April 29, 2005 - Rockford, IL - Metro Centre

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General Information

Date: April 29, 2005
Location: Rockford, IL
Venue: Metro Centre; 300 Elm Street; Rockford, IL 61101 [ Venue website ]
Box Office Number: 968-5222
Additional Info: Special Guests were Hoobastank.

Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick joined VR on stage to play Surrender.

Set List

• Sucker Train Blues
• Do it For The Kids
• Headspace
• Superhuman
• Crackerman
• Illegal I
• Fall To Pieces
• Dirty Little Thing
• Big Machine
• It's So Easy
• Sex Type Thing
• Set Me Free
• Wish You Were Here
• You Got No Right
• Surrender
• Mr. Brownstone
• Slither

Reviews (31) [ send in your own review/pictures of the Rockford show ]

Thanks to Justin Ayers: Overall the show was great. I couldn't beleive that Scott walked off the stage and into section 121 or so. I was around that area and I was hoping he was going to come closer but he didn't. The downside was they took a while to come out. But it was suprising that some of the members came out to play Surrender. But they sounded great! And if you go to their show you can take pictures so don't forget your camera (which I forgot).

Thanks to John T.: This show was way better than the Allstate Arena show I went to in November. I was able to get the set list from the stage along with Slash's pick too after the show. The place rocked and the music sounded like we were in an acoustically turned venue. The energy was great and the interaction with Scott coming into the crowd really fired everyone up. Lots of hot chicks flashing thier t#ts. This chich in the # 80 shirt was so mint. She made a few cameos. Saw her after the show and she got the other set list. All in all it was a show that I'll never forget. Looking forward to this Saturday when I'll see them again.

Thanks to Chelsea: This was probably one of the best concerts I have been to in my entire life. I was in section 121 and when Scott came up by us...I was so star stuck. I got to touch him like five times. It was the best day of my life!! Haha!

Thanks to Dan: I also missed my prom and will never regret it as I look back someday. This was the greatest concert ever and I can't wait until August to go back again!

Thanks to Erin: The show was sooo good, I missed my prom for it and I am so glad I did. It was by far the best concert I have ever been to. Scott went into the crowd, how many rock stars do that! I am their biggest fan I have already been to two of their concerts and I am going to another in August. They are the best rock band out there!

Thanks to Brad Delhotal: The 1st time I saw Velvet Revolver, it was in November at the All-State Arena in Chicago. It was a good show, the band seemed to have alot of energy and they were on the heels of some great press, VH1 big in 04, and not far from doing the Grammys. The performance was tight and despite the fact the Weiland's vocals were turned down probably due vocal fatigue from this endless tour they have been on, do 5 to 6 shows a week, the show was memorable.

But some strange backwoods mixture of out of control energy and testyness from a tour that looks like it's on the brink of needing a break, was about to implode and make for a definitive night in the bands history. Everything seemed in place for a prescribed safe corporate band performance. Scott didn't say anything of substance to the crowd to get them going. He didn't need to. This crowd was fit to be tied. The one thing I remember Scott saying to the crowd of any import was "are you guys sure your not from Europe" implying from what I've read in interviews that we were going as apeshit for the band as many European audiences. I must admit, the Rockford crow was at it's rauchy finest. The All-State Arena is significantly larger than the Metro Center and yet right before and even durring the show multiple women were showing their tits to a camera that would put it up on a big screen. At the all state two obvious groupies who were with the band and could give a rats ass what people on this stop thought of them had the guts and other need anatomy to do it. But in rockford, there must of been 20 women willing to bear their chests in the name of "Rock N Fucking Roll".

Not to sound to fixated on breast, but I'm just making the point that full moon audiences are different in obvious ways. During the show things were getting so intense in the pit that I think some people were finding the show unpleasant. Scott sought out one of these offenders curling his finger toward him taunting him to come close to the stage so he could get a piece of the guy. A moment later he jumped into the audience in an attempt to kick some ass. The security in the blueshirts peeled them apart before anything significant could happen. Later Weiland went out into the audience during a long break down in Sex Type thing and in very Jim Morrison fashion walked amongst the people letting them grope him as they wished. He finally rested in one of the stage left wing of the metro center and finished the refrain of "here I come I come I come I come and let the audience near him help with the vocals. I've never seen so many camera phones in my life. Why aren't there any pictures from the strange night. Pink Floyd's wish you were here was covered acousticly with no drums in a way that please the crowd. And then Rick Neilson came onto the stage to do Surrender. That was a nice way to make the show one of a kind.

