In one of my blogs I mentioned a friend who has meet Ryan many times and she know what he going through. She believes Ryan will make a good partner to whoever ends up with and will never cheat on them. Ryan will make a good father.
She has tells me that Ryan is good, nice, sweet, and hardworking man. Ryan is a good paranormal investigator and cares about the people he helps. Now I have never meant Ryan. I have the seen on the show, read his book, followed his tweets, and watch the live chats. I can tell that he has a good character and heart.
Ryan was a lot of fan and stalkers that are in love with him and have attacked his true loyal fans. These Stalkers have been spreading lies about him and saying they have been dating Ryan for a while. This is almost as bad as Ryan’s Fake Fiancée Situation that occurred months ago.
I know for a fact that Ryan is a private person. He wouldn’t want all the details of his dating life or relationships on face book or twitter.
My friend is a loyal fan of Ryan for a long time. Like me she has pictured herself with Ryan. She doesn’t care that he is Bi.
I don’t know Ryan’s heart. I know he does have a lot to love to give to whomever he ends up with. To the chosen few who have had the honor to meet Ryan and get to know him are lucky ones. These stalkers of Ryan have are telling his true fans that he will never like them and they will never end up with him.
Any girl or guy may have a change with Ryan; the one person who will be with him is the one God chose for him. His soul mate. The other half of his heart.
My friend IS hurting because she is being attacked by these Ryan Buell Stalkers who in love with him. That anyone who is a friend or a fan of his is a treat to them. I have one thing to say to them: GET A LIFE.
If you think Ryan will not see though your lies and not see your fate personality, then you don’t know him at all. He wasn’t born yesterday.
If I have a change with Ryan I will take it and that is no secret. I don’t care who know its. If they don’t like they can cry me a river, build a bridge and get over it.
To my friend: you are a good person and a friend. I am happy that I have got to know you. Ryan is lucky to have met you at many events, have you as a fan, a supporter, and a friend. Don’t let Ryan Stalkers bring you down.
To Ryan: I hope to meet you someday. I’m proud of you. I hope you find the love of your love life no matter what sex they are. Keep of the good work. May god bless and protect you always.
To Ryan stalkers: Get life and stop trying ruining other people lives. You are the ones that need the help. If you will you will be one to get Ryan's heart. you are in for a rude reality check.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Bisexuality is Perfectly Normal for Ryan Buell of "Paranormal State"
Michael Jensen, Editor on September 27, 2010
http://www.afterelton.com/people/2010/10/bisexuality-ryan-buell-paranormal-state
Unless you’re a fan of the paranormal, the name Ryan Buell probably isn’t one familiar to most gay and bisexual men. But when the 29-year-old paranormal investigator and host of A&E’s Paranormal State revealed he was bisexual in his new memoir, his profile in the GLBT community increased dramatically.
Even in 2010, most bisexual men choose to be discreet about their sexuality for a variety of reasons. But when Buell realized that his prominence in the paranormal research field, not to mention the fact he is quite public about his religious beliefs, meant he might be able to open some eyes about the issue of bisexuality, he knew he had to speak up.
AfterElton.com recently caught up with Buell to discuss his coming out, his conservative Southern family’s reaction and much more.
AfterElton: The book seems to be mostly about your experiences dealing with the paranormal and your experiences on the show. What made you decide to discuss being bisexual in it?
Ryan Buell: If you don't believe in the paranormal, you can at least look at it as metaphors. That's how I like to see it. You're dealing with the afterlife, you're dealing with the unknown, you're dealing with questions about God and spirituality. Paranormal investigations is really just a way for looking for God and looking for those questions. It doesn't matter who you are, what your skin color is, your sexuality, your religious faith ... we are all in our own ways looking for those answers.
In the book I kind of talk about my struggle with faith and religion, particularly the Catholic faith. Obviously ... growing up I come from South Carolina; this stuff was especially taboo, let alone homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism. I mean, the South is ... it's very true, it's very much old-fashioned.
kind of came about when I was dealing with parts of my faith and doing this work and … suddenly whenever I tried to work with clergy they would shut their doors in my face and say "I spoke to so-and-so who said this about you." It kind of came out about, you know, Ryan is, you know, he's ... he also like guys.
AE: When did you realize yourself that you were attracted to both men and women?
RB: Well see, that's the weird thing because as I wrote in my book, I didn't know there was ... it was hard for me to find the time when I knew that, because for such a long time I thought it was, you know, I didn't see a difference. I didn't know that was taboo. I grew up kind of sheltered, I guess, where growing up I didn't see this or hear about it until my teens.
For me I didn't know there was anything wrong until I was about 13 and I started hearing people say "fag", "Oh, this person's a fag, don't talk to him" you know, blah blah blah is when I began to realize that. When I started to become more self-aware about it, I would say maybe in my mid-teens. It's not like I only liked guys. I know there's some people who believe there's no such thing as bisexuality and I know that's something that's taboo even in the gay community, but... I would say my mid-teens.
AE: Okay.
RB: But just to answer the question about why it's in the book, it's because struggling with my faith and religion and everything like that and dealing with this world where I deal with a lot of religion, you know...one of my mentors was a woman named Lorraine Moore who's very, very old-fashioned. She kind of approached me about it and asked, you know, if I was bisexual and I said yes.
I decided to put it in the book because I was wanting to talk about faith, my struggle with faith, and how I was essentially told God would hate me for who I was and I decided after talking with Lorraine, who's religious and said, you know, priests are just men. They're fallible too and that doesn't mean you should turn away from your faith. So I decided to come out because I'm just tired of ... I've had a few gay friends who just said, you know, "I'm not religious, I'm athiest. Why would I want to believe in something or someone who says I'm going to Hell?" That's why I decided to come out.
AE: Because you wanted an opportunity to show that not everybody who's religious believes that?
RB: I write in the book that I got an email from a guy who wrote to me and said "Ryan, you're very much in the spirit world and you do a lot with religion, you have a lot of faith. I'm opening up to you that I'm gay and I was told by my church that I'm going to Hell unless I change my ways, that I'm sick. That if I die before I repent I'm going to Hell. In your experience, have you ever come across any gay spirits who said to you, 'I'm not able to go to Heaven because of my sexuality?’"
He was essentially looking for proof that during my investigations that some spirits are Earth-bound and can't go to Heaven because they're gay. That really just broke my heart because here was this guy who thinks he's sick, who thinks God is going to send him to Hell for who he is.
That's why I came out. I don't think I'm going to Hell. I wrote in the book, too, that we don't need to change for religion. Religion needs to change for us. Homosexuality and bisexuality are not a sin. Who wants to wake up and be beaten up or be called names? I'm so tired of seeing kids who commit suicide on the news. I'm a private person. I didn't want to come out.
It's not that I'm scared or ashamed – I'm not. It's just I'm a private person and I don't want to share these things about myself. It was scary to come out. My family is very old-fashioned and conservative. I didn't want to bring this up.
AE: What's the reaction with your family been?
RB: It's mixed. My mom was obviously way more supportive and my stepfather, who really helped raise me, I was really worried about him being judgmental since he comes from a very old, traditional way of thinking. He was just beyond supportive and that really just made me feel great.
I was more worried about my father's side. I remember when I was young, one of my cousins was gay and we were around talking about it – I think I was 12-years-old, 13-years-old – and they were talking about gay people and my dad said proudly around the table, "No son of mine would be gay. I'd kick his ass right out the door and never look back."
He was grinning as he was saying this, like, proudly. I was like, wow. In his eyes you could be a murderer and you'd be okay, but if you choose to love somebody of the same sex, that was just too much. I was really more worried about that and to be honest, I still haven't fully told my father's side. I guess I'm gonna have to address it soon, because the book comes out in a week.
AE: You have dated both men and women in your life?
RB: Mostly the gals, but yes. Definitely I'm kind of...how do I say...non-discriminatory?
AE: It seems like so few men still come out as bisexual and it seems like even fewer men who primarily date women do so. Why do you think so few bisexual men come out?
RB: I'm glad you said that. I thought it would be "Oh come on, there's no such thing as bisexual people." The thing is, there are, but it's easier to hide being bisexual. My one friend jokes about me and he says "You got half a blue side, half a pink side. Which shirt are you wearing today?"
I wouldn't say it's easier for us, I wouldn't say it's harder for us. To be honest, I don't have that many gay or bisexual friends. Here in this college town especially, where it's definitely more liberal and you see a little bit more sexual freedom and experimentation. Growing up and in college, I've met a lot of guys who are bisexual, you know, football players, athletes. Traveling in New York City and LA, you know, entertainment people who very much are bisexual.
But that part is more of their secret part, that they may date a girl but then they have something on the side with a guy. My theory is, it's easier because it's not like you're lying to yourself all the way when you're dating a girl because you're generally attracted to her. It's not like that gender turns you off.
I would say it's difficult in the sense that you do feel society telling you it's gotta be one thing or the other. That's kind of the hardest part right now, is saying you have to pick one.
I've seen a lot of guys who are married or who seem straight but are very open about having some sort of fling or affair or relationship with a guy. They just don't want to come out about it. They want to live a straight lifestyle. I think it's easier to live a straight lifestyle. It's so acceptable, you know?
I know some people probably go, "Oh, here's another guy coming out of the closet." But it's still very much not fully acceptable to be gay or bi or straight. I've even read some interviews with some musicians, like the singer from Green Day, who talked about how he's bi but from what I understand he's married. You never see him walking down the red carpet with a guy on his hand, but if you say he's bi I'm assuming that means he's had flings with some people.
AE: I'm not one of those gay guys who thinks bisexuality doesn't exist. Unfortunately, I was at some other websites that posted your coming out and there's all sorts of comments saying "Oh, of course the guy is gay he just hasn't figured it out yet." I dislike that reaction intensely. That's as bigoted as saying gay people choose to be gay or something. I've known enough bisexuals that I understand that it exists and it's just part of the spectrum that's out there.
RB: I appreciate that. It's funny because I remember when I first started to talk to other gay guys, not even to date them… I just was trying to put myself in their culture to be a part of it.
I didn't have, that I knew of, any gay, lesbian, or bisexual friends for so long, and I was just, like, I should have some. It's important. It's a part of who I am. It was so funny because they got upset when somebody started dating a girl or something like that. They’d be like, "You're in denial!" They kind of rejected me in a sense, where they didn't like seeing that.
They feel like it's a betrayal, or it makes them look bad, it makes them feel like they're wrong for choosing all guys. I'm just saying look, I'm not here to make you guys look bad. I'm just being who I am. I've definitely seen gay guys who have a major problem with it.
AE: When you're attracted to a guy, does it tend to be gay guys? Do they tend to be other bi guys? Or straight guys? How does that work for you?
RB: I don't know. I mean, look. I can look at a girl and say yeah, she's really attractive...but then why am I following her boyfriend? He's pretty good-looking too. I don't really have a preference. I tend to like, I guess, more masculine guys. Hard-working guys. But I've kind of known them all. Some athletes, some swimmers, someone on the football team, frat guys to people who are a little more effeminate.
