Axl Rose (@axlrose) posted the following message via his Twitter account:

I’d like to thank [...]]]> Yesterday it was announced that Guns N’ Roses will be inducted in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Joining them will be Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Faces to name just a couple.

Axl Rose (@axlrose) posted the following message via his Twitter account:

I’d like to thank the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame and our fans. This is your victory.

Guns N’ Roses are currently taking on a mammoth tour of the USA; putting on 3 hour shows wherever possible. For more information on the current tour, please head over to the official Guns N’ Roses Facebook and Twitter profiles.

More information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame can be found here: rockhall.com

Below you can see fan-filmed footage of “You Could Be Mine”. BIG [...]]]> Duff McKagan,former bass player for Guns N’ Roses, joined the band onstage last night (14th October) for a few songs during their gig at the London O2 Arena. This is the first time that Duff has been onstage with the band since 1993.

Below you can see fan-filmed footage of “You Could Be Mine”. BIG thanks to the person who filmed this and uploaded it to YouTube

Duff also performed “Nice Boys”, “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” and “Patience” with the band.

WARNING: This review contains MY opinion (that’s a shocker, right?).

All of the photos used in this article were taken by me.

It’s around 2pm here on the 14th October and I’ve finally got myself in the position where I can write this review. Amazingly, I have already read some (somewhat negative) reviews [...]]]>

WARNING: This review contains MY opinion (that’s a shocker, right?).

All of the photos used in this article were taken by me.

It’s around 2pm here on the 14th October and I’ve finally got myself in the position where I can write this review. Amazingly, I have already read some (somewhat negative) reviews online – some of which were possibly posted while the band was still playing! But hey, that’s not my problem. I’m just going to review the gig from my perspective. I could lie and say that I was going to be ‘objective’, but – when you’re a fan of a band – I really don’t think that’s entirely possible. Instead, I’m just going to tell you what I thought of the gig and just be honest about the whole thing. Which is kind of the whole point anyway…

The doors opened at 6.30pm and I secured my spot on the barrier – there was no way in Hell I was moving until the show was over… even if it meant I was there until 3am. You see, this gig was announced months ago, surely that was more than enough time for people to manage to make arrangements should the situation arise where GN’R were late? Well, you’d certainly think so. I did, and arranged my journey home with no problems… and that was before I knew that the O2 had been kind enough to lay on a free bus and train service into London Bridge, Waterloo and Charing Cross. The O2 gets Brownie points for that!

Sebastian Bach took to the stage at around 7.30pm (although, according to Facebook/Twitter the band had planned to go on half an hour earlier. I’m not sure what happened there, so I won’t comment further). I last saw Sebastian Bach in 2006 at Bloodstock and, I have to say, last night’s performance blew that one away. Bach was in fine voice and the band were as tight as spandex on a sumo wrestler. Nick Sterling was particularly impressive and definitely a guitarist to keep an eye on. This guy is only 20 years old and he is amazing!
Despite Bach’s best efforts, it did seem that much of the crowd needed a jump start or something to get going. With that said there were a few others like myself singing along and screaming where appropriate. By the way, I’d like to make a public apology to Baz for butchering his songs by singing out of key. Sorry dude!
The band’s set consisted of tracks from Sebastian Bach’s most recent album, “Angel Down” as well as classics from his time in Skid Row. There was also a brand new song to whet your appetite for the forthcoming album.
Highlights? There were plenty! The new song was superb (although I can’t remember the name of it… if anyone does know the name, please comment and let me know), “I Remember You” (I actually got goosebumps at this point) and “You Don’t Understand” stand out especially. It would have been cool if Axl had joined Baz onstage for “(Love Is) A Bitchslap”, “Stuck Inside” and “Back In The Saddle” but we can’t have it all.

I can’t remember what time Sebastian Bach left the stage and I wasn’t really too concerned. I was there to enjoy the show and not be a clockwatcher (plus, as mentioned earlier, I had made arrangements for if I missed the last tube).

At 9.36pm (I was told this was the exact time after the fact!) the lights dimmed and Guns N’ Roses’ intro music started. I’ve read reports online that GN’R were an hour late. Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t think that 9.30pm is a particularly late start for a headlining band. Yes, the band did stop playing at around 00.20 and, yes, I did miss my tube… but I didn’t care. This is rock ‘n’ roll – it’s rebellious and it’s got to break a few rules and push a few boundaries every now and then. It’s not a fuckin’ board meeting!

