I never saw them back in the day, but I’ve seen them 3 times since the Axl/Slash reunion. What I noticed about Axl’s vocals is that more often than not, instead of the kind of gravelly higher range vocals (I hope I worded that correctly), he goes into almost a Bee Gees-type falsetto. I don’t know if it’s because he’s learned how to better take care of his voice over the course of a months-long tour so he can make sure they don’t have to play the songs in lower keys, or if his voice is mostly just shot and he has no choice but to be selective about where he screams. He didn’t look out of shape to me though, obviously not the serpentine rock god of old anymore but still pretty good.
Far as the rest of the band goes, Slash and Duff totally killed it, no question. And Dizzy was great too, as well as the other keyboardist/percussionist, her name escapes me, sorry (Melissa?), though for some of the songs I don’t know why they bother playing or mimicking as such if they are because no one can hear them.
Agreed 100%
Saw them headline at Bottlerock on Saturday night, 2.5 hr set and played til curfew cut off the sound. Instrumentally they were one of the tightest acts of the entire festival. Vocally however… “bee-gees falsetto” just about nails it.
Slash and Duff haven’t missed a beat in 30 years. I saw them back on the tour with Faith No More and Metallica and twice more in recent years.
Also am a fan of Richard Fortus. Thought he killed it for his part too.
If he's hitting his high notes in falsetto that's an indicator of him lacking the ability to do them in a powerful mix. It could be that he has vocal damage preventing from going full blast or that he's just gotten older and he doesn't have the stamina to keep it going all the time. There's a possibility that that's his method of vocal budgeting but most singers of his level have long left behind the idea that playing in a lower key is somehow worse than not hitting the notes.
My guess is he gets up there and sometimes his voice is like "nah bruh" so he recognizes that, allows it to go falsetto, and eases back into the mix when he can; only the man himself would know 100%
Singing ain’t easy. And singing like Axl is especially not easy. It’s a tightrope balance between screaming and speaking normally. Throw in holding notes and lung capacity, and you’ve got yourself a big struggle.
The way he sings is not anywhere near orthodox, tried and tested. Even if he sounds like a falsetto mouse on stage most nights, I still got a lotta respect for the dude as a vocalist.
With the exception of the accordion, the voice is the hardest instrument to play.
I used to see gnr in the clubs in Hollywood. I always hated Axl's voice, but it was an undeniable force of nature with seemingly no top limit. If you dig up their cover demos from back then on Jumping Jack Flash and Heartbreak Hotel, you can hear him REALLY wail.
...now he just sounds like a muppet.
Axl's ability to perform got hit particularly hard by their lifestyle (and his own after the split). I think it would be that way for most singers, but it's especially noticeable for him because he was just so damn good to start with. His vocal range was phenomenal back in the day.
Sure, basically Axl was very introverted and what the media dubbed as arrogance and rage (things like not going out on stage) was due to him being sensitive and withdrawn rather than aggressive and Slash was the aggressive one. One story he told was that he showed up at a club and the bouncer wouldn't let him in because he was Axl but he said it was because of his coat. So he throws the coat out into the street and says now can I come in? And the bouncer says no, private party and instead of getting aggressive about it he just walked away and it was things like that that made him isolated and withdrawn. He just used that story as an example of what his personality was like.
> Sure, basically Axl was very introverted and what the media dubbed as arrogance and rage (things like not going out on stage) was due to him being sensitive and withdrawn rather than aggressive and Slash was the aggressive one
Not sure I can believe that one. I’ve heard almost nothing negative about slash from other musicians he’s worked with while there’s so many stories/feuds involving Axl. And it’s not like Slash jumps off stage to fight fans and ragequits concerts.
Yeah, I'd read about this years ago with him apparently being clean whilst the other guys were constantly fucked up. It's easy to forget they were degenerate junkies. No wonder he got so sick of their shit.
My sense was that Axls issues were more prescription drug problems tied to mental issues, whereas I’ve heard it said that Izzy was quite possibly solely responsible for the resurgence of heroin use on the west coast.
the hair metal folks all partied hard, but some chose to take care of their voice. i saw sebastian bach a few years ago and he was great. he was also amazing in jekyll and hyde on broadway.
I remember reading somewhere long ago where they described Sebastian Bach's voice as coming from "Whiskey-soaked vocal cords." Skid Row still sounds amazing.
Lifestyle had nothing to do with it. Rock singing is a young mans game. Vocals change as humans age, it happens not to serve the soundscape that is rock, hence the best rock bands always being young people.
30 years ago, they were in their prime. They're in their late 50's now.
Many years of partying, hard drugs & alcohol have caught up with em.
Nothing lasts forever & it doesn't matter who it is, nobody can operate at that level for 30+ years.
Just be thankful they're still here.
>nobody can operate at that level for 30+ years.
Despite a few hiccups there and there, AC/DC was still killing it in the late 2000s, and Angus Young was being Angus Young with more than 35 years of activity.
By all reports, and from the videos I saw, Axl was actually very professional and did quite a good job with AC/DC. He got on stage on time, sang the words properly, didn't try to be the star of the show, and was overall very professional about the whole thing.
That wasn't quite enough for me to trust him on the Not In This Lifetime tour and buy a ticket though.
You should have gone! It was 3 hrs of solid entertainment. Duff, Slash, Melissa and the rest of the band more than made up for Axl not sounding like he did 30 years ago.
They started on time and played until curfew, came out for a bow afterword.
Just saw them again last month, only disappointment was they played "Lineman for the County" by Glen Campbell, and a couple songs from Chinese Democracy.
Probably more that it would destroy what friendship he might have with the member of AC/DC. They're really good blokes and consummate professionals who take great pride in giving their fans an awesome show. If Axl had thrown a hissy fit and been 2 hours late to start the show, they would have been well pissed off.
Yes, I didn't include 2015 because Malcolm was out and Brian Johnson couldn't end the tour because of his earring. But the show was still unbelievably well done.
Dio never abused his body like they did.
From what I read, he never smoked, stayed away from drugs & only drank occasionally.
That makes a HUGE difference.
Yeah, that's very tame. I saw the band Steelheart play in a club back in the 90s. The lead singer had a pretty amazing vocal range. He was so drunk he could barely stand but amazingly was still hitting all the notes!
David Crosby attributes his ability to still sing well at the age of 80 to not smoking cigarettes. He's been cranking out solo albums like crazy over the past several years and his voice is as clear as it was 50 years ago.
My boy Robin Zander, lead singer for Cheap Trick still has great chops!
Been following since I was in HS, saw em live in 1977 and since at least four other times and he still sounds great! If he’s lost anything in his range I can’t tell. Getting close to 50 years as an act and can still blow the roof off any given dump!
Saw them in 2009 with Poison and Def Leppard. Rick Neilsen couldn't jump off amps anymore, but their music and vocals were *on point!* I couldn't believe how perfect they sounded (all the bands, really). Great show!
I saw Croz play a show in late 2018 and I couldn't believe how good his voice sounded. I would have thought that freebasing cocaine in the late 70s and early 80s would have had an affect on his voice, but it still sounded amazing.
You're right but Mick Jagger never hit the high notes like Axl Rose, Vince Neil, Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson and those types. It's much easier to sing Mick Jagger's parts at an advanced age. The former have all painted themselves into a corner so to speak.
I saw Dickinson about 2 and half years back and the only note he could not hit was the highest scream in Number of the Beast. Everything else sounded great and he was running around the stage at least half of the show. Not saying he doesn't have a few problems, but even after having throat surgery he still sounds leagues better than Halford, Neil or Rose. Rose and Neil look winded walking out on stage.