I've done them all and I like to be with someone I can identify with, and I don't lead, I guess, an effeminate lifestyle. I don't go to drag queen parties or go to gay clubs. I think I've been to a gay club, like, twice in my life. It's not that I have a problem with it, it's just, I guess, most of my friends are straight and I don't feel like because I'm bisexual, I must go now to a gay/lesbian/bisexual club. I just go wherever.
AE: What I was driving at was, if you have mostly straight friends, it seems like it would be harder to find guys to date.
RB: It's funny because now that I've been open about it a bit more, especially the past few years internally, I've had them kind of come to me or hit on me. It's mainly a lot of guys who are extremely closeted, who are dating or married, they have a girlfriend or something like that, but...I guess a lot of bi guys or what you call bi-curious guys are going to gravitate to other bi guys because they feel a little more secure about their masculinity.
These are just my theories. I know it's a complicated answer, but I'm trying to find other gay/bisexual guys to get to know. My schedule makes it really hard, but I just want people to be themselves. I don't care if they're out or not, as long as they're honest to themselves.
AE: Are you interested in getting married and having kids? Does that depend on the gender, or are you interested in settling down someday either way and having kids?
RB: There’s something romantic about coming home to a wife and kids and I do think about marriage, but I'm not the kind of guy who's going to say “well, this is going to end one day and I'm going to go be with a woman just because she's a woman.”
I fantasize about being married to a gorgeous, beautiful wife and having kids, and I do know that I want kids. I'm the oldest of seven. Dad was in the military so he was gone a lot so I really feel like I played a major part in raising them, taking them to school, dressing them, helping them do their homework. Having spent a lot of my time having to help raise them because my mom was a very hard worker and very ambitious, and she's been a great inspiration.
She went from being a teen mom to putting herself through college and now owning her own company, so it was stressful when we were young. I had to help raise them and as I'm watching them grow up, there's a part of me that wants to have a child, but I'm not going to turn a part of myself away.
Love's complicated. Maybe it will be a monogamous thing where it's just myself and a wife, or maybe I'll meet a guy and we'll adopt or do whatever they do to where...artificial insemination or something like that.
I guess I don't know right now.
For more information visit Ryan at MySpace or Facebook, or purchase his memoir Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown at Amazon.com.
http://www.afterelton.com/people/2010/10/bisexuality-ryan-buell-paranormal-state
Unless you’re a fan of the paranormal, the name Ryan Buell probably isn’t one familiar to most gay and bisexual men. But when the 29-year-old paranormal investigator and host of A&E’s Paranormal State revealed he was bisexual in his new memoir, his profile in the GLBT community increased dramatically.
Even in 2010, most bisexual men choose to be discreet about their sexuality for a variety of reasons. But when Buell realized that his prominence in the paranormal research field, not to mention the fact he is quite public about his religious beliefs, meant he might be able to open some eyes about the issue of bisexuality, he knew he had to speak up.
AfterElton.com recently caught up with Buell to discuss his coming out, his conservative Southern family’s reaction and much more.
AfterElton: The book seems to be mostly about your experiences dealing with the paranormal and your experiences on the show. What made you decide to discuss being bisexual in it?
Ryan Buell: If you don't believe in the paranormal, you can at least look at it as metaphors. That's how I like to see it. You're dealing with the afterlife, you're dealing with the unknown, you're dealing with questions about God and spirituality. Paranormal investigations is really just a way for looking for God and looking for those questions. It doesn't matter who you are, what your skin color is, your sexuality, your religious faith ... we are all in our own ways looking for those answers.
In the book I kind of talk about my struggle with faith and religion, particularly the Catholic faith. Obviously ... growing up I come from South Carolina; this stuff was especially taboo, let alone homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism. I mean, the South is ... it's very true, it's very much old-fashioned.
kind of came about when I was dealing with parts of my faith and doing this work and … suddenly whenever I tried to work with clergy they would shut their doors in my face and say "I spoke to so-and-so who said this about you." It kind of came out about, you know, Ryan is, you know, he's ... he also like guys.
AE: When did you realize yourself that you were attracted to both men and women?
RB: Well see, that's the weird thing because as I wrote in my book, I didn't know there was ... it was hard for me to find the time when I knew that, because for such a long time I thought it was, you know, I didn't see a difference. I didn't know that was taboo. I grew up kind of sheltered, I guess, where growing up I didn't see this or hear about it until my teens.
For me I didn't know there was anything wrong until I was about 13 and I started hearing people say "fag", "Oh, this person's a fag, don't talk to him" you know, blah blah blah is when I began to realize that. When I started to become more self-aware about it, I would say maybe in my mid-teens. It's not like I only liked guys. I know there's some people who believe there's no such thing as bisexuality and I know that's something that's taboo even in the gay community, but... I would say my mid-teens.
AE: Okay.
RB: But just to answer the question about why it's in the book, it's because struggling with my faith and religion and everything like that and dealing with this world where I deal with a lot of religion, you know...one of my mentors was a woman named Lorraine Moore who's very, very old-fashioned. She kind of approached me about it and asked, you know, if I was bisexual and I said yes.
I decided to put it in the book because I was wanting to talk about faith, my struggle with faith, and how I was essentially told God would hate me for who I was and I decided after talking with Lorraine, who's religious and said, you know, priests are just men. They're fallible too and that doesn't mean you should turn away from your faith. So I decided to come out because I'm just tired of ... I've had a few gay friends who just said, you know, "I'm not religious, I'm athiest. Why would I want to believe in something or someone who says I'm going to Hell?" That's why I decided to come out.
AE: Because you wanted an opportunity to show that not everybody who's religious believes that?
RB: I write in the book that I got an email from a guy who wrote to me and said "Ryan, you're very much in the spirit world and you do a lot with religion, you have a lot of faith. I'm opening up to you that I'm gay and I was told by my church that I'm going to Hell unless I change my ways, that I'm sick. That if I die before I repent I'm going to Hell. In your experience, have you ever come across any gay spirits who said to you, 'I'm not able to go to Heaven because of my sexuality?’"
He was essentially looking for proof that during my investigations that some spirits are Earth-bound and can't go to Heaven because they're gay. That really just broke my heart because here was this guy who thinks he's sick, who thinks God is going to send him to Hell for who he is.
That's why I came out. I don't think I'm going to Hell. I wrote in the book, too, that we don't need to change for religion. Religion needs to change for us. Homosexuality and bisexuality are not a sin. Who wants to wake up and be beaten up or be called names? I'm so tired of seeing kids who commit suicide on the news. I'm a private person. I didn't want to come out.
It's not that I'm scared or ashamed – I'm not. It's just I'm a private person and I don't want to share these things about myself. It was scary to come out. My family is very old-fashioned and conservative. I didn't want to bring this up.
AE: What's the reaction with your family been?
RB: It's mixed. My mom was obviously way more supportive and my stepfather, who really helped raise me, I was really worried about him being judgmental since he comes from a very old, traditional way of thinking. He was just beyond supportive and that really just made me feel great.
I was more worried about my father's side. I remember when I was young, one of my cousins was gay and we were around talking about it – I think I was 12-years-old, 13-years-old – and they were talking about gay people and my dad said proudly around the table, "No son of mine would be gay. I'd kick his ass right out the door and never look back."
He was grinning as he was saying this, like, proudly. I was like, wow. In his eyes you could be a murderer and you'd be okay, but if you choose to love somebody of the same sex, that was just too much. I was really more worried about that and to be honest, I still haven't fully told my father's side. I guess I'm gonna have to address it soon, because the book comes out in a week.
AE: You have dated both men and women in your life?
RB: Mostly the gals, but yes. Definitely I'm kind of...how do I say...non-discriminatory?
AE: It seems like so few men still come out as bisexual and it seems like even fewer men who primarily date women do so. Why do you think so few bisexual men come out?
RB: I'm glad you said that. I thought it would be "Oh come on, there's no such thing as bisexual people." The thing is, there are, but it's easier to hide being bisexual. My one friend jokes about me and he says "You got half a blue side, half a pink side. Which shirt are you wearing today?"
I wouldn't say it's easier for us, I wouldn't say it's harder for us. To be honest, I don't have that many gay or bisexual friends. Here in this college town especially, where it's definitely more liberal and you see a little bit more sexual freedom and experimentation. Growing up and in college, I've met a lot of guys who are bisexual, you know, football players, athletes. Traveling in New York City and LA, you know, entertainment people who very much are bisexual.
But that part is more of their secret part, that they may date a girl but then they have something on the side with a guy. My theory is, it's easier because it's not like you're lying to yourself all the way when you're dating a girl because you're generally attracted to her. It's not like that gender turns you off.
I would say it's difficult in the sense that you do feel society telling you it's gotta be one thing or the other. That's kind of the hardest part right now, is saying you have to pick one.
I've seen a lot of guys who are married or who seem straight but are very open about having some sort of fling or affair or relationship with a guy. They just don't want to come out about it. They want to live a straight lifestyle. I think it's easier to live a straight lifestyle. It's so acceptable, you know?
I know some people probably go, "Oh, here's another guy coming out of the closet." But it's still very much not fully acceptable to be gay or bi or straight. I've even read some interviews with some musicians, like the singer from Green Day, who talked about how he's bi but from what I understand he's married. You never see him walking down the red carpet with a guy on his hand, but if you say he's bi I'm assuming that means he's had flings with some people.
AE: I'm not one of those gay guys who thinks bisexuality doesn't exist. Unfortunately, I was at some other websites that posted your coming out and there's all sorts of comments saying "Oh, of course the guy is gay he just hasn't figured it out yet." I dislike that reaction intensely. That's as bigoted as saying gay people choose to be gay or something. I've known enough bisexuals that I understand that it exists and it's just part of the spectrum that's out there.
RB: I appreciate that. It's funny because I remember when I first started to talk to other gay guys, not even to date them… I just was trying to put myself in their culture to be a part of it.
I didn't have, that I knew of, any gay, lesbian, or bisexual friends for so long, and I was just, like, I should have some. It's important. It's a part of who I am. It was so funny because they got upset when somebody started dating a girl or something like that. They’d be like, "You're in denial!" They kind of rejected me in a sense, where they didn't like seeing that.
They feel like it's a betrayal, or it makes them look bad, it makes them feel like they're wrong for choosing all guys. I'm just saying look, I'm not here to make you guys look bad. I'm just being who I am. I've definitely seen gay guys who have a major problem with it.
AE: When you're attracted to a guy, does it tend to be gay guys? Do they tend to be other bi guys? Or straight guys? How does that work for you?
RB: I don't know. I mean, look. I can look at a girl and say yeah, she's really attractive...but then why am I following her boyfriend? He's pretty good-looking too. I don't really have a preference. I tend to like, I guess, more masculine guys. Hard-working guys. But I've kind of known them all. Some athletes, some swimmers, someone on the football team, frat guys to people who are a little more effeminate.
I've done them all and I like to be with someone I can identify with, and I don't lead, I guess, an effeminate lifestyle. I don't go to drag queen parties or go to gay clubs. I think I've been to a gay club, like, twice in my life. It's not that I have a problem with it, it's just, I guess, most of my friends are straight and I don't feel like because I'm bisexual, I must go now to a gay/lesbian/bisexual club. I just go wherever.
