He is not the King of Pop, the Prince of Rock, the Lord of the dance, or frankly, even chart-topping (now), but he has a banshee wale that still sends crowds into a fever of yesterday that will welcome you back to the jungle. This Hoosier born native, Axl Rose, will take the stage Friday night at the Voodoo Music Festival, New Orleans – along with original Gunners Slash (Lead guitarist) and Duff “Rose” McKagen (Bass guitarist) forming Guns N’ Roses. Our ears will be filled with the famous octaves reached and eyes viewing Axl’s full vocal range and rattlesnake moves. But wait! Who the fuck cares about some old-time 80s rocker with a reputation of inciting riots?
Simple, whether you are a fan of Guns N’ Roses or not, do not miss this opportunity to see them. Last time I did (albeit with the new line up) they played a three-hour set worthy of any ticket price. When was the last time you saw a three-hour set embedded with songs you have heard for much of your millennial life?
Guns N Roses fronted by our first Rock Man Crush Monday, Axl Rose, successfully bridged the gap from 80s hair-band to 90s grunge music with savage tracks like It’s “So Easy,” “Rocket Queen,” and “One in a Million.” He then turned right around and showed how deep the band’s talents go with “November Rain,” “Breakdown,” and “Estranged.” Maybe these songs do not impact you as much as they do me, but the vocal range Axl has rivals and sometimes supersedes that of Maria Carey. That is right you Fresh Music Freaks, Axl has a wider range than Led Zeppelin’s frontman Robert Plant. So, while the album Appetite for Destruction dropped 30 plus years ago Axl and the boys may still show your Rock ‘n Roll heart a savage time. Trust, that once you hear the wail of “Welcome to the Jungle” your rock side will come out as filthy as the gratuitous grime of the LA sunset streets in the 1980s.
If nothing else motivates your more Rock ‘n Roll side, remember… so few bands become mythic and legendary. Yes, Axl has a reputation of an ego larger than Tommy Lee’s trouser anaconda. However, in recent years, post his self-chosen seclusion in the late 90’s into the early 2000’s, he made sure to solidify his Rock ‘N Roll legacy by helping another 1980’s Rock heavy hitter, AC/DC, during their last tour. Axl even had a busted leg during most of the gigs.
Not many Rock stars would hang though through that. Axl rocked AC/DC fans while singing in Dave Groll’s (Former drummer for Nirvana, now frontman for The Foo Fighters) chair. Many Rock fans are well informed about the long-standing feud between Axl and Slash. However, real talks about a new Guns N’ Roses album have been confirmed by Slash himself. It looks promising. So, has the feud finally ended? Who knows, but since the “Use Your Illusion Tour” of the early 90s, this might be the only time you see Axl and Slash together. What better place than Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans?
Make no mistake that these two had a falling out that may rival that of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Don’t miss your chance to see two epic musicians pairing off to deliver you all to “The Paradise City.” Even in October, I am willing to bet the grass is green and the girls are pretty in New Orleans. I cannot wait to rock with all you Fresh Music Freaks. So come say hi to me in the Big Easy, I’ll be the guy in the romper. It’s a charmed life, someone’s gotta take life in the romp.