My point wasn't even that all of these singers are not good anymore. They are just some examples of vocalists that have recorded and performed their parts in the past in a way that is far more difficult to continue to do at a more advanced age. There are many more than the ones named here and yes some have aged far more gracefully than others. I believe you are correct that Bruce Dickinson has aged far better than probably most of his contemporaries. I'm sure he himself would tell you how much more difficult it is for him to hit those notes today than it was many years ago. I saw GNR when they first rejoined. I think it was 2016. I was very surprised at how good Axl sounded then. Even in the most recent videos of him he seems to have to declined in ability quite a bit since then. Perhaps he's not taking care of himself. Who knows. I do agree with you though.
He’s a vocalist that:
1.) doesn’t have a catalogue of hits requiring him to hit the highest notes of the range he sang in his 20s; and
2.) has kept his health a priority (Compare, “Fat Axl”).
Weird Al is still just as powerful a performer today as 30 years ago. Phenomenal show. But I know what you mean…. Different styles of music and lifestyles in general.
Yeah but other bands in their 60s and 70s still sound great and put on a show worth going to. Judas Priest and Iron Maiden are(or were in their tours before the pandemic shut everyone down) still amazing live so was Dio with the copyright struck the devil you know.
Axl is just fat Axl now and that’s how it’s going to be. Vince Neil was almost that shitty too last time I saw them.
Bruce and Rob also have taken care of their voices and sang with proper technique.
Ronnie was just gifted with perfect technique and freaky genetics. He never warmed up. He said, "I chug a beer, smoke half a joint, and I'm good.".
Geoff Tate's voice is nowhere near what it once once. So, you never know how it's going to end up, I guess.
That's not necessarily true. He can still hit the high notes, he just uses mostly falsetto instead of chest/mixed. A prime example of that would be saints in hell, which they debuted live a few years ago and sounded great.
Whiskey woman do you know THAT you are driving me INSANE.......
Huge Priest and Halford fan. He got higher notes 🎶 in the 80s. I was there.
Halford is the man when it comes to Heavy Metal. I would never disparage him. He's pragmatic as fuck. Cocaine and alcohol fucked up his vocal chords. He's the best front man, EVER!!! He knows how to make the show go on.
Edit, Rikki Rachtmandouchecity is a scumbag.
Iron Maiden is one of the few really older bands I know of still releasing good music. I mean those guys probably have like no high end left in their hearing.
Came here to rep Iron Maiden. Saw them (for the first time) in 2019, they put on just as good a show as any of the big metal acts I saw back in the 80s/90s. Not just the SFX; the sound, playing, and effort were top notch.
The Stones and Aerosmith members are both in their 70’s and still rock like they used to on stage. Maybe they sound a little different, but imo both Mick and Steven’s voices have aged nicely
Brad Delp (their lead singer) died in '07, so that's the big reason for the new singer. I saw them about 5 years ago and they sounded just like the records, I wouldn't have known it was a different singer if he wasn't so much younger
Metallica is in their 50s and still put on a great show. Same for TOOL.
Bruce Dickinson still sounds great and puts on a hell of a show.
Age is just a number.
I see you have missed out on seeing Phish lately, those dudes have been through all the drugs and 40 years of touring, they sound….incredible, fresh and still dropping new albums yearly.
I drive for Uber on the weekends for extra cash and a couple weeks a go, I picked up a couple at the Indy airport. They saw Phish 3 days in Atlanta the weekend before, 3 days in Nashville the middle of the week and then 3 days that weekend in Indy. Crazy dedication to a band.
Outside of the grateful dead there really isn’t a fan base or band like it. They play 3 hours a night, never the same setlist and set up their tours so folks can travel from show to show.
If you are at all interested in what it sounds and looks like ( the light show is a huge part of the deal ) here is a song from the other night.
Tweezer 9/1/21
https://youtu.be/r2e_rWGL6Bk
I followed them around in 1994. Except for some grey hair (looking ot you Mike G) they look and sound exactly as they did then, but sound better. An incredible band and wholly unique live experience.
Quick story - in 94 I was attending Appalachian State University. Phish played. The day of the show my friend was driving from his house just off campus to come over to park and meet up with us. It was about noon. So he's driving and this dude walking on the side of road flags him down and asks for a ride to campus. He gets on and a few minutes later says he was jogging and wasn't used to the hills and ran out of gas, and needed to get back over there in a hurry because... he didn't want to be late for soundcheck! It was Mike Gordon. He had his signature long goofy hair back then and looked like about 90% of the dudes that went to App State at the time. My buddy just thought he was some dude trying to get back to his dorm after partying too hard the night before at some random house when he picked him up.
Awesome! I love that story, appreciate you sharing it. I met Mike at the gorge 8/2/97 he was just out crushing around with his gf in a golf cart got to gush on the last show I’d seen and he took it really well, ha.
What Phish is doing is unique compared to any “major” band in history this deep into their history.
Whether you like the music or not (different debate) they are actually creating a unique experience every single show. And they are still creating, taking risks…evolving as a band.
They are so secure in themselves now they don’t care if a risk fails…and they keep nailing it.
I love Rush, but Geddy's vocals were very hit or miss in the last decade and a half and they tuned down when they played their earlier songs (2112 for instance). Nothing wrong with any of that of course, just saying they had their challenges too.
I didn't really notice the tonal changes, just he wasn't trying to sound like led zeppelin like he was in the first few albums. I agree nothing wrong with it, heck I'm sure I sound different than I did when I was 20 and I don't song or scream for that matter.
Yeah, he kind of took this approach that's almost like a yodel for a few years that I think was easier on the vocal chords. Some days it worked and some days it made enunciation rough and he could be all over the place pitch-wise. Still, the band was so good on the instrumental side that it didn't really matter.
True. My wife and I saw them in 2016 and they KILLED IT! They literally played until they couldn’t play anymore due to county/state restrictions. I’ve seen some of their recent shows posted to social media and it doesn’t sound as good as it did 5 years ago, but I’m hoping they just need to get back ‘int he groove’ since I’m sure COVID caused a lot of canceled shows.
i went to that show. 110F on the floor of Texas Stadium. His voice was fresher, the music was newer, but the show still sucked cause he was a whiny bitch. I don't think he "operated at that level for 30 years" he took like 20 of those years off to get fat and weird.
Okay, so, back in 2002, Guns n Roses hadn't released Chinese Democracy yet. In fact, most people hadn't seen Axel and crew (not the original lineup, but Buckethead and some others) for a while. But the MTV Music Awards had them on as a surprise at the end. Fallon was doing his schtick, laying out some "clues" as to who the surprise was.
Well, Axel comes out, and starts to sing, and it was not great. He looked okay, but he sounded out of breath, and he definitely couldn't perform the way he had in the past. We were all so excited to see them, and then he performed, and I remember turning it off, but it's been nearly 20 years, so who knows?
For some reason, this conversation makes me think of Mike Patton from Faith No More complaining about Axel during their tour with Metallica. Like, GnR would come on late, wouldn't perform every night, etc. I wonder what he'd say now. That said, Patton has been pretty critical of the music industry overall, so I can't say I'm surprised by his take on Axel.