AE: What I was driving at was, if you have mostly straight friends, it seems like it would be harder to find guys to date.
RB: It's funny because now that I've been open about it a bit more, especially the past few years internally, I've had them kind of come to me or hit on me. It's mainly a lot of guys who are extremely closeted, who are dating or married, they have a girlfriend or something like that, but...I guess a lot of bi guys or what you call bi-curious guys are going to gravitate to other bi guys because they feel a little more secure about their masculinity.
These are just my theories. I know it's a complicated answer, but I'm trying to find other gay/bisexual guys to get to know. My schedule makes it really hard, but I just want people to be themselves. I don't care if they're out or not, as long as they're honest to themselves.
AE: Are you interested in getting married and having kids? Does that depend on the gender, or are you interested in settling down someday either way and having kids?
RB: There’s something romantic about coming home to a wife and kids and I do think about marriage, but I'm not the kind of guy who's going to say “well, this is going to end one day and I'm going to go be with a woman just because she's a woman.”
I fantasize about being married to a gorgeous, beautiful wife and having kids, and I do know that I want kids. I'm the oldest of seven. Dad was in the military so he was gone a lot so I really feel like I played a major part in raising them, taking them to school, dressing them, helping them do their homework. Having spent a lot of my time having to help raise them because my mom was a very hard worker and very ambitious, and she's been a great inspiration.
She went from being a teen mom to putting herself through college and now owning her own company, so it was stressful when we were young. I had to help raise them and as I'm watching them grow up, there's a part of me that wants to have a child, but I'm not going to turn a part of myself away.
Love's complicated. Maybe it will be a monogamous thing where it's just myself and a wife, or maybe I'll meet a guy and we'll adopt or do whatever they do to where...artificial insemination or something like that.
I guess I don't know right now.
For more information visit Ryan at MySpace or Facebook, or purchase his memoir Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown at Amazon.com.
Ryan Buell: my thoughts on him.
Ryan Buell is one amazing guy. He is founder of the Paranormal Research society, has a show called Paranormal State on A&E, and is a published author. Ryan is just 28 years old. He has done a lot before the he turns 30.
Ryan’s book is called Paranormal State: My Journey in the Unknown. This book gives you a behind scenes view into his life and filming Paranormal State. Ryan comes out in the book that he is Bisexual and what he went though.
Recently Ryan has to deal with a lot of crap because he finally decided to tell the truth and show the world the real RYAN BUELL. Many people think that Ryan is lying. They think he did all this as a stunt before his book release to help it sell. This is a bunch of bull. I have talk to people that know Ryan and they said he would never do this. I know from what I have seen on the show and his character that he wouldn’t do it.
On Ryan blog he writes about a person who made a comment about gay people. This upset Ryan very much. I don’t blame him. I have read the interview of this person. It was totally uncalled for. I know people make mistakes and this person has said they are sorry. People do deserve a second change but damage was been done. This person was fired from paranormal show on the Sci-Fi channel.
In the news lately a lot of people have been killing themselves because they are gay or bi. They have been bullied and they are victims. They thought the world would be better off without them in it. I feel sorry for these people who have taken their lives because of their sexuality. I know these events has affected Ryan deeply and it made him angry which I don’t blame him one bit.
A very good friend guy of mine, who is gay, he told me two years ago that Ryan was either bi or gay. I told him he was wrong. When Ryan finally came out with the truth, I called my friend to tell him. He tells me I told you so. He was right. One night we went out to eat. I ask him about do you think about people who are bi?
He tells me “They are greedy because they want the best of both worlds.”
I was taken back by his answer. I serious thought he would say they are confused.
I do believe people are born straight or gay. Why can’t people be born bisexual? I don’t know if Ryan was born this way.
I recently become friends with someone who has meet Ryan in person many times and they also know what Ryan is going through. Now I have never meet Ryan in person. This person is one of Ryan biggest supporters and I value their opinion. The person told me they believe Ryan would make a good partner to whomever he ends up with. He would love his partner and never cheat on them. Ryan would make a good father. From what I know of Ryan, I totally agree with my friend. I believe Ryan will be a good partner and a father. Whoever gets his heart will be one lucky person no matter what sex they are.
Ryan did give an interview where he talks about being bi, relationships, and wants he wants in the future. He doesn’t know who he will be with a man or a woman. There is one thing he was sure about that he wants to be a father.
http://www.afterelton.com/people/2010/10/bisexuality-ryan-buell-paranormal-state
Ryan is not only Bi but he is Catholic. He feels being gay or bi is not a sin. Ryan believes that Gods loves everyone the way they are matter if they are gay, bi or straight. Which cause a shit storm around him? I was very proud of him for standing his ground.
I’m a Christian and I do believe that God loves everyone. I also believe people are born gay, bi, or straight. I have friends that are bi, gay, and straight. I love them very much. I have accepted who they are. I know if I ever need them they will be there for me.
It was my best friend in Texas that asked me a question I had trouble answering. She knows that I have been a fan of Ryan’s for a long time. I told her that Ryan was bi. She knows how much I want to meet him someday. This is what she asked”
“What if you meet Ryan someday and you guys hit it off. After both of you get to know other, become good friends, and decided to take to the next level. Now that you know he’s bi. If you ever had a change with him would you take it?”
I have to admit that I have pictured myself having a friendship with Ryan and even relationship just like hundreds of girls across the US. After a while I got over my crush on him and became a fan.
My bff asked a question made me think. When Ryan came out I was surprise not shock unlike one of my friends. When I told her she almost lost it. I realized Ryan was still the same person who finally told the truth about himself.
I will admit if I ever have a change to be with him I will take it. I don’t care if he is bi. He is still the same person to me. That why I admire him so much. I hope some day to meet him. I will always be a fan of his and supporters.
I do wish Ryan all the happiness and success in the world. I hope he does find love someday.
I don’t know what the future hold for Ryan, me or anyone. Only god knows that.
All we can do is live ours life.
Peace love and rockets
Ryan’s book is called Paranormal State: My Journey in the Unknown. This book gives you a behind scenes view into his life and filming Paranormal State. Ryan comes out in the book that he is Bisexual and what he went though.
Recently Ryan has to deal with a lot of crap because he finally decided to tell the truth and show the world the real RYAN BUELL. Many people think that Ryan is lying. They think he did all this as a stunt before his book release to help it sell. This is a bunch of bull. I have talk to people that know Ryan and they said he would never do this. I know from what I have seen on the show and his character that he wouldn’t do it.
On Ryan blog he writes about a person who made a comment about gay people. This upset Ryan very much. I don’t blame him. I have read the interview of this person. It was totally uncalled for. I know people make mistakes and this person has said they are sorry. People do deserve a second change but damage was been done. This person was fired from paranormal show on the Sci-Fi channel.
In the news lately a lot of people have been killing themselves because they are gay or bi. They have been bullied and they are victims. They thought the world would be better off without them in it. I feel sorry for these people who have taken their lives because of their sexuality. I know these events has affected Ryan deeply and it made him angry which I don’t blame him one bit.
A very good friend guy of mine, who is gay, he told me two years ago that Ryan was either bi or gay. I told him he was wrong. When Ryan finally came out with the truth, I called my friend to tell him. He tells me I told you so. He was right. One night we went out to eat. I ask him about do you think about people who are bi?
He tells me “They are greedy because they want the best of both worlds.”
I was taken back by his answer. I serious thought he would say they are confused.
I do believe people are born straight or gay. Why can’t people be born bisexual? I don’t know if Ryan was born this way.
I recently become friends with someone who has meet Ryan in person many times and they also know what Ryan is going through. Now I have never meet Ryan in person. This person is one of Ryan biggest supporters and I value their opinion. The person told me they believe Ryan would make a good partner to whomever he ends up with. He would love his partner and never cheat on them. Ryan would make a good father. From what I know of Ryan, I totally agree with my friend. I believe Ryan will be a good partner and a father. Whoever gets his heart will be one lucky person no matter what sex they are.
Ryan did give an interview where he talks about being bi, relationships, and wants he wants in the future. He doesn’t know who he will be with a man or a woman. There is one thing he was sure about that he wants to be a father.
http://www.afterelton.com/people/2010/10/bisexuality-ryan-buell-paranormal-state
Ryan is not only Bi but he is Catholic. He feels being gay or bi is not a sin. Ryan believes that Gods loves everyone the way they are matter if they are gay, bi or straight. Which cause a shit storm around him? I was very proud of him for standing his ground.
I’m a Christian and I do believe that God loves everyone. I also believe people are born gay, bi, or straight. I have friends that are bi, gay, and straight. I love them very much. I have accepted who they are. I know if I ever need them they will be there for me.
It was my best friend in Texas that asked me a question I had trouble answering. She knows that I have been a fan of Ryan’s for a long time. I told her that Ryan was bi. She knows how much I want to meet him someday. This is what she asked”
“What if you meet Ryan someday and you guys hit it off. After both of you get to know other, become good friends, and decided to take to the next level. Now that you know he’s bi. If you ever had a change with him would you take it?”
I have to admit that I have pictured myself having a friendship with Ryan and even relationship just like hundreds of girls across the US. After a while I got over my crush on him and became a fan.
My bff asked a question made me think. When Ryan came out I was surprise not shock unlike one of my friends. When I told her she almost lost it. I realized Ryan was still the same person who finally told the truth about himself.
I will admit if I ever have a change to be with him I will take it. I don’t care if he is bi. He is still the same person to me. That why I admire him so much. I hope some day to meet him. I will always be a fan of his and supporters.
I do wish Ryan all the happiness and success in the world. I hope he does find love someday.
I don’t know what the future hold for Ryan, me or anyone. Only god knows that.
All we can do is live ours life.
Peace love and rockets
Aftermath by Ryan Buell
www.ryanbuell.net
Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 06:44PM
I received an e-mail from Britt Griffith. Although out of respect to him I won't post the contents without his express permission, the dialogue was very good and, I believe, genuine.
I have a few friends who know Mr. Griffith, and they share the same sentiments, that Mr. Griffith is not a hateful, discriminatory man.
But like most of you, I do not know Mr. Griffith. So why he chose to say those words can only be interpreted.
I still stand by my original feelings that the word should not have been used and repercussions, therefore, are expected. I also meant what I said in that Mr. Griffith does deserve a second chance if he works for it. He will have my full support if he does.
A few minority opinions believe that the use of the term "fag" should not have been that big of a deal. But myself and countless others disagree. To not understand why it's offensive and hurtful shows a lack of understanding. This word didn't become offensive in the last week. It's also no secret that gays are across the board tormented. I haven't met a single gay person who has experienced more than the average bullying that we face growing up. They were victims of hate crimes and discrimination. Mr. Griffith's words have power. He may not have meant it as discriminatory, but they affected people. After all, that's why we're here talking about this. It was hurtful to read.