Anyway, the time the band started and finished is irrelevant – the music (and the performance) is more important… and this is something that I think gets overlooked a lot. Following the reports I’d read about the band’s performances at Reading and Leeds in August, I have to admit to feeling a teeny weeny bit apprehensive. Perhaps all of the YouTube videos I’d seen online for this tour had been an elaborate hoax and the band had lost it. However, when the opening track “Chinese Democracy” started and I looked up and saw DJ Ashba silhouetted against the GN’R logo, all of my doubts vanished.

I know that there are people out there who are concerned about Axl’s voice. Well, let me assure you – there is no need to be concerned. Last night he hit every note. Right on the button! He and the rest of the band played stuff from “Chinese Democracy” and older stuff with equal amounts of energy and attitude. From where I was, it looked like everyone in that band gave it their absolute all. I’d like to make a special mention about Richard Fortus – one of the band members that I have to admit I’ve never paid a huge amount of attention to. Last night changed all of that. That guy has laid-back charisma oozing from every pore and is hypnotic to watch. As expected DJ Ashba proved himself to be a terrific showman and interacted with the crowd on a number of occasions. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal was astoundingly good – this guy plays the guitar like it’s an extension of his body and Tommy Stinson is the absolute definition of cool. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see a lot of Chris Pitman as he was on the other side of the stage to me… I had a better view of Dizzy Reed from where I was. Speaking of Dizzy, he was fantastic – and the ‘Dizzy’ chant from the crowd when he took to the centre stage to do his solo was unexpected and wonderful. As for the man behind the drums, Frank Ferrer – I honestly think that he is the best drummer that Guns N’ Roses has ever had. Steven Adler and Matt Sorum were good, I’m not arguing against that, but this guy is just jaw-droppingly good!

Axl appeared to be in a good mood, although he was relatively subdued between songs. He did, however, light-heartedly put a stop to any bottle-throwing shenanigans before they got out of hand by saying “Now, now, now, let’s not be throwing things, because you might miss me and you might hit one of these nice people down at the front. And we wouldn’t want that to happen”. He also wore a black feather boa that someone threw onstage and then, during a cover of AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie”, he briefly wore a KFC bucket kindly donated by a crowd member.

On a completely personal note, for one night I was able to forget that I had bills to pay, I could forget that I could be made redundant soon and I could forget just how much I usually hate the month of October. For one night I was able to completely and truly immerse myself in the music… and that, my friends, considerably outweighs any negative comments I’ve read about GN’R or Axl himself. I’m sorry bitter people of the Internet, you’re just going to have to try that little bit harder. If you do have any negative comments that you’d like me to read, please write them on a piece of paper and post them to me. I’m sure I could find a use for them… toilet paper is so damn expensive these days…

Overall, this was an astounding gig and one that I’ll no doubt be riding high on until the next time I can see the band.

Set List:

Chinese Democracy
Welcome To The Jungle
It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Sorry
Shackler’s Revenge
Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond Theme)
Live And Let Die (Paul McCartney cover)
Instrumental Jam
This I Love
Better
Rocket Queen
Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (Ziggy Stardust, Silver Blue & Gold)
Street Of Dreams
You Could Be Mine
DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (Ballad Of Death)
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Instrumental Jam (Another Brick In The Wall Part 2)
Axl Rose Piano Solo (Goodbye Yellow Brickroad/Someone Saved My Life Tonight)
November Rain
Bumblefoot Guitar Solo (Pink Panther Theme)
I.R.S.
Nice Boys (Rose Tattoo cover)
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
Nightrain

Encore:
Instrumental Jam (Bumblefoot Improvised Guitar Solo)
Don’t Cry
Instrumental Jam
Madagascar
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC cover)
Instrumental Jam
Paradise City

I will add a set list for Sebastian Bach when I can find one… As I really can’t remember what order the songs were played in!

gunsnroses.com
myspace.com/gunsnroses
twitter.com/gunsnroses
sebastianbach.com
twitter.com/sebastianbach

After selling out the London O2 Arena for their gig on 13th October, Guns N’ Roses have now announced that they’ll be playing an additional show there on 14th October. Tickets are due to go on sale this Friday (27th August).