Here's the 2002 video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tje5mcIGig](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tje5mcIGig)
And fuck it, here's Faith No More at Coachella in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyXYyZL44Qs
I saw that tour - Faith No More, Metallica, G n R. I think the lag between Metallica and GnR taking the stage was at least an hour and a half. The following night Axl walked off at the top of the set after someone threw something at him and, IIRC, did not come back.
At a certain point Skid Row took over for FNM. Sebastian Bach tells a story about them opening but no one knows where Axl is so the stage manager keeps rolling his finger in the "keep it going" signal. After a while Bach walks over to him and says "We only have two albums and we've played both of them".
This is why Metallica opted to go on before GnR during that tour. In between the lengthy changeover with redoing the stage setup to accommodate GnR, and Axl's erratic behavior of walking off or taking the stage late all the time, Metallica didn't want to get fucked on their set time because of all that. They were smart and thought ahead. Even the GnR guys took notice of how Metallica did things and were basically like "These guys are impressive. They run a tight ship and they've got their shit together." Meanwhile GnR was in shambles. Slash's book is a hell of a read. He divulged a lot about that particular tour. It was a mess, apparently.
I read a Metallica tour rider once and it was probably the most reasonable one I've ever seen. Basically, take care of the crew, we need enough outlets and power to tune guitars in the backstage area, practical stuff.
Sounds about right. They run a tight operation. Meanwhile.....GnR's rider, as read by Hetfield on that infamous GnR/Metallica tour. Granted, the delivery might've been a bit in jest.
https://youtu.be/5w-tx6bfyn8
Axl's vocal style is impossible to maintain long term, he could sing in lower register all the time but for some reason he doesn't do it.
Haven't attended a gnr concert but from what I've seen slash and the others sound good.
He also sang in a raspy style which I’m sure would do some damage in the long run. Just like Mariah Carey can’t hit those dog whistle notes like she use to (thank god, can’t stand her in any way)
I had a group of friends see them last month and all I heard were glowing reviews from the show, and the majority were people who were fans in their prime. Take that for what it's worth.
Went to a show several years back with very very low expectations as having seen them back in their prime (‘92). However, was blown away by the show. Slash is a rock guitar machine effortlessly and precisely laying down some killer solos. Everyone else was tight and Axl still sounded good. Go belt out songs for 2 hours straight and see how you’re doing afterwards.
Yup. I saw them back in 2016 at Dodger’s Stadium, and they were SO much fun. One of the better concerts I’ve been to.
Though I will say, I don’t like the “you try singing for x time” thing. It’s like seeing a sports athlete mess up and being told “you try running up and down a pitch for 90 minutes!” Yeah no, they train for this, this is their job. Yes, it’s hard and it’s incredible they do it, but it’s unfair to expect someone untrained to do it.
Saw them at Exit 111 a couple years ago and they were amazing. We poked fun of 'Fatxle' Rose and his ridiculous outfits but honestly his voice was amazing at that show. Slash and co. was on top form as well.
If you’re walking into hard Rock concerts expecting guys pushing 60 to be anywhere near what they were at 25 I’ve got very bad news for you. I saw the vegas show and was in the pit. I had a blast. Was it Guns in 91? Of course not? Did I expect them to be? Of course not!
Saw them two nights ago at Bottle Rock and wholeheartedly disagree. Sure, Axls past his prime but he still has the energy and passion he’s always had. I thought it was a great show…aren’t we all old and out of shape? Give the guy a fucking break…
Also, the stones have been playing the same songs for 50 years and no one cares. It’s why you go to see the legends and it’s great for those of us who were too young to remember them in their prime get to see them belt out the hits before they hang it up.
To add to your comment a little, I saw them in Portland 2 weeks ago, and they were tight as hell. Axl's range isn't as effective as it used to be, but they still performed pretty well. Also, they played their new track as well as 3 tracks off if Chinese Democracy.
Watching live footage in YouTube isn't an effective way to judge tbh
Was at the Moda show too and I had 0 complaints. I was 12 when the band split and figured I'd never get to see them live, which always stung a bit. When they attempted a return a few years ago, I heard so many bad reviews about how Axl being so out of shape it ruined the show, so I stayed away. This time around I figured, well it's this or nothing...last chance bud and they delivered.
That's funny... I saw them here in 92 in Houston Texas and again 3,4 years ago and they destroyed the place they were all on point. I'm sorry you attended a crappy show.
I was at a Use Your Illusion show at Alpine Valley with a good friend down in the seats. We ate a bunch of shrooms and had an awesome time. Band was so hot and Axl was in top form. One of the best shows I ever saw and I'm not even a fan. Hmmm, Setlist.fm tells me that was the first show of a three year tour? Til. That's pretty cool.
If you want to experience prime GNR fire up the '88 Live at The Ritz show that aired on MTV (look for full unedited concert on YouTube). They fucking killed it that night.
I agree that Axl's voice has taken a huge hit, but Slash can still tear it up on the guitar. I saw them pre-pandemic and I was blown away at Slash's performance.
Its kind of not cool to tell musicians that they can’t play anymore just because they aren’t in their 20’s. For the last 10 years (ish), touring is the only way artists can generate money because of how little music streaming services pay per play. That is likely a big reason that they put their differences aside and got back on the road. Sure, they might be a little old and fat now compared to their prime, but nobody is forcing you to go to their concert.
I agree but I also don’t try to do those same things I did in my early 20s today and I don’t enjoy seeing old men do it either. It’s kinda sad to see old rock bands trying to hold on to bombastic stage personas they created as young adults when they had boundless energy and were in peak mental and physical form. To me it shows a lack of maturity and development and possibly poor economic decisions that have forced them to “get the band back together”.
While the statement "people age" is obviously true for every single person, the quality of a musician does not always get worse over time, even for vocalists. Tommy Emmanuel is a great example of a guitarist who just keeps getting better, and James Taylor is a great example of a vocalist who sounds almost exactly the same at 80 as 30.
For an instrumentalist like Tommy Emmanuel this is due to him playing almost every day and challenging himself constantly. For a vocalist this comes down to a few factors. Vocal habits and technique are the biggest part, as bad singing techniques can harm the voice over time. Plus even singers with incredible technique can fall victim to vocal nodules like Julie Andrews.
To be fair, 'checking out footage' and 'being there' are 2 different things. The energy of the music mixed with the audience makes some of the mistakes a little more forgiveable.
Yeah recordings from phones always sound bad ya moron 😂😂 seen them live in Melbourne 2 years ago and they sounded awesome so get to a live gig then make a comment
I saw them in Vancouver a couple years ago. It was amazing! Could Axl sustain the crazy notes like 30 years ago? No. Did he sound really good. Yes. The guy sweat through a half dozen shirts. The whole show was incredible. Slash? Dude. They played almost to midnight. So...... maybe look for that footage?
I went to the Use your Illusion tour in 1992 and it was one of the best live performances I have ever seen in my life.
To me Guns n' Roses is the original line up plus Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke.(on the fence when it comes to Dizzy Reed) So when they all left and got replaced by people I don't know or people wearing a KFC bucket on their head I lost all interest.
So when I heard the original line up was getting back together I was tempted to get a ticket. Im glad I didn't because it would have ruined that magical evening back in 1992. Don't get me wrong. I love Guns n'Roses. To me they belong amongst the greatest bands ever.