Some argue, "what happened to free speech?" Well, those people don't understand the art and purpose of free speech. For a personality to go on air and say "fag" is free speech. But it's also hate speech. It's also free speech of the network (among other rights that companies have) to speak out against that and choose not to stand by that person. The Supreme Court has ruled several times that people are free to say what they want, but that they still have to face consequences if it does damage. The free speech amendment really came from the government persecuting someone unfairly for speaking out against the king or other ruling bodies. No, the government will not throw Mr. Griffith in to the Guantonomo Bay prison (nor would anyone want that). But if what you say is hurtful and offensive, there are consequences. The rights of others will come through and thousands of voices can unify to speak out against them (again, free speech is a two way street). We - as well as companies - have a right to also choose not to stand by or work with someone who says something hurtful and demeaning to a group of people.
Whether the detractors like it or not, using the term "fag" has consequences. I came out to discuss this to make a point. If anyone, whether in the paranormal community or elsewhere (but especially in the paranormal community which I am a part of) uses hate speech for whatever extremes, there will be consequences. You'll have to face hundreds of thousands of watchdogs who will not stand for it.
Lastly, I want to thank Mr. Griffith. He didn't have to e-mail me. But he's being a man and accepting what has happened. Already he has gained a lot of my respect.
I hope to continue my dialogue with Mr. Griffith, and perhaps share some of it publicly in the future if he's ever willing. If he doesn't, that will be okay with me, as this isn't about publicity. I told Mr. Griffith that, when he's ready, I would give him access to my fans via Twitter & Facebook and even PiTV is he wants so he has an opportunity to reach a large enough audience as possible to say whatever he'd like.
In the meantime, we are continuing a private, positive dialogue. I will be posting later on a response he already issued out there on the Internet where he apologized for this situation because I feel Mr. Griffith's attempts to make amends should be louder than the mistake itself. And as he works to stand against the mistake he made, we should all stand by him. After all, we will all make mistakes. We all deserve second chances to prove that we are more than our mistakes.
Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 06:44PM
I received an e-mail from Britt Griffith. Although out of respect to him I won't post the contents without his express permission, the dialogue was very good and, I believe, genuine.
I have a few friends who know Mr. Griffith, and they share the same sentiments, that Mr. Griffith is not a hateful, discriminatory man.
But like most of you, I do not know Mr. Griffith. So why he chose to say those words can only be interpreted.
I still stand by my original feelings that the word should not have been used and repercussions, therefore, are expected. I also meant what I said in that Mr. Griffith does deserve a second chance if he works for it. He will have my full support if he does.
A few minority opinions believe that the use of the term "fag" should not have been that big of a deal. But myself and countless others disagree. To not understand why it's offensive and hurtful shows a lack of understanding. This word didn't become offensive in the last week. It's also no secret that gays are across the board tormented. I haven't met a single gay person who has experienced more than the average bullying that we face growing up. They were victims of hate crimes and discrimination. Mr. Griffith's words have power. He may not have meant it as discriminatory, but they affected people. After all, that's why we're here talking about this. It was hurtful to read.
Some argue, "what happened to free speech?" Well, those people don't understand the art and purpose of free speech. For a personality to go on air and say "fag" is free speech. But it's also hate speech. It's also free speech of the network (among other rights that companies have) to speak out against that and choose not to stand by that person. The Supreme Court has ruled several times that people are free to say what they want, but that they still have to face consequences if it does damage. The free speech amendment really came from the government persecuting someone unfairly for speaking out against the king or other ruling bodies. No, the government will not throw Mr. Griffith in to the Guantonomo Bay prison (nor would anyone want that). But if what you say is hurtful and offensive, there are consequences. The rights of others will come through and thousands of voices can unify to speak out against them (again, free speech is a two way street). We - as well as companies - have a right to also choose not to stand by or work with someone who says something hurtful and demeaning to a group of people.
Whether the detractors like it or not, using the term "fag" has consequences. I came out to discuss this to make a point. If anyone, whether in the paranormal community or elsewhere (but especially in the paranormal community which I am a part of) uses hate speech for whatever extremes, there will be consequences. You'll have to face hundreds of thousands of watchdogs who will not stand for it.
Lastly, I want to thank Mr. Griffith. He didn't have to e-mail me. But he's being a man and accepting what has happened. Already he has gained a lot of my respect.
I hope to continue my dialogue with Mr. Griffith, and perhaps share some of it publicly in the future if he's ever willing. If he doesn't, that will be okay with me, as this isn't about publicity. I told Mr. Griffith that, when he's ready, I would give him access to my fans via Twitter & Facebook and even PiTV is he wants so he has an opportunity to reach a large enough audience as possible to say whatever he'd like.
In the meantime, we are continuing a private, positive dialogue. I will be posting later on a response he already issued out there on the Internet where he apologized for this situation because I feel Mr. Griffith's attempts to make amends should be louder than the mistake itself. And as he works to stand against the mistake he made, we should all stand by him. After all, we will all make mistakes. We all deserve second chances to prove that we are more than our mistakes.
My Response to Britt Griffith's Offensive Remarks by Ryan Buell
http://www.ryanbuell.net/
Friday, October 22, 2010 at 02:59PM
Author's Note: This post contains explicit language.
Late last Thursday night, I came home from the movie theaters and found forwarded posts from a few people reporting that Britt Griffith, co-star of the hit SyFy series, “Ghost Hunters” was fired. And why was he fired? Well, one can only surmise that it’s due largely in part to the way he conducted himself on a blog radio interview. During the interview, he refers to those against guns as “pussy faggots.” He later rants during the interview that he is unapologetic and if he’s too hardcore for people, they should just change the channel, etc.
Then came a shit firestorm of controversy. Was Britt Griffith homophobic? Racist (he makes a comment about the Rodney King incident)? I was, of course, notified of Britt’s remarks. I had been traveling at an unrelenting rate, so I had little time to really think about them. However, I felt deeply saddened. I had just come out as bisexual (yes, we do exist), and suddenly the climate of this country was starting to go through a shift. On the news were major reports of gay teens committing suicide due to bullying. These teens were targeted for no other reason than because they were gay or accused of being gay. Suddenly, the media started to pay more attention to gay suicides, only to have TWO MORE happen. Suddenly back reports surfaced of hundreds, no thousands, no tens of thousands, no wait… HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of kids being bullied for being gay.
And what is the number one anti gay slur that was used against them?
Fag.
And here comes Britt Griffith. Perhaps he was drunk on his interview, I really don’t know. Bottom line is during his time he made some poor choice of words. I decided to hold judgment or say anything until I had a chance to listen to the interview itself. Someone sent me a transcript that was online, followed by a link. And so I listened to it. And I was upset.
Deciding I would respond, suddenly news broke that Britt Griffith had been fired from “Ghost Hunters.” I finally posted my thoughts (via twitter):
“Props to SyFy for firing Britt Griffith for his hate speech! There are gay children dying in this country because of hate. (cont'd) Whether or not he realized it, many people look up to him b/c he is a celebrity. Saying 'faggot' is hurtful & demeaning to many.”
Naturally, my comments sparked comments from hundreds of people. Most people were outraged and supportive of my stance. A few were upset about my stance, and thought that I was capitalizing on “someone else’s pain,” or rather, “being just as hateful as Britt’s remarks.” Then there were some who just believed I was overreacting and didn’t have my facts straight, such as Scotty Roberts, editor-in-chief of TAPS PARAMAG. Out of the dozen or so detractors, I decided to debate with Mr. Roberts because he brings up an interesting point. He argues that Britt’s use of the term “fag” was taken out of context. He wasn’t using it to demean gay people, said Roberts. He then proceeded to tell me that I needed to get my facts straight.
Firstly let me say that I respect Mr. Robert’s opinions and I tried to be fair in letting his side be heard via my Twitter. And at the end of the day, I hold no ill will towards Mr. Roberts’s opinions towards the matter or me.
That being said, what facts, Mr. Roberts, did I need to get straight? Perhaps Mr. Roberts assumed that I just heard from someone online that Britt said “pussy faggot” and that’s it. Perhaps he didn’t realize that I listened to the interview. It was a judgment of my character, I suppose, that I would just react without actually looking in to the matter.
Regardless, this brings me to a more troubling issue: people who think Britt didn’t do anything wrong or think that people are overreacting.
Roberts and a few others argued that Britt didn’t use “faggot” as an anti-gay slur.
So how did Britt use it, then?
"You get on the east coast, the west coast and they're all anti-gun pussy faggots."
He used the term “faggot” to demean people who are against gun control. He used “faggot” to insult someone. How many times have guys used “fag” to insult another guy? They might not believe that said person was gay, but they used the term because it is offensive and demeaning. They use it to insult and hurt.
The bottom line is that “faggot” is the n-word for a group of minorities who have been oppressed, beaten, tormented and even murdered for centuries. It’s the ultimate slam against gays. Just look at the signs that some “Christians” use to protest gay rights… “God hates FAGS.”
Whether or not Britt is anti-gay is beside the point, because the bigger issue is that he used a very hateful word to demean someone or a group of people he didn’t like. According to his interview, people who are against guns are “faggots.” He certainly didn’t use the word to compliment anyone.
Despite people’s views on homosexuality, there are a few things that are certain. No one takes pleasure in kids taking their own life (or at least, one would hope). No one wants to be called a fag, whether you’re gay or straight. In high school, being called a fag usually resulted in fights and hurt feelings. Fag is not used positively under any circumstances unless in some areas of the world where it’s used to describe cigarettes. And I highly doubt Britt was calling anti-gun people “pussy cigarettes.”
What I find appalling is how a few people don’t find the ordeal to be a big deal. Has anyone asked what our gay, lesbian and bisexual brothers and sisters feel about this?
How did Britt’s gay fans feel about this when they heard someone they looked up to used a word that has been used against them while they were being slammed up against a locker?
Bottom line is that Britt Griffith is a celebrity, whether he likes it or not. People look up to him. His use of “faggot” may suggest to others that it’s acceptable to use the term to insult people they don’t like.
The problem is that our country is not supportive of gays. At one point in time, the majority of this country was not supportive of African American rights. I’ve had a few people in the paranormal community make anti-gay slurs against me when I came out as bi. A few high profile paranormal personalities who have TV programs have privately made anti-gay, bigoted comments about me at parties and conventions. And it doesn’t stop there. They’ve made anti-gay slurs against other suspected gays in the paranormal community. So how will fans react? For those who are already bigots, they will take this as support that their heroes support their hate.
Someone out there listened to Britt Griffith’s comments and probably thought, “yeah, those damned faggots!!” Do I have proof of that? No. Is it likely that someone out there could take it out of context to believe that Britt shares his or her views as homophobic? Sure. It happens all the time. How many times have people been inspired by hate speech to go out and hurt others? I’m not saying Mr. Griffith went out there to purposely spew hate out against the gay minorities, but it was hate speech nonetheless.
So am I making a big deal about nothing? That depends on whom you ask. Bottom line is that gay people have been tormented and oppressed for too long, and unfortunately it still occurs on a wide scale.
Check the news. Gay teens are dying at the hands of homophobes. Just a few weeks ago, 11 people were arrested for being a part of an ANTI-GAY gang in New York City. They went around beating up gays.
One of my colleagues in the paranormal community told me that he once walked out of a bar in New York City and was beaten to a pulp for being gay.
So who thinks it’s not a big deal? Hate to say it, but judging from my Twitter discussions, 99% of them were straight people.
