Axl Rose and Guns N’ Roses Rock Out Philips Arena Wednesday Night
Iconic frontman Axl Rose and his revamped Guns N’ Roses performed at Philips Arena on Wednesday night. This was the fourth date of the long-awaited tour, and the building was close to half full. Despite the slight turnout, and starting late at 11:00, Rose and his new bandmates were in excellent form. Buckcherry(pictured) and Kelen Heller were the openers.
(From Wiki) Guns N’ Roses (sometimes abbreviated as G N’ R or GnR) is a hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album. The classic original lineup, as signed to Geffen records, consisted of lead vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Steven Adler. Co-founder Axl Rose is the only current original member of Guns N’ Roses. The band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, including shipments of 45 million in the United States. The band’s 1987 major label debut album, Appetite for Destruction, has sold in excess of 28 million copies worldwide and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and is also the highest selling debut album of all time in the US. In addition, the album charted three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Sweet Child o’ Mine” which reached No. 1. Appetite was followed by the eight-song album G N’ R Lies in 1988. The 1991 albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II debuted on the two highest spots on the Billboard 200 and have sold a combined 14 million copies in the United States alone and 35 million worldwide. An album of covers titled “The Spaghetti Incident?” was the last album that featured Slash, Duff, and Sorum. After over a decade of work and many lineup changes, the band released their follow-up album, Chinese Democracy, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in the United States.
The current lineup comprises lead vocalist and pianist Axl Rose, lead guitarists Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and DJ Ashba, rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists and backing vocalists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer. On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Guns N’ Roses was announced as nominee for 2012 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
AJC photographer Robb Cohen covered the event with his camera. See the photo gallery here. What did you think of the concert? What is your favorite GnR song?
(Photo Credit: Robb D. Cohen/ www.robbsphotos.com) For other concert photography linked to Access Atlanta, please visit Atlanta ConcertPhotography Galleries.)
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
83 comments Add your comment
richard whiskey
November 3rd, 2011
9:02 am
who would be dumb enough to waste time and money to go watch an old,bald washed up has been like axl rose,who is only doing this because he is broke,and without the original band members, no onder it was less than half full
J.B.
November 3rd, 2011
9:15 am
I was very skeptical but couldnt pass up the opportunity to go. My expectations were far exceeded and I was pleasantly surprised. Excellent show. The concert Slash put on last september at Center Stage with Miles Kennedy singing was better but this was definitely worth the price of a ticket.
Chrissy
November 3rd, 2011
9:20 am
This show was amazing!!!!!
Robert
November 3rd, 2011
9:27 am
Why was the concert so late starting? GNR have transportation problems to Atlanta. What time did the first front band perform. I am sure the promoter and Spirit will here from the city!
Eddie Money
November 3rd, 2011
9:28 am
Nice review that said noting about the show. For those of us who decided to check out the show last night, we were lucky enough to witness one of the greatest frontmen of all time deliver an amazing performance that out-rocked anything I have seen come through this city in the past 10 years.
The band consists of three of the best guitarists touring today. Richard Forthus, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, and DJ Ashba traded riffs and alternated lead parts throughout the night. Unknown to most of the audience, these guys have been in the band for a long time and they play well together. They play the classic songs as good, if not better than, the line-up that most people remember (Slash, Izzy, Duff, and Steven Adler).
Axl’s performance reminded our city what a real rock star should look and sound like. He was in a great mood throughout his 3 hour set and frequently joked with band members and his audience. He mentioned his last visit to Atlanta and how he was arrested on-stage for punching a security guard at the Omni. He expressed a heartfelt appreciation for the good reception he received from the audience. I think Axl was surprised that the crowd was with him throughout the night and when the show ended at nearly 2am with Paradise City, many of the people stayed and sang every word to the songs they knew. The setlist consisted of all of the favorites from the bands earlier albums – Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O’ Mine, November Rain, Patience, and their standard covers Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door and Live and Let Die. He also played 6 or 7 of the newer songs from the Chinese Democracy album. The crowd stood at attention during these numbers, especially when he sang a vocally challenging piano ballad called “This I Love”, which exposed the strength of Axl’s vocals since there was little accompaniment though much of the song. In some of the other numbers from Chinese Democracy, his voice tends to be overpowered by the three guitars, two keyboards, and drums. Once This I Love was played, you could tell that the once skeptical audience had realized that they were witnessing something special.
