Beez is slightly nonplussed at the thought of Guns N’ Roses heading to Europe this summer. Read the full story about GNR’s European tour date at Classic Rock.

We waited and waited and waited and, after all of the commotion, Chinese Democracy was just a fairly solid rock record with the odd moment of brilliance thrown in. Madagascar is a stonker, Chinese Democracy has a shit-load of the attitude that made Axl the all-time legend that he is and Riad N’ the Bedouins fucked shit up but there was a hell of a lot of ‘meh’ on there, wasn’t there?

It makes one ask the question, just who cares about Guns N’ Roses any more? When Axl was bringing his GNR line-up to the Leeds festival in 2002 (and despite the fact that there had only been one track of new music in the previous decade), it was still exciting. Did Axl still have it? Would Buckethead be as good as Slash? Would they even show up? What the fuck is with those dreads? All relevant questions that you were genuinely excited to know the answer too and all very exciting talking points.

In 2009, we know where we stand with GNR. Axl’s still a great frontman when he’s in the zone (and the entire Guns’ live show is very ramshackle when he’s not), Buckethead was a fucking incredible guitarist and Axl’s musicians have always played with passion. It’s never been like watching Chris Cornell’s soulless demolition of everything that was great about Soundgarden, Guns’ musicians feel that shit. OK, we still don’t know what the fuck is going on with those dreads but hey, Guns’ are in an alright state.

Being ‘in an alright state’ is both the blessing and the curse. Guns’ are not in the state of disarray that some will have you believe. Chinese Democracy wasn’t shit and “Axl and friends” are still capable of being decent but they’re Guns N’ f’n Roses and being ‘decent’ just doesn’t cut it.

Are there really that many people saying, “I simply cannot wait to hear This I Love live!”? Is anyone thinking, “I really hope to see Bumblefoot do a guitar solo”? Not really.

After taking an age (and a half) to release Chinese Democracy, after letting so many of the songs from the album leak over the past few years and after the end product not actually being that great, Axl’s in quite the predicament. A reunion is not going to happen after his latest outburst, the best songs from Chinese Democracy have been in the set for the past few years anyway and there’s the negative circus that always comes with going to a Guns’ show to contend with.

So who has a reason to go to a Guns N’ Roses show in 2009? Beats me.

Basically, in my own personal opinion, Axl needs to deliver another record full of songs that people haven’t already heard or get back together with his old bandmates to make GNR a force to be reckoned with once again.

In this current state, it may be Axl’s audience that deserts him and not vice-versa. It’d make a bloody change.

‘Til next time…

Beez

Read more Beez rants here.