33. DECEMBER 2012-DECEMBER 2013: MORE TOURING, BUMBLEFOOT IS FRUSTRATED

I’ll admit, I hadn’t heard their music before seeing them at this show. When I first heard the band’s name, I was imagining a grindcore-type band, but I was completely wrong. They’re more like a modern progressive post-hardcore band with clean vocals, if that makes any sense to you. The majority of the vocals were of the clean variety, sung by Siddharth Basrur, while Bhayanak Maut vocalist Sunneith Revankar joined in on the growls, and Skyharbor guitarist Devesh Dayal is also in this band. I tried my best to like their music and get involved in their set, but it just wasn’t happening. To me, their material simply didn’t come across as strong enough to capture an audience in which the majority of people weren’t even familiar with the band. There was no great energy or stage presence either. Siddharth and Sunneith did a good job with their respective vocal deliveries, but it wasn’t really gelling with the music. Devesh Dayal was the saving grace, for sure. I enjoyed most of his solos, and he’s a guy I’d definitely want to see perform again. I don’t have any frame of reference as I’d never seen them before, but I think it’s safe to say this wasn’t Goddess Gagged’s best ever gig, and they didn’t fit in with the Guns N’ Roses style of music either.

Right, on to the Guns N’ Roses part of the review then. A word of warning: if you’re a hater of the current GNR lineup, or a hater of Axl Rose, I’d suggest you to stop reading right about now because you’re certainly going to be upset by what I’m about to write in the rest of this review.

There was a 30-minute break following Goddess Gagged’s set. I was a bit surprised to find that there was no alcohol sale inside the venue. Some people seemed pissed off but probably forgot about the alcohol soon, and just watched the show instead. At 6.45, a representative from the promoters Mooz Entertainment came on stage and told us that the band would hit the stage in just a few minutes. Sure enough, at 6.56, 4 minutes before the scheduled set time, the lights went out, and the band appeared one by one while an intro bit was played on the PA. They started out with ‘Chinese Democracy’, the title song off of the latest album, and the crowd were ecstatic to finally get to see this band right in front of their eyes, after an eternally long wait. But the fun part really began with the next song, none other than ‘Welcome To The Jungle’. The tone for the performance was set, and the band went from strength to strength, delivering the old classics, the Chinese Democracy tunes, as well as cover renditions, all with equal aplomb, energy and dedication. If you took a glance at their facial expressions during the show, you could tell that each member was having an absolute blast up on that stage. This was not a band simply going through the motions. This Guns N’ Roses lineup was putting its entire heart, soul, sweat and musical prowess into this performance.

In terms of their playing, the band pretty much nailed every single song they had on this truly epic set list. I probed deep, but to my eyes and ears there were no apparent mistakes. In fact, songs like ‘It’s So Easy’, ‘Estranged’, ‘You Could Be Mine’, ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, ‘November Rain’, ‘Civil War’ and ‘Patience’ were done so well that it was goosebump-worthy for many in the audience. Besides the original tunes and covers, they also had individual solos and jams wherein each of the three guitarists Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, DJ Ashba and Richard Fortus got a chance to take center stage and showcase their guitar-playing. Even though these solos broke up the set list, and I could sense a degree of impatience among a few members of the audience, I thoroughly enjoyed them. I’m very much appreciative of the band for doing this, because we got to witness the talents of these three amazing musicians. Fortus and DJ Ashba did excellent solos, but for me the highlight was, yet again, Mr. Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal. Quite honestly, he’s one of the most delightful guitarists I’ve ever seen perform. He enjoys playing guitar so much that it transfers onto the audience as well. He proves that a guitarist doesn’t need to compose million-note solos if he or she can learn to play each and every note with feel.

As for Axl Rose, his incredible level of performance in 3-hour sets such as this one continues to leave critics and haters dumbfounded. He was full of energy, and his vocal delivery was intense. For their own pleasure, the haters can keep on posting the same stupid internet memes about Axl being ‘late’, ‘fat’ or ‘unable to sing’, but the reality is totally different, and the 20,000 people that turned up for this show got to experience the real Axl Rose.