Sebastian Bach has also been confirmed as the opening act for the [...]]]>

After selling out the London O2 Arena for their gig on 13th October, Guns N’ Roses have now announced that they’ll be playing an additional show there on 14th October. Tickets are due to go on sale this Friday (27th August).

Sebastian Bach has also been confirmed as the opening act for the UK dates. Looks like someone listened to all of Baz’s UK Twitter Army and our #BachinUK hashtags!

myspace.com/gunsnroses
facebook.com/gunsnroses
twitter.com/gunsnroses
sebastianbach.com
twitter.com/sebastianbach
facebook.com/sebastianbach

Please note that this is not the case. Guns N’ Roses’ promo team have confirmed that Axl’s Twitter was hacked and that [...]]]> Many internet news sites have reported that Guns N’ Roses have cancelled all of their upcoming tour dates, following a tweet that had been posted on Axl Rose’s Twitter.

Please note that this is not the case. Guns N’ Roses’ promo team have confirmed that Axl’s Twitter was hacked and that all previously announced dates will still go ahead.

myspace.com/gunsnroses
twitter.com/gunsnroses

So, who’s seeing GN’R in London in October? See ya there! I can’t wait!

13th October – London, The O2 Arena
17th October – Birmingham, LG Arena
18th October – Manchester, MEN Arena

Tickets are due to go on general sale on Friday 6th August, although [...]]]> Guns N’ Roses have announced some UK dates for later on in the year. The dates and venues are as follows:

13th October – London, The O2 Arena
17th October – Birmingham, LG Arena
18th October – Manchester, MEN Arena

Tickets are due to go on general sale on Friday 6th August, although some pre-sales have already started.

Personally I’m hoping that there are still some left when I have some money and a gig buddy. *fingers crossed*

myspace.com/gunsnroses

The UFO fall US tour was a blast. What an incredible band! It was cool to see a bunch of familiar faces from 2008, and many new ones. Much thanks to METALLICA and BUMBLEFOOT for comin’ out to watch. Extra special thanks to all the fans, you’re [...]]]> Hello all, it’s been a busy season:

The UFO fall US tour was a blast. What an incredible band! It was cool to see a bunch of familiar faces from 2008, and many new ones. Much thanks to METALLICA and BUMBLEFOOT for comin’ out to watch. Extra special thanks to all the fans, you’re intense dedication is so appreciated. After that, UFO headed over to Europe which completely kicked ass!! I was psyched to see Basel, Switzerland, where I’d never been. (Shout out to VINNIE MOORE who’s in Europe now with his solo tour- go see it!) The same day UFO finished, I flew to Finland to meet up with the SEBASTIAN BACH BAND. Our first show (on no rehearsal!) was direct support for the legendary ALICE COOPER at the Esport Arena in Helsinki. Alice and band were so friendly to us and of course their show was amazing. Thanks also to MICHAEL MONROE for joining us onstage in Turku, Finland for “Taxi Driver”. We then ravaged our way across Europe. I was happy to make it to Budapest, where I’d never been. Such warm people, and of course back to Italia!!! By the time we got to Rome the BACH band was absolutely on fire!

We were home for the holidays barely long enough to pet the cat, then back out on the road. This time as direct support for GUNS N’ ROSES across Canada. I can not express how cool AXL and the gang were to us, including their crew. It’s such a huge privilege to play sold out arenas and I think the fans really appreciated having two of the absolute best hard rock frontmen on one stage. I surely did!!! The GN’R show is a definite “must see” and the afterparties were almost as wild as the shows. DANKO JONES was the opener and is also a really good rock band of supercool people. Thank you again so much Canada!!

SEBASTIAN played a few packed out headline shows on the way home and now the CHINESE DEMOCRACY/ANGEL DOWN WORLD TOUR rolls on to South America, so look out for us…..

I also wanted to mention that LOVEMBER RECORDS has just released the debut album from my band OF EARTH and made it available FREE for anyone and everyone at http://OfEarth.bandcamp.com. It was co-engineered by Grammy winner Tom Camuso and I think it turned out really good.
See you out there, somewhere… Rob De Luca.

