8/21: BACK FROM LA, HAIR NATION FEST, GUNS N ROSES DODGER STADIUM
Back from a few days in Los Angeles where I kicked off the month leading up to the Hair Nation event with a couple of events and also saw Guns N Roses at Dodger Stadium. Wednesday I hosted and did press for the event with some of the artists performing. Some of the musicians that made it out included members of Bulletboys, Pretty Boy Floyd, Odin, Lita Ford, Tracii Guns, Gabie Rae and many more. This took place at The Rainbow and was a good time for sure. Then later in i judged and hosted a Battle Of The Bands to play the event at The Whiskey. I recruited Tracii, Lita, Brent Woods and producer Jay Ruston to judge. My thanks to all for donating their time. And congrats to Electric Hounds (runners up) and The Aviators (winner). Both will open stages next month at the festival. Looking forward to it 9/17 at Irvine Meadows. Thanks to all the bands, press and Live Nation LA for taking great care of me.
Hit GnR on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. First time I saw them since the very first show in Vegas. I have had nothing but positive reviews from fans who have seen the stadium dates, and you can add me to the group. It was stunning how great GnR sounded. For all the differing opinions on who is and who isn’t in the band, if Axl could deliver, if they could coexist, this reunion is a smash slam dunk in all ways. Axl is singing unbelievably well for almost 3 hours every night. And now that his leg is better moving as he always did. The band is in top form. I mean everyone is just at the top of their game. Of course the focus is Axl, Slash and Duff. All look and are playing phenomenally well. But let’s not look past Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, Dizzy Read and Melissa Reece. Super important to this band and how great they sound and they are all killing it as well. This reunion is working, is selling well (rock in stadiums always good for rock) and shows no signs of stopping any time soon. In addition to shows around the world I would fully expect another US run likely in arenas.
I spoke with Duff (thanks for the hookup!) and Slash but didn’t see anyone else in the band. It was LA and quite a scene and I got out ahead of the massive traffic in and out. I also did see The Cult who also sounded great and really are a good fit as an opener for GnR. Good catching up a bit with old friend John Tempesta a bit. If you are lucky enough to be a guest backstage at a GnR kick they have one of the biggest hospitality tent I’ve ever seen with an open bar. So that was a fun hang as well. I’ll discuss more on my radio show tomorrow. Still not sure when the GnR interview will happen, and no idea if they will do new music, but right now they really are killing it on these shows. And the fan base is diverese; metal, rock, old, young, male, female. Everyone coming out to see this band either again, or for the first time. Pretty damn cool and again, great for rock to be on this massive of a stage!
I’ve never seen GnR live out from the photos I saw on Facebook at the LA show were really cool and amazing.
I went to 8 Guns shows this tour and the LA shows were absolutely stunning! It will be a complete shame if they don’t go in the studio and at least record a handful of songs. They are just on fire! Adler looks fantastic and healthy and his smile is infectious. Let’s hope he gets a bigger part of more shows in the future. I can’t wait to see Axl in a few weeks with AC/DC. The man is an absolute machine, and as Zach Wylde said, is rocks last great frontman!