“…Now, the kind of journalist who makes it all about themself is of course objectionable …
… but these are objectionable circumstances … so forgive me.
My first ever gig as a festival reporter was Leeds 2002 … when Guns N’ Roses turned up two hours late … but smashed it out of the park nonetheless.
I may have mentioned that Axl was “as big as a house.”
He may just have called me out onstage in London a few days later … naming me a “pussy” … who owed him rent for “living in my ass for so long.”
It was a career high, yes, but those also feel like kinder, more innocent days.
This was when Chinese Democracy was still an illusion we could all use.
But now we’ve heard the dowdy reality … and tonight we got the worst of both worlds.
The band took the stage just a measly hour late … had their set cut marginally … but not dramatically …
… and turned in a show that was the ultimate insult to the Gunners dream … in being simply unmemorable.
True, the magic of hearing the likes of Welcome To The Jungle, It’s So Easy and November Rain live cannot be diminished.
But last night Reading was challenged to judge whether this was enough … and Reading judged “no”.
There was no charisma, no chemistry and actually …
… so little vocal that the rumour of the night was that Axl had drafted in Mickey Rourke as a body double.
Certainly, the boos negated his vocals down to nothing.
And when history is written, it shall be told that the GNR dream ended with an unedifying sit in –
- in which Axl tried to whip up a disinterested crowd into voicing outrage over the shortened set.
After such a mess, it’s perhaps not surprising that the rumour of the festival today is that the band were not paid for their performance …
… and will not be appearing on Sunday for the Leeds leg.
And so after all that … it gives me no pleasure to diss GNR online for a second time.
But rather than a boyish jibe about his girth … this was about insulting their fans and, worse, their legacy.
So c’mon Axl.
Bring it.
Do your worst.
Oh! You already did…”
go to source/story>>>Guns N’ Roses fail to ignite Reading festival 2010 | Music | guardian.co.uk
