A tangled web of rock and roll survivors

April 10, 2016 2:49 PM

The most dangerous band in the world is back (almost). What could possibly go wrong? But there's a twist. And another.

Guns n' Roses, the band that imploded in the 90's as spectacularly as it rose in the 80's, has reunited. First with a club show where it all began. And aptly named "Not in this Lifetime" stadium tour announced. Warmup shows in Las Vegas, Mexico City and headlining Coachella.

Just prior to the Vegas shows this weekend, lead singer Axl Rose, notorious for his temper, unpredictability and riots, broke his foot. Reminiscent of Dave Grohl in 2015 (previously, self-link). Shows cancelled, right? No, the show must go on. With Dave Grohl's throne. To positive reviews. Welcome to the Jungle.

In other news, AC/DC was forced to postpone tour dates when lead singer Brian Johnson was advised permanent hearing loss was imminent if he continued. Rumors swirled about AC/DC continuing with guest vocalist(s). Leading the pack? None other than one W. Axl Rose.

posted by raider (59 comments total)

Have they spent years in prison for using music as political protest? Then they're not even close to being the world's most dangerous band.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 3:06 PM on April 10, 2016 [31 favorites]

i thought the partridge family was the world's most dangerous band (at least to my sanity)
posted by pyramid termite at 3:08 PM on April 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

Token columns from John Moe’s Pop Song Correspondences:

• “Attention, Mr. Axl Rose: We Did Not Feel Welcome in The Jungle.”
• “Notes on ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine,’ as Delivered to Axl Rose by his Editor”

posted by Going To Maine at 3:15 PM on April 10, 2016 [7 favorites]

Still hoping that Gary the Squirel takes over for Brian Johnson.
posted by munchingzombie at 3:17 PM on April 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

i thought the partridge family was the world's most dangerous band (at least to my sanity)

C'mon! Get happy!
posted by octobersurprise at 3:20 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

This post made me re-watch some old videos. Axl Rose was an almost unbearably beautiful young man. I thought so back then and I still think so. And he has so much to do with my love of power ballads. *heart eyes emoji here*
posted by not that girl at 3:26 PM on April 10, 2016 [8 favorites]

I believe you'll find that this is the World's Most Dangerous Band.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:28 PM on April 10, 2016 [13 favorites]

Just checked out footage of the Troubadour show where Axl broke his foot, and, yup, hopping around on the monitors in pointy-toed cowboy boots will do that to you.
posted by Scram at 3:34 PM on April 10, 2016

I believe you'll find that this is the World's Most Dangerous Band.

Yes, and with the best video ever. (Note: Teri Garr)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:36 PM on April 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

I thought this was about the David Letterman show, too.
posted by yhbc at 3:38 PM on April 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

I always liked their nom de snark: Drugs n' Poses.
posted by Chitownfats at 3:44 PM on April 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

so no buckethead? I thought there would be buckethead. I want some buckethead. amiright??
posted by shockingbluamp at 3:49 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

Yes, and with the best video ever

I'd (blissfully) forgotten hairstyles like that...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:52 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

I don't think Axl Rose can do Brian Johnson. That's a very specific type of vocal screaming not many performers can mimic.
posted by wittgenstein at 4:02 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Deeply regretting including the "dangerous" thing. The post is about cool stories. Didn't mean to invite snark or debate.
posted by raider at 4:05 PM on April 10, 2016 [8 favorites]

I don't think Axl Rose can do Brian Johnson. That's a very specific type of vocal screaming not many performers can mimic.

After thirty-six years of that particular style of vocal screaming the world might be ready for something more subdued and snarly -- you know, Bon Scott style. Axl could probably do that.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:09 PM on April 10, 2016

This is an opportunity for the band to think outside the box. What's Diamanda Galas doing these days? Henry Rollins?
posted by thelonius at 4:19 PM on April 10, 2016 [9 favorites]

The first link is from the director who declined to pay me until I got a UK based lawyer.
posted by Ideefixe at 4:20 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

Maybe I should've included examples with the AC/DC reference. Didn't want to detract from the main point of the post.


Whole Lotta Rosie 1987

Whole Lotta Rosie 2014

Riff Raff 2011

Would love to see Shoot to Thrill..
posted by raider at 4:29 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

> The first link is from the director who declined to pay me until I got a UK based lawyer.