For Mr. Griffith’s defenders, it seems that there is a disconnect. They are not gay, and so to them fag is just another word. It’s sad, but when someone stands up for equality, they’re judged as overreacting or simply trying to get publicity, as one person accused me of on Twitter last night. That makes about as much sense as accusing a gay teen of choosing to be gay! You’re right, they love getting beat up and called names at school! They’re just jumping for joy at the attention.
Assuming that is, in a way, bigoted. Accusing those who are genuinely hurt by these remarks as being stupid or that we are attention whores is a form of bigotry. It shows a lack of understanding. They don’t understand and/or accept that it could be hurtful and demeaning to a minority, and that it’s only for attention. In short, they’re not putting themselves in the other party’s shoes. They’re only thinking about their perception. And that is bigotry.
Some have commented that I’m using this opportunity to kick a man who is down. Although I certainly respect that opinion (and most opinions, for that matter), nothing can be further from the truth.
I’m happy that SyFy and others involved took a stance. They took a stance to say “this is not acceptable. We don’t condone this. There are consequences.”
I’ve gotten to know a few cast members from the “Ghost Hunters” franchises. Rob Demarest, for one, is a great guy who publicly stood by me when I came out. This isn’t about a show versus a show. I’ve never supported that rhetoric and still don’t.
Now that I’ve addressed that, let’s get back to the point at hand, cause I feel I’ve spent enough time on the detractors who bring up every point but the point that counts.
Is Britt a good guy? I know some people who are friends with him, and they simply feel that he was trying to appear more tough and macho and made a mistake. It certainly does happen. Mistakes do happen, but that doesn’t change that there are consequences.
This is no longer about just Britt Griffith. This is about acceptance and tolerance of the term “fag” in a time when we’re facing an epidemic of gay deaths and gay bashing. If nothing were to happen to Griffith, a whole minority would’ve felt cheated, that it doesn’t matter if someone uses a derogatory word that has been used as the ultimate way to demean them for years. It would’ve suggested that you can call someone a fag and get away with it.
And guess what? Whether you accept it or not, you won’t get away with it. Not anymore. Call someone a fag, and there will be consequences. The people have decided that it’s an offensive word to demean and minority. Use of it has consequences.
Gays and supporters of gays are tired of being victims.
I only met Mr. Griffith once while in Gettysburg and it was for about two minutes but he seemed like a nice guy.
Do I believe Mr. Griffith deserved to be reprimanded for his actions? Yes. Would I expect anyone on my team to be reprimanded for calling someone a fag? Yes.
Do I believe Mr. Griffith should forever be judged for this? No.
I recently heard that Mr. Griffith apologized. But apologies can be deceptive. Are they sorry for their actions or are they sorry they got punished? Do I have an opinion? Yes, I do. I want to believe Mr. Griffith meant it.
A good example involves a personality who also has a show on A&E: Dog the Bounty Hunter. He called his son’s black girlfriend the n-word. It was recorded and played over the news. What followed was the cancellation of his show. Did Dog hate black people? Clearly not. He had African American friends. But he used such a hurtful word that has been used to demean a whole race for over a hundred years.
Dog eventually apologized, worked hard to make sure people knew it and that he did not stand for hate. He made sure all his fans knew that. It took time. It took effort. He could’ve just faded away and counted his millions. But he took it like a man.
About nine months later, Dog’s show came back on the air. It hurt his reputation, and advertisers still are reluctant to advertise on his show, but he’s back and was given a second chance.
So, for Mr. Griffith, I say do not let this define you. Do not also expect to just apologize once and be done with it. You have to work hard to prove to your fans that you really didn’t mean what you said. You started a snowball effect. Many people were hurt by what you said… that is a FACT. You can either go with people who believe we’re just overreacting, or you can acknowledge that it was hurtful to a minority, and work hard to reach out to them.
And if you do, you will gain a new respect. You will gain a new following. And I, for one, will be there on that day to stand beside you and support you. Whether it matters to you or anyone is irrelevant, but as a human being, I will support you getting a second chance in any way, shape or form.
People do make mistakes. But it’s how they handle those mistakes that makes a difference. How you handle your mistakes will be what defines you.
God bless.
RYAN
UPDATE: I was just informed that Britt Griffith e-mailed me through my public e-mail. I am on the road but will be reading it shortly.
Friday, October 22, 2010 at 02:59PM
Author's Note: This post contains explicit language.
Late last Thursday night, I came home from the movie theaters and found forwarded posts from a few people reporting that Britt Griffith, co-star of the hit SyFy series, “Ghost Hunters” was fired. And why was he fired? Well, one can only surmise that it’s due largely in part to the way he conducted himself on a blog radio interview. During the interview, he refers to those against guns as “pussy faggots.” He later rants during the interview that he is unapologetic and if he’s too hardcore for people, they should just change the channel, etc.
Then came a shit firestorm of controversy. Was Britt Griffith homophobic? Racist (he makes a comment about the Rodney King incident)? I was, of course, notified of Britt’s remarks. I had been traveling at an unrelenting rate, so I had little time to really think about them. However, I felt deeply saddened. I had just come out as bisexual (yes, we do exist), and suddenly the climate of this country was starting to go through a shift. On the news were major reports of gay teens committing suicide due to bullying. These teens were targeted for no other reason than because they were gay or accused of being gay. Suddenly, the media started to pay more attention to gay suicides, only to have TWO MORE happen. Suddenly back reports surfaced of hundreds, no thousands, no tens of thousands, no wait… HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of kids being bullied for being gay.
And what is the number one anti gay slur that was used against them?
Fag.
And here comes Britt Griffith. Perhaps he was drunk on his interview, I really don’t know. Bottom line is during his time he made some poor choice of words. I decided to hold judgment or say anything until I had a chance to listen to the interview itself. Someone sent me a transcript that was online, followed by a link. And so I listened to it. And I was upset.
Deciding I would respond, suddenly news broke that Britt Griffith had been fired from “Ghost Hunters.” I finally posted my thoughts (via twitter):
“Props to SyFy for firing Britt Griffith for his hate speech! There are gay children dying in this country because of hate. (cont'd) Whether or not he realized it, many people look up to him b/c he is a celebrity. Saying 'faggot' is hurtful & demeaning to many.”
Naturally, my comments sparked comments from hundreds of people. Most people were outraged and supportive of my stance. A few were upset about my stance, and thought that I was capitalizing on “someone else’s pain,” or rather, “being just as hateful as Britt’s remarks.” Then there were some who just believed I was overreacting and didn’t have my facts straight, such as Scotty Roberts, editor-in-chief of TAPS PARAMAG. Out of the dozen or so detractors, I decided to debate with Mr. Roberts because he brings up an interesting point. He argues that Britt’s use of the term “fag” was taken out of context. He wasn’t using it to demean gay people, said Roberts. He then proceeded to tell me that I needed to get my facts straight.
Firstly let me say that I respect Mr. Robert’s opinions and I tried to be fair in letting his side be heard via my Twitter. And at the end of the day, I hold no ill will towards Mr. Roberts’s opinions towards the matter or me.
That being said, what facts, Mr. Roberts, did I need to get straight? Perhaps Mr. Roberts assumed that I just heard from someone online that Britt said “pussy faggot” and that’s it. Perhaps he didn’t realize that I listened to the interview. It was a judgment of my character, I suppose, that I would just react without actually looking in to the matter.
Regardless, this brings me to a more troubling issue: people who think Britt didn’t do anything wrong or think that people are overreacting.
Roberts and a few others argued that Britt didn’t use “faggot” as an anti-gay slur.
So how did Britt use it, then?
"You get on the east coast, the west coast and they're all anti-gun pussy faggots."
He used the term “faggot” to demean people who are against gun control. He used “faggot” to insult someone. How many times have guys used “fag” to insult another guy? They might not believe that said person was gay, but they used the term because it is offensive and demeaning. They use it to insult and hurt.
The bottom line is that “faggot” is the n-word for a group of minorities who have been oppressed, beaten, tormented and even murdered for centuries. It’s the ultimate slam against gays. Just look at the signs that some “Christians” use to protest gay rights… “God hates FAGS.”
Whether or not Britt is anti-gay is beside the point, because the bigger issue is that he used a very hateful word to demean someone or a group of people he didn’t like. According to his interview, people who are against guns are “faggots.” He certainly didn’t use the word to compliment anyone.
Despite people’s views on homosexuality, there are a few things that are certain. No one takes pleasure in kids taking their own life (or at least, one would hope). No one wants to be called a fag, whether you’re gay or straight. In high school, being called a fag usually resulted in fights and hurt feelings. Fag is not used positively under any circumstances unless in some areas of the world where it’s used to describe cigarettes. And I highly doubt Britt was calling anti-gun people “pussy cigarettes.”
What I find appalling is how a few people don’t find the ordeal to be a big deal. Has anyone asked what our gay, lesbian and bisexual brothers and sisters feel about this?
How did Britt’s gay fans feel about this when they heard someone they looked up to used a word that has been used against them while they were being slammed up against a locker?
Bottom line is that Britt Griffith is a celebrity, whether he likes it or not. People look up to him. His use of “faggot” may suggest to others that it’s acceptable to use the term to insult people they don’t like.
The problem is that our country is not supportive of gays. At one point in time, the majority of this country was not supportive of African American rights. I’ve had a few people in the paranormal community make anti-gay slurs against me when I came out as bi. A few high profile paranormal personalities who have TV programs have privately made anti-gay, bigoted comments about me at parties and conventions. And it doesn’t stop there. They’ve made anti-gay slurs against other suspected gays in the paranormal community. So how will fans react? For those who are already bigots, they will take this as support that their heroes support their hate.
Someone out there listened to Britt Griffith’s comments and probably thought, “yeah, those damned faggots!!” Do I have proof of that? No. Is it likely that someone out there could take it out of context to believe that Britt shares his or her views as homophobic? Sure. It happens all the time. How many times have people been inspired by hate speech to go out and hurt others? I’m not saying Mr. Griffith went out there to purposely spew hate out against the gay minorities, but it was hate speech nonetheless.
So am I making a big deal about nothing? That depends on whom you ask. Bottom line is that gay people have been tormented and oppressed for too long, and unfortunately it still occurs on a wide scale.
Check the news. Gay teens are dying at the hands of homophobes. Just a few weeks ago, 11 people were arrested for being a part of an ANTI-GAY gang in New York City. They went around beating up gays.
One of my colleagues in the paranormal community told me that he once walked out of a bar in New York City and was beaten to a pulp for being gay.
So who thinks it’s not a big deal? Hate to say it, but judging from my Twitter discussions, 99% of them were straight people.
For Mr. Griffith’s defenders, it seems that there is a disconnect. They are not gay, and so to them fag is just another word. It’s sad, but when someone stands up for equality, they’re judged as overreacting or simply trying to get publicity, as one person accused me of on Twitter last night. That makes about as much sense as accusing a gay teen of choosing to be gay! You’re right, they love getting beat up and called names at school! They’re just jumping for joy at the attention.