And then the show ended the way it always ends with Slither. I think in a way it's ballsy to do that last considering how most bands will give the audience it's biggest single early in the show but using Slither last is the band's way of saying our whole album kicks ass and you will wait to here the redo friendly unit shifter.

I love the band and I will definately always feel that I experienced a happening that night. Maybe these types of things happen at all their shows but somehow I doubt it.

Thanks to Matt Slupik: The show at the Rockford Metro Center was amazing. It all started with a horrible band, but if anything it was good it made it easier to get up front. I was at the railing by the time Velvet Revolver came on stage and it was better then in November. The set list was really amazing and I came to that show in my head and I wanted to hear Surrender so bad. My band had played Surrender at a show exactly 3 weeks before the show on a friday. Then to see original members from Cheaptrick Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos come out. I am glad to have seen that. Then to hear a live version of "You Got No Right"....AMAZING. I literally knew every frickin word to the songs at this show, I noticed how during "You Got No Right" it seemed as if less than half of the crowd knew the words. I guess that is what Hoobastank attracts....all in all they sucked. So by the time the show got out I was completly wet with sweat, and my insides felt crushed. Definatly worth seeing Velvet Revolver. I think the Metro Center had a better sound then the All State Arena show in November. I can't get tired of these guys hope to hear a new album soon.

Thanks to Amy Vala: I have been to many concerts and in the middle of some pretty hairy situations in my life. But the air on this night was so thick with energy you could cut it with a blade. I was one of those in the All Access group who got to see sound check and party before hand. You got to drink and see everyone on stage checking their instruments with the lights on and see them laugh and figure shit out. Everyone was there except for Scott which was announced at the party right before we went to sound check. That was a serious downer. The lady said he stays in a hotel and steams his voice in a shower. Vocal chords you know what I mean. So the sound check was kind of cool Duff came off the stage and walked around the group of like 30 and they were really working on the Surrender song to get it right. Slash was smoking and this one guy kept yelling funny stuff at him and Slash finally yelled something back.

But anyways, the Hoobapoop band came on and all I could do was laugh at them. I was front center on the rail- I was nick named concert nazi because of my olive looking army hat. Then someone shouted this guy has a knife! Which he did and they dragged his ass out. Then someone else- a girl nearby squatted and peed right on the floor and they booted her and brought the mop and disinfectent. You know there is something in the air when this shit happens with the lights on. The lights then went off and Scott came on and it was all over - people pushing and riots and one girl behind me was straddling me for we were all sardines. Scott noticed my shirt with a quick look point
nod and smile and I melted. Literally, it seems he likes HEDWIG and the angry Inch. It is a movie and one that is worth watching.

So then all is well and I see Scott go into the crowd and walk away towards the right of the stage and
using his smooth antics like Jim Morrison and being AT one with the crowd. He returns to stage and I don't exactly know what happened but in all the shows I have never seen such anger get a hold of him like this before. At the New Years show in Vegas even someone set him off and he used his mic like a gun shooting it at someone in the crowd. But this was far more tempermental. He literally was coaxing this guy to come to the stage. He kept motioning the guy closer and closer- it had to be for like 2 or three minutes. They also cut off his mic to end his threats toward the guy that were buried under the music. It was so unreal- and then he just lost it and jumped at this guy and started ripping at his hair. All I kept hearing was fuck you. He then got back on stage exited and came back for his sit down and turned around girating like Elvis with a back and forth motion and if you were in the front you would have seen from the jump he had ripped his pants in the right butt cheek.

It was so great all the chaos and drama. What a show- what a night. Looking forward to the next one. Salute- the concert nazi.

Thanks to K.C.: This was my first Velvet Revolver show and it was great!! Weiland was at the top of his form and quite the showman that he is. He did have a thing for that bullhorn though. He was very interactive with crowd jumping in to the audience and doing his speech on dissing pop music. The rest of the band was excellent and played to the crowd as well. Sometimes the vocals were drowned out by the band playing so you could not always hear Weiland sing clearly. This will not be my last Velvet Revolver concert. I look forward to seeing them again.

