Which wasn’t a bad idea anyway, because it was uncomfortable enough to let me get my lazy ass out of the car at around 9 o’clock. I just started my walk to the festival terrain when I ran into Ed, from DutchDemocracy. Very good! Because we would be contacting each other that day anyway to hang out on the festival, just like in Lisbon. The rest of the DutchDemocracy camp was still a sleep so we grabbed a beer and warmed up in the car for a bit. About half an hour later the rest got up as well and we all headed to the festival terrain. After a nice German Würst breakfast and some wokda-lemon and beer we were ready to rock! We arrived on the terrain around 12.00, hung out, talked to other fans, drunk beer and had a good time.
However I needed to get a front row place this time, not somewhere in second line like in Lisbon. So about half an hour before Korn came on stage me and Ed went up front. The pit was a fucking nightmare during Korn. People were falling massively. Can’t imagine someone had a good time there but I didn’t really care about that anyway … I just needed to get my place. And I got it, as soon as Korn went offstage I managed to get myself a nice place up front. I still had to stand through Tool however, but I heard good things about them so I expected it not to be that bad, not as in Lisbon where the Darkness were working on my nerves. However Tool turned out to be a huge disappointment for me, they just sucked. No interaction with the crowd, and a singer complaining about how cold it was. Of course it’s cold if you’re wearing no t-shirt at around 11 o’clock and standing on the same place for 1,5 hours.
Tool’s performance ended around midnight, then on the big T.V. screens the message we were all waiting for appeared; “Next; Guns N’ Roses”. Since you never really know what is about to happen when waiting for a band like Guns N’ Roses I have to admit that there somehow fell a load off of my shoulder; a non-show by Mr. Rose was out of question. Around 00.15 some German guy came walking on stage and announced that the band members have all arrived in Germany and that they’re set to take stage somewhere between 01.15 and 02.00. Very well, a couple of more hours then, I didn’t expect them to show up before 02.00 in the first place.
There was a big crowd attendance, and it was obvious that most people came to the festival to see Guns N’ Roses. Long before the guys appeared people were screaming for them, an incredible feeling when you hear everything come your way when you’re in first row.
01.45; It was finally time. The same ‘intro’ they used in Rock in Rio-Lisboa they also used now, and then Robin Finck roamed the band into Welcome to the Jungle. From that moment on they just rocked the house, the crowd gave a huge response. The first 3 songs GN’R played were from Appetite for Destruction if I recall it right. Then it was time for something new. The first one of a couple of NGNR songs was played; Better. In my opinon Better is the most powerful of their new songs. The power, the range and that raw rock ‘n’ roll way of singing really come forward in a lovely way. For a song that has not officially been released, the response was, to say the least, very good. Now I can’t really remember the whole set list, but we have Here Today … Gone To Hell for that. After Better Robin played a guitar solo, it wasn’t that “Finlandia Hymn” part he played yet, he would later on though. When Robin was finished the band came on again and they got into Live and let Die. That’s when the real fireworks came in. Loud explosions and high flames ala Rammstein got to the roof of the stage and gave the people even more reason to watch the show with amazement. The attending rock fans were, of course, given the chance to scream their lungs out as well. The band got into Knockin’ on Heavens Door, and, like in the old days Axl made sure everyone shouted along. Not the traditional 4 times however, it’s 6 times these days. Then it was the time for Richard Fortus to show the public what he’s worth, like in Lisbon he put up with a great solo again, later being joined by Robin Finck to play a duet. Then the one and only member, besides Axl, from the Illusion era got his solo time. Dizzy played a really cool piano solo, though I did get the idea that the crowd didn’t mind him going into the Blues. The Blues really turns out to be a song in which Axl can get the max out of his raw voice, very good performance!
Later in the show newly recruited guitarist Ron Thal, otherwise known as Bumblefoot, got the chance to introduce himself to the public. He changed his Gibson guitar for his crazy “Foot” guitar with the wings coming out from behind. But I’d dare say that after Buckethead the Guns N’ Roses fans are able to have peace with this; just a crazy guitar instead of a crazy guitar player. After he did his thing on the weird guitar he made a change of equipment again, no Gibson Les Paul type however. November Rain is, as always, for me one of the highlights. No 3 minute during piano intros to the song however, just 10 seconds of playing and then the drums by Brain come in already. After November Rain Axl grabs some time for talking. He mentions that Izzy was supposed to be here that evening, however he does not know where he is, the only thing he could say was; “He’s somewhere, I’m sure of that”. He talks about Izzy for a little while, making a comment about him and he added to that something like “No it’s not meant like that, not meant bad at all”. Then he goes talking about ‘this friend’ of his who he wanted to fly over to Germany to perform with them. That eventually worked out and then Sebastian Bach is introduced. They sing My Michelle together and just before leaving the stage Bach screams something like “Guns N’ Fucking Roses are back”! Which was quite obvious already, nevertheless always good to hear!
After that guest performance Robin Finck is going solo again before he steers the band into Sweet Child O’Mine.
When Nightrain comes to an end, the band leaves the stage. And traditionally but very well deserved for the band the crowd screams for more. And that’s what we got as well. They came back with an outstanding version of Madagascar, then tax song I.R.S. was played. And then Patience. Now I read on some sites that Axl fucked this song up, yes he did. However intentionally. He did the whistling part of the song, and then goes into ‘Sitting on the stairs’…the band keeps on playing while Axl says to the crowd; “Yeah I fucked your lines up there didn’t I?” Then after a few guitar chords they play the full song. Every good thing comes to an end … Robin Finck played one more solo then Paradise City ended this night full of rock n roll with lots of fire work and confetti. Guns N’ Roses performance was without a doubt an outstanding performance. Not just by Axl Rose, who clearly has a voice better than ever, but by the whole band. Ron Thal seems to have adjusted, he moves around stage more and more, Richard Fortus is totally comfortable on stage and playing his parts excellent. He probably is my favourite guitarist of the band. Tommy Stinson does an awesome job, like he always has done in Gn’R. Brain, Chris and Dizzy all do their jobs with class, but they’re bound to their places. And Robin Finck? He, for me, is on stage like the unofficial replacement of Slash. He is everywhere, he goes off stage getting as close to the public as one can as a band member and his guitar work is awesome.

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