Assuming that is, in a way, bigoted. Accusing those who are genuinely hurt by these remarks as being stupid or that we are attention whores is a form of bigotry. It shows a lack of understanding. They don’t understand and/or accept that it could be hurtful and demeaning to a minority, and that it’s only for attention. In short, they’re not putting themselves in the other party’s shoes. They’re only thinking about their perception. And that is bigotry.
Some have commented that I’m using this opportunity to kick a man who is down. Although I certainly respect that opinion (and most opinions, for that matter), nothing can be further from the truth.
I’m happy that SyFy and others involved took a stance. They took a stance to say “this is not acceptable. We don’t condone this. There are consequences.”
I’ve gotten to know a few cast members from the “Ghost Hunters” franchises. Rob Demarest, for one, is a great guy who publicly stood by me when I came out. This isn’t about a show versus a show. I’ve never supported that rhetoric and still don’t.
Now that I’ve addressed that, let’s get back to the point at hand, cause I feel I’ve spent enough time on the detractors who bring up every point but the point that counts.
Is Britt a good guy? I know some people who are friends with him, and they simply feel that he was trying to appear more tough and macho and made a mistake. It certainly does happen. Mistakes do happen, but that doesn’t change that there are consequences.
This is no longer about just Britt Griffith. This is about acceptance and tolerance of the term “fag” in a time when we’re facing an epidemic of gay deaths and gay bashing. If nothing were to happen to Griffith, a whole minority would’ve felt cheated, that it doesn’t matter if someone uses a derogatory word that has been used as the ultimate way to demean them for years. It would’ve suggested that you can call someone a fag and get away with it.
And guess what? Whether you accept it or not, you won’t get away with it. Not anymore. Call someone a fag, and there will be consequences. The people have decided that it’s an offensive word to demean and minority. Use of it has consequences.
Gays and supporters of gays are tired of being victims.
I only met Mr. Griffith once while in Gettysburg and it was for about two minutes but he seemed like a nice guy.
Do I believe Mr. Griffith deserved to be reprimanded for his actions? Yes. Would I expect anyone on my team to be reprimanded for calling someone a fag? Yes.
Do I believe Mr. Griffith should forever be judged for this? No.
I recently heard that Mr. Griffith apologized. But apologies can be deceptive. Are they sorry for their actions or are they sorry they got punished? Do I have an opinion? Yes, I do. I want to believe Mr. Griffith meant it.
A good example involves a personality who also has a show on A&E: Dog the Bounty Hunter. He called his son’s black girlfriend the n-word. It was recorded and played over the news. What followed was the cancellation of his show. Did Dog hate black people? Clearly not. He had African American friends. But he used such a hurtful word that has been used to demean a whole race for over a hundred years.
Dog eventually apologized, worked hard to make sure people knew it and that he did not stand for hate. He made sure all his fans knew that. It took time. It took effort. He could’ve just faded away and counted his millions. But he took it like a man.
About nine months later, Dog’s show came back on the air. It hurt his reputation, and advertisers still are reluctant to advertise on his show, but he’s back and was given a second chance.
So, for Mr. Griffith, I say do not let this define you. Do not also expect to just apologize once and be done with it. You have to work hard to prove to your fans that you really didn’t mean what you said. You started a snowball effect. Many people were hurt by what you said… that is a FACT. You can either go with people who believe we’re just overreacting, or you can acknowledge that it was hurtful to a minority, and work hard to reach out to them.
And if you do, you will gain a new respect. You will gain a new following. And I, for one, will be there on that day to stand beside you and support you. Whether it matters to you or anyone is irrelevant, but as a human being, I will support you getting a second chance in any way, shape or form.
People do make mistakes. But it’s how they handle those mistakes that makes a difference. How you handle your mistakes will be what defines you.
God bless.
RYAN
UPDATE: I was just informed that Britt Griffith e-mailed me through my public e-mail. I am on the road but will be reading it shortly.
DuffMcKagan Says It Was 'Great' Playing With Axl
Friday • October 22, 2010 5:56:35 PM
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2677
Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan was interviewed on this morning's (Thursday, October 21) edition of "The BJ Shea Morning Experience" show on the Seattle radio station KISW 99.9 FM and about his surprise guest appearance last week with the band's current lineup at London, England's O2 arena.
On his appearance with Guns N' Roses in London came about:
"Things happen, in life, pretty crazy at times you least expect things to happen.
"I haven't talked to anybody publicly about it. And really, it's kind of... I know we're public figures, or whatever you wanna say, but it was kind of a private matter even though we played together on stage in front of 14,000 people or something.
"Over the years, especially in business and what-not, if you have a fracture in business, you start to demonize each other and if it's a public fracture in business, other people help you demonize...
"It was kind of goofy... As soon as I played last Thursday, my e-mail was just going crazy... It was Rolling Stone [magazine] and whatever or what-not. 'Can we get a quote or statement?' And I don't have a statement.
"It's really not that big of a story. It was really kind of... It was great.
"I got to London last Thursday. I was there on separate business — a separate business even from music. I checked into the hotel in London I stay at all the time. And the hotel manager came, 'Hey, Duff, we'll show you up to your room.' He goes, 'So you're playing tonight?' And I said, 'No, no, I'm here on just business this time — I'm not playing this time around.' And he looks at me strangely. 'What? You're not playing tonight?' I had no idea Axl [Rose] and Guns N' Roses were in London — I had no idea. So we're going up the elevator and he said, 'You know, Axl is in the room next to us.' And I had to go straight into meetings. All the meetings were... I was staying in sort of a conference room and bedroom — it was a conference room on one side of the wall and the bedroom on the other. And I went straight into these meetings and these were with sort of Wall Street people. So it was very serious meetings I was into, something I had worked on for a year. So I'm in these meetings and my phone starts ringing later on in the day in my hotel room; it was kind of managers and tour managers. The word [was] out I [was] in the hotel. And it came down to the simple fact... Axl and I just sort of met up, we saw each other and we hugged. I went down to the gig with him. There were a couple of guys hanging out. There was a lot of, sort of... Like what I was saying, you go through a lot of stuff in business and there's some fractures and demonizing of each other and I think, if nothing else, a couple of old friends maybe got over some of those hurdles and had a nice talk. And I don't want to do anything here to cheapen that by saying anything to you guys, but we had a nice dinner the day after the show, and that was it."
On hanging out with his old buddy again:
"Yeah, I missed it. I did. I missed it. And it couldn't have happened in a more odd way, really."
On the actual performance:
"The show is going on and I'm watching it. And somebody comes over with a bass... 'Now, I haven't played 'You Could Be Mine' since 1993. A lot of the other songs, like 'Paradise City' and 'Mr. Brownstone' and 'It's So Easy', I've played with Velvet Revolver or [longtime project] Loaded, but 'You Could Be Mine', I was, like, 'Oh, God. OK, I can play it. I think I remember it.' There's a bridge there. I'd forgotten the second part of the bridge, and I had to look at [current Guns N' Roses guitarist] Bumblefoot [chuckles], his guitar neck, to see where the next guitar chord was. But, yeah, it was fun. I had a great time."
"It was a little but heavy. When people saw it... It wasn't heavy for me so much. I was kind of more concerned about the band that he's put together — great, great players [and] great guys. I've gotten to know Bumblefoot and Tommy [Stinson, bass] and Frank [Ferrer], the drummer. And, of course, there's Dizzy [Reed, keyboards]. It's a great band and I didn't wanna do anything to lessen what they were doing."
On whether this increases the chances of a reunion of the classic Guns N' Roses lineup:
"I have nothing to say about it. It's not... I don't know. It's not anything that I worked or planned for. I work and plan for my kids next year in school, or my business, or indeed Loaded. But that kind of thing, it's not something I sit there and go, 'OK, one day this is gonna happen.' Last thing happened, and it was very serendipitous, and the blood was in the water, no doubt. After that show in London, I could have gotten a free dinner and free car service everywhere I went every night I was in London after that. And I had to kind of hide. I went and saw Ronnie Wood play Tuesday night, and I had to kind of watch out for the sharks running about, even at that gig — it was kind of a private gig, and there were the manager types and the agent types. All of a sudden I was a little more handsome than I'd been before I came to London because everybody was complimenting me. 'Hey, Duff, you look great.'"
On whether he thinks the fact that he has done a lot of work on himself in the last few years has helped make the meeting go more smoothly:
"Well, for me, the big thing is, what's my part in it? We can all look back at our pasts and go, 'Well, he did this to me and...?' [And you have to step back] and take a look in the mirror. What was my part in it? And that's what I've been working on for the last 10 or 15 years, but really in the last five years, and it's a work in the progress. You always paint yourself a little glossier in your own past in your life. I could have done things different — probably sometimes a lot better; sometimes I could have done things worse. But I look at my part and my accountability. I'm a grown-up; I take accountability for myself and my actions these days. I've got nothing to fear and I've got nothing to be ashamed of. What I've done is what I've done; what I'm gonna do is what I'm gonna do. I have fun while I do it now. Every day I wake and go, 'OK, let's go.' Joke time. I'm lucky to be here, and I don't forget that every day."
Video footage of McKagan performing the songs "You Could Be Mine", "Patience", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) and "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover) with the band's current lineup during last the October 14 GN'R concert at London, England's O2 arena can be viewed below. Duff played bass on "You Could Be Mine", rhythm guitar on the tracks "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover), "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and tambourine on "Patience", and he took a bow at the end of the concert with the rest of the band.
Original GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin jammed with the current version of Guns N' Roses at a number of shows in 2006.
During a 2009 interview with Billboard, Rose insisted that he will never share a stage with former GN'R guitarist Slash again. "One of the two of us will die before a reunion," Rose said. "However sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is." He also said, "I could see doing a song or so on the side with Izzy or having him out [on tour] again. I'm not so comfortable with doing anything having more than one of the alumni. Maybe something with Duff, but that's it."
Last year McKagan told Rolling Stone magazine that he's open to the idea of working with Rose again. "I'm not going to be one of those guys who's like 'fuck that, that'll never happen.' he said. "It could very well happen. I love Axl. We've been through a lot of shit together that nobody can take that away from us."
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2677
Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan was interviewed on this morning's (Thursday, October 21) edition of "The BJ Shea Morning Experience" show on the Seattle radio station KISW 99.9 FM and about his surprise guest appearance last week with the band's current lineup at London, England's O2 arena.
On his appearance with Guns N' Roses in London came about:
"Things happen, in life, pretty crazy at times you least expect things to happen.
"I haven't talked to anybody publicly about it. And really, it's kind of... I know we're public figures, or whatever you wanna say, but it was kind of a private matter even though we played together on stage in front of 14,000 people or something.
"Over the years, especially in business and what-not, if you have a fracture in business, you start to demonize each other and if it's a public fracture in business, other people help you demonize...
"It was kind of goofy... As soon as I played last Thursday, my e-mail was just going crazy... It was Rolling Stone [magazine] and whatever or what-not. 'Can we get a quote or statement?' And I don't have a statement.
"It's really not that big of a story. It was really kind of... It was great.