Thanks to Chris: I was front row the entire show, standing between Slash and Scott. No one was in front of me besides the guard rail and the security. Well when Scott dove in the stage he grabbed that guy by the hair, and let me tell you (being 3 feet away) it looked like it hurt. Scott was saying all these things like F**K You...but they turned off his mic and when that guy got to the front Scott dove in and security had to pull him back. Security then had to pull this fat ass guy over the railing and that took like 2 straight min. Pretty funny stuff. Was there for sound check as well, Duff came out playing behind the crowd of 60 or so people, didn't realize he was that tall. Anyway pretty funny show.

Thanks to Beth: Despite the disrespectful drunken audience, I had an amazing time. I was luckily dead center on the rail the whole night. The boys were all bursting with creative energy. This was my second time seeing them live, and by far the best. This show delivered so much more. It was bliss.

Thanks to Stacy: I don't know if this is true but I heard a hoobastank fan pulled the mic out of Scott's hand and would not give it back and Scott jumped into the crowd and started fighting with him until they pulled him out.

Thanks to Tim: Velvet Revolver tore it up! Scott never puts on a bad stage show. Velvet Revolver played almost every song off their album, and also some GNR and some STP. During Sex Type Thing, Scott came deep into the crowd saying "This isn't for US Weekly, this is for Rock and Roll"! Velvet Revolver came back with an encore and played Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (awesome). 2 songs later they were joined by 2 of the guys from Cheap Trick and played Surrender. (Cheap Trick is from Rockford)
Bad Ass show!!!

Thanks to Keith Hedemark: It was rad as hell. Scott went out into the crowd over, to the seats at the side of the arena and gave a little speech about Rock and Roll. Scott mentioned how he felt safe and that we're all friends or something to that effect. I had general admission tikets so I was on the floor centerstage like 10 rows back, some guy in front of me started give the band the finger for the entire song "Set me Free". Scott saw him and called him to the front of the stage and when the guy got up there Scott jumps off the stage and kicks the guy in the head. It was a crazy show.

Thanks to Amanda Davy: I thought this concert kicked ass!!! It was awesome when Cheap Trick guessed stared in the show. It was the loudest concert I've ever been to.

Thanks to Cori Martin: ROCKED in ROCKFORD!!!!! We were front row center!! In the middle of Crackerman Scott stopped sing because one stupid guy in the crowd had pissed him off. The rest of the band kept play and Scott was standing there just motioning with his finger for the guy to come up to the front...(he looked more than pissed, as he was motioning for him he was griping his microphone like he was going beat the guy with it. As soon as the guy got close enought Scott threw the mic down jumped into the audience and started ripping the guys hair out of his head....it was crazy!!! I really want to know what the guy did!! He got thrown out after that. Rick Neilson(cheap Trick) came out on stage and sang Surrender with them too....Hands down the best concert ever!!!!!

Thanks to Coley: Can't say enough about the show and crew. THIS is a fantastic band that obviously enjoys what they're doing on stage, performing. Every part of the show was fantastic from video, sound, effects, lighting even the security and staff at the venue. We drove the 90 miles from Chicago and would miss mothers birthday to do it again. Please come back soon! (a Chicago venue would be nice though)

Thanks to Angi: This was my first concert and I have to say it was definately Rock & fuckin Roll!!! About 6 of us got to meet Slash outside the building like 4 hours before the show, he let us take pics, and gave all of us an autograph, what an awesome guy! Probably no more then 10 minutes later Matt walked by, but he was on the phone too, (we were about 50 feet away) & he smiled & waved to us. Hoobastank was good, the singer was just explosive & really great with the crowd. Bass player was the only one w/o much energy. We also saw the guitarist outside too, he was in and out a lot (on his phone of course...) he looked pissed and was screaming at whoever was on the other line, so we left him alone. During Velvet Revolver's performane, Scott started Sex Type Thing and while saying,"Here I come..." came into the audience. He was saying a lot, but I couldn't understand all. Something like we payed good $ to see them, so we were going to see them, then he was mad at security and was saying yes I trust myself out here, this is fuckin rock and roll, I'm a rock star I know what I'm doing, these are fuckin crazy rock & roll fans. He stayed in the audience for about 10 minutes, not even caring people were smackin his ass, grabbin him EVERYWHERE, and trying to take away his mic. TRUE ROCK & ROLL SHOW!!!!!!