Thank you Axl and Guns N’ Roses for visiting our city and reminding us of how a real rock show should look and sound. I expect your turnout to be much greater should you ever return because people will be buzzing about your performance when they go to work tomorrow (I doubt many of them actually made it in today). We hope to see you soon.
Eddie Money
November 3rd, 2011
9:36 am
Richard Whiskey – It’s too bad you didn’t go. Your opinion would be very different today. Robert, it’s likely that the concert was set-up this way from the start. In some of the other cities, the opening band doesn’t go on until 9pm Axl likes to play late. There were really no delays. The openers played longer than other supporting acts. Also, is there really an ordinance against playing late concerts indoors? I know there is one if the show occurs at an outdoor venue such as Aaron’s Amphitheater. I’m assuming they could have played until daylight if they had made the proper arrangements with Philips Arena and the city.
Michelle
November 3rd, 2011
9:40 am
I thought about going, when I saw tickets in the lower arena were still available for $20, but when I read reviews from earlier shows that they didn’t even hit the stage until 11:30 and performed for 3 hours I decided to skip it. Axl said in an interview back in the 90’s, “If you have to get up early the next day to go to work, than don’t bother. Just stay home.” What excellenet advice! It’s’ exactly what I did. Some of us have real jobs.
Matt
November 3rd, 2011
10:08 am
Eddie Money…your review hit the nail on the head. Appreciate you taking the time to write that up–I believe it captured the moment perfectly from last night.
As an avid concert goer who goes to between 30 and 40 shows a year, it’s been a while since I’ve felt goosebumps at a show. Last night, I got the goosebumps once again–and not just one time but throughout the show. It was an incredible experience and I’m so happy I got to take it all in. Absolutely no regrets–even after only getting 3 hours of sleep before coming into work this morning!
Mike
November 3rd, 2011
10:10 am
The show was awesome. I stood for 7 hours by the stage and most of that time there was a band on stage performing. I got 3 hours sleep and made it into work just fine.
timthebrave
November 3rd, 2011
10:41 am
I didn’t know what to expect without Slash and the originals but they can still put on a great show. There are some really good musicians playing with Guns n Roses. I was there for the 3+ hour show and was glad I stayed. It was cool to see them after so many years and closed it out with Paradise City. They played all the old favorites plus chinese democracy. Also played a pink floyd, who, and several other covers. Lots of instrument solos and I was blown away….It was far from a sellout and those of us that stayed are glad we went….GNR still rocks…And still got up and made it to work
Michelle
November 3rd, 2011
11:50 am
How in the hell did you get home at 2:30 in the morning? Does Marta even run that late?
ebbuga97
November 3rd, 2011
11:52 am
Awesome show…. I was skeptical as well heading into it with all the bad press Axl has had lately (yellow duckie jumpsuit in Rock for Rio did not help) … However when the show kicked off it was one of the most memorable concerts I’ve experienced… As has been said already, this is how a true rock lead man handles himself and while would have been great to have Slash there just from nostalgia perspective, the guitarist were excellent…
Phillip Johnson
November 3rd, 2011
11:56 am
If you missed this show you missed out. Three hours of Gn’R what more do you need.The band was tight.Hope it is not another 24 years before another Atlanta Show.
OZZFEST
November 3rd, 2011
12:00 pm
OZZY IN NASHVILLE LAST FEBRUARY WAS MUCH BETTER.
AXLE IS AN ABSOLUTE SCUMBAG IDIOT…11:30? WHY NOT JUST PLAY CLUB SHOWS WHERE FANS CAN PARTY TIL 4AM.
BY THE WAY, THEY CUT OFF ALCOHOL SALES BEFORE G&R STARTED. REALLY?
wade
November 3rd, 2011
12:05 pm
There will always be those people who will never move on from 1988, and continue to rip Axl any chance they get. These are probably the same people that believe every thing they read in the paper about Axl. But one thing is true for sure….A very good majority of people attending Guns N Roses concerts lately are saying similar things…”It was AWESOME”! Seriously, how many other bands play for 3 hours every night?? Isnt that what it’s all about people…the music? And for those of you who don’t know, GNR has come on stage between 11-12am their entire careers.