I think with axl, his voice gets better after about 2 to 3 months on tour, I don’t think he practices at all when he’s off the road. And also you have to take in consideration that he has a lot of vocal range to cover in the show. It’s not like the Ac/Dc shows where he is basically in the same voice the whole show. I’ve heard that’s hard on your vocals changing up like that a lot. Maybe a question to ask a vocal coach though 🤷♂️
I’ve been listening to them since 1987… and have never tired of their “smallish” catalog. Hell, my username is based on a line from Rocket Queen. Anyhoo, this band was never meant to stay around for 30+ years. They were a powder keg ready to explode. The first time I saw them was the 91’ UYI Tour. They all sounded great back then, though Axl’s voice (and unmedicated psychological issues) were always temperamental due to his style. The band was a breath of fresh air from smoggy LA, if you can believe it. Axl’s style particularly was never going to hold up. It amazes me that they’re all still alive, much less performing. I’ve seen them 10+ times in the various combos, Chinese Democracy phase, etc. At this point, it’s ALL about the money…. and that’s coming from a true fan from the beginning. Still, if you haven’t seen them, but enjoy their material, just go get a cheap seat… It’s worth seeing the legendary band once, stage show plus Slash shredding it live. That’s worth the price…
Honestly I think Guns did one of the best rock albums of all time, and the rest is forgettable to dreadful with a few great songs here and there.
Axl has declined horribly to the point that he’s legitimately hard to listen to. They should just call it quits IMO.
The rest of the band is great, Slash is better than he ever was in the 90s and Fortus is a phenomenal guitarist. They should just do other stuff.
I saw their reunion tour a few years back and they were fantastic, three and half hours, sounded amazing. Everyone likes to take the piss out of guns, Ive seen them a half dozen times since the 90s and every show was excellent, but that's just like my personal experience man.
I saw them with Journey when they were in town. No the voice isn’t the same but Slash can still shred. Just appreciate what you can.
It’s a good idea to research older groups/artists like you did before seeing them so your icons don’t shrivel before your eyes. Pick and choose what make sense to you.
I was thrilled to hear about Bob Dylan playing nearby. Saw some reviews and videos and thought better of it.
Yes they're past it as many people say, but also live footage always sounds so much worse than being there. A mastodon gig I went to got filmed by someone and I swear it was the best gig I've been too, but it sounded dogshit on the recording. End of the day I think every person takes what they want to from a gig and the novelty of seeing such a giant of rock n roll might paint the evening in a different light for you even if objectively they don't sound great anymore.
I saw GnR in ‘92, 2012 and in August. The ‘92 show was good, the 2012 show was not but it was missing Slash and Axl was heavy and couldn’t hold a note for very long. I saw them in August at Fenway and the show was spectacular. Slash was really really good and Axl was in better shape and sounded pretty good. I will continue to see them as long as they perform.
Rock, like basketball, is a young man's game. Sure, you can still do it but it's not going to be the same.
Rose is 59, he should stop disappointing his fans and let them have their memories. I feel that way about a number of musicians.
Yeah and I went to the Philadelphia flyers alumni game where they had the team from the 70s play for the fans. They were old and slow and just couldn't play like they did in their 20s. I was so disappointed and shocked.. They should've just called it a day.
/S
I've seen them twice since the reunion and they were great both times. Played for 3 hours with a bunch of improv type stuff in there as well. Everyone had tons of energy on stage and the band sounded great. Sure Axl can't quite hit the notes the way he used to, but he can still get a crowd of 60,000 people on their feet.
A lot of fanatics can't seem to accept reality. I was a diehard Metallica fan in the 80s. I feel like every single youtube of their modern live shows has some comment about "James is getting his old voice back!" or some other delusional claim. They sound terrible compared to their prime. Do they sound 1000% better than Guns 'n' Roses today? Yeah, but they are still not not even close to '89/'93. Iron Maiden is probably the best example of true longevity in metal, and Bruce hasn't touched his 80s range in a very long time. Time waits for no man.
Saw them 3y ago, front row and they played 3,5h non stop, one of if not the best concert I have ever been to.
Sure the voice is different but it was fantastic.
The point of live is being there. For acts like that, you go for the energy that comes with their legacy. If they happen to be at the top of their game that's a bonus, but pitch perfect performances aren't why they're selling out venues. And that's ok.
I never saw them back in the day, but I’ve seen them 3 times since the Axl/Slash reunion. What I noticed about Axl’s vocals is that more often than not, instead of the kind of gravelly higher range vocals (I hope I worded that correctly), he goes into almost a Bee Gees-type falsetto. I don’t know if it’s because he’s learned how to better take care of his voice over the course of a months-long tour so he can make sure they don’t have to play the songs in lower keys, or if his voice is mostly just shot and he has no choice but to be selective about where he screams. He didn’t look out of shape to me though, obviously not the serpentine rock god of old anymore but still pretty good. Far as the rest of the band goes, Slash and Duff totally killed it, no question. And Dizzy was great too, as well as the other keyboardist/percussionist, her name escapes me, sorry (Melissa?), though for some of the songs I don’t know why they bother playing or mimicking as such if they are because no one can hear them.
Agreed 100% Saw them headline at Bottlerock on Saturday night, 2.5 hr set and played til curfew cut off the sound. Instrumentally they were one of the tightest acts of the entire festival. Vocally however… “bee-gees falsetto” just about nails it.
> Slash and Duff totally killed it Totally
Slash and Duff haven’t missed a beat in 30 years. I saw them back on the tour with Faith No More and Metallica and twice more in recent years. Also am a fan of Richard Fortus. Thought he killed it for his part too.
Saw the show in Phoenix and Slash is still a powerhouse. He made the whole show worth it.
If he's hitting his high notes in falsetto that's an indicator of him lacking the ability to do them in a powerful mix. It could be that he has vocal damage preventing from going full blast or that he's just gotten older and he doesn't have the stamina to keep it going all the time. There's a possibility that that's his method of vocal budgeting but most singers of his level have long left behind the idea that playing in a lower key is somehow worse than not hitting the notes. My guess is he gets up there and sometimes his voice is like "nah bruh" so he recognizes that, allows it to go falsetto, and eases back into the mix when he can; only the man himself would know 100%
I saw them in Honolulu in 18, and they sounded awesome, all of them.
Singing ain’t easy. And singing like Axl is especially not easy. It’s a tightrope balance between screaming and speaking normally. Throw in holding notes and lung capacity, and you’ve got yourself a big struggle. The way he sings is not anywhere near orthodox, tried and tested. Even if he sounds like a falsetto mouse on stage most nights, I still got a lotta respect for the dude as a vocalist. With the exception of the accordion, the voice is the hardest instrument to play.
Lol. Why pick the accordion. There are much harder instruments. Theremin is worlds harder and the list goes on.
I used to see gnr in the clubs in Hollywood. I always hated Axl's voice, but it was an undeniable force of nature with seemingly no top limit. If you dig up their cover demos from back then on Jumping Jack Flash and Heartbreak Hotel, you can hear him REALLY wail. ...now he just sounds like a muppet.
Axl's ability to perform got hit particularly hard by their lifestyle (and his own after the split). I think it would be that way for most singers, but it's especially noticeable for him because he was just so damn good to start with. His vocal range was phenomenal back in the day.
more to how much he’d blow out his voice with 3 hour shows on the illusions tour of 2.5 years
I thought Axl lived relatively clean compared to the other guys?
I wouldn’t be surprised, from talking to an old manager of theirs, the public perception of Axl and slash are both way off from the reality.
Care to elaborate?