Thanks to Jason Hayes: That was a rocking roll show! They performed like the rocking roll icons as they are. SSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTIIIIILLLLL buzing from that show!! Amazing, keep it up! Brings me down down down....it's a big machine!

Amazing yes!

Me again yes still buzzing from the show. Can't wait until August when they come to the Chicagoland area again. I saw them at the Rivera last May, I didn't know all their music that well for that show, but still good. The Rockford show, I was ready and they came out and kicked ass, you could tell they been jamming together longer. Velvet Revolver sounded tight everybody was on. There are not many bands that come out and rock like that anymore. I'm 29 and I have seen many shows AND this is probably the best one I have seen yet and I saw a good Audioslave the Friday before. The energy from Velvet Revolver band was freaking amazing. Thanks for the music! Keep up the great work!

Thanks to MrZinc: This was BY FAR the best Velvet Revolver show I have seen yet, and this was my 5th time seeing the band. Words cannot describe how AMAZING the show was.. but I will try to.

The night started off awesome, I got to meet Slash, Duff, and Dave (for the 2nd time) and talk with them for a minute at the special meet & greet. There were only like 10 other people and a couple radio DJs that got into the meet & greet... that was UNBELIEVABLE!! I got hooked up with passes to the meet & greet through the radio station, I showed them my Velvet Revolver tattoo (theres a pic in the "fan art" section) and begged and begged them for backstage passes, they realized that I really was a hardcore "true fan" and hooked me up, that was WAY COOL of them.

As for the show it was great.. not a whole lot different than the other shows that I have seen, except they played "You got no Right", which I hadn't heard live before (It was GREAT). The again played Pink Floyds "Wish You Were Here" accoustic, Slash with the Double neck guitar, and Scott sitting on a Barstool. Fantastic rendition of the tune, I was very happy to hear it.
But the highlight of the night was when they palyed Surrender, the guys were joined onstage by none other than Cheap Trick's RICK NEILSON and BUN E CARLOS. Rockford is Cheap Trick's hometown, so it was only right that they came out to jam with Velvet Revolver on their own song.
Matt let Bun E play drums, and so Matt was just chilling onstage with a tambourine. Rick was rocking that guitar, man!!! And Scott let him sing the 2nd half of the song, and it was a GREAT PERFORMANCE. It really was an amazing Rock N Roll moment, two bands from different generations with mutual respect for each other, rocking out on an amazing song.

Another cool moment was during Sex Type Thing during the "Here I cum, I cum, I cum" part, Scott ran up into the stands and was just chilling up in the seats in the middle of the arena! (When I was them in Chicago last May.. he jumped off of the 2nd floor balcony into the crowd during that part of the song)

Close to the end of the show, when Slither started, Slash looked at the people in front of him on the floor, and made a flickimg gesture, like "I need a lighter". I figured that he needed to light a cigarette, but he picked up a Bic ligher,and started PLAYING SLIDE GUITAR WITH IT!!!!!! I couldn't believe it..

All in all, I had a great time, it was a great show... it was all just GREAT!!

Thanks to Jennifer Martin: Thought it was a great show, the first half at least. I couldn't see the rest of it because I got sprayed by pepperspray in my fucking eyes. That is the first time that has ever happend to me, that sure was alot of fun! Thanks for the waste of fifty dollars!

Thanks to Nick: The show was simply amazing - drove down from Milwaukee. The energy that they put out is second to none!

After You Got No Right, they went off stage and then came back on with Rick Neilsen & Carlos (last name??) from Cheap Trick!! Scott introduced them Carlos got on the drums and they played an awesome version of Surrender!!! As Cheap Trick is from that part of Illinois, it was pretty damn cool.

Thanks to Mark: Hoobastank (or should I say Hoobastunk) opened the show and I was not the least bit impressed. Pretty lame stage act and the music wasn't that good. People just wanted them off the stage after their 1/2 hour of noise.
Then we had the obligatory 1 hour wait while the stage was prepped for Velvet Revolver. There were large video screen on each side of the stage and a commercial for Robbie Kneivel's show on A&E comes on. Kind of weird, and then all of a sudden the lights go out (the crowd goes wild) and this very creepy "House of Horrors" music starts playing and the stage has an errie smoky glow. Very Cool!
Then all hell breaks loose as Velvet Revolver comes on and rips into "Sucker Train Blues".

