February 19, 2005 - Auckland, New Zealand - Supertop Ericson Stadium

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General Information

Date: February 19, 2005
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Venue: Supertop Ericson Stadium; Beasley Ave, Penrose; Auckland, New Zealand. [ Venue website ]
Box Office Number: (64 9) 5711603
Additional Info: Support Act: The D4

Thanks to Kevin for the set list.

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
• Used to Love Her
• You Got No Right
• Mr. Brownstone
• Slither

Reviews (19) [ send in your own review/pictures of the Auckland show ]

Thanks to Sally: This night was so amazing for me and my sister, Monica. We first came early to the show and I was like hoping we would at least get a good view at the back somewhere. But there it was the front row, I swear I have never run so fast before to get to the rail. We got it and held on. The D4 kicked off that was wicked. I was even more nervous and excited. We talked to this really nice girl next to us telling her what it's like having front row. Than Velvet Revolver came out, one by one, I was so fucking amazed. We were both screaming with joy. I was just so happy. After that we left the rail but I said to myself no this is only once, so I went back up the front into the moshpit. I love Velvet Revolver so much and to see these amazing people in front of me is the best. That night remains one of the best nights of my life. And it was so rock n roll dude

Thanks to Astrid: This was the first time I'd ever seen Velvet Revolver and I have to say it was one of the best. After waiting forever in a sea of dirty bodies Duff (finally) came onstage in his "Worship the gorgeous bassist" pose. My memory (and hearing) is hazy but I know they did Sucker Train Blues, Fall to Pieces and pretty much all the ones you'd expect. I liked the cover of Mr Brownstone though the original is still better (axhole) I'd have pictures but my camera got crushed and is now lying in some God-forsaken rubbish dump with about four shots of the boys. Gutted.

All in all I'd have to say it was exhilirating and rocked hard. Can't wait to see them again.

Thanks to Kate: Man oh man oh man...what can I say? Best fucking show I have ever been to. I was right there in front of Dave and Duff dancing like crazy..all of Velvet Revolver moved around the stage, I couldn't believe how close I was to Slash, it was out of it. They really do have an excellent connection to the audience and are true proffesionals..Scott was awesome, how does he move like that? I tried to talk to other hard core Velvet Revolver fans, didn't really seem like there were many but there were the select few. Well done Velvet Revolver, you guys are really true rock n' fucking roll.

Thanks to Mick: The Auckland Gig was just amazing and to top it all I got back stage passes and met Slash (who signed my signature Gibson Les Paul the RARE Snakepit one not the new one!!) and Duff. Slash is an absolute gentleman and a real down to earth humble guy, Duff was terrific too. The show was fantastic, the songs sound SUPERB "LIVE" better than the album if that is possible!! The whole band rock. Scott and Dave are the business and Matt is still a legend on the drums. LONG LIVE Velvet Revolver. ROCK @ F- -CKING ROLL..!!!

Thanks to Sdeve: I arrived at the venue at 3:30pm and sat and chatted with hard hard out fans (not too many to be honest), we were finally let in and I felt like I was in the Estranged video clip from Guns N Rosed we ran into the arena and right up the front in the middle. After a lenghty wait and a chat to the security gards who got to go to the after party the D4 came on. Greeted with boo's I'd say they held up pretty well. It took an hour after they left for Velvet Revolver to show, chants went up and frustration was felt around the crowd. Then the 2nd greatest show on earth was proclaimed. And all of a sudden the lights went purple. Then like magic there was Duff.......... Duff..... Standing right in front of me on the stage monitor with grin. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. Sucker Train Blues kicked in and it went off, Slash was breath taking. I seriously couldn't believe he was just meters from me playing his guitar, they all looked so professional and it was overwhelming for me, Scott really impressed me also, I am now a fan of his. After Set Me Free I had to get out, my ribs were so sore from staying up front and they eventually were bruised. It was a REAL ROCK N' ROLL concert, so dangerous and so energetic. I stayed well back for the rest of the time and watched them from a distance. It was so amazing. These guys are so much better live. Being there is everything, it was simply amazing..... GO Dave

Thanks to Lette: Scott was an orgasmic experience that night and Slash's solos are seen on a way more appreciated level now, fucking crazy! Just the work Velvet Revolver put in together is so much more realistic live. A shame I wasn't up at the front, but from where I was (somewhere in the middle) it was all too exciting. Just every mutha fucker should inhale Velvet Revolver live because seriously it's like clean blood.