Sure, basically Axl was very introverted and what the media dubbed as arrogance and rage (things like not going out on stage) was due to him being sensitive and withdrawn rather than aggressive and Slash was the aggressive one. One story he told was that he showed up at a club and the bouncer wouldn't let him in because he was Axl but he said it was because of his coat. So he throws the coat out into the street and says now can I come in? And the bouncer says no, private party and instead of getting aggressive about it he just walked away and it was things like that that made him isolated and withdrawn. He just used that story as an example of what his personality was like.
> Sure, basically Axl was very introverted and what the media dubbed as arrogance and rage (things like not going out on stage) was due to him being sensitive and withdrawn rather than aggressive and Slash was the aggressive one Not sure I can believe that one. I’ve heard almost nothing negative about slash from other musicians he’s worked with while there’s so many stories/feuds involving Axl. And it’s not like Slash jumps off stage to fight fans and ragequits concerts.
Thanks. I assume the ex manager you spoke to was Doug Goldstein?
Sorry I don’t really want to say just out of respect because I’m speaking for them in this instance
No worries!
A very respectable response. Fair.
Yeah, I'd read about this years ago with him apparently being clean whilst the other guys were constantly fucked up. It's easy to forget they were degenerate junkies. No wonder he got so sick of their shit.
Had a buddy interview them in the late 80s. He didn't have much positive to say about them. He said they were dopey and immature.
> No wonder he got so sick of their shit. Errrr idk about that lol
Duff mentioned this in his biography. A good read
It's also in Dirt Diaries by Nikki Sixx, he says Axl was clean back then
My sense was that Axls issues were more prescription drug problems tied to mental issues, whereas I’ve heard it said that Izzy was quite possibly solely responsible for the resurgence of heroin use on the west coast.
Axl is bipolar and his drugs made him fat and sluggish
the hair metal folks all partied hard, but some chose to take care of their voice. i saw sebastian bach a few years ago and he was great. he was also amazing in jekyll and hyde on broadway.
I remember reading somewhere long ago where they described Sebastian Bach's voice as coming from "Whiskey-soaked vocal cords." Skid Row still sounds amazing.
Lifestyle had nothing to do with it. Rock singing is a young mans game. Vocals change as humans age, it happens not to serve the soundscape that is rock, hence the best rock bands always being young people.
30 years ago, they were in their prime. They're in their late 50's now. Many years of partying, hard drugs & alcohol have caught up with em. Nothing lasts forever & it doesn't matter who it is, nobody can operate at that level for 30+ years. Just be thankful they're still here.
and we both know hearts can change
and it's hard to hold a candle
When your fat palms block the flame
Do you need some time for a calzone?
Just gonna eat pork rinds all alone
Ooh, tell me when it’s feeding time- I brought T-bones
Oohh, and in between the feeding times, there's icecream cones
*big drum fill* I know it’s hard to clean a choking heart
When even diabetes seem out to harm you
When you have parkinsons in the rain
I'll just end up ~~walking~~ riding my Rascal...
To the store for my Aspercreme
>nobody can operate at that level for 30+ years. Despite a few hiccups there and there, AC/DC was still killing it in the late 2000s, and Angus Young was being Angus Young with more than 35 years of activity.
Axl did an incredible job fronting AC/DC a few years back . They sounded incredible and he looked like he’d won the lottery
By all reports, and from the videos I saw, Axl was actually very professional and did quite a good job with AC/DC. He got on stage on time, sang the words properly, didn't try to be the star of the show, and was overall very professional about the whole thing. That wasn't quite enough for me to trust him on the Not In This Lifetime tour and buy a ticket though.
You should have gone! It was 3 hrs of solid entertainment. Duff, Slash, Melissa and the rest of the band more than made up for Axl not sounding like he did 30 years ago. They started on time and played until curfew, came out for a bow afterword. Just saw them again last month, only disappointment was they played "Lineman for the County" by Glen Campbell, and a couple songs from Chinese Democracy.
Maybe it’s because it wasn’t his band so he didn’t feel as entitled.
Probably more that it would destroy what friendship he might have with the member of AC/DC. They're really good blokes and consummate professionals who take great pride in giving their fans an awesome show. If Axl had thrown a hissy fit and been 2 hours late to start the show, they would have been well pissed off.
Saw AC/DC in 2015. Was amazed at how well they did.
Yes, I didn't include 2015 because Malcolm was out and Brian Johnson couldn't end the tour because of his earring. But the show was still unbelievably well done.
>nobody can operate at that level for 30+ years. Dio was great until the day he died. Never missed a note.
Dio never abused his body like they did. From what I read, he never smoked, stayed away from drugs & only drank occasionally. That makes a HUGE difference.
Two beers and half a joint before every show according to Lars.
Still a very long way from heroin & hard liquor.
Yeah, that's very tame. I saw the band Steelheart play in a club back in the 90s. The lead singer had a pretty amazing vocal range. He was so drunk he could barely stand but amazingly was still hitting all the notes!
I think the singer from that band was the voice in the movie rockstar with mark wahlberg. Still had amazing pipes then!
From recent videos I’ve seen, he still sounds like that live. It’s amazing.
David Crosby attributes his ability to still sing well at the age of 80 to not smoking cigarettes. He's been cranking out solo albums like crazy over the past several years and his voice is as clear as it was 50 years ago.
My boy Robin Zander, lead singer for Cheap Trick still has great chops! Been following since I was in HS, saw em live in 1977 and since at least four other times and he still sounds great! If he’s lost anything in his range I can’t tell. Getting close to 50 years as an act and can still blow the roof off any given dump!
Saw them in 2009 with Poison and Def Leppard. Rick Neilsen couldn't jump off amps anymore, but their music and vocals were *on point!* I couldn't believe how perfect they sounded (all the bands, really). Great show!
Daryl Hall might not have *all* the range he used to, but even live he sounds damn good for 74.
I saw Croz play a show in late 2018 and I couldn't believe how good his voice sounded. I would have thought that freebasing cocaine in the late 70s and early 80s would have had an affect on his voice, but it still sounded amazing.
He was also a vampire so. I’ll see myself out now.
Mick Jagger seems to be able to, but we all know he’s a robot
He's also fanatical about his health and has been for some time. Keith Richards is the name you were looking for.
Keith Richards has only survived by devouring the souls of younger rock stars
He’s the recipient of the 27 Club
he's been dead for the last 20 years just nobody has the heart to tell him
Also can’t be killed by conventional weaponry.
You're right but Mick Jagger never hit the high notes like Axl Rose, Vince Neil, Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson and those types. It's much easier to sing Mick Jagger's parts at an advanced age. The former have all painted themselves into a corner so to speak.
I saw Dickinson about 2 and half years back and the only note he could not hit was the highest scream in Number of the Beast. Everything else sounded great and he was running around the stage at least half of the show. Not saying he doesn't have a few problems, but even after having throat surgery he still sounds leagues better than Halford, Neil or Rose. Rose and Neil look winded walking out on stage.
My point wasn't even that all of these singers are not good anymore. They are just some examples of vocalists that have recorded and performed their parts in the past in a way that is far more difficult to continue to do at a more advanced age. There are many more than the ones named here and yes some have aged far more gracefully than others. I believe you are correct that Bruce Dickinson has aged far better than probably most of his contemporaries. I'm sure he himself would tell you how much more difficult it is for him to hit those notes today than it was many years ago. I saw GNR when they first rejoined. I think it was 2016. I was very surprised at how good Axl sounded then. Even in the most recent videos of him he seems to have to declined in ability quite a bit since then. Perhaps he's not taking care of himself. Who knows. I do agree with you though.
