
It's been one hell of a week...Now that it's winding down we are glad everyone is beginning to see that not only is Dr Pepper's giveaway for real, but so is DP's appreciation for Axl. Having Axl and the fan's support has meant so much and we thank you. Personally, I'd like to thank you by sharing my most memorable Guns moment with you...hope you share yours too...
December 5, 2002....
An ugly tempest had moved in and the streets of New York City were tucked into a blanket of white snow. Knowing the band usually took the stage around 11, I didn't leave for Madison Square Garden until 9:45 (partially because I hate opening acts and partially because I live in midtown). I paid through the nose for a pair of second row tickets, but this was a moment I thought I'd never see again in my life...I spent most of the 90s accepting the fact that Axl was gone and may never resurface...all that was about to change. Anyway, I arrive at the Garden and it's 10:00pm sharp. Instead of hearing the crowd booing the opening act, the lights were off. Damn, show time and I'm not in my seat (as if I'd even use it). A red light was pulsing with some strange psycho-like music playing...Just as my ticket was ripped, I heard the first chord to jungle...I sprinted like a bat out of hell to my seat just as Axl reminded us all of where we were "Do you where the F$%@ you are?!?!?!"
For the next three hours every single person in that Garden was on their feet singing word for word. I was slapping high-fives with complete strangers and all of that NY snarky attitude that makes this city such a lonely place to live dissipated. No matter where we came from, what jobs we had, we were all just Guns N Roses fans, completely united by the voice of W. Axl Rose. And it was real...He was really up there singing songs about real love, real hate, real anger, real suffering, real redemption...The way Axl captures those emotions and wraps them in timeless melodies makes any time he has a mic in his hand magical. I would have waited an eternity for this moment and now it was here.
I was singing the outro to Patience with Axl "just trying to get it right"...And I'll never forget making eye contact with him during Madagascar. He saw I knew the words and just smiled. And when he was on top of the piano proclaiming "what this means to me is more than I know you believe" I knew one day the whole world appreciate and love The Blues. But like rain in November, nothing last forever. So when all was said and done, I went home and dreamt of Chinese Democracy, an album I knew I'd be listening to shortly :)
Rock on,
CK