Sound-wise, everything was great, at least from where we were standing, and the high quality of the sound system played a crucial role in us being able to hear what these musicians were doing on stage. The evergreen ‘Paradise City’ was the final song for the night, and right when the song kicked into gear, the entire Gold section got engulfed in paper confetti. At the end of the song, the band took a collective bow and thanked the Mumbai crowd for their attendance. People left the show thoroughly satisfied at getting to see a band that gave them their money’s worth, and then some. For me, the highlight was still ‘November Rain’. There’s just something about that song and the perfection with which they play it. The memory of that rendition is going to stay in my mind for a while.

All in all, Guns N’ Roses lived up to my expectations and put on an insanely fantastic performance. This was a ‘rock concert’ in its truest sense.

The rest of the band started playing “Nice Boys” from “Rose Tattoo,” but Mr. Stinson didn’t come onstage. Mr. Rose disappeared backstage, and reappeared moments later. He was followed by Mr. Stinson, who threw his bass onto a pile of equipment, flipped the middle finger at some crew members and left. The band finished the last song without a bassist.

Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal has partnered with CaJohns Fiery Foods Co. to launch his own line of gourmet hot sauces.

The Bumblefoot signature hot sauce line, which was unveiled on January 15 at the "Spicy Hound Extravaganza" release party at new York City's Times Square, is available now in seven different varieties: "Bumblicious!," "Bumblef**ked," "Normal," "Abnormal," "Uncool" and "Bumblebade."

John Hard, president of CaJohns Fiery Foods, said about Bumblefoot's hot sauce line: "Just minutes after making the products live online, they began selling at a rapid rate! It's been extremely impressive!"

ARE Guns N' Roses days as a live band knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door?

Kicking off their national tour at Perth Arena last night, legendary frontman Axl Rose, the only remaining original member of the hard rock band, delivered a hit and miss vocal performance.

While there is little doubt the band know how to make an entrance - literally exploding onto the stage in a burst of pyrotechnics and launching straight into Chinese Democracy - the singer struggled to hit all the right notes.

However, the band, which includes DJ Ashba on guitar, Dizzy Reed on keys, Tommy Stinson on bass, Richard Fortus on guitar, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal on guitar, Chris Pitman on keyboards and Frank Ferrrer on drums, were undeniably tight as they made their way through hits including Welcome To The Jungle, Estranged, Better, Live and Let Die and I Used To Love Her.

THE glory days and all but one of the original line-up may be gone, but rock classics like Sweet Child O’ Mine, Patience and Welcome to the Jungle ensure that Guns N’ Roses remain a force to be reckoned with live.

Newcastle Entertainment Centre was the place to be for rock fans last night, and Axl Rose was the man they came to see.

The question on everyone’s lips – would he be on time, if he showed at all?

Fortunately he did, trading the micro-bicycle shorts and hi-top sneakers that marked his early ’90s stadium days for ripped jeans, an open shirt, sunglasses and a black hat.

The legendary – and controversial – frontman knows how to put on a good show, giving an energetic display after taking to the stage accompanied by an impressive light show, even if his vocal cords strained to reach those famously high notes at times.

Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler and Duff McKagan no longer grace the stage with the infamous redhead, but the new Gunners crew have their own personalities and made an impression.

There wasn’t much talk, it was non-stop rock. Just the way it should be.

True Rock Stars Guns N’ Roses Shake Up Lebanon

The true legends of rock Guns N’ Roses performed at a massive concert in Lebanon at the Forum De Beyrouth on Saturday March 30. For those that couldn’t attend, we’re sorry to say you missed something historic and extraordinary! The concert was of epic proportions and gave the audience exactly what they were looking for – a real rock concert by the band that has been setting a flawless example for rock stars everywhere for almost 30 years.

Before the legends took to the stage, two opening acts from Lebanon wowed audiences with their talent. The Wanton Bishops opened the event with three of their original hit songs including “Smith and Wesson”, “Oh Wee” and “Sleep with the Lights On” as well as a cover. Shortly afterwards Near Surface took over the stage for an awesome and energetic performance of their hits, including the widely popular “Now You’re Here”.