"I got to London last Thursday. I was there on separate business — a separate business even from music. I checked into the hotel in London I stay at all the time. And the hotel manager came, 'Hey, Duff, we'll show you up to your room.' He goes, 'So you're playing tonight?' And I said, 'No, no, I'm here on just business this time — I'm not playing this time around.' And he looks at me strangely. 'What? You're not playing tonight?' I had no idea Axl [Rose] and Guns N' Roses were in London — I had no idea. So we're going up the elevator and he said, 'You know, Axl is in the room next to us.' And I had to go straight into meetings. All the meetings were... I was staying in sort of a conference room and bedroom — it was a conference room on one side of the wall and the bedroom on the other. And I went straight into these meetings and these were with sort of Wall Street people. So it was very serious meetings I was into, something I had worked on for a year. So I'm in these meetings and my phone starts ringing later on in the day in my hotel room; it was kind of managers and tour managers. The word [was] out I [was] in the hotel. And it came down to the simple fact... Axl and I just sort of met up, we saw each other and we hugged. I went down to the gig with him. There were a couple of guys hanging out. There was a lot of, sort of... Like what I was saying, you go through a lot of stuff in business and there's some fractures and demonizing of each other and I think, if nothing else, a couple of old friends maybe got over some of those hurdles and had a nice talk. And I don't want to do anything here to cheapen that by saying anything to you guys, but we had a nice dinner the day after the show, and that was it."
On hanging out with his old buddy again:
"Yeah, I missed it. I did. I missed it. And it couldn't have happened in a more odd way, really."
On the actual performance:
"The show is going on and I'm watching it. And somebody comes over with a bass... 'Now, I haven't played 'You Could Be Mine' since 1993. A lot of the other songs, like 'Paradise City' and 'Mr. Brownstone' and 'It's So Easy', I've played with Velvet Revolver or [longtime project] Loaded, but 'You Could Be Mine', I was, like, 'Oh, God. OK, I can play it. I think I remember it.' There's a bridge there. I'd forgotten the second part of the bridge, and I had to look at [current Guns N' Roses guitarist] Bumblefoot [chuckles], his guitar neck, to see where the next guitar chord was. But, yeah, it was fun. I had a great time."
"It was a little but heavy. When people saw it... It wasn't heavy for me so much. I was kind of more concerned about the band that he's put together — great, great players [and] great guys. I've gotten to know Bumblefoot and Tommy [Stinson, bass] and Frank [Ferrer], the drummer. And, of course, there's Dizzy [Reed, keyboards]. It's a great band and I didn't wanna do anything to lessen what they were doing."
On whether this increases the chances of a reunion of the classic Guns N' Roses lineup:
"I have nothing to say about it. It's not... I don't know. It's not anything that I worked or planned for. I work and plan for my kids next year in school, or my business, or indeed Loaded. But that kind of thing, it's not something I sit there and go, 'OK, one day this is gonna happen.' Last thing happened, and it was very serendipitous, and the blood was in the water, no doubt. After that show in London, I could have gotten a free dinner and free car service everywhere I went every night I was in London after that. And I had to kind of hide. I went and saw Ronnie Wood play Tuesday night, and I had to kind of watch out for the sharks running about, even at that gig — it was kind of a private gig, and there were the manager types and the agent types. All of a sudden I was a little more handsome than I'd been before I came to London because everybody was complimenting me. 'Hey, Duff, you look great.'"
On whether he thinks the fact that he has done a lot of work on himself in the last few years has helped make the meeting go more smoothly:
"Well, for me, the big thing is, what's my part in it? We can all look back at our pasts and go, 'Well, he did this to me and...?' [And you have to step back] and take a look in the mirror. What was my part in it? And that's what I've been working on for the last 10 or 15 years, but really in the last five years, and it's a work in the progress. You always paint yourself a little glossier in your own past in your life. I could have done things different — probably sometimes a lot better; sometimes I could have done things worse. But I look at my part and my accountability. I'm a grown-up; I take accountability for myself and my actions these days. I've got nothing to fear and I've got nothing to be ashamed of. What I've done is what I've done; what I'm gonna do is what I'm gonna do. I have fun while I do it now. Every day I wake and go, 'OK, let's go.' Joke time. I'm lucky to be here, and I don't forget that every day."
Video footage of McKagan performing the songs "You Could Be Mine", "Patience", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) and "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover) with the band's current lineup during last the October 14 GN'R concert at London, England's O2 arena can be viewed below. Duff played bass on "You Could Be Mine", rhythm guitar on the tracks "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover), "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and tambourine on "Patience", and he took a bow at the end of the concert with the rest of the band.
Original GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin jammed with the current version of Guns N' Roses at a number of shows in 2006.
During a 2009 interview with Billboard, Rose insisted that he will never share a stage with former GN'R guitarist Slash again. "One of the two of us will die before a reunion," Rose said. "However sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is." He also said, "I could see doing a song or so on the side with Izzy or having him out [on tour] again. I'm not so comfortable with doing anything having more than one of the alumni. Maybe something with Duff, but that's it."
Last year McKagan told Rolling Stone magazine that he's open to the idea of working with Rose again. "I'm not going to be one of those guys who's like 'fuck that, that'll never happen.' he said. "It could very well happen. I love Axl. We've been through a lot of shit together that nobody can take that away from us."
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Axl Rose - Alleged Bentley Abuser
Thursday • October 21, 2010 10:06:27 AM
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2673
TMZ.com reports: You'd think with a name like Axl -- dude would have some respect for a quality automobile -- instead Mr. Rose is accused of beating the hell out of a $192k Bentley.
The Guns N' Roses singer is being sued over a 2006 Bentley Flying Spur -- a pretty badass ride.
According to a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Axl leased the car through Bentley Financial Services back in 2005 -- then flaked on $73,976.42 in payments and fees.
But here's the rub ... Bentley claims when Axl returned the car (several months past the actual due date) -- the car had some serious damage including:
-- Cracked windshield
-- Two damaged tires
-- Broken glass on the left rear tail light
-- Two dented doors
-- Gouged bumper
Plus, Bentley says Axl turned in a "mismatched spare key" and a "broken remote key" -- and he was 42,397 miles over his contracted limit.
Bentley wants Axl to fork over the $73k ASAP ... including $91 for a missing key.
Source: TMZ.com
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2673
TMZ.com reports: You'd think with a name like Axl -- dude would have some respect for a quality automobile -- instead Mr. Rose is accused of beating the hell out of a $192k Bentley.
The Guns N' Roses singer is being sued over a 2006 Bentley Flying Spur -- a pretty badass ride.
According to a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Axl leased the car through Bentley Financial Services back in 2005 -- then flaked on $73,976.42 in payments and fees.
But here's the rub ... Bentley claims when Axl returned the car (several months past the actual due date) -- the car had some serious damage including:
-- Cracked windshield
-- Two damaged tires
-- Broken glass on the left rear tail light
-- Two dented doors
-- Gouged bumper
Plus, Bentley says Axl turned in a "mismatched spare key" and a "broken remote key" -- and he was 42,397 miles over his contracted limit.
Bentley wants Axl to fork over the $73k ASAP ... including $91 for a missing key.
Source: TMZ.com
First Police Mug Shot of Axl Rose at Eighteen Revealed
Thursday • October 21, 2010 10:01:46 AM
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2670
By John Jeremiah Sullivan of the Paris Review:
Five years ago GQ assigned me to write about Axl Rose, who was mounting a “final comeback” with his Chinese Democracy, release of which had already been postponed by more than a decade. The album title was meant as a punch line. Q: When will Guns N’ Roses come out with something new? A: When there’s democracy in China. That stage in the singer’s career turned out to be neither a comeback (few people liked the record, and nobody played it much) nor final—a minute ago I ran his name through Google News and found he’s hard at work being Axl, showing up hours late to shows, getting pelted with bottles, making bizarre requests on tour riders (black napkins, Grolsch beer, honey in “bear-shaped tubes”).
The story was, by turns, fun and frustrating to report. I followed the band around Europe for a while, feeding cigarettes to the band members’ model girlfriends and failing to secure face time with “Ax.” His manager back then was a real specimen. Before one show, in Spain, I sat at a coffee table with this person, struggling to explain how it might help justify the seven thousand words we were about to expend on the band if the front man would speak to me for a few seconds. I think at one point I actually said, “Give me thirty seconds.” Axl had by then become, as he remains, sealed off from the press to an almost Michael Jackson level. The manager kept pausing to answer cellphone calls from Elton John. “Well, that’s because they don't know Tea for the Tillerman,” he said into the phone at one point, referring to the classic Cat Stevens record. What were he and Sir Elton talking about? I still wonder sometimes. He told me that, if we would agree to put Axl on the cover, “maybe we could talk about an interview.” I couldn't figure out how to say, in any non-offensive way, that GQ covers are typically reserved for extremely conventionally good-looking people in the midst of a career peak, such as Axl once was but hadn't been in a very long time. I let it drop. Axl broke with the manager soon thereafter, passive-aggressively blaming him in an “Open Letter To Fans” for the failure of Chinese Democracy. Thinking back, I feel sympathy with the manager. What I read as superciliousness was probably professional trauma. He was the devil’s own PR man.
The most memorable trip I made in connection with Axl was to Lafayette, Indiana, where he grew up. I drove there hoping to track down his oldest childhood friend, a man named Dana, who’d never been interviewed. Dana turned out not surprisingly to be a very reclusive person, and although he did eventually meet with me, it took several days to coax him out. I spent them inventing little research projects. I visited the public library and found old yearbook pictures of Axl. I photographed the church where he sang in the choir. And lastly, on the morning of the day when Dana finally called me back, I went to the local police station. Did they have any records on Axl? No, they didn’t think so. Really? That seemed impossible. Would they mind checking under his many Indiana names? William Bruce Rose Jr.? William Bruce Bailey? Bill Bailey? W. Rose? A friendly lady officer agreed to help me out.
Sure enough, when I came back that evening, she had a whole folder of stuff. Arrest reports, warrants, and affidavits, as well as two treasures: mug shots that no one had ever seen. Axl’s first mug shots. In one case, the negative hadn’t even been processed before. The cop had sent it off to the Fotomat for me. I sat outside in my rental car, gazing on my luck. The pictures showed him at eighteen and twenty. They were American masterpieces of the saddest, crappiest kind. GQ ended up running the latter, the one where he’s slightly older and looks like a burned-out strawberry Farrah Fawcett in a jean jacket. You can find it all over the Internet now. It stemmed from a fight in somebody’s yard—a woman screamed at Dana and Axl for hassling her kid. Axl had a splint on his arm. He hit her with the splint. They arrested him in the parking lot of the local Frozen Custard (spelled “Custored” in the police report).
It’s the shots of him at eighteen that move me, though. He isn’t pretty yet, he hasn’t begun to think of himself as a rock star. He’s a boy-man, with a trace of fear in his pugnacious stare. I can’t remember what he’d done, that time. Stolen another kid’s bike, I think. Or destroyed another kid’s bike. When I first saw his hair, I understood something Dana had told me hours before, at a bar: that when they were children, Axl was Raggedy Ann in the Christmas parade. Looking longer, a person could understand something else, too, about the Midwestern darkness in his voice.
