Duff writes about the Hall of Fame Induction

You might have seen the letter Axl Rose wrote about his thoughts on GNR being inducted into the Hall of Fame last month. Despite Axl's absence from the night, other GNR players took to the stage to celebrate.

Duff McKagan has now written some words following that night. They give a nice insight into the night and what a good bloke Duff appears to be ....

-

Watching the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony special on HBO last weekend, I was also struck by how honored I was to have been included in such an epic class of bands and artists. GNR opened for the Peppers a few times in LA back in the early days. They were king-shit on the hill back then. And the Beasties were the hard-core East Coast counterpart to what we were oozing over on the West Coast. In fact, I seem to remember us being in the same club sometime in 1986, and the rumor of us brawling against each other was rampant throughout the club that night. Ah...testosterone!

There we all were in Cleveland, last month. Bands that made some sort of difference somewhere. The Peppers still do, and so do the Beasties. And they both stayed together, through thick...and blackened thin. But GNR didn't survive the folly and nonsense. We didn't rise above.

Watching that HBO Special made me sad -- for the very first time, perhaps--that the original GNR didn't somehow stay together. It would have been a miracle if we did. If I'd known then what I know now, I would have done my part to try and rid that band of the caustic resentments and outside inputs that finally wore us down to a nub of what we once were, and what we could have come back from. Alas, it just wasn't in the cards.

A funny thing happened in the lead-up to Cleveland. It seemed that there was an understanding -- not only with the people who had flown to Cleveland to see "their band" inducted -- but in how the other inductees rallied around Slash, Steven, Matt, and myself. They had our backs, and all offered their help in any way that we could use it.

Walking into the lobby at the hotel that all the artists were staying at, the first fellow inductee I saw was fucking Ronnie Wood from the Faces/Stones. He gave me a big hug, and smiled a huge grin. "Isn't this going to be fucking great, Duff?!" Uh, yeah, sure. What a welcome!

Flea gave me a big hug later that afternoon, and so did Chad Smith. The Green Day guys came to my book reading the night before at the House Of Blues, and Billie Joe and I devised a plan where he would sing whatever was needed...if needed.

In the aftermath of all of the drama leading up to the event, and a few people from our camp stating publicly that they weren't coming at all, I stuck with the mindset that I was there to honor our fanbase who had been there for us for more than 25 years.

It was a very poignant night. And after watching the broadcast -- and seeing my old friends perform for our diehard fans -- it's starting to sink in just how heavy the event was for me on a personal level.

We really didn't know if we were going to play at all. It wasn't cemented until we actually rehearsed at 2 a.m. the day of the show (right after my reading. It was all THAT last-minute. In fact, my band and soundman for the reading -- Jeff and Mike from Loaded, and Seattle's own Martin Feveyear -- instantly became GNR's crew! That's right. We hadn't even thought ahead about guitar techs, drum techs, or sound guys. So it was nice to have them there with me for the RRHOF, for sure).

For Slash and me, it was the first time we'd played our songs with Steven Adler in something like 22 years. We had to wonder: Would it work? Would we be able to get our mojo back with only 14 hours to spare before playing in front of an audience of 7,000, and be filmed for an HBO Special!?

I couldn't have been more proud of the guys I did take the stage with that night (special thanks to guitarist Gilby Clarke and singer Myles Kennedy for their heroic, last-minute efforts). My bandmates composed themselves in the face of so much unneeded drama. We had no resentment, and showed up to pay homage to those fans who did their part for us.

At the end of the day, I am so very satisfied about the outcome of that night in Cleveland. It was about the music that GNR wrote way back when. And the fact that a few of us showed up to reciprocate our appreciation was certainly enough for the occasion.

-

And there you have it. Maybe it's an example of when you get older things that happened in the past become a little less crazy in your mind. Would Axl agree with that? 