After these were over, and as technicians began to bring on the Guns N’ Roses instruments, screams of unsurpassed excitement anticipation could be heard from the audience who could hardly contain themselves! These sounds of excitement could be heard through the sound check and as the instruments were tested.

And then the moment finally arrived when, one by one, the band members of the one and only Guns N’ Roses started popping up on stage, one by one – Axel Rose being the last. In his trademark cowboy hat, the one original member still left in the band appeared and began to belt out song after song in his characteristic shrill voice, only matched by the thrilled shouts of the crowd. Almost 30 years with the band, and Axel Rose has definitely still got it, with infinite amounts of energy and a voice that still has the same power and emotion as ever.

In his ripped jeans, sunglasses and leather jacket, Axel jumped around the stage and threw the mic stand around in true rock star style while singing epic GNR hits like Welcome to the Jungle, Live and Let Die, Better, Sweet Child of Mine, November Rain, Don’t Cry, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, and Paradise City. Fans really got an amazing and rich experience, with the band singing almost 30 songs during their 3 hours on stage.

During the concert Axel Rose stopped to introduce the other members of the band, at which point huge cheers came from the audience for each of the members, who included keyboardist Dizzy Reed, lead guitarists DJ Ashba and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, lead and rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, drummer Frank Ferrer and keyboardist Chris Pitman.

The guitar players and bassists also maneuvered all over the stage, climbing on various parts of the set while playing, especially during their impressive solos during and in between songs, and even shaking hands with some of the spectators in the front rows. Their interaction with the crowd was really incredible and the band’s energy became one with that of the listeners.

Visually, the concert was stunning too. The graphics on the LED screens in the background featured amazing images that ranged from dolphins, Chinese symbols, explosions, roses and of course, hot women. Laser beams and great lighting beamed up through the venue and created an atmosphere perfect for a rock concert.

The diverse crowd included people of all ages, from the young who had always heard about the legends and wanted to see them in person, to the older crowd who grew up with GNR hits as the soundtrack to their young lives and wanted to relive those moments. Wide-ranging people with all kinds of fashion choices and hair styles could be seen, all coming together to celebrate the music of one of the greatest bands of the last few decades. Everyone collectively went wild when they heard their favorite songs being played, with many in the crowd jumping, head banging, dancing and just enjoying some of the best ever rock music.

Axel got the audience to do some of the singing too, not only encouraging them to sing along to popular records (not that they needed any encouragement) but also when he announced that it was drummer Frank Ferrer’s birthday and had everyone in the venue sing happy birthday to Frank.

The crowd got a sweet and unexpected surprise when Guns N’ Roses covered Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall, with Axel on the Piano. This musical wonder went strait into GNR megahit November Rain, and the audience could hardly handle their excitement for such a combination. After this the band paused their tunes for a few moments and played a rock version of the Lebanese National Anthem before sending the crowd into a frenzie with Don’t Cry. Many held up their hands and did a wave to the slow and beautiful melody.

Just when we thought the concert ended, the band came back out to perform some more for the audience who just couldn’t get enough. The last song was possibly the greatest and most energetic performances of all, Paradise City. It all ended with a bang when a gigantic cloud of red confetti and smoke was thrown into the air, covering the venue in an amazing red glow. The legendary and incredibly talented Guns N’ Roses took a bow, guitar picks were thrown into the audience, and Axel thanked everyone from coming out, wished Lebanon a Happy Easter and told them to stay away from the “popo”.

What an amazing night spent with talents that can never be equaled. We the Beirutnightlife.com team had the time of our lives making history with Guns N’ Roses and the real rock fans of the country. We hope you did too!

The Dead Daisies will release the "Face I Love" EP on August 5 via Caroline/Universal. The title track will drop June 24 along with an innovative interactive Facebook application that will allow fans to be a part of the album cover art and music video. That same day, the EP will be available for pre-order with the song "Face I Love" given away as an instant-grat track to those who pre-order the album. Summer is synonymous with the road for this rock collective and they'll be spending July on tour with Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynyrd for seven East Coast dates starting July 10.

Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal has joined forces with former TNT singer Tony Harnell and Harnell's unique New York-based acoustic/electric band.

Since leaving TNT in 2006, Harnell has been recording hard rock, metal and acoustic rock albums and has been putting on entertaining acoustic shows to sold-out crowds in the the New York City area with his current backing group, which features guitarist Jason Hagen, Amy Harnell (vocals, percussion) and newest member, Cassandra Sotos (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mark Wood), on seven-string electric violin.

Thal and Harnell met 20 years ago when Tony was forming a new band after TNT took a break in 1992, and in January 2012, Ron and Tony were reunited at the NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, where they started discussing the possibility of working together.

After Ron attended one of Tony's performances in August, which Thal proclaimed was "the best acoustic show he had ever seen," Tony, being a fan of Ron's otherworldly and original fretwork, asked if he'd like to join him on the project and contribute to his EP, which was already underway. Harnell states: "In addition to Ron's superhuman and beautiful guitar playing, he also happens to have a great voice and writes amazing songs, which will greatly add to this project both live and in the studio." Thal has also been a longtime fan of Harnell's songwriting and vocal artistry, so the new coalition seems more than natural.

The group has also announced the launch of a Pledge Music campaign, which allows the fans to contribute to and watch the making of the EP. A portion of the proceeds from the campaign will go to Breast Cancer Research.

With the new lineup and EP on the way, the group will tour nationally and internationally as a foursome featuring Harnell, Thal, Amy Harnell and Sotos under the name Tony Harnell And The Wildflowers Featuring Bumblefoot. Hagen will remain an integral part of songwriting and recording and will be appearing with the group for local performances. Harnell adds: "Ron's live appearances with this project will be subject to his schedule with GN'R, but he'll be with us for the live shows whenever possible."

The project already has shows booked in Vegas and Europe as well as the prestigious, soon to be re-opened Cutting Room in New York City, which has relocated and is being touted as one of the coolest new venues in the city.

Harnell and Thal have also been discussing other plans for a full electric band and have already started to reach out to some well-known musicians to join them. "That'll manifest after the acoustic EP, which is due out in early 2013," says Harnell.

While it's unfortunate GNR is the only band in which fans who didn't attend a show are more likely to inquire "What time did they go on?" before asking "How was it?" and "What did they play?," the truth is Rose brought that on himself over the years. Still, Rockfest party-goers had the advantage of Sunday's show taking place at a festival and not strictly being a GNR headlining concert. In other words, the band had a tight window of when to take the stage and still put on a full performance, rather than being afforded the luxury of waiting three hours if it wanted knowing it was the only group there and that fans would hold out for them.

But Rose and Co. delivered the goods, and if San Antonians chose to let reputation override substance and entertainment by not showing up, it was their loss.

[...]

While Rose's voice, naturally, isn't what it used to be, it did the job. GNR played all the hits, and Rose didn't shy away from tackling the ever-tough-on-one's-vocal-cords "You Could Be Mine." Personal favorites were "It's So Easy" and "Estranged." The crowd cheered at the conclusion of seventh song "Rocket Queen" -- not just because of the tune and its performance, but because it marked the first time Rose took off his sunglasses (at 11 p.m.) to truly see the GNR faithful. The post-midnight "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" dragged on for roughly 12 minutes, and the band lost brownie points by partly covering Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall." That couldn't morph fast enough into the full version of "November Rain."

Once Venomous departed, the waiting began. The wondering began. Would Guns N' Roses show up on time? Would Axl sound good? And if one or more of those things didn't happen, would a riot break out?

That was all put to rest fairly early, with the band hitting the stage promptly at 10:30 p.m. As if that wasn't enough of a clue that this wasn't the GN'R of old, the group opened with the title track to Chinese Democracy. Good song. The band sounded tight and focused. The crowd looked happy but confused.