Robb Cohen
November 3rd, 2011
12:12 pm
I wanted to thank everyone for posting comments. I’d like to chime in that I was very skeptical that with all of the drama and missteps in GNR and Axl’s life over the past decade(s), including cancelled tours, lawsuits, long-delayed albums, etc., I was very skeptical that the concert would actually happen; also, as a photographer who is on deadline immedialtely following the show, I was less than thrilled when I arrived at Philips last night and was told the earliest GNR would hit the stage was 11:00, and they didn’t come on until midnight in Greenville a couple nights ago.
However, with that said, and coming from the perpective of someone who is a bit jaded and has shot and witnessed literally thousands of artists, I thought Axl was awesome, both in moving around the stage and his voice sounded great! Also, his band was excellent…a very pleasant surprise…ROCK ON!!
Joseph Schmitt
November 3rd, 2011
12:23 pm
This show was absolutely mind-blowing from start to finish. I did not want to be one of those sitting at home wondering whether or not I should have gone to the show, even given the flurry of bad press about Axl’s recent performances (just check out the Rock in Rio 2011 show). Needless to say, he could not have sounded any better than he did last night. Musically, this show was literally flawless. All three lead guitarists brought their A-game last night. It’s almost as if someone had threatened the whole band with their lives backstage if they didn’t put on the best show of their careers. I would even go so far as to say that the original line-up could not have pulled this show off. Until now, the Live in Tokyo DVDs from 1992 have been the benchmark GnR performance, but this made even that look like a joke by comparison. They *nailed* Estranged and November Rain, which is quite a feat live, but the Chinese Democracy material (particularly Sorry, Better, and This I Love) was the highlight of my evening.
If a time machine is ever invented, and you got once shot at it, I highly recommend heading back to Phillips Arena last night
Joseph Schmitt
November 3rd, 2011
12:24 pm
**one shot, that is**
Frank
November 3rd, 2011
12:27 pm
Just like the comments before mine….They ROCKED the joint! I went because I wanted to see if Axl can still do it. I wasn’t let down. The last time I tried to see them (in West Palm Beach) they canceled the show while I was en route. The time before that was in Toronto on their Use Your Illusion wave and they played with Skid Row and Metallica…a superb concert it was. Last night didn’t let anyone down…variety, solos, covers, new stuff and lots of what we all wanted to hear.
I unfortunately left just before the two very last songs…my wife wasn’t happy as my babysitter’s Mom was texting her asking where her daughter was!!!…that sure wasn’t a problem 20 years ago!!!
I also think Eddie Money pegged it in his review…way to go guy and welcome to ATL!
Like everyone else…I got up and got to work in time for my 8a meetings.
Scotty
November 3rd, 2011
12:47 pm
I def wanted to go – I attended many a pool party in 1989-90 and App 4 Destruct was the soundtrack all summer. I work in Transportation which means a Wednesday night 11:30pm show is simply not an option if I want to have the slightest amount of productivity the next day. After reading the reviews I may have to go travel now to see it, I wasn’t expecting the raving comments. Really hope he comes back at a decent day and time, and in the spring or summer, even better, when everyone is really ready to party.
Chris Veal
November 3rd, 2011
1:02 pm
What a great show. I must admit I was expecting much at all given the crap i read online lately. But after seeing KISS, Rolling Stones, The Gorillaz, Just about any band I can think of I can still say that was maybe the best show ive ever seen. For any moron that listens to crap online and passed on the chance to see that show im glad you stayed at home and missed out. GREAT SHOW and very nice to see axl smile and look like he was having a good time with everyone else.
billy shears
November 3rd, 2011
1:08 pm
i too was pleasantly surprised by the show last night. axl was in a jovial mood and frequently jogged back and forth to both sides of the stage, never running out of breath to sing. everytime the pyro effects went off i jumped in my seat a little. i saw some young kids there which was cool. why was axl jogging back and forth to the side stage every 8 minutes? i imagine to poor honey down his throat so he can sing in that screeching style night after night. did i mention there was confetti if you stayed till the end? CONFETTI! and could the opening bands be anymore boring? tommy stinson was my favorite musician portion of the night. that dude is awesome. that MAO head really tripped me out. what did john lennon say about carrying around pictures of that guy? haha
Chris Veal
November 3rd, 2011
1:09 pm
and for all the people complaining that the gnr didnt start till 11 quit being so damn old. its a rock show for crying out load sorry you wasnt home in time for murder she wrote.
