pit, photos, promoter
Anyway, they finally opened gates some time after 6, and I ran for 1st row. There was a pit with wristbands, and we got 1st row center. The stage was not as high up as eg. in Dublin or Novarock, where you couldn't see half the stage because that thing in the middle is in the line of sight. So would have been really great if I could have taken my camera in. Which I couldn't. I had called the promoter and asked, and they said it was ok to bring cappy cameras (see my post in this thread). And like 2 minutes before gates open the security dude says no cams whatsoever allowed, only phones. Thanks for that rant . So I left my camera at the wardrobe. Keleko's friend took some pics with her phone (mine is too crappy), and maybe someday we figure out a way of how to transfer them to thenet.

opener (Shakra)
Shakra were really cute. They were soooo happy to have the opportunity to play one of the biggest stadiums in Switzerland and to open for Gn'R :-) . One of their guitarists seemed to be completely daunted and hardly moved. At some point the singer asked us to all raise our hands so that he could take a picture hihi . The sound was ok.

official pics, stage setup
since Gn'R were late, I started to talk to some of the photographers who were waiting. They told me that only photographers from daily newspapers were allowed, no agencies. I specifically asked about the "all your copyright are belong to us" contract, and they didn't know anything about it. So I'll see that I get some of the papers & scan the pics that we have at least a few from the 1st 3 songs.
The stage was smaller than the ones I'd seen before, but I think that was good. Never an empty space anywhere, always something to look at Smiley (problem is with at least 5 of the 8 guys running in all directions, you never know where to look Tongue ).

setlist
gn'r finally took the stage with the usual songs. There were no surprises in the setlist (check out the updates thread in the main Gn'R section, I sent updates to Jarmo). Since they started about 40 mins late and probably had to stop by midnight, i found the gig rather short. No Madagascar, no Rocket Queen, no CD, ... .

axl
Was in good mood, talked very few. Sometimes he said something, but it was inaudible (at least from where I was standing, I got a good listen of the bass though Tongue ). Joked around with the band (Tommy was clapping his hands over his head and Axl came out on stage, watched him, and started jumping up an down with the "jumping jack" exercise. Voice was on the ok side, but have heard him stronger. Might have been the mix, but also some of my friends who were farther in the back said they could hardly hear him. He also wore only one earpiece, the other was hanging round his neck. Safe for that, I'm tempted to say "as usual" (clothing, moving, energy, snakedancing drool , mood), but that would not be suitable. He did a great show!

"the band"
Richard wore a scarf round his neck and a jacket in the beginning and stripped to no-shirt during the show drool drool . In between, he was dressed all in black, like Novarock. Seemed to have himself a blast, his solo was great! The best of him I've seen so far!

Robin was also hot (yes, he also took off the jacket and was dressed all-white safe for the Addams-Family print on his shirt, the stockings, and the ... whatever it is. A skirt? That thing was red and black. The stage was very close to 1st row, so I got a good look at him. I have never seen someone more into what he's doing. It's as if he can physically feel the music, not just hear. Great solos also! Though my friend joked that probably Richard and Robin had a marital quarrel because they weren't drooling at each other during "Beautiful" as much as they had been at Novarock hihi . But it was also great without the drooling, some people even sang along Smiley .
He came down to 1st row once, and after the show (like after they had taken a bow and stuff) he ran down to 1st row again and just hugged the fans that were standing there and then ran back up.

bbf was wearing the red cap you've seen on other pictures, and sometimes an army-green and also kinda army-style cap. Someone asked in the other thread about his guitar, yes he did use the foot guitar for his solo. He also was playing with the fretless guitar (his homepage lists the guitars he has, you can see a pic of it there), but I forgot which song it was. At one point during the show he came to the front, and I threw a kiss at him, and he threw one back (now *that*'s the info you've been waiting for Tongue ). We also noticed his beard: He's shaved it such that when you look from underneath at his chin it's a stlyised figure of a man :-)
I never get his footguitar solo, I'm just not that much into the shredding thing, but don't cry was killer again. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The dude rocks!

Tommy - it's so sad there's hardly ever a spot on so that you can see the fucker! He jumps around a lot, bangs his head a bit, kind of a one-man-party (safe for when he's sneaking up behind Robin hihi ). He's very much into it! I saw him conferring with Axl a lot in between songs, seems like he's the conductor or something. As I was standing in front of where they probably had the subwoofers, I had a great listen to his playing - awesome!

Dizzy was the first one to lose the shirt (yes, also the temperatures were hot), and... maybe he should pull up the pants just a tiny bit, but that's a guess hihi . Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery good solo! The crowd LOVED it, just plain awesome!!! In good mood, too :-) . Chris was wearing what appeared to me a brazilian soccer shirt (it was red and black, with some print on the chest - but since I'm neither brazilian nor into soccer, don't hang me for that). He also lost the shirt rather quickly :-) (though you never get to see what he looks like, right?).

Frank - great on drums, didn't hear a single mistake, didn't see him behind the drums though, so I can't say if he went shirtless too Wink . He has a slightly differen drum setup than Brain (from what I the thing looked like, I don't know shit about drumming to be honest :-/ ).

They all rocked big time, from start to the end! My friends now finally understand me at least, and I think I drew some more people into world's most unpredictable religion hihi . The crowd was very loud, sang along every single line (even the new songs). Single shows are so much different from festivals in that way! I'm looking forward to the reviews in newspapers tomorrow (and we'll see which journalist was at the same show I was at...).