Scott is dressed in a German military officer style uniform/outfit with a very cool military hat and dark sunglasses and he starts bouncing around the stage.
I always wondered how he would be in concert given he abusive history. My wife told me she thought he would be a great front man, kind of Steven Tyler'ish with the wavy flowing arms and body.

They then broke into "Do It For The Kids", "Headspace", "Superhuman".
Scott brings out a bullhorn like the cops use and starts singing through it into the microphone. Very funny, entertaining shit.

By this time Scott has most of his clothes off (pants stayed on) and I am thinking Iggy Pop. He has that very skinny, emaciated body look which just adds to the show.
Scott is an AWESOME front man. I hope these guys can keep it together for many more years.

"Illegal i Song" came up next, then "Fall to Pieces", "Dirty Little Thing" has the place jumping.
"Big Machine" (my wife's favorite) kicked ass, then "Spectacle".

All the while Scott is singing various verses through the bullhorn. This guy is NUTS!

"Set Me Free" starts and about half way through Scott leaves the stage and starts walking through the crowd. I look at my wife and say "WTF, is this guy nuts?". Security must be freaking!

So Scott makes his way to the seats on the side of the arena and you know the fans are shitting all over themselves, and he starts talking and says "You know, people think I am nuts for doing this and I tell them it is all about trust. You guys trust us to put on a good show and I trust you enough to come out here. It is all about M-F-ing Rock & Roll!. There are 5 of us on stage and several thousand out you M-F'ers out here."
It was pretty cool. So he makes his way back to the stage and the band is still playing "Set Me Free" and Scott starts waving people closer to the stage to get them all tightly packed together and then he freakin' jumps into the crowd!

This guy is one of the best showmen I have seen in a long time.

The band then takes a break and when they come back for their 1st encore Slash has his double-neck 12 string out and start playing some melodic tune. I like 'hmmm, what is this?" and then after a few minutes everybody else joins in on Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here". They then go into "You Got No Right".

They take another break and when they come back for encore number 2 Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick are on stage (remember this is Rockford, the home of Cheap Trick) and Bun E. is on drums with Rick playing guitar and the whole group launches into "Surrender". The crowd goes nuts!

Cheap Trick leaves the stage and the band launches in to G&R's "Mr. Brownstone". They then finish up with "Slither".

The show was awesome. All through the show they were showing different videos clips on the 2 large screens. A lot of the "James Bond Girl" look from the album cover and several shots of girls in the audience flashing the tits.

It is now the morning after and I still can't hear :)

Thanks to Aaron Beinborn: Previous to this show I used to never be able to decide who was my favorite live show, Foo Fighters, or Velvet Revolver. Tonight that was laid to rest. This was quite possibly the most incredible performance I have ever seen in my many concerts I've been to and it was even leaps and bounds better than the three other Velvet Revolver concerts I have attended, which is saying a lot.

The night opened with the usual setlist but quickly got amazing. I'm trying to keep this as brief as possible, because I have a term paper to write and I don't want to write this all day (cause there is definitely enough to talk about with this show). Scott threw his megaphone down during STB and apparantly broke it, because when he went to use it again during Do It for the Kids, it wasn't working, and he chucked it across stage behind him, nearly hitting Slash. I was hoping this wouldn't set the stage for the night, but don't worry, it didn't. When the band got to Sex Type Thing, Weiland came in the stands with mic and megaphone in hand on the right side of the stage about 4 people from where I was standing. I took about 70 pictures. He was talking about how much he loves us all, only 5 of them and thousands of us, etc. Good speech, the crowd really ate it up. I was less than 8 feet away from the guy, in the stands, and it was awesome. Ladies rest assured. He is hot even up close. He eventually went back up on stage right as they finished Sex Type Thing.
Following this was an extra long version of Set Me Free. Towards the end of the song Weiland got noticable pissed at somebody in the front of the Gen Admission area. He began taunting him over the mic, and motioning for him to come closer. The sound guy eventually cut Weilands voice out of the main speakers, because of the taunts. So Weiland had the mic cocked back like a bat ready to hit the guy with it. The guy apparantly got close enough and Weiland jumped straight into the crowd to get him, but I don't believe was sucessful. He eventually got back up on stage, and they all finished Set Me Free together.
Next came the first encore. Wish You Were Here was incredible. It began with just Duff and Slash playing. Then came Dave, who sat on the drum risers. Eventually Scott came in and started singing. Then Matt joined on drums. To top that off, they played You Got No Right, which was essentally the album version with some crowd interaction, but nonetheless equally amazing. Then they left.