James
November 3rd, 2011
1:34 pm
Incredible show. Came in to it with pretty low expectations, but those guys rocked. Axl seemed to be in a good mood and didn’t try to punch anyone. I guess he finally gave up on trying to stop fans from recording the show. Today turned out to be a great sick day…. 3 hrs sleep… Sheesh!
J Weeks
November 3rd, 2011
1:36 pm
I went last night because I had to satisfy my curiosity. Axl has been a hermit the last 15 years. He can’t really sing like he used too can he? I went into the night expecting the worse. Boy was I wrong! Like everyone else mentioned above, it was truly an amazing show. 3 hours straight without any breaks! Are you kidding me? I have allready started looking around at the rest of the tour dates. Nashville in December? Hmmmm….
jenna martin
November 3rd, 2011
1:53 pm
axl what’s up with the hat and sunglasses ,i know you are old and bald and look like hell,but if you are gonna charge us big bucks at least make eye contact with the crowd
Donna Griffin
November 3rd, 2011
2:04 pm
It was absolutely the best concert I have seen anywhere, anytime!! Axl still has it and his voice is incredible. The musicians that play with him are some of the best and rocked us all night long. If you missed seeing this incredible show, then you missed out!! GNR forever!!!!!!!!
Mike
November 3rd, 2011
2:05 pm
Anyone that did not go to the show last night missed out big time. One of the best concerts I have ever seen. This is an iconic band and will one day be in the rock and roll hall of fame for sure. True musicians. Axl’s voice sounded good and got better and better as the night went on. They owned Phillips arena last night.
Amby
November 3rd, 2011
2:15 pm
What did everyone think of Kelen Heller?
Tired Today
November 3rd, 2011
2:42 pm
What a shame that this coddled, self-indulged rock has been decided the heck with his loyal fans on a Wednesday night. Why would this clown think he is worth keeping hard working people up this late to see his re-hashed band? I know Axl didn’t have to wake his lazy butt up until noon or later today, but why torture the people that paid for you to be there by coming on at 11:00? Too many fans had to leave due to baby sitters or simply having to go home to get some sleep before the alarm went off at 6:00am. Those that took MARTA had to leave before the concert was over as the last trains for the night left around 1:20. For those of you who loved the show, I’m glad for you. Otherwise, last night was the epitome of a selfish over the hill rocker spitting in the face of those who helped make him a star… sad, really sad.
Where's Paul
November 3rd, 2011
2:51 pm
I got dragged to the show by a friend last night. Okay, Axl sounds like an old lady with a sinus infection! “Live and Let Die” is a Paul McCartney song. GNR’s light show to that one was about the exact same as when Wings first did it it live in 1976.Wow, GNR, great production…not. And, what’s up with coming on at 11:00 on a Wedneday night? Half of the crowd was gone by the end.
Shawn Smith
November 3rd, 2011
2:53 pm
What a fantastic show indeed. I even took a co-worker with me who is not the biggest fan of the music, and he thought it was also good. I am very impressed and happy I went even though I am dragging a little today, it was very much worth it. I do disagree though with the crowd size as the place looked pretty full to me including the suites at the start. Any way, it literally was one of the best concerts I have been to.
Mary
November 3rd, 2011
2:53 pm
Why do you say it was less than half-full? There has been a lot of reports it was almost full until people had to leave to get home in time. A shame about that though…
Very Tired
November 3rd, 2011
2:55 pm
I’m running off of 1 hour and 45 mins sleep today and Yes I went to work! It was so worth it! Axel put on a heck of a show! All the band members went above and beyond last night! I’m so glad I had a chance to see this show!
Where's Paul
November 3rd, 2011
2:57 pm
First of all, it appeared there were only 7,000 to 8,000 people there at the beginning. The entire top level of the arena was closed and draped off. The entire back stage portion of the arena was closed. From where I was sitting, people were heading out from just after they came on stage, which was just before 11:00. A lot of people left around mid-night and people kept trickling out from then until the end.
Sleepy Steve
November 3rd, 2011
3:00 pm
I agree with the post about the size of the crowd. This would have been better suited for a smaller venue with the size of the crowd they had. They should have come in the summer and played outdoors.
maxman
November 3rd, 2011
3:10 pm
wow!this guy looks totally unregognizable from what he did look like in 1987,makes me think damn it must be tough getting old
AG
November 3rd, 2011
3:11 pm
Tired Today,
You have no one to blame but yourself. GN’R’s documented start time was 10:45 p.m. They are contracted to play for at least 2 hours. You should’ve done your homework on this one. The information was out there if you made the effort to find it. It’s your fault, not Axl’s , that you are “tired today”.