Super Top - SHITTY venue, but worked well.

Thanks to Kylie: Oh my god. That was the best concert I have ever been to. I just wished I was older and had money to go to more of their concerts. I really enjoyed how they played three Guns N Roses songs. Next time Velvet Revolver come to New Zealand for another concert I am so gonna be there, this time I will take my camera instead of a pix phone.

Thanks to Priscilla Mundell: I was all pumped up for the show. I loved it the band was the best ever they realy got us going and excited. Slash and Duff where my favourite they really where having fun and looked happy to be there. Scott was really awesome he really knows how to please a crowd. In the whole we loved it. I would go 20 times if I could and that Velvet Revolver must return to NEW ZEALAND again because you have many fans here surporrting you. It was the fuckin best.....

Thanks to Brendan: The setlist from the Christchurch show looks identical to the Auckland one. The D4 came on and pulled out all stops to get the crowd warmed up and ready for Velvet Revolver.

There was about a 30 minute wait until Velvet Revolver came on, which built the atmosphere and tension incredibly. Someone in the front had a huge Slash banner and every time they raised it the crowd went off. The PA system played Tool, AC/DC, Foo Fighters, Deftones etc while we waited.

When Velvet Revolver came on it was an absolutely unreal feeling seeing these guys. I can't remember who it was that introduced them, might have been Scott...he said something like: The 2nd best show on earth. They launched into Suckertrain Blues and it was non stop from there. Scott held a loudspeaker in front of the mike during parts of this song and several others, in order to get that weird distorted 3rd-person radio recording sound, which went off.

Unreal seeing him standing up on the speakers in the front of a big crowd screaming down at them through a loudspeaker, with Slash, Duff, Matt and Dave backing him up. He musta felt bulletproof.

Memorable moments: Slash's guitar virtuoso bits, including a Peter Framptonesque bit where he piped the guitar sounds through his mouth (he actually started with a tongue-in-cheek "Do you Feel..."), Slash playing the double-necked 12-string, Guns n Roses and STP covers, You Got No Right. Just seeing Slash play, his fluidity and aura. Matt's awesome drum solo. Scott telling the crowd: "No band saved rock n roll. You guys did."

The length of the set was almost 2 hrs, about 16 songs and conveyed the band's dedication to their fans and to putting on a great show. There wasn't a single moment where I thought this was just filler.

I left wanting to instantly hear them again and with the thought in mind that if I had the cash, I'd definitely travel overseas several times to chase these guys and see as many of their shows as I possibly could. Right up there with the best shows I've ever seen, Tool and Soundgarden.

Thanks to Mark Hobbs: The show was awesome it was better than I could have expected. After the D4 and a short wait the lights went out and there was Duff playing the intro to Sucker Train Blues then the rest appeared and blew us way. They played about 4 more high tempo heavy rockers to get us going and into it. They ended up playin every song off the album except Loving the Alien and Spectacle. Big Machine was the highlight in my opinion. They also played Sex Type Thing(STP's) and It's So Easy and Mr Brownstone(GnR) as covers which were perfect choices. They also played two other songs which I couldn't recognise. Scottie especially and the boys were all at the top of their games and it would be hard to imagine a much better show then the one they performed.

Thanks to Rossco: Didn't remember the setlist due to alcohol sickness...haha, but the show was really great. The band is pure rock n roll to the bone. Each member of Velvet Revolver played as team. Slash was awesome, shredding up the stage and Dave stood his ground as a guitarist as well. Duff was great....you can't miss that tall figure and blonde hair on stage, he was everywhere. The old GnR songs got a great reaction from the crowd. But for me it was Fall to Pieces and Slither. Those songs gig showed how great this band is and will continue to be in the future. Hope they come back as soon as!!

Thanks to Simon: FUUUCCCCKK!! That was a fucking amazing show, best concert I've ever been to! I was right in front of Slash, basically being sweated on by Slash. Duff was the fucking man. Dave was possessed, jumping and sprinting around the stage. Scott was fucking insanely kool, smoke billowing from his mouth while he sirened screams. We waited 1 hour after the D4 and before Velvet Revolver came on. Everyone was needing to piss and eat and drink, but we waited it out and it was worth it. The set list was almost identical to the Christchurch show. Slash's solos were intense. Highlights of the night were the cover of Mr Brownstone and the encore of Slither.

