Guns N' Roses: Live at the Ritz

Guns N' Roses were always a bit "iffy" live. I've noticed that Axl's voice is very unreliable during shows and he can tend to go out of key and just start screeching, whereas on the actual albums it tends to be harmonic screeching. (He's always a great singer, but during live concerts he can just tend to get a bit rusty and tired.) However the famous Live at the Ritz performance in 1988 really solidified Gn'R as a great band and one that would stand the test of time. To this day their albums still sell a large amount on a weekly basis (I heard Appetite for Destruction sells over 20,000 a week worldwide? For an 18 year old album that's pretty good!) and entices new fans (their Greatest Hits collection was a huge success in the UK and did almost as well in America).

This is overall a really great show packed full of Appetite's material, and bootleg copies are available that have even more footage.

I must really disagree with you there, The Void! You say: -"I've often heard that Guns N' Roses aren't all that good live". Who has told you that? Fans, and critics around the world clearly states that a GNR show were one of the best acts you could see at that time. I've seen them live three times so I know how energetic and tight they play live.

This show at the Ritz back in 1988 may not be the best show they played, but what makes it a 10 is the fact that this was in the beginning of their "fame & fortune" and before drugs and internal band problems. They all seems to enjoy playing. Then the thing about that Guns N Roses do a cover of Bob Dylans "Knockin On Heavens Door". If you read any review of a GNR concert you would know that that song is played in 99 out of 100 shows and a really good live song for the fans to sing a long to.

But in the end of the day you do say that: this is a damn fine live show from a damn fine band. And that really sums it up.

There's doubt that Guns N' Roses were one of the best bands of the late-eighties, early nineties, and this live show helps to establish that fact! This show was recorded around the same time that their excellent album 'Appetite for Destruction' was released, and so we're treated to a concert almost full of songs from that great album. I've often heard that Guns N' Roses aren't all that good live; this is the first time I've seen a concert from them, and I've got to say that there isn't much wrong with it. Axl's voice is a strained at times; but his energy and commanding stage-presence mask this nicely and he makes for an excellent leading man. The songs themselves are classics, with the likes of Sweet Child o'Mine, Out Ta Get Me, Welcome to the Jungle and Paradise City featuring. My one complaint on the track listing is that they decided to put the awful cover of 'Knocking on Heavens Door' in there. It's actually not quite as bad live; but the show would have been better if they'd stuck to their strongest material. The parts in-between songs, such as Axl Rose introducing the rest of the band, are good and while the Ritz isn't the biggest venue in the world, the crowd create a good atmosphere and on the whole; this is a damn fine live show from a damn fine band.

Guns n' roses always have been regarded as a leading act within rock, and this performance does nothing to spoil that reputation. Firstly, this show is taken from the earlier line up of the band, so includes Izzy Stradlin on rhythm guitar and Steven Adler on drums, so unlike other releases, this show is straightforward heavy guitar music, mostly from the debut album appetite for destruction rather than later material. no complaints about the set, in a smaller venue such as the Ritz there is a great atmosphere and the crowd are very involved in the music. this is contrary to releases such as the use your illusion tour DVD, where the crowd are barely noticeable. Highlights are Out Ta Get Me, which is delivered with incredible energy, and, Rocket Queen, where Axl periodically disappears, if only to get another cigarette. Overall, well worth a look at a great band in concert.