.

[Sosso]

Slash and Chris Pitman as band mates. Everything is possible in the GN'R camp.

[GNR4L]

Give the guy a break.... He made a mistake, apologized for it.   Don't see why people are comparing him to Steven, who has had a longer history of saying stupid shit.  It wasn't really professional to say what Chris said... but I'm sure all is forgiven.