Springsteen set list Albany, New York

Bruce Springsteen took care of his own at the Times Union Center, Albany, NY, USA on April 16, 2012

Set List

Badlands

We Take Care Of Our Own

Wrecking Ball

Out in the Street

Death to My Hometown

My City of Ruins

Darlington County

Jack of All Trades

Murder Incorporated

Downbound Train

Shackled and Drawn

Waitin' on a Sunny Day

The Promised Land

Apollo Medley

Janey Don't You Lose Heart

Backstreets

The Rising

Lonesome Day

We Are Alive

Land of Hope and Dreams

Set List Encore:

Thunder Road

Rocky Ground (featuring Michelle Moore)

Born to Run

Dancing in the Dark

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Lady Gaga 2012 tour set list

Lady Gaga 2012 tour set list - Seoul, Korea

Lady Gaga  kicked off her first tour since the release of Born This Way with a massive set at Olympic Stadium, Seoul, South Korea where she showed she's got Souel but she's not a soldier...

After the show Gaga proudly tweeted that it was " It was the 2nd highest attendance of fans in the History of concerts in Korea" which was a pretty awesome effort!

April 27, 2012

Gaga's Set List

Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)

Government Hooker

Born This Way

Bloody Mary

Bad Romance

Judas

Fashion of His Love

Just Dance / Love Game / Telephone

Heavy Metal Lover

Bad Kids

Hair

Yoü and I

Electric Chapel

Americano

Poker Face / Alejandro / Paparazzi

Scheiße

Black Jesus † Amen Fashion

Gaga's set Encore:

The Edge of Glory

Marry the Night 

Axl Rose's letter about the Hall of Fame Induction

Axl

In this letter, Axl Rose makes it clear he will not be attending the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for 2012, he does not wish for his band Guns N Roses to be inducted and that regardless of what happens at the induction, no person has authority to speak on behalf of Axl Rose.

Which all seems very reasonable given the circumstances eh?

The Letter:

To: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Guns N' Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern,

When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N' Roses were to be inducted it'd be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.

Since then we've listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N' Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists' comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.

Under the circumstances I feel we've been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in "our" induction (that for the record are decisions I don't agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things... no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected.

For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It's their show not mine.

That said, I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of "Guns N' Roses".

This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp's perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I'm sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I'll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, "damned if I do, damned if I don't" scenario all the way around.

In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the Appetite or Illusion lineups, I've publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing's changed.

The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of "for the fans" or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba.

Izzy came out with us a few times back in '06 and I invited him to join us at our LA Forum show last year. Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in '06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned. Duff joined us in 2010 and again in '11 along with his band, Loaded, opening in Seattle and Vancouver. For me, with the exception of Izzy or Duff joining us on stage if they were so inclined somewhere in the future for a song or two, that's enough.

There's a seemingly endless amount of revisionism and fantasies out there for the sake of self-promotion and business opportunities masking the actual realities. Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn't room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion.

Maybe if it were you it'd be different. Maybe you'd do it for this reason or that. Peace, whatever. I love our band now. We're there for each other when the going get's rough. We love our fans and work to give them every ounce of energy and heart we can.

So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another's, or in this case several others', expense.

But hey if ya gotta then maybe we can get the "no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he doesn't care about the fans" crap out of the way as quickly as we can and let's move on. No one's taking the ball and going home. Don't get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we've endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types. Not to imply anything in this particular circumstance, but from my perspective in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball's never been in our court.

In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or as ironic as it may seem, I'd like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns' induction. More importantly I'd like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we've had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N' Roses music.

I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!

Sincerely,

Axl Rose

P.S. RIP Armand, Long Live ABC III


-

I love the line "So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever" that's gotta be a dig at Slash. Who lies apparently.

Taylor Swift Set List Auckland, New Zealand

Taylor Swift Set List Auckland, New Zealand

17 March 2012

The Hunger Games singer touched down in Auckland for a two night stint at the Vector Arena where she played a very popular set list, including two songs the Hunger Games soundtrack as part of the encore.

