2002.11.24 - Gund Arena, Cleveland, USA

The long-awaited return of Guns N’ Roses happens Nov. 24 at Gund Arena. Well, sort of. Singer Axl Rose is the only original member in the group.

It will be interesting to see what sort of fan reaction the band gets. Although, a quick glance at the cheap ticket prices and you’ll see a concert aimed at selling out. Tickets are $55/$40/$30 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through all Ticketmaster locations.

Guns N' Roses now just a cover band

By John Benson
News Journal correspondent

In case you haven’t heard, Guns N’ Roses is coming to Cleveland on Sunday at Gund Arena and Columbus on Monday at Nationwide Arena, but the November rain won’t be the same. The name of the band playing that night might as well be Hired Guns N’ Axl Rose, considering the estranged lead singer is the only original gunner from the band’s late ’80s to early ’90s heyday.

And a Guns ‘N Roses without the shirtless guitar solos of top-hat-wearing guitarist Slash (known to flawlessly jump off an 8-foot-tall wall of speakers mid solo), the thunderous beats of drummer Matt Sorum, the childish antics of bassist Duff McKagan and the stage indifference of guitarist Izzy Stradlin is a Guns N’ Roses waste of time.

While some bands continue on despite a change in personnel, this outfit bears little resemblance to the potent lineup that once redefined rock ’n’ roll debauchery with its hard rock strut and punk-like ethic. Sure, Axl’s sway and swagger remain — his winded MTV Awards Show performance last summer underwhelmed at best — but it’s like calling Mick Jagger’s solo transgressions the Rolling Stones.

It's a shame when considering what could have been. Unlike most of the other hair metal acts of the spandex age, Guns N’ Roses had the tunes and the credibility to back up their antics. Perhaps there is no better debut album ever than “Appetite For Destruction” or double album set than the “Use Your Illusion” series, but, more importantly, the band’s party image backed up their ego-fueled music and vice versa. Drugs, booze and women were currency, and the boys traded heavily. Stories and rumors swirled regarding their legendary escapades.

The best tale involves bassist McKagan, whom some say passed out in a hotel elevator for the entire evening. Now that’s rock ’n’ roll, where the future is uncertain and your floor is always near. Just imagine those lucky few who shared a ride up or down with the rock star (no room for luggage, please).

As for Rose, he could do no wrong despite his homophobic lyrics and legal problems. Today that role belongs to Eminem. Interestingly, nearly a decade apart, both Rose and Eminem used a duet with Elton John to quash talk of gay bashing (Rose sang with John at the 1992 Freddie Mercury tribute concert while Eminem joined John on stage at the 2001 Grammy Awards). At the very least, it’s nice to know Eminem has an older brother of sorts with whom to consult and compare notes. Although, Rose may not be answering the phone. Somehow along GNR’s skyrocket ride, the night train became derailed as Rose’s megalomania — a precondition of sorts for insanely financially successful frontman — came to the forefront with the lead singer firing the members of GNR. It makes you wonder whether Rose was living a little too close to the paranoid message of such GNR songs as “Out To Get Me” and “You’re Crazy.”

Today, Guns N’ Roses features a guy with a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket on his head — aptly named Bucket-head — along with former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson, former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck and a few other nondescript players. Supposedly, Axl has written a new album titled “Chinese Democracy,” however, fans have been waiting nearly five years for the disc to see the light of day. As for the tour — the band’s first in a decade — fans can expect to hear a few new times, but the group relies heavily on the classic GNR material (which is good) to make up its set From what reviewers on this tour have said, the new guys can replicate the old-school GNR sound precisely. Maybe Mr. Rose saw David Lee Roth’s Van Halen cover band this past summer and decided he could do the same (sans hair plugs)?

What Rose doesn’t see is Slash is Keith Richards to his Mick Jagger and without each other, Guns N’ Roses doesn’t truly exist. So, if you decide to make your way down to Paradise City (ie. Gund or Nationwide arenas) this Sunday night, just be prepared to see the most overrated cover band in the world today and remember: The jungle never looked so scary.

Use your illusion; Guns N Roses gone

New band talented, but was only shadow of its old self at Gund, even with fit Axl Rose

By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal staff writer

Perhaps Axl Rose should call his new band Hired Guns N’ Roses, because that’s who was on stage at Gund Arena Sunday night, playing his old band’s music.

After nearly a decade of public inactivity, the 2002 edition of the biggest hard rock band of the late '80s and early '90s took the stage and sufficiently reproduced the sound of the classic lineup.

Longtime fans who saw the group’s underwhelming performance at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards were, no doubt, pleasantly surprised at how much better the band played and the energy level of Rose, who seemed tentative and out of shape during that 10-minute segment in New York.

At the Gund, Rose showed his commitment to bringing Guns N’ Roses back to its former status. He was in good spirits, joking about his prickly image (“Not bad for a recluse, huh?” he asked the screaming fans at one point) and darted around the two-tiered stage like a jackrabbit on speed. His voice also was in fine form, only occasionally sounding winded, which probably was more a result of his constant movement than any voice deterioration.