Gutted that Slash didn't throw out much memorablia picks etc. We almost got Slash's cigarette but the security guard seemed reluctant to hand it over. One of the security guards kept Duff's pick which was thrown to the crowd, selfish fuckers. All-round though a wicked show. It was the stage presence and performance that made it that good, the music could have been shit and it still would have been amazing to be there.

Thanks to Jay: Open with the D4 who got nearly no response from the crowd except for on Sake Bomb and then after a long wait Velvet Revolver came on and rocked it. They did the same thing as with the Christchurch one with the stoping and the coming back on and also hasseled some guy in the audience for coming onto them. GnR songs got huge response as well.

Thanks to shirleythetatoo: This was fantastic. Can't believe how fucking great it was. Knew it would be but was still amazed at how great these guys are live. Got up about 6 rows from the front and could have just about caught Slash's sweat. Scott is an amazing front man - slithering around the stage - bloody fantastic. Slash is just a god fucking amazing. They all seemed happy and got into it. The sound was great, lighting great, guys fan-fucking-tastic. Can't rave about it enough. Particularly liked the "Used to Love Her" when they sit on seats and sing it. Rock n' fucken roll.

Thanks to Francesca: Awesome show!! The D4 were great special guests and Velvet Revolver were out of the is world!! You have to see them live!!

Thanks to Campbell: Arrived at the venue around 7pm and had a drink in the bar before entering the venue. The D4 came on around 8ish, I'm not a big fan of the D4 and seeing them live didn't change my mind. They had alot of energy, but lacked experience and seemed a bit boring, they only worked a small portion of the stage and their music came across poorly live. Although it was amusing to see them sing there new song in Japanese.

The D4 left the stage around 8:45 and by now the venue had started to fill out, random chanting and clapping now took hold. It was another hour before Velvet Revolver finally hit the stage but the wait was worth it. The lights finally went out and the crowd went crazy, when the lights came back on Duff was standing on a speaker while the rest of the band were up by Matt's drums.

Most reviews always speak very highly of Scott and Slash's performances, but tonight Duff definatly stole the show. He was all over the stage, interacting with all the other band members. I had expected to spend the night concentrating on Slash, but found myself watching Duff more and more. Slash was his usual brilliant self, cranking out some awesome guitar solos, he also received one of the biggest cheers when he finally put on his hat for the encore. Scott was incredible, he worked the audience like a true pro and even managed to use his trusty loudspeaker. Matt was wicked on the drums and with Scott's encouragement fitted in a couple of drum solos. I didn't see a lot of Dave as I was too busy concentrating on Scott and the GNR boys.

As individuals they were awesome, but as a band they were even better. There was never an empty part of the stage and nobody stood still for very long, as they leaped from speaker to speaker and ran across the stage. By the end of the show Duff, Slash and Scott were all shirtless and you could see that had truely given all they had to the show. Slash was absolutely drenched and as he performed his last guitar solos you could see the sweat pouring off him.

The highlight of the night definatly had to be when Duff walked up to the mic and said "this song needs to no introduction" and then they cranked out "It's so Easy". Along with "Mr Brownstone" these songs received the biggest reaction as the crowd went absolutely nuts.

Make sure you see Velvet Revolver live before you die, it is truely an awesome spectacle. With teeny boppers causing an influx in mass produced rap and pop, Velvet Revolver are the last true "rockin fuckin roll" band.

Thanks to Slunk: The opening act were the D4 who really couldn't get the crowd interested. Partly due to audience indifference and their own lack of sincere energy. I've seen them before but couldn't remember a thing about them. This time they made me think of Status Quo mixed with Cheap Trick. If Velvet Revolver were watching from back stage they must have got the impression that tonights audience were going to be hard work.

Velvet Revolver came on sometime after 9:30. Expected them to rip straight into 'Suckertrain Blues' but they just strolled onstage to that funky number. Strutted around in the dark. Great way to build up the atmosphere. The set list was the same as the previous night's show in Christchurch, straight forward for the first few numbers. I was on the right hand side of the stage all night and Duff, Scott and Slash stuck close, working the crowd. They seemed impressed with the energy that everyone was giving.

Nothing to really say about the songs other than the mix was pleasantly clear. Nothing really dominated the mix. They played with the most confidence of any band I've ever seen. It was a real pleasure to see them play such good songs, so well and get the crowd into it. When they played 'It's So Easy' the girl next to me asked if it were a GnR song, which seems a good sign that Velvet Revolver are winning their own fan base rather than living of GnR nostalgia.