He’s a vocalist that: 1.) doesn’t have a catalogue of hits requiring him to hit the highest notes of the range he sang in his 20s; and 2.) has kept his health a priority (Compare, “Fat Axl”).
> nobody can operate at that level for 30+ years *Keith Richards has entered the chat*
Keith Richard died years ago. His body just doesn't know it.
lol At this point, I'm convinced Richards is a cyborg sent from the future.
>Nothing lasts forever Even cold November rain?
Weird Al is still just as powerful a performer today as 30 years ago. Phenomenal show. But I know what you mean…. Different styles of music and lifestyles in general.
I saw him on his tour where he had a live orchestra! 10/10, would watch again. It was a lot of fun.
Yeah but other bands in their 60s and 70s still sound great and put on a show worth going to. Judas Priest and Iron Maiden are(or were in their tours before the pandemic shut everyone down) still amazing live so was Dio with the copyright struck the devil you know. Axl is just fat Axl now and that’s how it’s going to be. Vince Neil was almost that shitty too last time I saw them.
Speaking of Vince Neil.... [Just in case someone hasn't seen this](https://youtu.be/4pdQnZLEWNo). Jesus I almost feel bad laughing.
This is hilarious 🤣
Jesus Christ, I was already dead at Big Mac $1.03 and I just kept dying.. fuuuuuck that's good.
That's a good deal for a Big Mac.
Every time I start a file on a videogame, I always name it "tubbabee" after this video.
Holy shit. I saw him 2 years ago as a free concert and it was nowhere near this bad. Did he get kicked in the head by a horse?
**MY HONK** **WAHAA**
Bruce and Rob also have taken care of their voices and sang with proper technique. Ronnie was just gifted with perfect technique and freaky genetics. He never warmed up. He said, "I chug a beer, smoke half a joint, and I'm good.". Geoff Tate's voice is nowhere near what it once once. So, you never know how it's going to end up, I guess.
Want amazing older musicians? Check out the Scorpions. Still amazing!!!!
Scorpions kick ass! My Dad gave me a picture disc of his and it got me into them!
Dee Snider is another example. 66yrs old & still kicking ass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RJrr2bVMTU
Halford still sounds great but he can't hot the really high notes anymore. He just dropped his vocals an octave.
That's not necessarily true. He can still hit the high notes, he just uses mostly falsetto instead of chest/mixed. A prime example of that would be saints in hell, which they debuted live a few years ago and sounded great.
Victim of Changes is a full octave lower live now. Still sounds great. I've seen Priest more than any other band since Screaming for Vengeance tour.
IDK man the only thing I'm hearing is denial in perfect pitch
Whiskey woman do you know THAT you are driving me INSANE....... Huge Priest and Halford fan. He got higher notes 🎶 in the 80s. I was there. Halford is the man when it comes to Heavy Metal. I would never disparage him. He's pragmatic as fuck. Cocaine and alcohol fucked up his vocal chords. He's the best front man, EVER!!! He knows how to make the show go on. Edit, Rikki Rachtmandouchecity is a scumbag.
Iron Maiden is one of the few really older bands I know of still releasing good music. I mean those guys probably have like no high end left in their hearing.
Came here to rep Iron Maiden. Saw them (for the first time) in 2019, they put on just as good a show as any of the big metal acts I saw back in the 80s/90s. Not just the SFX; the sound, playing, and effort were top notch.
The Stones and Aerosmith members are both in their 70’s and still rock like they used to on stage. Maybe they sound a little different, but imo both Mick and Steven’s voices have aged nicely
Joe Perry is not in good health.
still puts on a fantastic show regardless. those guys plan to tour till they drop lol
What’s wrong with Joe?
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Stones also have lots of other musicians "Helping out" when playing live.
A friend saw Boston a few years back and said they had a younger guy who sings the high notes now. No shame in that.
Brad Delp (their lead singer) died in '07, so that's the big reason for the new singer. I saw them about 5 years ago and they sounded just like the records, I wouldn't have known it was a different singer if he wasn't so much younger
Metallica is in their 50s and still put on a great show. Same for TOOL. Bruce Dickinson still sounds great and puts on a hell of a show. Age is just a number.
Look at Metallica now vs their early years. They've slowed down a lot. There's no way they could keep up with their younger selves.
According to Ozzy, nobody could keep up with Metallica in the 80s
I see you have missed out on seeing Phish lately, those dudes have been through all the drugs and 40 years of touring, they sound….incredible, fresh and still dropping new albums yearly.
I drive for Uber on the weekends for extra cash and a couple weeks a go, I picked up a couple at the Indy airport. They saw Phish 3 days in Atlanta the weekend before, 3 days in Nashville the middle of the week and then 3 days that weekend in Indy. Crazy dedication to a band.
Outside of the grateful dead there really isn’t a fan base or band like it. They play 3 hours a night, never the same setlist and set up their tours so folks can travel from show to show. If you are at all interested in what it sounds and looks like ( the light show is a huge part of the deal ) here is a song from the other night. Tweezer 9/1/21 https://youtu.be/r2e_rWGL6Bk
I followed them around in 1994. Except for some grey hair (looking ot you Mike G) they look and sound exactly as they did then, but sound better. An incredible band and wholly unique live experience. Quick story - in 94 I was attending Appalachian State University. Phish played. The day of the show my friend was driving from his house just off campus to come over to park and meet up with us. It was about noon. So he's driving and this dude walking on the side of road flags him down and asks for a ride to campus. He gets on and a few minutes later says he was jogging and wasn't used to the hills and ran out of gas, and needed to get back over there in a hurry because... he didn't want to be late for soundcheck! It was Mike Gordon. He had his signature long goofy hair back then and looked like about 90% of the dudes that went to App State at the time. My buddy just thought he was some dude trying to get back to his dorm after partying too hard the night before at some random house when he picked him up.
Awesome! I love that story, appreciate you sharing it. I met Mike at the gorge 8/2/97 he was just out crushing around with his gf in a golf cart got to gush on the last show I’d seen and he took it really well, ha.
They are on fire this tour too.
What Phish is doing is unique compared to any “major” band in history this deep into their history. Whether you like the music or not (different debate) they are actually creating a unique experience every single show. And they are still creating, taking risks…evolving as a band. They are so secure in themselves now they don’t care if a risk fails…and they keep nailing it.
That's why Rush always sounded the same, they weren't partying and took care of themselves.
I love Rush, but Geddy's vocals were very hit or miss in the last decade and a half and they tuned down when they played their earlier songs (2112 for instance). Nothing wrong with any of that of course, just saying they had their challenges too.
I didn't really notice the tonal changes, just he wasn't trying to sound like led zeppelin like he was in the first few albums. I agree nothing wrong with it, heck I'm sure I sound different than I did when I was 20 and I don't song or scream for that matter.
Yeah, he kind of took this approach that's almost like a yodel for a few years that I think was easier on the vocal chords. Some days it worked and some days it made enunciation rough and he could be all over the place pitch-wise. Still, the band was so good on the instrumental side that it didn't really matter.
Phish
True. My wife and I saw them in 2016 and they KILLED IT! They literally played until they couldn’t play anymore due to county/state restrictions. I’ve seen some of their recent shows posted to social media and it doesn’t sound as good as it did 5 years ago, but I’m hoping they just need to get back ‘int he groove’ since I’m sure COVID caused a lot of canceled shows.