GUNS N’ ROSES/SEBASTIAN BACH dates:
3/7/10 – Brasilia, Brazil @ Ginasio Nilson Nelson Arena
3/10/10 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil @ Mineirinho Arena
3/13/10 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Palestra Italia Stadium
3/14/10 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Apoteose Stadium
3/16/10 – Porto Alegre, Brazil @ Ginasio Gigantinho Arena
3/18/10 – Montevideo, Uruguay @ Centenario Stadium
3/20/10 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ River Plate Stadium
3/22/10 – Santiago, Chile @ Hipico Stadium
3/25/10 – Lima, Peru @ Monumental Stadium Esplanade

Thank you,
Publicity Department
Lovember Records

FREE “OF EARTH” ALBUM DOWNLOAD at: http://OfEarth.bandcamp.com
http://www.LovemberRecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/SpreadEagleNYC
http://www.myspace.com/RobertDeLuca

Special thanks to Tina for sending this over!

But first…

Raise your hand if you love Sebastian Bach!
Raise your hand if you’d like him and his band to play a UK tour!

Ok, I’m going to assume that you all raised [...]]]> I’ll get back to writing some more reviews and posting up some new interviews very soon – I promise!

But first…

Raise your hand if you love Sebastian Bach!
Raise your hand if you’d like him and his band to play a UK tour!

Ok, I’m going to assume that you all raised your hands to both points, since I don’t possess the ability to see through your computer screens and see what you’re doing. I know, it’s a shame. It would be a marvellous talent… although I am scared of some of the images that I may be subjected to… Anyway… I digress…

Thanks to a wonderful person on Twitter, AngelM16, a Tweet Topic has been set up spread the word to UK promoters (and just about anyone else who will listen) that we in the UK would LOVE for Sebastian Bach to come over and play. The reason that I’m posting this here is because I really, really, really, really, really want this to happen (I probably could have thrown in a few more ‘reallys’ there). Ideally I’d love to have what Canada and now Brazil have – Guns N’ Roses and Sebastian Bach on the same bill. Yep, that would make me a very happy bunny indeed. But… one step at a time…

If you’re interested in helping us out, please join in on Twitter by using this in your tweets: #BachinUK

If you want to follow Sebastian Bach on Twitter you can do so by clicking here for his profile. It’s well worth doing as he tweets A LOT!

In addition to the above, I’ve just set up a group on Facebook – click here to check it out!

Tell your friends, invite your friends to the FB group, tell your neighbours, tell your enemies, tell… well… everyone!

Well, it’s 8am [...]]]> I was trying to think of some smart way to word this, but my brain is feeling fuzzy (in an entirely good way) so I thought it best just to copy and paste from the Here Today Gone to Hell forum (check it out – a must for any GN’R fan):

Well, it’s 8am here and I’m supposed to be working… but I heard about this “surprise gigs” thing so I had to come and check it out. I’m a member of myGNR but I haven’t posted there much… It’s a bit too negative in places. If that’s the way they wanna run their forum, then that’s up to them. Personally, I prefer this place.

And, as for the surprise gigs… I’m all kinds of excited! Do you think this is what Axl meant in his tweet when he said that the band were gonna rest for a couple of days before starting the next thing?

Click here for the thread.

Basically, the thing that’s got me all excited and bouncing off the walls is that there will be surprise GN’R gigs coming up! How do I know this? Well, it’s come direct from Mr. W Axl Rose himself…

For the rest of you… Surprise gigs comin’!!

(The whole of Axl’s post is worth reading if you want a laugh. Karma’s a funny thing! I would go into the whole story here, but it would probably be easier for you, dear reader, to just go and read it for yourself. That way I won’t accidently omit any details or anything.)

So, as you can imagine, everyone’s now speculating over when and where these surprise gigs will be. I don’t like to be left out, so here’s my wish list:

1. A London (England) gig – preferably one that I was able to get tickets to. I know GN’R have no control over whether or not I’m able to get tickets… I just thought I’d throw that out there. But, seriously, a London gig would be absolutely superb.

2. Failing option #1… A gig anywhere would be fantastic… and I’d be especially over the moon if there was some kind of video stream and/or some lovely human being would be kind enough to bootleg it so that I could pretend I was there.

3. My front room is very nice this time of year…

So, yeah… this post wasn’t to review an album or interview a band or tell you about some new release… but it did serve to spread the excitement a little, right?