That confusion turned into elation quick when Axl and crew roared into "Welcome to the Jungle" next. This was the shit people had paid to hear. It was immediately followed by "It's So Easy" and "Mr. Brownstone," two more indelible cuts from Appetite for Destruction. The audience rattled and shook ecstatically, pumping their fists in the air and hoisting their phones to capture snapshots and video.

What did they see through those digital viewfinders? Well, a band that looked a lot different from its original incarnation -- including the lead singer. At 51 years old, Rose isn't exactly cute anymore, and his lung capacity ain't quite what it used to be.

But he's hardly unrecognizable, either. Even mostly hidden behind a pair of shades and a collection of wide-brimmed hats, Axl Rose has still got the rock and roll mystique that made him famous. The stage moves are still there, too, even if they're a little slower and more subtle these days. He didn't say much to the audience, but he didn't need to, either.

The singer looked and sounded entirely in his comfort zone on "Estranged," a personal favorite of mine from Use Your Illusion II. In the song's quieter moments, Rose dropped the gravel from his voice entirely, crooning softly and sweetly. Whether that was by necessity or design, it worked. In total command, he sounded vulnerable without being weak.

It was obvious that a great deal of his confidence flowed from the musicians surrounding him. They didn't much resemble the guys that fascinated me on MTV decades ago, but they sure as shit sounded like them. Led by the triple-guitar attack of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, DJ Ashba and Richard Fortus, the Guns N' Roses of 2013 is a well-oiled machine, drilled to precision and unfettered by the drugs and drama that helped end the original group's run.

What's more, they looked like they were having a hell of a lot of fun up there. Belying his public reputation as a bit of an egomaniacal control freak, Rose never hesitated to share the spotligt with his bandmates. Everybody got a turn to take a featured solo, and while Ashba and Fortus didn't quite make us forget Slash and Izzy, they didn't make us miss them, either.

It's taken quite a few years for Rose to assemble a group that he trusted to deliver his musical vision, but it was obvious on Tuesday that he'd done it. These guys were not simply hired hands. Fortus, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson and the others were shown a great deal of respect and deference onstage by their ostensible employer.

Together, they pumped out hit after hit. "Sweet Child." "Patience." "November Rain." The audience ate each of them up. In spite of a few hiccups here and there, Axl's voice held up well throughout a solid, two-hours-plus set. By the time the group closed the evening with "Paradise City," he sounded a little tired, but the crowd was singing along so loudly that it didn't matter.

Yes, this is the version of Guns ‘n’ Roses that lacks founding member and guitarist Slash. And yes, so much has been said about singer Axl Rose over the years since Slash left to suggest that the G’n’R singer is pretty much a nut job. But Wednesday’s show suggested something different. This version of G’n’R came to kick butt and take names. And, flying in the face of Rose’s tendency to take the stage hours after the published time, the band arrived by 10:15 p.m., and tore into a set that could not have left diehard G’n’ R fans disappointed.

Patience is a virtue. Patience is a grace.

Patience is two hours and 20 minutes-plus into a Guns N’ Roses epic in Métropolis on a Sunday night, and conjures now-receding memories of other numbers. Like the 15-year delay between albums and 8 guys onstage doing the work of 5 druggies from 1990 and…

But why dwell on those when Axl Rose and his band – really, the more accurate designation despite the hits catalogue and the brand name – had come to a club to unload an arena in it.

An initial start time of 11 p.m. had been dialed back to 10:15 by promoters and yeah, there were the numerals again and some eye-rolling from the vets in the crowd… but lo, here was Chinese Democrazy – sorry, Democracy – crunching out of DJ Ashba’s amp and here was the star in broad-brimmed hat, ripped jeans and leather jacket in the hot, hot heat of Métropolis. And all bets were off, because they were on.

Questions: would Axl dial down the pyro from the Dresden saturation-bombing of the Bell Centre show 2½ years ago, given we were in, you know, an enclosed space roughly 1/10th the size? Kaboom-wise, yes, but not in scope and length of the set list. Because here was Ashba in his Slash-lite hat cueing the stutter-riff to Welcome to the Jungle. So relax (an anagram, I’m afraid, but it was late).

