Check it out my man.. to me its like this..
What drew me to "Guns N' Roses" was the life these guys were living + the type of music they played.
I like hard, sleezy rock n roll. I love Axl's "ripping" voice and Slash's dirty guitar work. The rest of the band was magic as well. They seemed to blend instead of just play parts together.
I have kids now.
What bothers me most is that though my kids have heard and LOVE Guns music they will never experience what I consider to be a pure rock n roll band. Authentic.
I also feel bad for the world not having a band like that on top anymore. Maybe it shouldn't bother me as much but it does, especially knowing all the dudes are alive.
I'm also not saying if they were to get back together they'd start living it up with the drugs and shit, but at least I could show them, or anyone in the world can see THEM and say "these guys did it all, made it, and STILL kick ass".
I was watching the Osaka show from what.. 2011? last night and shit dude, as much as I want to like what I see it really comes off as weak compared to the older shows.
They sound AMAZING mind you (the new guys), but just something about this band seems way too polished in contrast to what was sold to me as Guns N' Roses before.
I swear if the name wasn't GnR I wouldn't care at all but they are like a Harley Davidson you have to peddle.
Just not right.
And thats that dude. I don't hate the new stuff (cept that the songs seem a bit pussy'ish).
~S~
And you think a reunion would bring the old good magic back?
I'm sorry, but that's not the way it works
What made GNR so special was not just the 5 guys together, it was, as you say, the lives they were living back then, they were basically a bunch of sleazy bums who made music from their hearts based on their life experiences and what was their conception of reality back then. It's not just the people, it's also their age, their demons, what they were going through at the time... and that you can't bring back.
So, yeah, the music scene back then in the late '80s/early '90s was fucking amazing (except for that whole glam piece of crap LOL), specially in LA, with GNR, RHCP, Jane's Addiction, etc. And what was going on in Seattle was beautiful and amazing too. But today it's kinda hard to find that energy. Everyone is TOO sober and living TOO comfortable lives, kids living with their parents, taking music lessons that mommy and daddy pay for... and don't get me wrong, I'm happy those kids are having "normal" lives with loving families instead of being out on the streets selling/doing dope after running away from a violent environment at home... but the way I see it, art is not just skill, it's mostly expression, and that sensibility is acquired mostly through tough life experiences or by experiencing different states of consciousness... not something we find easily today.
My favourite albums were not recorded with the idea of making millions and becoming rockstars, at the time, they actually didn't give a FUCK, they just wanted to make the music they wanted and getting away with it, not caring if the label douchebags would approve. Today? Well, today everyone wants to be famous and popular and have 10 million hits on youtube and record their pussy goodie-goodie songs to please crowds instead of doing it as a therapy to heal wounds or just for the sake of expression.
When I'm asked what bands would I like to see back together, my answer is NONE. Seeing Led Zep, Pink Floyd, old GNR, Jane's Addiction, The Doors, Nirvana, etc. today wouldn't be the same. I'd rather go back in time and see them when they were not just together, but when they actually had that strong energy pulling them together.
