REVIEW: Guns N’ Roses bring Chinese Democracy tour across Canada – Axl Rose taking stage at unpredictable times at shows in London, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax
February 1, 2010 by Richard Budman ·
shot7 photo of Axl Rose exiting a King St, Toronto club in the early morning of January 29, 2010
(HoundsTV – Toronto) If there is one thing Guns N’ Roses 2010 Canadian tour has confirmed – Axl Rose still lives and loves the rock star lifestyle – relentless touring, late night partying, and lots of pretty ladies.
Axl and his Guns N’ Roses mates have been in eastern Canada the last week finishing up a 13 show trek across Canada to kick off a 2010 world tour in support of Chinese Democracy – Axl’s long awaited, and massively under-appreciated gem of a GN’R album.
The talk among many, many, many of the reviews has been the unpredictable late start to the GN’R shows occurring each night. For the Hamilton, London, and Montreal shows – Axl has been taking the stage around 10:30 and playing 2 1/2 hour sets ending around 1 a.m. We are not quite sure why so many people have been whining about the late starts -
BUT PEOPLE! Its a Guns N’ Fuckin’ Roses concert – not Disney on ice. So what if Axl is taking the stage at 10, 11 or 12?
But up here in Canada, venue officials and police do have concerns about rock concert crowds spilling out into the streets at very late hours. So all Canadian arenas have bylaw curfews (usually 11:59 p.m.) where the music is supposed to end or the concert promoter starts paying heavy penalties. The promoters and management of the GN’R tour surely paid some big penalties that night in Toronto when Rose was still on stage past 2 a.m.
In fact, when Guns N’ Roses took the stage at 11:30 in Toronto, discussions did occur with venue officials and GN’R management about cutting the set significantly shorter – to maybe 1 1/2 hours to help get the ACC crowd out still by about 1 a.m. Rose’s management refused. In the end, one or two songs were cut from the planned set list to try for a 2 a.m. finish. The word through Axl’s people was the GN’R set was minimum 2 1/2 hours and they were giving the fans ONLY a full set – no matter how late or whatever financial penalties they would incur.
So why did Guns N’ Roses take the stage so late in Toronto? It might have something to do with the fact Axl didn’t leave his downtown Toronto hotel till 11:15 p.m. for the show.
RELATED: Axl Rose signs autograph collectors guitar on route to London, Ontario show.
And why wasn’t Rose ready for the Toronto stage? Perhaps it had something to do with a very good time Axl and his GN’R mates had in Montreal the night before (actually, more the morning of..)
Rose made light reference to his previous night of Montreal debauchery kicking off the Toronto set, “Sorry about the time delay. I got carried away jumping off shit last night…I actually don’t remember a thing..”
After GN’R’s Montreal show the previous night, the band hit up a private club in old Montreal eventually emerging from the club at 6:30am in quite the high spirits. From there, it was time to head back to Toronto for the Air Canada Centre show that evening. And that evening started with
Rose going from his Toronto hotel room at 11:15 pm – to an awaiting vehicle speeding through traffic the ten minute drive south to the ACC – and joining his GN’R mates on the Air Canada Centre stage with the lights dimming just before 11:30 pm.
And the rush showed in a very uninspired opening of Chinese Democracy where Axl’s voice was clearly a little off. Rose exited halfway through the song to switch mics. The second song of the night, Welcome to the Jungle, was better and the songs familiarity helped to get the crowd going – but it was clear Axl’s voice was still ramping up (and Rose was maybe still waking up?)
By the time Live and Let Die rolled around forty-five minutes into the set – Rose was surely finding his voice and it was sounding strong. Axl and the band did a great version of Catcher in the Rye – in honor of J.D. Salinger who passed away that day (remarked by Rose.)
But its when the GN’R set passed the 1 a.m. mark and Axl delivered You Could Be Mine, Knockin on Heaven’s door, and November Rain you knew you were seeing classic Axl, in almost perfert form – and well worth the wait.
After the ACC show. Axl, his Guns N’ Roses bandmates, Sebastian Bach and many more partied well into the wee morning hours at a King St. Toronto club.
Guns N’ Roses wraps up the 2010 Chinese Democracy Canadian tour with three final dates out east in Quebec City, Moncton, and Halifax this week.
Axl Rose at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton (January 25, 2010) by SteelcityCanada
RELATED: Axl Rose signs autograph collectors guitar on route to London, Ontario show.
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Yes, Axel did seem off the first song on Chinese Democracy. But the rest of the Toronto show was amazing.
I was at the Toronto gig and couldnt agree more with the article. The threesome of You Could be Mine, KOHD and November Rain absolutely hypnotized the audience. Grown ass men around me were screaming like giddy little school girls saying “Oh my God it sounds just like the studio version”. That’s how crisp and polished the performance was. Catcher and If The World were unbelievable. I really love the dynamic of the band: Ashba, Bumble and Fortus would shred any band as lead guitar, Stinson is so cool, Ferrer amazing and Dizzy/Pittman complete everything. These guys look like brothers up there having the time of their lives and it rubs off on us watching them. Just amazed at the talent on stage!
Also cant wait to hear Slash’s new stuff. Especially the track with Ian Astbury. I think his voice would compliment Slash’s ability. Would hope to see him as the new VR frontman maybe one day.
I would love to c GNR/Axl no matter what time he took the stage , it would be worth any wait, he and the current GNR line up r gr8 entertainers <3 GNR : )