The review from the NZ Herald was very complimentary of Taylor's set, "Some of the set highlights come in the simpler moments that allow her voice and songwriting to be appreciated on their own, like Mine, andOurs. It's also wonderful to hear her getting just a little angry and sly on track like Dear John. There are times when the crowd carries the songs, their vocals as loud as anything Swift can produce, but when she belts out early hit You Belong With Me there's no denying her talent."

Taylor Swift's set list:

Sparks Fly

Mine

The Story Of Us

Our Song

Mean

Back to December/Apologize /You're Not Sorry (cover of One Republic)

Better Than Revenge

Speak Now

Ours

Last Kiss

You Belong With Me

Dear John

Enchanted

Haunted

Long Live

Set Encore:

Safe And Sound

Eyes Open

Fifteen

Love Story

Cash, God and Jesus

Jesus and God in Johnny Cash's lyrics

Some might say Johnny Cash was bad guitar player, an alcoholic, a fire starter, a womanizer and a brawler. That's all arguable but you cannot deny that Johnny Cash was a god fearing man. He's quoted as saying:

"The Master of Life's been good to me. He has given me strength to face past illnesses, and victory in the face of defeat. He has given me life and joy where other saw oblivion. He Has given new purpose to live for, new services to render and old wounds to heal. Life and love go on, let the music play."

"Creative people have to be fed from the divine source. I have to get fed. I had to get filled up in order to pour out."

Cash sure fed him self on songs whose lyrics refer to Jesus, especially for the American Recordings series. Here's quick run through of some of them.

I Came to Believe's lyrics suggest a man who has been through some troubled waters and has found solace in God, perhaps through necessity to survive.

God's Gonna Cut You Down is a classic Cash song where lyrics are a particular warning to sinners that no matter how hard they try, they will not avoid God's judgment. The same should probably be said of The Man Comes Around which tells the tale of The Second Coming.

Personal Jesus is a quite a different song. The reference to Jesus is some kind of quasi love song where the other party substitutes in for Jesus.

The Wanderer was a song Johnny Cash did with U2 on their Zooropa album - it refers to a man who has been making a journey in a post-apocalyptic world where he's finally realised that he better get on home to Jesus.

Meet Me In Heaven is a tender love song where the singer knows he's going to Heaven and when his partner dies, they'll end up at their side.

That Lucky Old Sun tells the story of man who works real hard and is disappointed he's not getting any reward while the sun gets to play in the heavens all day - the character ask's the Good Lord if he can hear his concerns. Even more heavy on the asking God to fix a problem is The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea - once you're at the bottom, sometimes the only way out is to look to the Heavens for help. I Hung My Head echoes this sentiment - a murderer has realized his shame and asks God for forgiveness.

Guns N' Roses Detroit Setlist

Guns N' Roses Detroit  Setlist

GNR played a hit filled set at the The Fillmore Detroit, Detroit, Michigan on February 21, 2012. The set list was littered with instrumentals so Axl can run off and get his voice attended to as has become the norm. Fans don't seem to be complaining about this though - and when you have Bumblefoot pulling out the Pink Panther theme why wouldn't you? In a sweet nod to the city they where in, GNR played a popular kiss song....

Detroit Set List

Luck Intro

Chinese Democracy

Welcome to the Jungle 

It's So Easy

Mr. Brownstone

Sorry

Instrumental Jam (I Want You Back by Jackson Five)

You're Crazy

Estranged

Rocket Queen

Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (James Bond Theme)

Live and Let Die

(Paul McCartney & Wings cover)

Instrumental Jam (Detroit Rock City by KISS)

This I Love

Motivation

(Tommy Stinson song) (Tommy Stinson on vocals, with band introductions)

Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (Baba O' Riley)

Street of Dreams

You Could Be Mine

DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (Mi Amor)

Sweet Child O' Mine

Used to Love Her

Instrumental Jam (Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2)

Axl Rose Piano Solo (Gran Torino/Goodbye Yellow … more)

November Rain

Bumblefoot Guitar Solo (Pink Panther Theme)