Despite his silly-looking shoulder-length braids and a 40-year-old stiffness to his trademark snake dance, Rose, when he needed it, was able to reach deep and belt out several of those patented throat-shredding squeals.

As with almost every Guns N’ Roses tour, there has been a little controversy. A show in Vancouver turned into a riot after Rose’s plane was delayed and the promoters prematurely canceled it, and word of an 11 p.m. start time was hot talk among the Gund audience. But at a respectable 10 p.m., the Gund went dark and guitarist Robin Finck began playing the familiar descending opening line of Welcome to the Jungle, and the crowd seemed glad to pretend it was 1992 again.

The band performed a healthy two-hour set, leaning heavily on Appetite for Destruction-era material and a few other fan favorites, including Patience and Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. Also performed were three serviceable, if not exciting, new tunes: drum-loop-driven Madagascar, the nu-metal-sounding Chinese Democracy, and The Blues, a power ballad.

As for the new band members, Rose has gathered a talented bunch. Besides former Nine Inch Nails member Finck, he’s acquired former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson; drummer Brian “Brain” Mantia of Primus and Praxis; longtime Guns touring keyboardist Dizzy Reed; second keyboardist Chris Pittman; guitarist Richard Fortus; and cult hero and guitar virtuoso Buckethead.

The group is unquestionably talented, and they tore into the set with a lot of energy. But part of the allure of the original Guns was watching a group of guys who came up together in Los Angeles clubs loosely banging out the songs they created out of their own blood, sweat, and drug- and alcohol-fueled experiences.

The replacement players were very professional and energetic as they played incendiary versions of Mr. Brownstone and My Michelle, and Buckethead (in the Slash role) displayed his amazing chops on the solo section of the encore Paradise City and many fast songs. But Bucket-head’s participation also is the main reason this group seems more like Axl Rose and Friends than Guns N’ Roses.

His own experimental and eclectic music seldom rocks in any conventional sense. And his onstage uniform - consisting of an expressionless white mask and an upside-down KFC bucket strapped to his head - coupled with his penchant for doing the robot while playing basic, crotch-rock songs like Night-Train, makes him seem more like a guy who took an easy gig for exposure and money to fuel his own projects, not someone with a stake in the music itself.

Rose’s years out of the spotlight probably will work in the project’s favor. Had he tried to put together a new band and called it Guns N’ Roses in the mid- or even late 1990s, it probably would have been a much more difficult sell to the faithful fans. But memories fade, and the Gund crowd seemed perfectly happy singing along with Rose and his band of merry musicians playing their old favorites.

Guns N' Roses right on target

John Soeder
Cleveland Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic

Any doubt as to whether Axl Rose and his revamped Guns N' Roses could still deliver the hard-rocking goods Sunday night at Gund Arena was erased by their fourth number, an incendiary cover of Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die."

Rose's alley-cat croon was riveting as ever - and he hasn't lost his unique gift for stretching monosyllabic lyrics to the breaking point, either. But if this ever-changing world in which we live in makes you give in and cry-y-y-y-y / Say "Live and let die!" he sang.

It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for GN'R as the group makes the rounds on its first major tour in nearly a decade.

A riot ensued earlier this month when the opening-night concert in Vancouver, British Columbia, was canceled at the last minute because Rose was running behind schedule. Subsequent gigs have been plagued by late starts, technical difficulties and poor turnouts.

Fewer than 10,000 people caught GN'R in a half-full Gund Arena. But at least the band had its act together.

Following a mediocre set of headbanging fare by opening act CKY and a fun interlude of turntable tricks by DJ Mixmaster Mike (who put his own spin - literally - on everything from Metallica to Missy Elliott), GN'R announced its arrival at the relatively reasonable hour of 10 p.m. with a raucous "Welcome to the Jungle."

Rose took the stage sporting dreadlocks and an Ohio State University football jersey. He later donned Browns and Indians jerseys. The 40-year-old frontman has put on a few pounds, although he got a good workout in concert, running from side to side and occasionally breaking into one of his trademark serpentine dances.

Ex-guitarist Slash and the band's other estranged members were barely missed as Rose and his new sidekicks (the only other holdover from the group's pre-grunge heyday is Dizzy Reed, who now shares keyboard duties with Chris Pitman) did justice to "Patience," the immortal "Sweet Child o' Mine" and other vintage GN'R tunes.

Brian "Brain" Mantia (formerly of Primus) and Tommy Stinson (Replacements) provided an airtight rhythm section. Even more impressive were the three new guitarists. Buckethead (he of the KFC crown) and Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails) speed-dialed frenetic solos throughout the performance. Richard Fortus (Psychedelic Furs) had his chance to shine during "Rocket Queen."

Rose accompanied himself on piano for "November Rain," a bittersweet power ballad greeted by a sea of flickering cigarette lighters. Other songs, including a triumphant encore of "Paradise City," were embellished with all sorts of indoor fireworks. Signs taped to the two-tiered stage warned: NO SMOKING - PYRO ZONE.

Rounding out the two-hour show were three tantalizing selections from the upcoming album "Chinese Democracy" (due in stores next year), including the epic Led Zeppelin-style ballad "Madagascar." Clearly, the bloom isn't off Guns N' Roses yet.