OK, it's July. I love summer. I mostly love all those live performances that take place here in Greece. One of those was the Guns N' Roses gig, a live I was a bit indecisive to see or not. Most people were talking about how Axl has spoiled his image and that Guns N' Roses suck without the original line up. Anyway, some friends and me gathered and took off for Malakasa to watch one of the most important Hard Rock bands! We arrived much earlier and went straight for some beers and shit. While walking towards the scene, I came across what I exactly expected. A lot of 14-15 years old kids, most of them with their parents. Not that I mention this fact as something negative, but I maybe wanted to see a bit more noisy audience. If there was noise, you'll understand that below...
While drinking our beers, we started walking and watching the merchandise, the chicks (that were in fact uncountable). Terra Vibe has changed a bit since last year's Rockwave Festival. The VIP place is on the left of the scene. From there you definitely have a great view, but let me tell you something. You just can't stand for more than 4-5 songs there with the kind of people there. I mean they didn't even clap their hands or something. I didn't even get in there. Anyway, enough with the bitching.
The band that got on stage to make the already hot climate burning were Star Star. This Los Angeles originated band plays this kind of sleazy dirty Rock & Roll that makes you want to jump and scream. I had heard some of their old tracks in a promo they had released but they hadn't managed to impress me. This time, they got on stage and seemed ready to roll! They played some tracks from their old promo and from their other works but the crowd didn't seem to respond at all. Basically, their sound was very bad, something that I couldn't blame only the band for. The bass was the real noise. It's like it was piercing your ears! Some tracks later, the singer of W.A.N.T.E.D. joined them on stage to do some backing vocals. And then, I can't describe what we saw. A Ramones cover! I mean WHAT THE FUCK' SHOW SOME FUCKING RESPECT!!! They really killed the song. Everyone couldn't believe in his or her eyes. Basically, it was the first time I saw this band performing live. I have heard that they are really good on stage but this time they weren't good at all. Probably they just weren't ready for the role of being the support act for a band like Guns N' Roses.
Enough with my words! The time had come. Guns N' Roses got on stage for a show that nobody will ever forget. I'd firstly like to say one thing. The guitarist's wrong choice. He got on stage with Slash's hat. Great mistake! After the crowd's angry reaction he took it off. Anyway, the sound of Welcome To The Jungle welcomed us to our own jungle! Hell yeah, Terra Vibe surely turned into a jungle! Axl seemed too energetic and delivered a hell of a nice show! We didn't have time to gather our brains from the ground and It's So Easy followed by Nightrain were there to remind us that headbanging never stops! Imagine the condition of our poor necks! Thank God Guns N' Roses had a different opinion and they kept rocking on and on! Out 'Ta Get Me, Mr. Brownstone and My Michelle did manage to set the stage on fire! Everyone was jumping up and down! Everyone was singing along! The climate was fucking burning! The next songs were fortunately a bit softer so we could light a cigarette and enjoy the whole atmosphere. Sweet Child O' Mine and Paradise City. Two of their hits that left us staring like we didn't know what the fuck hit us! Next was You Could Be Mine. I admit that this song made me want to dance!
The next one is not just a song; it's a hymn for me! A track that no matter what brings back memories. November Rain made the whole atmosphere a bit emotional. No need to say that some thousands of lighters were on the air! I could describe that moment as the highlight of their performance! Anyway, the next three songs were brand new! One of classic G N' R style, one that reminded me a bit of Portishead (sorry but I'm not the best in comparing things!) and a last one that didn't impressed me a lot. After the presentation of their new songs, they continued with Knocking On Heaven?s Door followed by a magnificent piano solo that fairly earned the applause of the crowd! Now that I said solo, between every fucking song one guitarist was left alone on stage to play a solo. BETWEEN EVERY TRACK! I don't want to say anything else about it because I'll spoil the whole performance. It just ended up being a bit tiring. Anyway, it was time for a great surprise. Izzy Stradlin joined Guns N' Roses on stage and played Patience! Fuck yeah! The gig finished with Live & Let Die, a song that I was waiting to hear from the start of the show. For me, it was the best way to end this performance!
End of the gig and we're still staring at each other to realize what we had seen. I admit that I wasn't waiting to see Axl performing so great! Fortunately I was wrong. Axl and his company delivered a hell of a great show and we were there to support them. I don't care if some people say that Guns N' Roses are dead and gone without their original line up. The only thing I have to say is: The king is dead! Long live the king!