Don't Cry

Civil War

Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover)

Nightrain

Encore:

Instrumental Jam

Madagascar

Better

Instrumental Jam

Patience

Instrumental Jam

Paradise City

My Way (Frank Sinatra song)

Incubus Set List and Review Auckland, NZ

Incubus Set List and Review Auckland, New Zealand

January 31, 2012

Venue: Vector Arena

Review from the NZ Herald noted “When Boyd, whose model looks have seen him voted rock's hottest frontman on more than one occasion, took his shirt off at the halfway point, temperatures - and noise levels - certainly went up a notch.

Aside from the view, there was plenty to like about the show - Boyd's voice is as strong as ever, the near two-hour show was well-paced, and there were many Incubus diehards grinning from ear to ear by the end.

But if Incubus really are hellbent on reinvention, they still cling to several well-worn nu-metal cliches: They still have a DJ, bless them, and there was enough rap'n'roll to make Fred Durst jealous.”

Incubus' Set List 

Megalomaniac

Pardon Me

Adolescents

Privilege

If Not Now, When?

Beware! Criminal

Anna Molly

Circles

Glass

In the Company of Wolves

A Kiss to Send Us Off

Love Hurts

Isadore

Are You In?

Switchblade

Nice to Know You

Drive

Wish You Were Here

Encore:

Zee Deveel

Magic Medicine

A Certain Shade of Green

Incubus headed the following night to Wellington to play at the ASB Arena.

Sydney Set List Living End BDO

Living End Sydney Set List 2012

Same set as their other Big Day Out shows this year - see their Auckland Set list. Still, it's a nice collection of songs for a truncated Festival gig. 

January 26th

Set List Sydney

Song For The Lonely

Second Solution

Roll On

Machine Gun

Who's Gonna Save Us?

Prisoner Of Society

How Do We Know

Breed

(Nirvana cover)

White Noise

The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating

West End Riot

Battles Big Day Out Set List Sydney

Battles Big Day Out Set List Sydney 

Sydney 2012 on January 26, 2012

From what I heard of Battles at the Auckland Big Day Out, these guys have a pretty cool sound!

Set List 

Africastle

Sweetie & Shag

Atlas

Wall Street

Tonto

Ice Cream

My Machines

Incubus Set List If Not Now, When? Tour 2012

Incubus Set List  If Not Now, When?  Tour 2012

Incubus played their set at the Shinkiba Studio Coast, Tokyo, Japan to a huge amount of adoring fans. The set featured plenty of classic Incubus hits to keep the fans happy. They are building up quite the back catalogue of songs to draw from!

January 24th, 2012

Set List

Privilege

Pardon Me

Adolescents

Promises, Promises

If Not Now, When?

A Crow Left of the Murder

Anna Molly

Circles

Glass

In the Company of Wolves

Love Hurts

Quicksand

A Kiss to Send Us Off

Echo

Switchblade

Nice to Know You

Drive

Megalomaniac

Encore:

Zee Deveel

Tomorrow's Food

Kasabian Australia BDO Set List

Kasabian Australia BDO Set List 

Goldcoast Big Day Out

January 22 2012

Kasabian Set List 

Days Are Forgotten

Shoot The Runner

Underdog

Where Did All The Love Go?

Club Foot

Re-wired

Empire

Goodbye Kiss

L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)

Switchblade Smiles

Vlad The Impaler

Fire

Check out Kasabian's Auckland Set List.

The Vaccines BDO Set List 2012

The Vaccines BDO Set List 2012

Gold Coast, Gold Coast Parklands, Southport, Australia

Jan 22 2012

Vaccines Set List

Blow It Up

Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)

Tiger Blood

A Lack Of Understanding

Wetsuit

Teenage Icon

Under Your Thumb

Post Break-Up Sex

All In White

Wolf Pack

No Hope

If You Wanna

Nørgaard

Gold Coast Set List Sound Garden BDO 2012

Soundgarden's Gold Coast Set List BDO 2012

Following on from a very strong performance in Auckland, Soundgarden played a slightly different set for their fans from the Gold Coast.