Janie J
November 3rd, 2011
3:13 pm
I agree with the sentiment the crowd was not very large with much of the arena closed off. While I have always loved GNR, I too was a little peeved with the late start of the show as I had to leave in time to ride the MARTA train or else pay a $$$$$ cab to get back to Alpharetta. Hey Axl, some of us do have a real life!
Tired Today
November 3rd, 2011
3:19 pm
AG
What well documented start time? This was the 4th stop of this tour and I bought the tickets months before the first show this past Friday night. I had the information, but that is still no excuse for the late start. If he wants to play that late, let him go find some hole in the wall club where he can come on at 1:00 and play until 4:00.
Janie J
November 3rd, 2011
3:21 pm
If the show was on a weekend, then fine, but for a Wednesday, it was a little extreme.
AG
November 3rd, 2011
3:32 pm
The documented start time for these shows has been 10:45 p.m. Buckcherry from ~9 to 10 p.m. 10 to 10:45 p.m. is the change over time.
You had the information and yet you STILL chose to go to the show and be “tired today”. Take some responsibility for making that choice. You could have sold the tickets once you found that information out about the start times, yet you didn’t. You knew it was going to happen. That’s all I’m saying.
Baba O Reilly
November 3rd, 2011
3:33 pm
For those of you who say this was the best concert you ever saw, I feel for you. Note all the classic rockers he covered in his set. You should have seen the Who, Paul Macca, Elton John and Bob Dylan in their hey days. If you had, you would be sayin Axl who? today!
Mike
November 3rd, 2011
3:34 pm
I thought GnR were very entertaining. The set list and stage show were great. The guitarists were tight. No one is going to replace Slash, but these guys did a hell of a job. I was very impressed. I liked how they mixed up who was playing lead from time to time.
I think the cheap seats price of $50 killed them here. If they had originally sold those tickets for the $20 they ended up selling them for day of, I think the turnout would have been a lot better.
For those haters or those that want to relive the show check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgDdDLS5DCw&feature=related
It is from their show in Rio a month ago. Broadcast quality.
Tired Today
November 3rd, 2011
3:38 pm
AG
Okay, so I did know he had come on so late over the first weekend and on Halloween. I had called Philips Arena and they said the show was supposed to be over at 1:00. I was actually hoping that being a Wednesday might mean they would not run quite so late…stupid me, I know. But, by the numbers of people I saw leaving long before the set was over, there were a lot of others who agreed and were in the same boat. Perhaps that is why he only sold the 8,000 or so tickets that he did instead of selling out at 20,000 seat arena.
timthebrave
November 3rd, 2011
3:49 pm
Tired Today, Go to a Justin Bieber show with the rest of the kids so you aren’t up past your bedtime.
AG
November 3rd, 2011
3:50 pm
I have never seen a band who adjusts their start time depending on the day of the week. I don’t know where you have ever seen or heard of that. It doesn’t happen. I don’t know why anyone would assume that. The information was out there, you admit you knew it in advance. I just think you should take some responsibility for the calculated risk you took instead of making it to be all Axl’s fault you’re “tired today”.
Regardless, glad to see so many people had a great time!
Eddie
November 3rd, 2011
3:53 pm
The show rocked and I did get my money’s worth of great entertainment I was smart enough to get seats for the 7 hour show, Buck Cherry rocked the opening and when GNR came out it was the best show I seen live plenty of lights and fireworks and hard hitting vocals the stage was rocking and this band made a complete showing of their talents!
Tired Today
November 3rd, 2011
3:55 pm
Timthebrave
Glad you enjoyed the show. I am only saying there were roughly 4,000 others, that for whatever reason, could not stay or did not want to stay to the end. Perhaps it was a baby sitter issue, a MARTA issue or a personal issue. All I am saying is that it is a shame many artists live in their own little dream world with little to no regard for the people who are paying the freight for them to drag their pampered asses around the country…
timthebrave
November 3rd, 2011
4:05 pm
Tired Today, artists now play for an hour and half and then it’s peace out. So if they did that and got you out of there by 12:30 it makes them better to their fans then playing for over 3 hours….ummmm…ok..I wish it was the weekend but knew what I was getting into
Tired Today
November 3rd, 2011
4:09 pm
TTB. No, that is not my point. In my experience over many years of attending concerts, when artists are doing a three hour show, they do a three hour show without any opening act. This includes the Eagles, Billy Joel/Elton John, The Who and others. It is frickin’ awesome that artists want to play that long. Okay, great. Then ditch the opening act or limit it to one and certainly not two. Not sure why GNR feels the need to have two “warm up” acts, but there it is.