So you'd say working with him was ... dangerous?
posted by benito.strauss at 4:34 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

I take exception. THIS is the worlds most dangerous band. Anything else is just Nuns & Poseurs.
posted by evilDoug at 4:54 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

Holy shit, evilDoug ... That was seriously badass ... I think I just found my new favorite band.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:24 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

I have an amazing axl rose, Courtney love, heroin in strip joints story. Someday, when the right people die...I'll finally be able to tell it. That everyone in it is still alive, boggles my fucking mind.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 5:37 PM on April 10, 2016 [11 favorites]

I want some buckethead

Here you go. Buckethead has been cranking out an album or two every week for a couple of years now.
posted by thelonius at 5:41 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

A friend was at the Vegas show and posted pics on the book of faces. In the Grohl chair, Axl bore a strong resemblance to Davros. Axl as Davros is somehow not a far stretch in my mind.
posted by calamari kid at 5:45 PM on April 10, 2016 [4 favorites]

How I'll always see Axl--as the Breck girl (originally on the last page of an issue of Rolling Stone).
posted by datawrangler at 6:11 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Axl bore a strong resemblance to Davros.

I seem to recall someone describing Axl as either Davrosian or Davrosious.
posted by juiceCake at 6:20 PM on April 10, 2016

Trying to explaing what seeing that iconic show that MTV would always play at weird hours back in the day. Was like for "Folks of My Age" Get the hell off of my goddamn lawn. They flamed out and Nirvana rolled over them, but.. yeah... (My linchpin has always been Duff. Izzy wasn't coming back. Sorry to break your hearts. But 'No Duff' was No Sale.)
posted by Cyrano at 6:26 PM on April 10, 2016

I wanted to know what was up with Paul Shaffer, so I clicked on the story. Oops.
posted by uraniumwilly at 6:33 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

So I was at first a bit worried about it, because what I've seen/heard of Axl since the late 90s has not been kind. But I was pleasantly surprised by the videos. I even saw the photo of him w/a broken foot and I didn't see that shitty mustache he'd been wearing. Thank god.

I saw that Slash had made up with him. I love the classic line up.

Popcorn had a stroke but he came back and has his own band which, IMO, until now, sounded much closer to the original line up than anything Axl was throwing up. It makes me sad he's not involved. I mean I get it, but I feel like he's changed a lot through the years. Though who knows if his style would work with the latter age GnR material.

That said, one of my guilty pleasures (guiltiest?) is One In a Million. The lyrics are so unfuckingbelievably horrible (and I know Axl's apologized for them, thankfully)... But the song itself? The tune GodDAMN do I love that song.

And I love Buckethead, especially his work with Bill Laswell et al. But I really am glad the original lineup is here. No offense to Bumblefoot and Buckethead and that guy from NIN and whatever. I love all them, but they're just *not* GnR. And Axl really fucked up by trying to do that with his voice/style. I appreciate that he tried to branch out and UYI I & II were some solid tunes here and there, but as a lot of double albums, perhaps a bit much. Anyways.

Pigs. Flying. Happily.
posted by symbioid at 6:40 PM on April 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

What's Diamanda Galas doing these days? Henry Rollins?

Uhm, phrasing?
posted by loquacious at 7:05 PM on April 10, 2016 [11 favorites]

I don't think Axl Rose can do Brian Johnson. That's a very specific type of vocal screaming not many performers can mimic.

While there's a lot I can mock or be irritated about with about Axl Rose, I 'm willing to entertain the idea that he might be able to pull it off. He was willing to commit to a lot of serious vocal training in the 80's to get the sound he was looking for.

My memories of what happened later are foggy, but IIRC, as GnR was imploding his vocal cords had been damaged to the point of him being unable to ever sing again. He had to let them heal for months and then retrain and adapt his voice which took a very long time (a similar had thing happened to Bob Seger in the early 80's). The process changed certain aspects of his singing voice, mostly in regards to his range and register. He might be able to push his new limits in the studio to get some of his old tone back, but on a tour, doing that on a near-daily basis would destroy his voice.

As for singing with what remains of AC/DC and making it work, he's got two things working for him. One, he's has two AC/DC singers with noticeably separate qualities to draw from - Bon Scott with the dynamic range, and Brian Johnson with the gravelly rips. That gives him choices in ways to make something that can theoretically work, so that its not an imitation, but close enough to a 'family resemblance' that there's a chance (less than 50/50) that fans will not find it distracting and a turn-off. Two he's got (or at least shown in the past) enough respect for the band and him himself, both personally and professionally, that his ego (as big as it is) seems the kind that would make him either work diligently to make it sound right, or refuse if he thinks he'll be unable to pull it off. I'm reminded of the respect he had for Freddy Mercury, and often cited him as an influence and inspiration, at a time when a significant number of GnR fans (predominantly the younger segment) would make fun of Queen without a second thought.

However, there's a lot working against him, too. The general acceptance of Brian Johnson by fans was fairly surprising. Even those that prefer Bon Scott (me included) on the whole agreed that while it may be different, and Bon Scott better, that Brian Johnson was the best man for the job, and damn if he could not rock the fuck out and keep the machine going. The trade-off was that to maintain that success rate, the overall creative variety and evolution (which would have been far greater had Bon Scott not died) was much more limited. For Axl to pull that off, he's going to need to walk a fine line, avoiding looking like a bad impersonation or being too 'GnR' for fans to accept him as not a replacement, but as a guest appearing with the band and also as a fan to connect with the audience.