I'd say 'Mr Brownstone' was the biggest song of the night. Matt did a little tease of 'You Could Be Mine' before it which tricked us a little.

Other than that, a great, professional and sincere show from the last guys you'd expect to be still standing in 2005.

Thanks to Aaron: After an hour long wait Velvet Revolver hit the stage with the crowd going nuts kicked into Sucker Train. The Velvet Revolver backdrop was one of the best I have seen. It was the old GNR songs that got the best response along with Fall To Pieces and Slither. Velvet Revolver went off twice first time brought out some stools for a rendition of Used To Love Her and a great You Got No Right. Slash and Duff worked the crowd into a frenzy Scott put on a great show with Matt hitting the drums as hard as ever, all together an awesome show.

Thanks to Kevin: Got to the venue about 6 and sat down outside, got inside about 6.40 and went straight to the front of the stage. After a lengthy hour and a bit wait The D4 came onto the stage. Pretty boring but I suppose it's not my cup of tea. They played all the songs people know (eg. sake bomb, Saturday night etc.) and they were pretty tight but I think the engineers fucked with the sound to make it sound shit (as they do the sneaky cunts haha). The D4 wrapped up there set and the drummer jumped into the crowd but the crowd wasn't into it enough so he pretty much ended up in crowd and had to climb out.

All the road crew came out to setup Velvet Revolver's gear and after they did that the lighting etc. was being tested and what not. The crowd were chanting "SLASH! Slash! Slash! Slash!", "Duff! Duff! Duff! Duff!" and "Velvet Revolver! Velvet Revolver! Velvet Revolver!" and doing the whole clapping thing for ages. This went on for around about an hour...

Finally the lights dropped and the crowd just roared, Matt Sorum ran out onto the stage and sat behind his kit and started doing a "1,2,3,4" beat with the kick drum as Duff walked out dressed in leather pants and a leather jacket and went and stood right at the front of the stage and started playing a riff on the bass. A banner dropped down which said "Rock and Fuckin' Roll" and had a cartoon picture of two females on it. Scott then walked out and stood facing backwards to the crowd when the voice that used to introduce Guns N' Roses comes out over the PA saying something along the lines of "WELCOME! TO THE SECOND GREATEST SHOW IN THE WORLD! Velvet Revolver!" and Duff broke into the bassline of Sucker Train Blues. Slash and Dave Kushner then walked out onto the stage and the crowd went wild, then they fully broke into Sucker Train Blues and Scott turned around dressed up with a bus driver style cap, leather jacket, shirt, tie and leather pants.

They then broke into "Do it for the kids" which was awesome and as usual Scott had his trademark megaphone. Boy can he move he was just doing crazy movements all over the stage throughout the ENTIRE set and just had soo much energy along with everyone else in the band. It was more than just a concert it was a show, no one stole the spotlight for the whole show. They shared it with each other and they were all changing places on the stage and what not throughout the entire set. Slash did plenty of solo's throughout the set and was changing guitars like crazy! Matt Sorum also did awesome solo's. The whole set was extremely tight, neither me or my friends noticed one mistake (although I'm sure there was). The lighting and sound, the backdrops and the way they worked the crowd was awesome! Alot of work had gone into creating their show and it really paid off. Anyways they played about a good set of around about 2 hours. It had awesome extended versions of some songs, guitar solos and covers.

Highlights were the introduction, Slash's use of the talk box during Illegal I song, Duff's cool bass riff during the Illegal I song, Crackerman, Sex Type Thing, Scott's extended ending to Sex Type Thing which included taking the piss out of some bogan on the barricade who kept giving him the fingers. He said something like "This guy right here *points at him and hold his finger on him* who keeps giving me the fuck you sign. I know alot of girls wanna fuck us but I didn't realise alot of guys did too! But I'm sorry I don't swing that way and I'm faithful to my loving wife" there was heaps more said but I can't remember it all it was really funny though. He also did this making the crowd go loud then quiet thing which was also awesome, It's so easy, Dave Kushner was a highlight! He had sooo much energy and just had a really cool stage presence, Big Machine, Set Me Free, the extended ending to Set Me Free, the MASSIVE board of lights that said Velvet Revolver, Headspace, You got no right, Scott Weiland's megaphone and the way he works the crowd (Best frontman I've seen so far in my life), Mr Brownstone, Slither and the way the whole band acted! They are ALL Brilliant performers and are all excellent at what they do (crew included).

I spent $83 to see this show and it was worth every cent and I recommend ALL of you to go and see them!