Next came the second encore, and something no one was prepared for. Rick Neilsen and Bun E Carlos of Cheap Trick joined Velvet Revolver on stage for Surrender. Bun E Carlos played drums and Matt Sorum came out front with a mic and a tamboreene(sp?). Rick Neilsen played guitar and traded off vocals with Weiland. Duff and Dave sang a little too. Hell, towards the end Slash spit put his cigarette and even sang some too! The crowd was so fucking loud and into this it was insane. Next the band tore into an awesome rendition of Mr. Brownstone, which sounded much better this time around. Then came Slither and the close with Slash saying 'See you in a bit'. Don't worry Slash, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Thanks to Andrew: The show was great. As usual Velvet Revolver took their long time in between the opening act, and their set lol. The crowd was decent, but seemed to be very small when you looked around. The highlight of the show were definetly when Cheap Trick's (Rockford's very own)Rick Nielsen (guitar) and Bun E. Carlos (drums) both came out during the encore to play Cheap Trick's "Surrender". Matt played the tamborene during the song. The crowd went nuts, and it was a great cover. Scott really nailed it. The crowd also knew it well (no suprise lol). The lowlight was after Scott was in the crowd during "Sex Type Thing", apparently some one took a swing at Scott (I have no idea why). And the police maced the whole section right before Velvet Revolver left to take their encore break. A lot of people running away with their hands covering their eyes. It was nuts. I enjoyed this show's setlist much more than the setlist played in Rosemont (Chicago) back at the end of 2004. Both shows were awesome though.

Thanks to Chris Paluck: Awesome show, kinda funny when Scott dove in the crowd and grabbed a guy by the hair! Slash broke the high e string during his performance of Slither and still played it perfect. Suprise appearance by Cheap Trick. All in all this show rocked.

Thanks to Sue: The show was freakin unbelievable! Velvet Revolver sounded amazing. The set list was pretty much the same as the recent shows with the exception of Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd and Surrender by Cheap Trick. Rick Neilson joined them onstage for that one. Slash, Duff, and Scott sounded like they have been playing together forever.

Unfortunately, about 50% of the crowd near the stage were total dicks. Between the violent moshing, fights, girls sitting on guys shoulders blocking everyone's view while showing their pitifull little titties and the pepper spray used by security to break up some of the shit on the right side of the stage, if it had of been a lesser band, it would have ruined the show for those of us that were there to enjoy the music. Come on people, didn't moshing get old right after Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Thanks to Adam Neubauer: Alright, this was my second time seeing Velvet Revolver and I now believe this was the greatest night of my life. The band was right on w/ every song and not to mention all the great surprises. The first was when Scott Weiland jumped into the crowd and I was thinking he was just gonna stay on the floor section but than he started walking up the steps, and stopped at the row right in front of me when he started heading down that row. I started walkin towards him and I ended up standing right behind him while he talked I'm still think I'm gonna wake up from a dream. I can't believe I was this close to him, the second surprise was the great performance of Wish You Were Here. Weiland and company sounded great singing it, and the third would have to be Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos for Cheap Trick coming on stage to perform Surrender w/ Velvet Revolver. Now you should understand it was the greatest night of my life and if you haven't seen Velvet Revolver I suggest you go, you won't be disappointed. ROCK ON Velvet Revolver!

Thanks to Dade: Hoobastank was awesome, they came out and rocked and tried to get the crowd hyped up, but the crowd wouldn't budge they weren't into it. When Velvet Revolver came out they did an awesome job, Scott looked and sounded so much better then he has, he's really been getting better at this. Slash was...well Slash. Scuttling all over the stage, Dave rocked hard and so did Duff who took a flying leap off the drum set and skittered across the stage only to slide and have that 'I meant to do that look'.

During Sex Type Thing, Scott went into the crowd and came up onto sections 120 where he went among the group and got mobed out, people were so excited to have him among others. At the end of Sex Type Thing he stage jumped into the crowd only to be pulled back by security and look rather annoyed at that.