Set list

Searching With My Good Eye Closed

Spoonman

Let Me Drown

Jesus Christ Pose

Outshined

Blow Up the Outside World

The Day I Tried to Live

My Wave

Burden in My Hand

Ty Cobb

Loud Love

Fell on Black Days

Black Hole Sun

Rusty Cage

Beyond the Wheel

JJ Reviews the Final Big Day Out

Gin Wigmore 

JJ Reviews the Final Big Day Out

Auckland 20 January, Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, NZ

Well, the 2012 BDO turned out to be the final Auckland one as the economics of the event were no longer there. The immediate response to that was book better bands.....

This year the BDO organisers changed things up by reducing the main stages to only one with a second, smaller stage for 'in between' acts. This was an epic fail and totally ruined the feel and vibe of the event when compared to past years. Living End aside, there were no truly quality bands until  Kasabian, Soundgarden and Noel Gallagher made their mark on the day. This is not to say other bands like Cage the Elephant weren't great, it was more of where's the bands like New Order, Placebo, Rage Against the Machine, Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails also on the set to support Soundgarden on the mainstage??

Here's my thoughts on the bands I saw:

 Soundgarden - loved them - they played a greatest hits package with a few less well known songs. Kym got all the right notes, Cornell was in fine form, that drummer from Pearl Jam was stonkin' and the bass was heavy as a rock to your head.

Kasabian - never listened to their music before but they sounded like they were the business. The crowd loved them and they had a sweet sound. 

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Noel was the reason why I went to BDO and I went home a happy man. He played a good mix of Oasis and solo songs in his set but the inclusion of three b-sides was enough to make this fan die happy.

My Chemical Romance - I love these little fuckers (despite their emo tag) it was a real shame they had terrible sound. The Black Parade was a real highlight. 

Cage The Elephant - nice, fiesty band from Kentucky. Played their guts out - sounds like they had some tunes I'd better check out!

Gin Wigmore - she's got the sass and the tunes to back it up. Like MCR she suffered a terrible sound mix. Her cover of The Animal's House of the Rising Sun was a most bizzare thing but it kind of worked, and at the least was a performance that will stick out in the memory.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - saw one song and they were shit. The Mint Chicks should never have broken up.

Battles - Saw two songs, they had a damn good groove going on. 

Cut Off Your Hands - who the fuck booked this band?

Mariachi El Bronx - who the fuck booked a Mariachi band? Completely the wrong music for a main stage BDO band but the lead singer was entertaining and the music sound good. 

Beastwars - utter fucking rubbish. Not mainstage material. The front man must have taken too many drugs in his youth. You'd have been better off getting a locally popular covers band.

The Living End - I love this band so was pleased they played a few classic hits. Good energy all round and they did a cover of Nirvana's Breed with Jon Toogood (from Shihad) - an absolute classic BDO moment, one I'll never forget. 

Tony Hawk Skate Jam Show - Tony and his boarders got some great air time and actually had a big audience than Midnight Youth which is not thattttt surprising.

I Am Giant - we got filmed for their video they were doing but didn't appear to make the cut. Sad face! Never heard them before but they played some good songs at the end of their set after a same same start. Lead Singer seemed have what it takes to be a good show man - they suffered from being on shitty smaller main stage.

Cavalera Conspiracy - I don't care if these were the boys from Sepultura, this kind of music sucks.

Regurgitator - I like their old stuff better than their new stuff but these guys were pretty shit live. They sound nothing like their recorded music - playing rap songs about licking assholes has it's place but when you have bigger hits and you're not playing them, you've missed the point of Big Day Out. 

Parkway Drive - music was a similar style to Cavalera Conspiracy but was was impressed that they were a pretty tight unit. 

Midnight Youth - I thought this band was over-rated before I heard them and nothing changed for me. Lead singer seems like a real dick.