Janie J
November 3rd, 2011
4:13 pm
RIght on. Lose the opening acts and give us the 3 hours of GNR.
AG
November 3rd, 2011
4:14 pm
TimTheBrave is doing exactly what I’m talking about – taking responsibility for his choice to go see the band. Glad you had a good time. Also, I can’t believe people would ever complain about a band playing a 3 hour set. That is good thing, as it’s more bang for your buck.
Tired Today
November 3rd, 2011
4:16 pm
Had Axl and crew started their three hour show at say 8:30 or 9:00, then everyone should have been happy. You got your three hours worth, the parents got home before too many baby sitters were panicked and anyone who rode on the train would have had plenty of time to do whatever before heading home or to their next port of call.
AG
November 3rd, 2011
4:24 pm
You knew when it was going to start and you knew it was going to go at least two hours. You were not obligated to stay for the whole show. Plan accordingly.
Brandy
November 3rd, 2011
4:25 pm
If you didn’t get to go (and you are an actual fan, not Richard Whiskey, or some of you other people who comment on things you know nothing about) you missed it. Just let the old members go, because with this lineup you don’t need them. Axl hit every note and as a lifelong lover of the music, I can die happy now. I’ve never seen them do better! They went on after the openers and played til 2 am. If you think you can get more than that from any other group band, I’d like to see you try.
Snoppie
November 3rd, 2011
4:32 pm
Drove in from Alabama for the show. Great show, just wish it had started a little earlier…rock on!
timthebrave
November 3rd, 2011
4:36 pm
I could understand if Guns n roses left us sitting around for hours waiting but I had just enough time to get a drink, snack and get back to my seat after buckcherry. They didn’t even do a set break…It seemed like 7 hours of straight music to me…Don’t see how that is inconsiderate? To me they went above and beyond what I expected.
Eddie Money
November 3rd, 2011
4:36 pm
This discussion should not even be taking place right now. Anybody who knows anything about Axl Rose knows that he likes to play late. At least these days, he plans for it. He schedules his opening acts to entertain for a couple of hours and then let’s loose without making people stand around and wait long with nothing to do. With regard to venue size, perhaps LiveNation scored a deal comparable to what they would have received at Gwinnett Center, which would have been a better size for the crowd. I imagine that Philips Arena’s revenues are significantly down due to the NBA strike and the loss of a NHL franchise. They’re probably more willing to discount their facility rental fees and provide the promoter with more concessions than they would have received in Fall 2006, when this band last toured the States.. Why not go for the more centrally located venue if pricing is similar?
timthebrave
November 3rd, 2011
4:43 pm
Hope everyone had a good time and thought it was worth missing a few hours of sleep…..Time for the drive home and a nap…Peace
Chris M
November 3rd, 2011
4:46 pm
Isn’t it funny how people who clearly didn’t go put the negative reviews but those did cannot compliment the band enough.
Gn’R rocked.
CDG
November 3rd, 2011
5:43 pm
One of the best concerts that I’ve ever been to. Axl and Co. rocked the house from beginning to end. IMO, had they cut out a few of the Chinese Democracy songs (which most people didn’t know anyway) they would have ended a little earlier and kept most of the fans. They started the encore with two Chinese Democracy songs in a row, which I think did it for some people who were on the fence for staying. I was doubtful at first, knowing Axl’s history and age, but these guys put on a heckuva show. I really can’t imagine that they would have sounded much better had been the original lineup – it would have just been cooler from a nostalgia standpoint. Overall, I was impressed with the performance. Well worth the price of admission and the lost sleep. I’ve been a GNR fan for 22 years and it was the first time I’ve seen them. Awesome.
