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.
Thursday October 14th 2010 - O2 Arena London.
Without a doubt the best concert I have ever been to. Visually stunning, excellent pyro effects and lighting. The whole band was on form, Axl's voice was spot on at all times. He was still bombing around the stage like he did 20 years ago. The rest of the band looked and sounded great. The only downside to the whole night was that it had to end (and also I may have gained an extreme slight crush on DJ Ashba).
We (myself and my friend Sarah) got to the O2 at 4.30pm. Slightly early. Apparently we got there too early as Sarah suggested going later and I didn't respond so we went early - I don't remember that bit though. The guy in Starbucks laughed at me as we were 5 hours early.
Somehow though time flew and suddenly we were in the arena and Sebastian Bach came on stage. I saw him a few years back in Nottingham when he was supporting Guns N Roses there. He had the same energy there and was a good performer, he got the crowd going and there were quite a few Skid Row fans in the crowd. I've got no idea what he was talking about though, I heard his voice but didn't understand. He performed an hour long set and then we waited for GNR. After about an hour or so the lights went down, the crowd went wild and then opening riff of Chinese Democracy sounded.
I love that song, I first heard some Chinese Democracy songs around 8 years ago when I went to see them at London Docklands Arena, I only remember Madagascar though from that time.
Anyway, Sarah and I decided that Bumblefoot would be a great guy to go to the pub with. He seemed really down to earth and a lot of fun.
Duff appeared on stage - the first time Axl and Duff have been on stage together for 17 years. I've seen Axl twice and Duff twice, it was great to see them together. It was actually pretty impressive. Since the event there has been loads of speculation that there is going to be a reunion and if so what would happen to the new band and also that Axl was 'cold' towards Duff on stage. I enjoyed it for that 1 night special, kinda like when Tom Cruise joined the Black Eyed Peas on stage a few months back - obviously Duff was more epic though.
I found out that Richard Fortus has amazing pecs.
DJ Ashba, I'll be honest, I hadn't heard of him before he joined Guns N Roses. He's a lot older than he looks. So he's the 'replacement' Slash. He's come under a lot of scrutiny because he also uses a Gibson Les Paul (along with thousands of other guitarists may I add), he wears a hat (that looks tailored to suit him, I also know a lot of people who wear hats) and he moves like Slash (again, when playing the guitar, there are only so many ways you can 'jam'). I liked DJ Ashba a lot. I liked his energy, he had a pretty smile and he spent a lot of time on the side of the stage where I was - I'm going to position myself on that side again in Birmingham and Sods Law will dictate that he decides to take a liking to the other side of the stage that night. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of his pretty smile, I didn't quite catch it.
Guns N Roses played a large range of old and new songs. I enjoyed every second of it. I did notice though that for a rock concert, the crowd was rather tame. The crowd was loud but generally quite static. Perhaps it was something to do with at the beginning a guy got escorted out by security for starting a mosh pit. Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures of the rest of the band.
I took loads of photos, most of them were rubbish. I learned that the iPhone4 camera is not great in a concert situation. And the zoom lessens the sharpness of the photo.
Guns N Roses gave a big FU to their haters.
BRING ON BIRMINGHAM!!!!
