PatrickS77 said:

SoulAlive said:

Graycap,are you aware that this band released a song that makes a mean reference to "niggers and faggots"?

And?? Is that a reason to dismiss the whole band's body if work? If some gay guy grabs Axl's ass, he's well in his right to tell the 'faggot' to get out of his way. And the perceived racism is ridiculous, considering Slash's mother was black.
[Edited 12/7/15 20:15pm]

I'm gay and not that bothered bruh. It was for one song on a short EP. And there's more to GNR than Asshole Rose.

PatrickS77 said:

SoulAlive said:

Graycap,are you aware that this band released a song that makes a mean reference to "niggers and faggots"?

And?? Is that a reason to dismiss the whole band's body if work? If some gay guy grabs Axl's ass, he's well in his right to tell the 'faggot' to get out of his way. And the perceived racism is ridiculous, considering Slash's mother was black.

like i said, for me, i was PERMANENTLY done. Not that I was a real fan to begin with. The debut had some hits, some killer riffs. Didn't hear the other albums, don't own ish by them. But just because Slash is half black doesn't mean Axl is NOT racist for using the "N" word. You have lots of self hating, black folks and biracial folks and others who justify use of the N word to black folks' use of it and popular culture. That's another conversation altogether that i don't think ppl here really want to unpack. But it looks like people are "picking and choosing" which word offends them more and which one warrants elimination, both do. The song was on AFD and NOT just an "EP". The fact that Slash and the others didn't shut that shit down is some BITCHASSNESS that they can TRY to justify but can't. Fuck Axl, he's a pig. I'm glad GNR were a flash in the pan band, with an asshole for a front man, they're reaping from his ignorance and malevolence.

Back then, i was more of a Motley Crue fan and was never a big Guns n Roses fan to begin with. I do respect(immensely) what they contributed to the rock n roll scene, though. They definitely shook things up and are one of the most important bands to come outta LA.

Anyway, my favorite album of theirs is Use Your Illusion II. Also, out of those 80's hard rock/heavy metal bands who sounded somewhat similar, GNR would probably be in my personal top 10. They would be behind Motley Crue, Cinderella, Van Halen, WASP, Def Leppard, and a few others. I'm not necessarily saying that those bands had better musicians or wrote better songs than GNR, i'm just saying i perrsonally prefer them over GNR.

As for some of GNR's lyrics? Me as a black person who's been into RNR for a long time, i was definitely offended by Axl's lyrics. I kinda like to give people the benefit of the doubt(when it involves lyrics) though. Also it made it easier(2 not give a shit) because like i said, i wasn't a big GNR fan, so i didn't take it too personal.

[Edited 12/8/15 15:16pm]

Provocative lyric written by Axl Rose when he was younger. Elton John and Freddie Mercury are his biggest idols as singers and songwriters and you'd have to be blind not to be able to tell Slash isn't really the most typical Englishman.

This is what he had to say when he he was voted "the best singer" in the world:

not every song is a first-person autobiographical narrative.

you think bruce springsteen ever worked in a factory? david bowie been to space? prince ever boned his sister? should we even speculate about some of the violence, misogyny and racism in rap lyrics?

some songs are fantasies, fictions....art. in some cases designed to vent frustrations, resentments and anger. i don't know axl rose or if he is a racist homophobe, but i do appreciate his art. i don't have to like it or subscribe to it. neither does anybody.

NorthC said:

NorthC said:

Even the ultra-mainstream Mark Knopfler, who probably couldn't shock anyone if his life depended on it, used the word faggot in Money For Nothing.

Hardly say he was mainstream. Safe, but not mainstream.

As for his "faggot" line, it was Mark writing what he overheard some customer looking at tv screens was saying. Doesn't make it any more or less offensive, but just saying what Mark said.

"Catcher in the Rye", despite it being overlong, is a lovely song bytheway.

so i gather people on here wil be picketing when they do that multi million dollar tour together??

NorthC said:

Even the ultra-mainstream Mark Knopfler, who probably couldn't shock anyone if his life depended on it, used the word faggot in Money For Nothing.

Exactly this! Knopfler in that song was playing the role of a biggoted shop worker..."we gotta move these colour TVs", so it wasn't Knopfler using the word faggot but the character he played.

People seem to forget this. An actor uses the word n*gger or faggot when performing in a film or or stage and no one bats an eyelid. A singer uses the word when playing a character in a song and everyone goes nuts.

peedub said:

Graycap23 said:

Can you guys please recommend more music like this?

Wow.

you might dig jane's addiction. they came out of the same-ish l.a. club scene as gnr around the same time, with a more psych/punk tinge to their music. their first 3 albums (live, nothing's shocking and ritual de lo habitual) are damn good rock n roll.

I have some of their material.

[Edited 12/11/15 8:35am]

peedub said:

you think bruce springsteen ever worked in a factory? david bowie been to space? prince ever boned his sister?

This is siggy worthy

you might be surprised who influenced Guns N Roses......

There's a soundboard bootleg from Boston, MA (02-12-2002) that's a pretty good listen. It has both Buckethead and Robin Finck (NIN) on guitar.

After carefully listening to all of their work...............I zeroed in on the part that attracted my attention.

The guitar player Slash.

Now I'm off to check out his solo work.

PatrickS77 said:

SoulAlive said:

Graycap,are you aware that this band released a song that makes a mean reference to "niggers and faggots"?

And?? Is that a reason to dismiss the whole band's body if work? If some gay guy grabs Axl's ass, he's well in his right to tell the 'faggot' to get out of his way. And the perceived racism is ridiculous, considering Slash's mother was black. [Edited 12/7/15 20:15pm]

Axl incorporated sound clips of MLK into his song "Madagascar" and featured footage of Dr. King in the song's video and live performance.

GNR's drummer since 2006 is Cuban.

And Axl has openly supported NWA.

[Edited 12/18/15 21:37pm]