ToddC
November 3rd, 2011
5:44 pm
Axl and all of the members of the band hit the mark. He was vocally pitch perfect and as noted above musically it was equally great. From the opening song (which was actually 10:45 pm) to the end it was without a doubt worth the time and the money! I have to agree with those who say – everyone needs to move past the Guns of the 80’s and 90’s this band nails the old music and has created incredible new music (take the time to listen).
bass6342
November 3rd, 2011
6:51 pm
It was a great show last night. I payed for it today but well worth it! I took my 13 year old daughter and her friend and they loved it. Axl sounded much better than I thought he would after reading comments online. He sounded just as I remember when I saw him 20 years ago in Madison Square garden. I went into the show thinking it was Axl and his hired guns but they are a band. I really liked when DJ Ashba was in the middle of his solo took a drag of his cigarette and continued the solo without missing a note. Buckcherry was also great! They were very energetic and tight as a group. Got to love the definition of a crazy bitch by Josh Todd.
There were no delays of any kind. The concert had three bands playing in it with the opener starting around 8, then Buckcherry about 9 something then GnR at 10:45 what made the show last so long was the 3 hour set by GnR. Not that I’m complaining.
Well worth the price of the ticket.
Chris Kelley
November 3rd, 2011
7:51 pm
First off, Axl is a Millionaire…not broke. This was one of the best shows I have ever seen. 3 hours of Guns is AWESOME!!! Stick to your hour and a half Bieber show until you grow up!
Jason Reed
November 3rd, 2011
8:52 pm
Thanks for all the reviews. I have been a GNR fan since I was ten when Appetite came out. I am seeing them Saturday for the first time ever in Dallas. All the positive reviews have me excited. Of course, there will always be Axl Haters. GET OVER IT. SLASH QUIT YEARS AGO. Looking forward to Saturday big time. Thanks guys.
mmbstn
November 3rd, 2011
10:58 pm
Enter your comments here
Paula
November 3rd, 2011
11:56 pm
This ajc reporter obviously didn’t know what he was talking about. I was at this show. Axl put on one heck of a show. The concert started @ 7:30, actually about 7:45 with Kellen Heller ?? and then BuckCherry. GNR came on stage about 9:45 and played for over 4 hours. This was a 6 1/2 hr concert and was well worth every dollar! By the time GNR came on stage, the arena was pretty packed out. It was definitely more than 1/2 full. People stood the whole time. Axl’s voice was top-notch and he was very personable in this show. I’ve seen him 3 times plus many other artists – I can definitely say this was the BEST GNR concert I have ever seen.
Khugo
November 4th, 2011
12:11 am
I have always wanted to see GnR. I was skeptical, but the show was AMAZING! I planned for the concert by taking today off. It was well worth it! Axl did a fantastic job…he was a great entertainer and really put on a show. Slash is awesome, but with that being said, I thought Dj Ashba did a great job. I would pay double to see the show again and look forward to seeing them again as soon as possible.
Todd Barcroft
November 4th, 2011
1:45 am
I checked my watch and it was 10:36 when they hit the stage. This lineup is infinitely more talented than the original. I was there in 1987 when he Axl got arrested, and the last time I saw them was in Birmingham at the racetrack, standing in knee deep mud for 6 hours after Skid Row played and the show sucked. Last night was what I’ve been waiting for for 25 years. Plus, my tix were free and in a suite with free food, beer, liquor, and parking. Plus, I took the day off today. If you can’t make proper arrangements t attend a concert when you are over 40 yrs old, don’t g t any.
Stephen
November 4th, 2011
9:51 am
I’ve seen a ton of concerts over the years and I wasn’t expecting what I saw in Atlanta. Shockingly, this was the best show I’ve ever been to. Axl performed for 3 hours and sounded as good as ever. The effects were also beyond most anything I’ve seen in the past. Don’t miss a chance to see these guys!
Tim
November 4th, 2011
12:12 pm
I’m very excited, I’ve got tickets to their show in Kansas City next weekend. Good to see some honest reviews that don’t focus only on the negatives.
On an unrelated note, something looks wrong with the Buckcherry singer’s lower torso…wtf is that?
Jeff
November 4th, 2011
2:07 pm
Axl Rose went on stage at a late hour? NO WAY!!!!111!
Seriously, if you’re going to buy tickets to a GN’R show, you might want to keep that in mind. If you like them enough to buy a ticket, you should know this. If not, the joke’s on you!
A three hour show. How unprofessional!
Slash who?