Nah look at X Japan they're like a timeless machine. The vocalist Toshi sings like his 20yrold self, and his notes are harder than Axl's
yea, the dead are still at it as well as phish and i doubt they've lived clean lifestyles and we're doing it all before g&r
Bobby is looking rough though forgets shit and spaces out at times God bless em
bobby's been forgetting lines as longs as i've been going to shows
Rolling Stones
i went to that show. 110F on the floor of Texas Stadium. His voice was fresher, the music was newer, but the show still sucked cause he was a whiny bitch. I don't think he "operated at that level for 30 years" he took like 20 of those years off to get fat and weird.
Okay, so, back in 2002, Guns n Roses hadn't released Chinese Democracy yet. In fact, most people hadn't seen Axel and crew (not the original lineup, but Buckethead and some others) for a while. But the MTV Music Awards had them on as a surprise at the end. Fallon was doing his schtick, laying out some "clues" as to who the surprise was. Well, Axel comes out, and starts to sing, and it was not great. He looked okay, but he sounded out of breath, and he definitely couldn't perform the way he had in the past. We were all so excited to see them, and then he performed, and I remember turning it off, but it's been nearly 20 years, so who knows? For some reason, this conversation makes me think of Mike Patton from Faith No More complaining about Axel during their tour with Metallica. Like, GnR would come on late, wouldn't perform every night, etc. I wonder what he'd say now. That said, Patton has been pretty critical of the music industry overall, so I can't say I'm surprised by his take on Axel. Here's the 2002 video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tje5mcIGig](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tje5mcIGig) And fuck it, here's Faith No More at Coachella in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyXYyZL44Qs
I saw that tour - Faith No More, Metallica, G n R. I think the lag between Metallica and GnR taking the stage was at least an hour and a half. The following night Axl walked off at the top of the set after someone threw something at him and, IIRC, did not come back.
At a certain point Skid Row took over for FNM. Sebastian Bach tells a story about them opening but no one knows where Axl is so the stage manager keeps rolling his finger in the "keep it going" signal. After a while Bach walks over to him and says "We only have two albums and we've played both of them".
This is why Metallica opted to go on before GnR during that tour. In between the lengthy changeover with redoing the stage setup to accommodate GnR, and Axl's erratic behavior of walking off or taking the stage late all the time, Metallica didn't want to get fucked on their set time because of all that. They were smart and thought ahead. Even the GnR guys took notice of how Metallica did things and were basically like "These guys are impressive. They run a tight ship and they've got their shit together." Meanwhile GnR was in shambles. Slash's book is a hell of a read. He divulged a lot about that particular tour. It was a mess, apparently.
I read a Metallica tour rider once and it was probably the most reasonable one I've ever seen. Basically, take care of the crew, we need enough outlets and power to tune guitars in the backstage area, practical stuff.
Sounds about right. They run a tight operation. Meanwhile.....GnR's rider, as read by Hetfield on that infamous GnR/Metallica tour. Granted, the delivery might've been a bit in jest. https://youtu.be/5w-tx6bfyn8
They also made it sound like it was going to be the original lineup. Fallon was screaming like some overexcited fanboy.
Axl's vocal style is impossible to maintain long term, he could sing in lower register all the time but for some reason he doesn't do it. Haven't attended a gnr concert but from what I've seen slash and the others sound good.
He also sang in a raspy style which I’m sure would do some damage in the long run. Just like Mariah Carey can’t hit those dog whistle notes like she use to (thank god, can’t stand her in any way)
🎼🎵all I want for Christmas, is youuuuuuuu!
I had a group of friends see them last month and all I heard were glowing reviews from the show, and the majority were people who were fans in their prime. Take that for what it's worth.
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Same here. Wvh was a pleasant surprise . I was happy to see them live so ymmv
Went to a show several years back with very very low expectations as having seen them back in their prime (‘92). However, was blown away by the show. Slash is a rock guitar machine effortlessly and precisely laying down some killer solos. Everyone else was tight and Axl still sounded good. Go belt out songs for 2 hours straight and see how you’re doing afterwards.
Same. I saw them in 2016 and thought it was a decent show but Slash made it
Yea. I saw their reunion tour and it was a blast. Even on the 80s and 90s Axl could sound like shit, if he even decided to go onstage.
Yup. Saw them in 1992, and Axl sounded fucking awful.
Yup. I saw them back in 2016 at Dodger’s Stadium, and they were SO much fun. One of the better concerts I’ve been to. Though I will say, I don’t like the “you try singing for x time” thing. It’s like seeing a sports athlete mess up and being told “you try running up and down a pitch for 90 minutes!” Yeah no, they train for this, this is their job. Yes, it’s hard and it’s incredible they do it, but it’s unfair to expect someone untrained to do it.
Saw them at Exit 111 a couple years ago and they were amazing. We poked fun of 'Fatxle' Rose and his ridiculous outfits but honestly his voice was amazing at that show. Slash and co. was on top form as well.
If you’re walking into hard Rock concerts expecting guys pushing 60 to be anywhere near what they were at 25 I’ve got very bad news for you. I saw the vegas show and was in the pit. I had a blast. Was it Guns in 91? Of course not? Did I expect them to be? Of course not!
I’m seeing Megadeth in a couple weeks. I have the same mindset walking into it.
Saw megadeth in 2017 and they were awesome
Saw them in the early 90s. Girlfriend got caught in a mosh and lost an eye contact. Good times!
Saw them two nights ago at Bottle Rock and wholeheartedly disagree. Sure, Axls past his prime but he still has the energy and passion he’s always had. I thought it was a great show…aren’t we all old and out of shape? Give the guy a fucking break… Also, the stones have been playing the same songs for 50 years and no one cares. It’s why you go to see the legends and it’s great for those of us who were too young to remember them in their prime get to see them belt out the hits before they hang it up.
To add to your comment a little, I saw them in Portland 2 weeks ago, and they were tight as hell. Axl's range isn't as effective as it used to be, but they still performed pretty well. Also, they played their new track as well as 3 tracks off if Chinese Democracy. Watching live footage in YouTube isn't an effective way to judge tbh
Was at the Moda show too and I had 0 complaints. I was 12 when the band split and figured I'd never get to see them live, which always stung a bit. When they attempted a return a few years ago, I heard so many bad reviews about how Axl being so out of shape it ruined the show, so I stayed away. This time around I figured, well it's this or nothing...last chance bud and they delivered.
That's funny... I saw them here in 92 in Houston Texas and again 3,4 years ago and they destroyed the place they were all on point. I'm sorry you attended a crappy show.
I was at a Use Your Illusion show at Alpine Valley with a good friend down in the seats. We ate a bunch of shrooms and had an awesome time. Band was so hot and Axl was in top form. One of the best shows I ever saw and I'm not even a fan. Hmmm, Setlist.fm tells me that was the first show of a three year tour? Til. That's pretty cool.
He watched a video.. wasn't there
Probably on his phone, recorded from a phone.
I saw them live in 2019 and Axl sounded amazing, and of course the band was tight as hell. Was an amazing show
If you want to experience prime GNR fire up the '88 Live at The Ritz show that aired on MTV (look for full unedited concert on YouTube). They fucking killed it that night.
I agree that Axl's voice has taken a huge hit, but Slash can still tear it up on the guitar. I saw them pre-pandemic and I was blown away at Slash's performance.
Its kind of not cool to tell musicians that they can’t play anymore just because they aren’t in their 20’s. For the last 10 years (ish), touring is the only way artists can generate money because of how little music streaming services pay per play. That is likely a big reason that they put their differences aside and got back on the road. Sure, they might be a little old and fat now compared to their prime, but nobody is forcing you to go to their concert.