I'd say his chances of pulling it off as a very short run of live acts is about 1 in 3. I can't ever see myself buying a recording of it, but if I had the money to burn on such a show, and I heard at least some kind of positive review, I'd consider it. At the very worst I'd end up watching a very unusual train wreck.

As for the GnR show, without Adler and Izzy, it's just not worth paying for a partial reunion to me.
posted by chambers at 7:16 PM on April 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

The world's most predictable band. An inevitable response in the 80's from the vast swaths of suburbia uncomfortable with the growing popularity of hip hop.

Uncomfortable with the oddness of new wave/ and punk, even though that "wave" had already washed ashore and been relegated to college radio by the men in suits.

Uncomfortable with hair metal because the androgyny and misogyny was just plain and obviously orchestrated by the same men in suits.

Tired of "classic rock" but FINALLY some guys with new songs that sound just like Aerosmith!

The first boy band. I was surprised by how many people fell for them, until Nirvana made it big.

People will buy anything.
posted by Max Power at 7:24 PM on April 10, 2016 [4 favorites]

What's Diamanda Galas doing these days? Henry Rollins?

As long as the answer is not "Living as either a blissfully newlywed couple or a very unhappy argumentative couple in the apartment next door to me," I'm happy. Other than those extremes, those two would probably be good and interesting neighbors.
posted by chambers at 7:28 PM on April 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

Tommy Stinson's still on salary though, right?
posted by padraigin at 7:31 PM on April 10, 2016 [5 favorites]

In other news, AC/DC was forced to postpone tour dates when lead singer Brian Johnson was advised permanent hearing loss was imminent if he continued.

Dammit!

I do feel for Brian, but at the same time, they had a long-running reputation as the loudest live band - I mean, if Pete Townshend struggled with hearing loss, it's not surprising that anyone in AC/DC does as well. Even so, I can't imagine what it's like to lose the one sense that matters the most to musicians, as a direct result of being a touring musician.

I remember when my drum teacher started wearing earplugs during my lessons. It surprised me, because he was a timpanist for the local state symphony orchestra, and occasionally gigged as a jazz drummer - no loud rock amplification whatsoever. Just playing a drum kit in a closed practice room and being so close to the timpani drums for years was enough to cause serious hearing problems by the time he was in his 30s. That spooked me, but not enough to wear hearing protection back then when I needed it (I was a teenager, in marching band, loved live concerts, etc...). Anyway, just bought some standard disposable 32 dB plugs the other day to bring to concerts and raves, but I'm going for something more professional by the time summer hits and the music fests are booming. I already have mild tinnitus.

I had multiple opportunities to see them back in the '80s and '90s, and never did because... Well, surely AC/DC will always be around, right? So, poor Malcolm has dementia and quit touring in 2014, Phil Rudd got kicked out in 2015 due to bad craziness, and now Brian's really going deaf. I kinda thought these guys would keep going until they dropped, sort of like Lemmy. Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance... except if you're falling apart, I suppose. The lesson being, don't play in front of a wall of Marshall stacks for stadium crowds for decades. And wear in-ear monitors onstage and plugs!

As for Axl replacing Brian on tour... I belive they're obligated to play their tour dates, so someone's gotta do it. But AC/DC is really a band more than a rock star with backup. It's all about the group, not the singer or the guitar solos, and each member is integral to the group (even though it's essentially Angus Young's band, especially now that Malcolm has retired). I am not sure that's a suitable role for Axl, although he does have vocal chops (or he used to). So, most likely a temporary gig until the end of the tour, if it happens. Not a huge fan of GnR, but gotta admit, they were a serious hard rock band who knew how to deliver the goods, at least until they self-destructed.
posted by krinklyfig at 7:38 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Please. Dethklok is the most dangerous band out there!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dethklok
posted by Jacen at 7:43 PM on April 10, 2016

Max Power: The Most Edgy Poster in the World.
posted by entropicamericana at 8:06 PM on April 10, 2016 [8 favorites]

What's Diamanda Galas doing these days? Henry Rollins?

Uhm, phrasing?

OMG PLEASE LET THIS BE SO
posted by latkes at 9:36 PM on April 10, 2016

Pussy Riot may be the most in danger band in the world, but far from the most dangerous. The most dangerous one I can think of offhand is Hanatarash (slideshow of the backhoe bulldozer show. I don't think any video exists)
posted by Bugbread at 10:33 PM on April 10, 2016

Total asshole, but Axl is easily one of the top five best rock singers ever. Sound, range, attitude. Could even do Freddie justice.
posted by gottabefunky at 10:57 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Aw, hell. First Malcolm and now Brian. I hope Brian quits so he can save what's left of his hearing.