Or ignite, as the crowd did, when It’s So Easy and Mr. Brownstone followed in short order, and 28 million global copies sold of Appetite were in the house. Initially, it was hard to tell how Axl’s voice was holding up, simply because the packed house was singing every lyric. A video backdrop behind the drum riser, another on it, and one each behind bassist/stage general Tommy Stinson stage left and guitarist Richard Fortus stage right broadcast the visuals, but Axl was front and centre anyway, executing a wider-stanced snakehips slide on the monitors and clearly at ease. Little banter, lots of three-guitar attack.

You could hear the lingering half-life of the original band’s lurid gutter allure in those three songs, and then you would learn that Axl’s version of pacing is actually spacing. There would be many mini-exits by the singer, and longer ones as each axeman took a solo turn. Welcome to the Jumble.

The crowd may have loved the bombast of Richard Fortus shredding frets somewhere between Rocket Queen and Live and Let Die, but by the time keyboardist Dizzy Reed had wheeled out his own version of No Quarter, one wearily wanted a sprint rather than a marathon. Each of those stage-crafted breaks only meant the momentum had to be rekindled. And when Rose took to the piano in a purple Liberace jacket to ease from Pink Floyd and Elton into November Rain (3 keyboards, 3 guitars…), when he covered Neil’s Don’t Let it Bring You Down before Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, when the axemen went acoustic with Angie into Patience, you realized the goal here.

All those classics were meant to remind everyone who hadn’t noticed that Axl insists he and his GnR belong among the Colossi of Rawk. Listen as the crowd howls Sweet Child O’ Mine. Listen to concert highlights You Could Be Mine and Night Train, revealing the voice is indeed still there, if tempered. But still there. Watch as he refuses to go jacketless, which was kind of heroic in that heat. A music biz guy referred, affectionately, to “sweatin’ to the oldies.” Listen and listen as this epic-length show eventually promises to pull into Paradise City as many of these folks risk missing the last train home. And as Axl outlasts the world to win something on his terms. The most interesting truth here is that this 160-minute show housed a 110-minute one that would have better cemented his rep.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a previously unheard Guns N' Roses song called "Going Down" surfaced briefly on YouTube earlier this week before being quickly taken down. The track reportedly features bassist Tommy Stinson on lead vocals, although Axl Rose can be clearly heard doing background vocals. It is not clear whether the tune is an older one from the sessions for the band's last album, "Chinese Democracy", or something brand new.

Guns guitarist Ron Thal confirmed on Twitter that the tune was indeed a Guns N' Roses song, although that his tweet was later deleted as well.

Who wants to buy Axl Rose's marriage certificate? How about the actual wedding video of the singer's marriage to former actress and model Erin Everly? What about a domestic abuse report? Or break-up letters penned by Rose after the marriage didn't work out? All of this and more can be yours! Seriously.

Celebrity memorabilia is a pretty lucrative industry, and there's honestly no telling what weird stuff fans will purchase and for what price. For anyone obsessed with Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose, a mass of unique items from his marriage to Erin Everly has become available at Julien's Auctions.

The items of for grabs are pieces from "the collection of Erin Everly" and you won't believe how deeply personal some of them are. More "normal" items such as Axl Rose's leather pants, the shirt he wore in the 'Welcome to the Jungle' video and old backstage passes are being offered for a price, but these are just tips of the iceberg.

Numerous love letters written by Axl Roses for Everly can be purchased for a few hundred bucks, as can clusters of hand-written poems and lyrics from Rose. The pieces start to get weirder, however, as a copy of Rose and Everly's 1990 wedding video is priced at $2,000 - $3,000. Additionally, the couple's marriage certificate is also being auctioned off for the same estimated price.

Strangest of all has got to be a copy of a domestic abuse report filed by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1988. The paper details an alleged incident in which the victim was kicked and beaten with fists. This particular package comes with a bill for the sale Everly's wedding ring, an "I Love You Erin" note written by Rose, a $5,027 receipt from Franklin Fuller Properties and another receipt from Crown T.V. for the repair of a television that Everly claims Rose broke.