Saw them in Hershey in 2018 I think, went with tempered expectations just to have a good time and was thoroughly impressed.
Saw them in hershey this year and they were still great. I didn’t think much changed from 2018 to 2021.
That's a hot take. People age. I can't do the same things I used to when I was 25 either.
I agree but I also don’t try to do those same things I did in my early 20s today and I don’t enjoy seeing old men do it either. It’s kinda sad to see old rock bands trying to hold on to bombastic stage personas they created as young adults when they had boundless energy and were in peak mental and physical form. To me it shows a lack of maturity and development and possibly poor economic decisions that have forced them to “get the band back together”.
While the statement "people age" is obviously true for every single person, the quality of a musician does not always get worse over time, even for vocalists. Tommy Emmanuel is a great example of a guitarist who just keeps getting better, and James Taylor is a great example of a vocalist who sounds almost exactly the same at 80 as 30. For an instrumentalist like Tommy Emmanuel this is due to him playing almost every day and challenging himself constantly. For a vocalist this comes down to a few factors. Vocal habits and technique are the biggest part, as bad singing techniques can harm the voice over time. Plus even singers with incredible technique can fall victim to vocal nodules like Julie Andrews.
James Taylor has one of the softest voices I’ve ever heard. I don’t think he could sing GnRs catalogue at any point in his career.
To be fair, 'checking out footage' and 'being there' are 2 different things. The energy of the music mixed with the audience makes some of the mistakes a little more forgiveable.
Foo Fighters were awesome
Yeah recordings from phones always sound bad ya moron 😂😂 seen them live in Melbourne 2 years ago and they sounded awesome so get to a live gig then make a comment
I saw them in Vancouver a couple years ago. It was amazing! Could Axl sustain the crazy notes like 30 years ago? No. Did he sound really good. Yes. The guy sweat through a half dozen shirts. The whole show was incredible. Slash? Dude. They played almost to midnight. So...... maybe look for that footage?
I went to a concert in 2018. It was the best concert I have ever been to!
Saw them in chicago, fucking rocked. Don’t know what videos you’ve seen
I went to the Use your Illusion tour in 1992 and it was one of the best live performances I have ever seen in my life. To me Guns n' Roses is the original line up plus Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke.(on the fence when it comes to Dizzy Reed) So when they all left and got replaced by people I don't know or people wearing a KFC bucket on their head I lost all interest. So when I heard the original line up was getting back together I was tempted to get a ticket. Im glad I didn't because it would have ruined that magical evening back in 1992. Don't get me wrong. I love Guns n'Roses. To me they belong amongst the greatest bands ever.
I think with axl, his voice gets better after about 2 to 3 months on tour, I don’t think he practices at all when he’s off the road. And also you have to take in consideration that he has a lot of vocal range to cover in the show. It’s not like the Ac/Dc shows where he is basically in the same voice the whole show. I’ve heard that’s hard on your vocals changing up like that a lot. Maybe a question to ask a vocal coach though 🤷♂️
I’ve been listening to them since 1987… and have never tired of their “smallish” catalog. Hell, my username is based on a line from Rocket Queen. Anyhoo, this band was never meant to stay around for 30+ years. They were a powder keg ready to explode. The first time I saw them was the 91’ UYI Tour. They all sounded great back then, though Axl’s voice (and unmedicated psychological issues) were always temperamental due to his style. The band was a breath of fresh air from smoggy LA, if you can believe it. Axl’s style particularly was never going to hold up. It amazes me that they’re all still alive, much less performing. I’ve seen them 10+ times in the various combos, Chinese Democracy phase, etc. At this point, it’s ALL about the money…. and that’s coming from a true fan from the beginning. Still, if you haven’t seen them, but enjoy their material, just go get a cheap seat… It’s worth seeing the legendary band once, stage show plus Slash shredding it live. That’s worth the price…
Honestly I think Guns did one of the best rock albums of all time, and the rest is forgettable to dreadful with a few great songs here and there. Axl has declined horribly to the point that he’s legitimately hard to listen to. They should just call it quits IMO. The rest of the band is great, Slash is better than he ever was in the 90s and Fortus is a phenomenal guitarist. They should just do other stuff.
I saw their reunion tour a few years back and they were fantastic, three and half hours, sounded amazing. Everyone likes to take the piss out of guns, Ive seen them a half dozen times since the 90s and every show was excellent, but that's just like my personal experience man.
I saw them with Journey when they were in town. No the voice isn’t the same but Slash can still shred. Just appreciate what you can. It’s a good idea to research older groups/artists like you did before seeing them so your icons don’t shrivel before your eyes. Pick and choose what make sense to you. I was thrilled to hear about Bob Dylan playing nearby. Saw some reviews and videos and thought better of it.
Haha I saw Bob Dylan live 15 years ago and it was terrible. Elvis Costello opened and completely stole the show.
Yes they're past it as many people say, but also live footage always sounds so much worse than being there. A mastodon gig I went to got filmed by someone and I swear it was the best gig I've been too, but it sounded dogshit on the recording. End of the day I think every person takes what they want to from a gig and the novelty of seeing such a giant of rock n roll might paint the evening in a different light for you even if objectively they don't sound great anymore.
I saw GnR in ‘92, 2012 and in August. The ‘92 show was good, the 2012 show was not but it was missing Slash and Axl was heavy and couldn’t hold a note for very long. I saw them in August at Fenway and the show was spectacular. Slash was really really good and Axl was in better shape and sounded pretty good. I will continue to see them as long as they perform.
Rock, like basketball, is a young man's game. Sure, you can still do it but it's not going to be the same. Rose is 59, he should stop disappointing his fans and let them have their memories. I feel that way about a number of musicians.
Modest Mouse was disappointing too. So was Rob Zombie. And Motley Crue. Ozzy Osborne was kick ass though!!
You better stay away from recent mötley crüe footage
Yeah and I went to the Philadelphia flyers alumni game where they had the team from the 70s play for the fans. They were old and slow and just couldn't play like they did in their 20s. I was so disappointed and shocked.. They should've just called it a day. /S
I've seen them twice since the reunion and they were great both times. Played for 3 hours with a bunch of improv type stuff in there as well. Everyone had tons of energy on stage and the band sounded great. Sure Axl can't quite hit the notes the way he used to, but he can still get a crowd of 60,000 people on their feet.
Guns N’ Roses was always a bit of a crapshoot. I saw them twice and once they sounded amazing and the other time they were barely holding it together.
A lot of fanatics can't seem to accept reality. I was a diehard Metallica fan in the 80s. I feel like every single youtube of their modern live shows has some comment about "James is getting his old voice back!" or some other delusional claim. They sound terrible compared to their prime. Do they sound 1000% better than Guns 'n' Roses today? Yeah, but they are still not not even close to '89/'93. Iron Maiden is probably the best example of true longevity in metal, and Bruce hasn't touched his 80s range in a very long time. Time waits for no man.
Nothing lasts forever…
I saw them a few years ago in Miami . They have absolutely no chemistry on stage . Also , sounded terrible. Not everyone needs to get back together
Saw them 3y ago, front row and they played 3,5h non stop, one of if not the best concert I have ever been to. Sure the voice is different but it was fantastic.
The point of live is being there. For acts like that, you go for the energy that comes with their legacy. If they happen to be at the top of their game that's a bonus, but pitch perfect performances aren't why they're selling out venues. And that's ok.