So the show was great, sound was awesome sometimes you'd get a bit of feedback but other then that it was great. They are doing a wonderful job during this tour.

Thanks to Randy Johnson's Big Unit: By far, the oddest collaboration of a concert I've been to in a while...but it contained much rock n' fucking roll after the wait.

Concert started an hour late with Hoobastink (which is just about as odd as when Wu-Tang opened for Rage Against The Machine) trying their damndest to not look like pussies...nice try. Especially with the "Who likes GNR?", "Who likes STP?", "Who likes Journey?" and then breaks into that one power ballad....fuck, what is the name of that song....anyway, I was getting fucking restless for Velvet Revolver.

It especially didn't help that some fat roadie was underneath the drum riser taping the show...when the guitarist saw him, you'd swear to god that he thought he was Pete Townshend, windmills and kicks, for a minute...then back to the fucking drone of pre-packed kiddie pop.

The singer was getting applause when the crowd thought they were done; of course they weren't. They still had to churn through the FM radio sludge 'Reason' & 'Crawling'. Then after 45 minutes, the lights came back on to change the set.

After comiserating with the fellow smokers, laughing at the ridiculous shirt peddler prices, pissing and getting a beverage or two, we waited another 60 minutes for the real show to finally start.

For a moment, I was actually envisioning the riot this would create with a cancellation due to no brown M&M's. Even the baring of the breasts only perked us up slightly after the hoobashit. It got so bad, even some fags were up on shoulders "flashing" the arena on the big screens. Finally, after another fucking commercial for another dumbass on a motorcycle, the show started.

It's kind of a blur but I do remeber a crowd surfer landing on his head, boobs being grabbed and my wallet probably being in El Segundo, they did play most of their catalog, almost studio quality for Scott. Then things became interesting.

After a few songs, I thought I heard Duff setting up for something different while up on the PA, when in a lower chord than were used to he started "It's So Easy"! The place went apeshit...fucking unbelieveable. Some drunk motherfucker said 'yeah maybe they'll play STP man'. Sure enough as soon as "It's So Easy" finished, Scott started with "here I come, I come, I come" & "Sex-Type Thing" started. GODAMMN!

During this song, Scott dove off the stage at what we thought was the end of "Sex-Type Thing", got back onstage and then proceeded to walk stage left, through the crowd! Everyone and their dog shifted to that side of the arena for Scott-Time. After his psuedo-Jim Morrison rant on keeping the people safe, from him, he slowly starts "Sex-Type Thing" up to the band cutting the time in half and rocking out.

Mindblower, but after Mr. Brownstone next and most of the Velvet Revolver catalog, I thought we were almost to Slither and the end. But it never seemed to come...

1st Encore: A stool was put by the middle mic and Slash did his thing slowly and bridged into Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"...man, some dudes were getting laid tonight because of that...just really odd to see Scott SITTING DOWN, with a shirt on, singing a ballad.

2nd Encore: Stage Left was busy with a whole bunch of activity after the first encore...in the process I thought I saw someone who looks like one of my friends shaking hands with Slash...nope it turned out to be Rick Neilsen, the guitarist from Rockford's own Cheap Trick. Rick, Bun on drums & the band turned the shit out with "Surrender" and those of us still able to talk were screaming that out of our system quickly.

3rd Encore: Slither was expected, but it is a classic already. No matter where you are or what you are doing, it rocks as hard as anything released in the last 15 years.

All-in-all, great show...only hope those two groupie "cops" got out of the arena unmolested and backstage where they belonged. And those six fuckers behind us who weren't alive in 1987 with the reprint GNR T's that came for Bootyshank ended up like the crowd surfer who landed on his head.

Rock N' Fucking Roll is back!

Thanks to Dan B.: This was by far the Greatest Rock N' Roll show of ALL TIME. They played for about two hours and it was non stop action. During Sex Type Thing Scott left the stage and came into the crowd. He ended up right in front of me, Section 121, if you were in this section you will never forget what we experienced. Then Rick Nielson and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick came on stage to play Surrender, which was awesome. They also played a great version of Wish you were here. Every one in the building sang along to all the songs which made the show even better. By the time they began Slither I hoped it would never end because I had never seen anything like it before and probably never will again. I can't wait to see Velvet Revolver again.