1991.12.05 - Worcester Centrum Centre, Worcester, USA

GUNS' BLAST-OFF WASN'T WORTH THE WAIT
- Steve Morse, Boston Globe, 12.6.91

WORCESTER -- Guns N' Roses have shown a snotty, kiss-off attitude that's made mincemeat of the Establishment. And last night their fans -- a sellout 14,000 of them -- got a nasty little dose of that meanness, when they were forced to wait a ridiculous 90 minutes between sets for Guns to appear.

Anticipation ran high, but it was almost an anticlimax when the band finally went on at 10:15. To kill time, the group's video crew got their jollies by projecting various female fans' cleavages onto huge overhead screens. "Hey, why don't they ever show any men?" asked a woman sitting down the row. A humble enough question.

Such is life waiting, waiting and waiting some more for one of the world's -- at least the Hollywood world's -- greatest rock 'n' roll bands.

Yes, when they finally did appear, Guns blasted off with a generally torrid shot of hyper-maniacal hard rock, though it wasn't so earth-shaking as to merit the wait.

Maybe it was because Guns were breaking in a new guitarist (Gilby Clarke, who last played with Kill for Thrills) and a new trio of horn players -- three women in skimpy halter tops, who furthered the macho mood. Or maybe it was because the band is back after a monthlong layoff (they rehearsed at the Centrum the last two nights) and didn't quite have all their ammunition in place.

Deadline restraints made it impossible to catch the whole show, but enough was heard to conclude that this particular show would not make you forget Aerosmith or AC/DC. Maybe Guns were in that league during their summer stadium tour, and maybe they'll be in it again soon enough, but last night was a definite hiatus.

Guns burst out with the appropriately nasty "Welcome to the Jungle," as singer Axl Rose, in a red tux coat, red mini-shorts and black combat boots, threw a mike stand across the stage. A Bo Diddley-beat intro to "Mr. Brownstone" (a heroin song) followed, giving way to another retro feel in a cover of Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die," as mammoth strobe lights belted the crowd and spotlights shone up through wire-chain floor ramps, giving the band a would-be "Silence of the Lambs" menace.

A decent, adrenalized cover of the Misfits' "Attitude" (sung by bassist Duff McKagan) was next. Rose, who gave mini-lectures between most songs, then launched a "Get in the Ring" diatribe against editor Bob Guccione of Spin Magazine, a longtime nemesis of the group. Rose declared that Guns plans to file a lawsuit against the magazine for its "double-talking jive."

Fortunately, lead guitarist Slash kept the show together, firing off rifle- shot leads often laced with mind-splitting feedback and occasional quotes from Jimi Hendrix and the Stones. Slash represents a state-of-the-art synthesis between classic rock and punk -- and it's no surprise he's dubbed as the heart of soul of this band.

Slash thankfully stole the song "Bad Obsession" (the infamous ditty where Axl calls his own mother a four-letter word) and nearly salvaged a fairly saddlebroke version of the Stones' "Wild Horses."

Rose, however, continued his cartoon antics. He changed outfits more often than Stevie Nicks, doffing a red "Rebel"-inscribed jacket emblazoned with a Confederate flag for "Civil War," one of the night's better efforts, at least.

Seattle's Soundgarden opened with a powerful, sludgy Zeppelinesque set that scored highly with the crowd before they were nearly put to sleep by the 90- minute wait for the headliner.

puddledumpling wrote:Gilby was real casual like the cat that he still is in 2012.

Guns N’ Roses in concert at last: new arrangement of an old band

Part of the appeal for Guns is the band’s sheer unpredictability

By ROGER CATLIN
Courant Rock Critic

WORCESTER — After a bit of a rest, the Guns N’ Roses tour is back, premiering in the Centrum here Thursday night with an increased and diversified lineup of musicians.

But even with a new rhythm guitarist, two backup vocalists, a bikini-clad horn section and ambitious new arrangements of old songs, some things remain the same for America’s most popular rock band.

Lead singer W. Axl Rose still has a few chips on his shoulder, giving an occasional edge to what might otherwise be pretty generic hard rock. And the band has no better sense of timing; for a show slated to start “around 8 p.m.,” the headliners didn’t show up until well over two hours later. Still, few fans left before the wildly paced, 2 1/2-hour show finally concluded at 12:45 Friday morning.

Part of the appeal for Guns is the band’s sheer unpredictability; lousy shows are as common as spectacular ones. Thursday was clearly an important show for the band members because of the practicing they’ve been doing to break in new guitarist Gilby Clarke, who replaces Izzy Stradlin (verdict: the new one is as unnoticeable as the original), as well as new backup singers (hired primarily for sex appeal) and the alluring horn section (imagine the auditions: “Yeah, you’re pretty good on sax, but can you play in a bra?’’).

When the horn section was firing, as during a long workout of an old song guitarist Slash was so worried about that he forgot the title (“Move to the City”), the brass really added another dimension to the band, which had already showed other sides with straight punk (bassist Duff McKagan’s version of the Misfits’ “Attitude”), pop pomp (“Live and Let Die”) and acoustic balladry (“Patience”).

During the stirring climax of “Move to the City,” the only original Guns member still onstage was McKagan. (Drummer Matt Sorum took over drums last year with a solid if unfettered beat; Dizzy Reed has been added as keyboardist).

Rose, ever the conversationalist, said he hired the three female horn players and two female singers because “five guys on stage was too much of a homosexual thing.”

He climbed on his soapbox for other things Thursday: to say he’s going to sue Bob Guccione Jr., the Spin magazine publisher he curses on a recent song; and to complain about classic rock radio, which will play U2 and Jethro Tull, he says, but not Guns N’ Roses and Metallica.

But mostly he was running back-stage every second he was not issuing his familiar raspy screech. He claimed to have the flu, but he also changed clothes more times than Cher, sometimes switching accessories to go with his red hot pants midsong, as during the band’s only topical number, “Civil War.” First he wore a leather jacket with a Confederate flag, then he switched to an American flag model. Inexplicably, a Soviet flag hung behind him during the song. OK, politics are not the band’s strong suit.

Although Axl ran around the metal set, which had ramps and three extensions into the audience, guitarist Slash was more athletic, taking 5-foot leaps from risers when he wasn’t performing nice solos, mostly on slower songs, by standing perfectly still, a cigarette hanging out of his mass of hair to indicate where his face would be.

Guns are endearing for their ambition, especially on songs like “November Rain,” with its patently “Layla”-like ending. But the band’s musical taste leaves something to be desired.

They called Wings’ lightweight “Live and Let Die” nothing less than “Welcome to the Jungle II.” Slash played one of Alice Cooper’s worst song, “Only Women Bleed,” as an intro to “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” Guns” overblown rendition of Dylan’s easiest-to-play song. And “Estranged” cribbed more lines from Dylan although the riff was appropriated from — could it be? — Seals and Crofts’ “Summer Breeze.”

Give the band members credit for showing up in Worcester, however, no matter how late they got on. That’s more then we can say for their two no-shows in Connecticut this year.

The song list for Guns Ν' Roses included “Welcome to the Jungle", “Mr. Brownstone,” “Live and Let Die, ” “Attitude, ” “Double Talkin' Jive,” “Civil War,” “Bad Obsession,” “Wild Horses,” “Patience,” “ You Could Be Mine,” “So Fine,” “It's So Easy,” “Move to the City,” “Don't Cry,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “November Rain,” “Pretty Tied Up,” “Knockin 'on Heaven's Door,” (encore) “Estranged", “Paradise City.”