Ok, I will respond to this by saying, I am not so sure that I do.
I will always like the music, don't listen to it as much as I use to, but I have been on a huge use Your Illusion kick lately.
I became a fan when I was 14 (2004ish), obviously because of the old band, everything about them. But I became a super fan in the quest for Chinese Democracy, I think a lot of us here were like that. Being a fan of GNR as it stood in the new millenium was like being a fan of the worlds biggest underground band, sure everyone knew GNR but no one fucking new Richard Fortus, or the words to the song Chinese Democracy, or any of that shit. It was fun to be part of something so mysterious, for the first two years I was a fan, the only news, the ONLY news that came out was Bucketheads depature. It's kinda hard to imagine but for a long time Axl Rose was just not fucking around at all, no one would even see pictures of him (remember how big of a deal it was when he showed up Korns cd release party?)
When he finally came back, I was fortunate enough to be there at the Hammerstien and it will always be one of my favorite shows Ive seen, and it was fun to really cheer for Axl and his whole band, to me they were a BAND, Axl, Dizzy, Bumblefoot, Robin, Mothergoose, Tommy, Richard, and Brain. Bumblefoot was the absolute perfect replacement for bucktehead, and in many ways a much better fit (not to mention the coolest fucking dude you will ever meet. And they were back, and Axl was looking and sounding much better and they were kicking major ass in 2006-2007.
And then Chinese Democracy came out, it's a great album, I love it. We all knew it would never live up to the hype, I doubt any album could, but what a fantastic album.
However, it was kind of the end of an era, I think a lot of us were kidn of dissapointed about how there was no real hype about the album, it just came, and then quickly went. No press, no video, no shows. The CD and The Vinyl packages were both REALLY half assed, no new pictures of the band, the only pictures they had were mismatched pics from various tours, no statement concerning the album at all, mispelled and wrong lyrics in the booklet. It was kinda dissapointing, as a fan. Like many things in life.....
The chase was better than the catch.
Which is fine, it was a lot of fun, you combine that with the fact that prior to the album's releas we had already lost Brain and Finck, it just wasn't the same anymore. They hired DJ Ashba and Frank, who are great musicians, but replacing guys as tallented and unique as Robin and Brain? didn't work for me.
And then, just the fucking INFINITE Chinese Democracy Tour, the same set, the same solos, the same pyros in the same spot, the fucking choreographed moves, there presence on social media (I am convinced a 12 year old girl runs there facebook page) Charging excessive amounts for tix (though, in most circumstances they can't control that) and merchandise, jet setting around the world playing private parties and weddings, etc. Axl is just simply out of fucking touch. Whatever it was that drove kids to love GNR when Appetite came out, that's long gone, and it should be. No one expets you to be the same guy you were at 25 as you are at 50, if they do they are insane. Trying to forumlate that old thing in to your arena rock show, it's fun, for a while but for me, it's grown old.
So, I supose that is why I am not as into them as I was, sorry about writing so much, if anybody actually read it all you are awesome.