After Malcolm retired, I refused to go to any more AC/DC concerts. Stevie may be great, but it's not the AC/DC I've always known if Malcolm isn't performing with the band.

I've got no live shows to go to anymore. Carlin is dead. RIP. The Scorpions (what remained of them) have broken up and quit, and now AC/DC (what's left of them) is not long for this world. I'm very sad.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 11:10 PM on April 10, 2016

it's not the AC/DC I've always known if Malcolm isn't performing with the band.

Yeah. It's an AC/DC tribute band with Angus Young in it, at this point.
posted by thelonius at 11:34 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Yeah. It's an AC/DC tribute band with Angus Young in it, at this point.

I recently watched the first few songs of a recent concert recording of 'The Who' with Daltrey and Townsend and whoever they're playing with these days, and it made me so goddamned sad.

Not to say that geriatric farts of that generation shouldn't be out there doing it if they love it still -- Rush's R40 tour, from everything I've seen, kicked all sorts of old man ass -- but there's a point at which even I can't muster enough nostalgia and blood-alcohol content to cut through the melancholy.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:44 AM on April 11, 2016 [4 favorites]

The first boy band. I was surprised by how many people fell for them, until Nirvana made it big.

They shifted millions of records because they had some innovative songs, just like Nirvana. The 'hair/cowboy boots/I want to kill myself/danger' is just window dressing.
posted by colie at 3:18 AM on April 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

On the plus side, maybe someone should have broken Axl's foot a long time ago. He sounds great instead of perpetually winded. Maybe not running back and forth on stage is what middle aged Axl needs to get things done.

One the down side, hey remember the last time GNR put out a decent new song? It was 1993 and a young William Jefferson Clinton was settling into his first term of office. The big buzz in technology was "the World Wide Web." Sixteen million Americans were tuning in to watch Coach every week. Kids were kicking back with the transparent deliciousness of Crystal Pepsi. In Boca Raton, the Grande-Buton family welcomed the birth of their daughter Ariana.

In short, it was a looooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnng motherfucking time ago.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:00 AM on April 11, 2016 [2 favorites]

Max Power: The Most Edgy Poster in the World.

Feel my edges! FEEL THEM!
posted by Max Power at 8:22 AM on April 11, 2016

What's Diamanda Galas doing these days? Henry Rollins?

I never thought anything could take the place of Henry and Glenn Forever, but here we are.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:52 AM on April 11, 2016

According to what I heard on SIRIUS radio, actually it's the car racing that blew out Brian's ears, not the AC DC concerts, believe it or not.

I hadn't thought of Axl trying to do Bon Scott; that I can imagine.
posted by wittgenstein at 9:39 AM on April 11, 2016 [2 favorites]

They should have gotten Lzzy Hale from Halestorm to join AC/DC. Here's her/them doing "Shoot to Thrill."

Not only is she a great singer, but the head 'splosions that would result from a female singer in that band would be delightful.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:07 AM on April 11, 2016 [5 favorites]

And this is a terrible-quality video, but the audio is okay enough for you to hear Lzzy knocking the shit out of "You Shook Me All Night Long", while wearing an evening gown, no less.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:12 AM on April 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

> They should have gotten Lzzy Hale from Halestorm ....

Hadn't heard of her before. She's good. Really really good.
posted by benito.strauss at 10:22 AM on April 11, 2016

Yeah, she sounds like the illegitimate child of Ann Wilson and Angus Young.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:39 AM on April 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

People will buy anything.

People will hate anything, too.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:53 AM on April 11, 2016 [2 favorites]

Last Lzzy Hale AC DC cover, I promise: Shake a Leg. No one who has heard this woman sing would want Axl instead.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:00 AM on April 11, 2016

Buying a ticket to a GNR show is like an exercise in stress. Not interested in wondering whether or not Axl is going to show up or not, and even if he shows up, Axl is now the fat, Vegas Elvis instead of the 69 Comeback Elvis.

I'll pass.
posted by prepmonkey at 11:22 AM on April 11, 2016

Ryan Dombal at Pitchfork: “Revisiting the Magnificent Excess of Guns N’ Roses' Use Your Illusion Video Trilogy”
posted by Going To Maine at 11:24 AM on April 15, 2016

It has been officially confirmed that Axl Rose will be AC/DC's new singer during their summer tour dates.
posted by wabbittwax at 9:26 AM on April 17, 2016

And hours later Angus Young joins GnR onstage at Coachella to blow the doors off Whole Lotta Rosie
posted by raider at 9:48 AM on April 17, 2016 [1 favorite]