I'm really pissed at myself for not being smarter. I went all the way to Las Vegas to see Guns N Roses in December because a) c'mon, it's Vegas, but also b) I didn't know when I was going to have the chance to see them again. So, when I heard they were playing in the UK in May/June, I bought a ticket to 4 shows...despite only being able to make it to 2 shows because of prior commitments - why I didn't check my dates before booking them, I don't know - I guess it was all the 'excitement' (Note: I don't ever get excited) How did it not twig with me that UK shows were part of a larger European tour and I could have easily gone to more dates!?
So, why on earth did I not plan better and get tickets for Holland, France and/or Germany?? Holland would have been amazing and it's quite a bit closer than the US, closer and cheaper. There is a slim chance that I can go to one of the Spanish dates...is anyone else going to a Spanish date?
I'm a doughnut.
Wednesday 6 June 2012
Monday 4 June 2012
Oh Won't You Please Take Me Home
I'm so glad to be here...I'm really glad to be here...!
I rocked up at the O2 and made my way through the crowds at 9pm on Friday June 1st 2012...there was no point being early and actually I was a little later than I hoped but got a relatively good spot and watched Thin Lizzy from afar.
The wait for GNR was I think just over an hour, I didn't expect anything less. This was my 8th Guns N Roses show so I knew that I was in for a good time as soon as I heard that ChiDem opener from DJ. There were a few boos but I kept myself entertained by talking to people on twitter from my @Axls_Rose account (what a brilliant play on words eh?) since I was on my own...something I'd later regret as my phone battery ran out. Next time, if I haven't finished Duff's book by then, I shall take it with me.
The audience were getting really excited when the rigging men climbed the rigging as we knew it wasn't long to go before the band took to the stage. Then what seemed out of nowhere, the house lights went down and the GNR video sequence began. Guitarist DJ Ashba took to the stage and climbed up on to speakers in front of drummer Frank's drum kit and bashed out the opening riff of Chinese Democracy, it really is a fantastic song to start a concert with. The audience went wild jumping around when hearing those distinctive opening bars. Axl calmly walked out on to stage and dove straight in with.. "It don't really matter".
The setlist was a complete mix up of old and new songs. I noticed that I was the only person around me yelling (I can't sing in tune, in fact I can barely talk in tune) the lyrics to songs off Chinese Democracy - which included the title track, Sorry, Street Of Dreams, Better, Shackler's Revenge, This I Love and Madagascar. This tour has given me a new found love of Madagascar, it's such a wicked song to hear live, despite the backing track.
Audience members must have thrown objects on stage as Tommy told us off and then Axl backed him up "Stinson has laid down the law" he joked. But then it must have happened again as Axl mentioned it a few songs later. Luckily that's when it stopped and the band carried on with their set, I expect some drunken buffoons were just throwing stuff around, like you do when drunk, I know a girl next to me got hit in the head with an empty plastic cup.
A highlight of the evening was when Izzy Stradlin joined the band on stage. That's right...IZZY STRADLIN! I was at the London show in 2010 when Duff came on stage and then I got to see Izzy play with Axl as well on Friday. I was stoked. And then remembered that I had seen Izzy play with GNR before back in 2006...still though, I was really pleased to see him.
There were some really irate mothers in the audience with their children as they had queued for hours to get to the front and then some people were pushing in to get to the front as the band were on. I couldn't help but laugh, it's a rock concert, what do you expect?? Well behaved angels??
I can't stress enough how fantastic the show was, Axl was just incredible, he has a wicked sense of humour and was in good spirits, DJ was doing lots of his chest patting at people...does he know these people??, Bumblefoot was constantly on the move, I have no good photos of him, they're just a blur as he didn't stand still. I was really pleased when it came to his solo and he played Glad To Be Here, I really love that song and it's incredibly catchy. I once again missed Richard Fortus' James Bond Theme solo - he just performs it so well, I love it when he jumps around in circles. Tommy, Frank and Chris were as usual more in the background but I couldn't fault their performance.
As the night came to a close, I was really disappointed that it would be my last time seeing this show again for a while. I really hope that they come back to the UK soon, they have so many fans over here who love to see them perform, but for now it's time to hang up my Guns N Roses 'Bad Obsession' until next time.
Nothing lasts forever, even cold November Rain.
I rocked up at the O2 and made my way through the crowds at 9pm on Friday June 1st 2012...there was no point being early and actually I was a little later than I hoped but got a relatively good spot and watched Thin Lizzy from afar.
The wait for GNR was I think just over an hour, I didn't expect anything less. This was my 8th Guns N Roses show so I knew that I was in for a good time as soon as I heard that ChiDem opener from DJ. There were a few boos but I kept myself entertained by talking to people on twitter from my @Axls_Rose account (what a brilliant play on words eh?) since I was on my own...something I'd later regret as my phone battery ran out. Next time, if I haven't finished Duff's book by then, I shall take it with me.
The audience were getting really excited when the rigging men climbed the rigging as we knew it wasn't long to go before the band took to the stage. Then what seemed out of nowhere, the house lights went down and the GNR video sequence began. Guitarist DJ Ashba took to the stage and climbed up on to speakers in front of drummer Frank's drum kit and bashed out the opening riff of Chinese Democracy, it really is a fantastic song to start a concert with. The audience went wild jumping around when hearing those distinctive opening bars. Axl calmly walked out on to stage and dove straight in with.. "It don't really matter".
The setlist was a complete mix up of old and new songs. I noticed that I was the only person around me yelling (I can't sing in tune, in fact I can barely talk in tune) the lyrics to songs off Chinese Democracy - which included the title track, Sorry, Street Of Dreams, Better, Shackler's Revenge, This I Love and Madagascar. This tour has given me a new found love of Madagascar, it's such a wicked song to hear live, despite the backing track.
Audience members must have thrown objects on stage as Tommy told us off and then Axl backed him up "Stinson has laid down the law" he joked. But then it must have happened again as Axl mentioned it a few songs later. Luckily that's when it stopped and the band carried on with their set, I expect some drunken buffoons were just throwing stuff around, like you do when drunk, I know a girl next to me got hit in the head with an empty plastic cup.
A highlight of the evening was when Izzy Stradlin joined the band on stage. That's right...IZZY STRADLIN! I was at the London show in 2010 when Duff came on stage and then I got to see Izzy play with Axl as well on Friday. I was stoked. And then remembered that I had seen Izzy play with GNR before back in 2006...still though, I was really pleased to see him.
There were some really irate mothers in the audience with their children as they had queued for hours to get to the front and then some people were pushing in to get to the front as the band were on. I couldn't help but laugh, it's a rock concert, what do you expect?? Well behaved angels??
I can't stress enough how fantastic the show was, Axl was just incredible, he has a wicked sense of humour and was in good spirits, DJ was doing lots of his chest patting at people...does he know these people??, Bumblefoot was constantly on the move, I have no good photos of him, they're just a blur as he didn't stand still. I was really pleased when it came to his solo and he played Glad To Be Here, I really love that song and it's incredibly catchy. I once again missed Richard Fortus' James Bond Theme solo - he just performs it so well, I love it when he jumps around in circles. Tommy, Frank and Chris were as usual more in the background but I couldn't fault their performance.
As the night came to a close, I was really disappointed that it would be my last time seeing this show again for a while. I really hope that they come back to the UK soon, they have so many fans over here who love to see them perform, but for now it's time to hang up my Guns N Roses 'Bad Obsession' until next time.
Nothing lasts forever, even cold November Rain.
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