NickyChips
November 4th, 2011
3:05 pm
seeing a lot of “Slash who?” comments here. Looks like the internet is catching up to most keyboards where the “/” sits below the “?”
Easy E
November 4th, 2011
5:01 pm
HEy Y OZZFEST – I WAS STILL BUYING BEER @ 11:45.. AXL CAME ON @ 10:50.
I THINK AXL AND MYSELF WOULD AGREE “YOUR THE SCUMBAG”"”
GREAT SHOW BY A TRUE MUSICIAN…
Doris
November 4th, 2011
5:49 pm
Thanks Jeff !!! You spoke my mind
DebbieNgeorgia
November 5th, 2011
1:19 pm
I bought my tickets the day they went on sale, literally, they went on sale at 10am and I had mine by 10:20am. Anyway, I knew what time rock concerts start, end, etc. so, I went ahead and asked for a couple of vacation (or PTO/personal) days off. I may be 40+ years old but, I know that a rock concert is not going to end before 12am, even on a Wednesday night. As for Guns N’ Roses being really late, I felt like I waited longer for Buckcherry than I did for Axl and he was the man I was there to see.
Now for the show, Kelen Heller was a new band for me but, they were awesome. I will definitely be watching for them. Buckcherry is great! I already loved them. Now, even more!! They were great but, we all know who I was really there to see: The Man! The Myth! Axl Rose!! Guns N’ Roses set up to the Dexter theme, which to the casual fan would have no significance. The goosebumps started! I had waited 24 years for this?? Then, the opening sounds of ChiDem with DJ Ashba in silhouette. OMG!! Oh yes! It was definitely worth the wait. Axl Rose is still a rock-god and the greatest frontman of all-time. If you don’t believe it, just check out the clips from the ATL show. And, for those of you who missed the show, had to leave early or think the band should consult you for their start and end times…”I’m sorry for you, not sorry for me!”
Liedke
November 5th, 2011
1:27 pm
For those of you who claim Axel was “late” to stage… I’m calling BS! They were much quicker getting to stage after Buckcherry than Buckcherry was getting to stage after Keller Heller. The GNR show started at exactly 10:45, not 11:00! GNR was out almost as soon as their stage was changed over from Buckcherry! I was front row and center stage for the entire show and it was amazing! I’ve seen almost every big act over the last 15 years and this was the best show I’ve evre seen!
DebbieNgeorgia
November 5th, 2011
1:47 pm
I was left front the entire show and I agree with Liedke. 10:45pm start for Guns N’ Roses is NOT late. Hell, that’s not late for any rock concert! I may be over 40 and I may work in a nursing home but, I’m not ready to live there…yet! It was a fantastic concert. I have been to quite a few over the years and this has been my favorite. Of course, that may be because Guns N’ Roses is my favorite band. My daughter even loved it! She said that DJ was gorgeous and awesome of course, I already knew that! He, Axl and the rest of the group have such a fun comraderie that it makes you enjoy the show even more. And for the woman who said that Axl didn’t show his hair or eyes, I saw both several times! And, they are beautiful!! He smiled so much and seemed like he was really having fun. I hope so. I will see them again, hopefully, before I am living in the nursing home! Lol!!
Richard Dawson
November 5th, 2011
1:57 pm
It is amazing that this site doesn’t have a simple listing of ALL upcoming concerts for the next few months. Amazingly pitiful.
Rob Johnson
November 5th, 2011
3:15 pm
Anyone who wasn’t at the concert Weds night (Thurs morning!) missed the concert of a lifetime. As a LONG time concert goer (baby boomer), I have been to hundreds of concerts and missed GnR back in the ’80s. I too was skeptical- the band, Axl’s behavior, a midnight appearance, etc. But at 10:40pm the real show started and it did not stop for 3 hours- one of, it not the best, concerts I have ever been to. Hands down. Great sound, great show, great band, great Axl. Stayed till the end (had to see Paradise City!) and yes it was odd to see a lot of empty seats- but what a concert experience!
griffin
November 7th, 2011
9:59 am
He was an hour and a half late in Dallas at the gexa enrgy pavillion too! Axle is known for starting a show whenever he feels like it.
Mary
November 7th, 2011
10:14 am
Griffin, the band took the stage at 10 PM in Dallas. It was a Saturday and the opener got off stage less than an hour before that. How is that being an hour and a half late?