Today he is nearing fifty. This mug shot is thirty years old. God knows what suddenly motivates me to write about it. This blog, I suppose, gives me a way to share it, and surely, if you come into possession of a never-before-seen Axl Rose mug shot, you should share it. Don’t hide that lamp under a bushel. There are fans who might enjoy it. There is rock ‘n’ roll history to think about.
Source: Paris Review
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2670
By John Jeremiah Sullivan of the Paris Review:
Five years ago GQ assigned me to write about Axl Rose, who was mounting a “final comeback” with his Chinese Democracy, release of which had already been postponed by more than a decade. The album title was meant as a punch line. Q: When will Guns N’ Roses come out with something new? A: When there’s democracy in China. That stage in the singer’s career turned out to be neither a comeback (few people liked the record, and nobody played it much) nor final—a minute ago I ran his name through Google News and found he’s hard at work being Axl, showing up hours late to shows, getting pelted with bottles, making bizarre requests on tour riders (black napkins, Grolsch beer, honey in “bear-shaped tubes”).
The story was, by turns, fun and frustrating to report. I followed the band around Europe for a while, feeding cigarettes to the band members’ model girlfriends and failing to secure face time with “Ax.” His manager back then was a real specimen. Before one show, in Spain, I sat at a coffee table with this person, struggling to explain how it might help justify the seven thousand words we were about to expend on the band if the front man would speak to me for a few seconds. I think at one point I actually said, “Give me thirty seconds.” Axl had by then become, as he remains, sealed off from the press to an almost Michael Jackson level. The manager kept pausing to answer cellphone calls from Elton John. “Well, that’s because they don't know Tea for the Tillerman,” he said into the phone at one point, referring to the classic Cat Stevens record. What were he and Sir Elton talking about? I still wonder sometimes. He told me that, if we would agree to put Axl on the cover, “maybe we could talk about an interview.” I couldn't figure out how to say, in any non-offensive way, that GQ covers are typically reserved for extremely conventionally good-looking people in the midst of a career peak, such as Axl once was but hadn't been in a very long time. I let it drop. Axl broke with the manager soon thereafter, passive-aggressively blaming him in an “Open Letter To Fans” for the failure of Chinese Democracy. Thinking back, I feel sympathy with the manager. What I read as superciliousness was probably professional trauma. He was the devil’s own PR man.
The most memorable trip I made in connection with Axl was to Lafayette, Indiana, where he grew up. I drove there hoping to track down his oldest childhood friend, a man named Dana, who’d never been interviewed. Dana turned out not surprisingly to be a very reclusive person, and although he did eventually meet with me, it took several days to coax him out. I spent them inventing little research projects. I visited the public library and found old yearbook pictures of Axl. I photographed the church where he sang in the choir. And lastly, on the morning of the day when Dana finally called me back, I went to the local police station. Did they have any records on Axl? No, they didn’t think so. Really? That seemed impossible. Would they mind checking under his many Indiana names? William Bruce Rose Jr.? William Bruce Bailey? Bill Bailey? W. Rose? A friendly lady officer agreed to help me out.
Sure enough, when I came back that evening, she had a whole folder of stuff. Arrest reports, warrants, and affidavits, as well as two treasures: mug shots that no one had ever seen. Axl’s first mug shots. In one case, the negative hadn’t even been processed before. The cop had sent it off to the Fotomat for me. I sat outside in my rental car, gazing on my luck. The pictures showed him at eighteen and twenty. They were American masterpieces of the saddest, crappiest kind. GQ ended up running the latter, the one where he’s slightly older and looks like a burned-out strawberry Farrah Fawcett in a jean jacket. You can find it all over the Internet now. It stemmed from a fight in somebody’s yard—a woman screamed at Dana and Axl for hassling her kid. Axl had a splint on his arm. He hit her with the splint. They arrested him in the parking lot of the local Frozen Custard (spelled “Custored” in the police report).
It’s the shots of him at eighteen that move me, though. He isn’t pretty yet, he hasn’t begun to think of himself as a rock star. He’s a boy-man, with a trace of fear in his pugnacious stare. I can’t remember what he’d done, that time. Stolen another kid’s bike, I think. Or destroyed another kid’s bike. When I first saw his hair, I understood something Dana had told me hours before, at a bar: that when they were children, Axl was Raggedy Ann in the Christmas parade. Looking longer, a person could understand something else, too, about the Midwestern darkness in his voice.
Today he is nearing fifty. This mug shot is thirty years old. God knows what suddenly motivates me to write about it. This blog, I suppose, gives me a way to share it, and surely, if you come into possession of a never-before-seen Axl Rose mug shot, you should share it. Don’t hide that lamp under a bushel. There are fans who might enjoy it. There is rock ‘n’ roll history to think about.
Source: Paris Review
Guns N' Roses Turns Up 90 Minutes Late For Manchester Gig
Tuesday • October 19, 2010 3:10:33 PM
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2669
US rockers Guns N' Roses turned up over 90 minutes late for their eagerly-anticipated M.E.N. Arena gig - and must now wait to hear whether bosses there will take any action against them.
The Arena has an 11pm curfew for all gigs - to allow revellers to get trains and buses home.
However, the rock 'n' rollers didn't even arrive on stage until 10.35pm - an hour-and-a-half late - and then played on until 1.10am.
From 10pm there were audible boos from the audience who had become increasingly impatient while waiting for the band to arrive, but they were replaced by cheers when frontman Axl Rose and his band bounded onto stage to perform a blistering two-and-a-half-hour set including some of their biggest hits like Sweet Child O'Mine, You Could Be Mine and Paradise City.
A spokesman for the M.E.N Arena said: “The M.E.N Arena holds a 24 hour entertainment licence. However, to tie in with local transport links, we always ask that shows finish by 11.00pm. The majority of acts comply with this policy, however Guns N’ Roses have a well-publicised history of late performances of which their fans are fully aware. Last night’s late finish would have been no surprise to the majority of fans."
Because of the 24 hour licence, the Arena will not face any sanctions from the licensing authorities for the late running of the gig. But the Arena itself could take action against the band, although they have not yet confirmed whether this will be the case.
Guns N' Roses' ongoing Chinese Democracy Tour has been frought with controversy since arriving in the UK. The band's apppearance at the Reading and Leeds Festival in the summer was cut short by organisers after they over-ran the curfew there by an hour, and at their Dublin gig they were bottled off stage by fans after their late start, before being persuaded to return and complete the gig.
Source: Manchester Evening News
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2669
US rockers Guns N' Roses turned up over 90 minutes late for their eagerly-anticipated M.E.N. Arena gig - and must now wait to hear whether bosses there will take any action against them.
The Arena has an 11pm curfew for all gigs - to allow revellers to get trains and buses home.
However, the rock 'n' rollers didn't even arrive on stage until 10.35pm - an hour-and-a-half late - and then played on until 1.10am.
From 10pm there were audible boos from the audience who had become increasingly impatient while waiting for the band to arrive, but they were replaced by cheers when frontman Axl Rose and his band bounded onto stage to perform a blistering two-and-a-half-hour set including some of their biggest hits like Sweet Child O'Mine, You Could Be Mine and Paradise City.
A spokesman for the M.E.N Arena said: “The M.E.N Arena holds a 24 hour entertainment licence. However, to tie in with local transport links, we always ask that shows finish by 11.00pm. The majority of acts comply with this policy, however Guns N’ Roses have a well-publicised history of late performances of which their fans are fully aware. Last night’s late finish would have been no surprise to the majority of fans."
Because of the 24 hour licence, the Arena will not face any sanctions from the licensing authorities for the late running of the gig. But the Arena itself could take action against the band, although they have not yet confirmed whether this will be the case.
Guns N' Roses' ongoing Chinese Democracy Tour has been frought with controversy since arriving in the UK. The band's apppearance at the Reading and Leeds Festival in the summer was cut short by organisers after they over-ran the curfew there by an hour, and at their Dublin gig they were bottled off stage by fans after their late start, before being persuaded to return and complete the gig.
Source: Manchester Evening News
Guns N' Roses at LG Arena, Birmingham - Review & Setlist
Monday • October 18, 2010 1:15:25 PM
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2667
It's 9.15pm, half an hour after the band is due onstage – and flamboyant frontman Axl Rose has yet to touch down at nearby Birmingham International Airport in his helicopter. Nothing changes on planet Guns N’ Roses.
In fact, it’s close on 10pm when the LG Arena house lights are cut, and the opening strains of Also Sprach Zarathustra – theme tune to space opera 2001 – boom out. Only an hour and a quarter late, then.
The slashed guitar chords of Chinese Democracy cut through a haze of muddy sound, a chubby Axl bounds to the front of the huge stage and the 12,000 or so faithful are prepared to forgive and forget.
The two-hour trawl through the catalogue that follows answers the big questions.
How can it be Guns N’ Roses without guitar guru Slash? It can’t.
How can Slash’s solo career match his Guns glories without Axl? It can’t.
Like Daltrey and Townshend; Plant and Page; Jagger and Richards; Tyler and Perry, it was the synergy of the two talents that made the original Hollywood hellraisers what they once were.
And yes, there were those who mumbled and grumbled through last night’s gig; there were those who adopted a pose of studied indifference to the rock and roll feast laid out before them.
But purists be damned. That was then; this is now. Take Guns and Slash for what they are – two incendiary bands who just happen to share a back catalogue crammed with rock classics.
And although Rose has piled on the pounds (no more leggings for him); although he looks like a villain from TV’s Miami Vice, he still has that throat-shredding rock vocal. It’s not always there on demand, but it’s still a weapon of mass seduction.
Axl, of course, has addressed the absence of probably the world’s greatest guitarist by replacing him with not one, not two but three axemen, each with their own identity: Richard Fortus, DJ Ashba and Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal.
If Marvel Comics did guitar heroes, these three would fit the bill. Fortus and Ashba, in particular, are primary colour cartoon rock idols. Thal is less in your face, more the image of an old-fashioned rocker.
It’s Thal, too, who takes the honours. He has more subtlety than the others, not just replicating those Slash solos but stamping his own indentity on signature songs. Axl should have a spending review.
But the set. Welcome To The Jungle, It’s So Easy and Mr Brownstone follow in quick succession, old school crowd pleasers all. Gradually the sound improves, too. Must be tough doing a soundcheck without your singer.
Then comes the first real surprise of the night. The dramatic, bluesy Sorry – not one of the obvious highlights of Chinese Democracy – is a smouldering sensation, dwarfing all that has gone before. Axl, it seems, can take the band forward.
Then he blows it with the muddled and messy Shackler’s Revenge, the sheer number of participants (this is an eight-piece band, remember) getting in the way of each other. Musically, it’s like a crowded Premiership penalty box.
Cue a cliché. Fortus cranks up the amps for a solo take on the James Bond theme, leading in to McCartney’s Live And Let Die, complete with flame guns and pyrotechnics echoing the way Wings used to do it.
A lame This I Love is forgiven as the band race through Rocket Queen, garnering the loudest audience reaction so far. Dizzy Reed serves up an instrumental piano play on Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, easing in to Street Of Dreams.
Next up is a barnstorming You Could Be Mine, arguably the highlight of the entire show. It’s here that Guns N’ Roses finally shift up into top gear, and take the gig by the scruff of the neck. Whatever else follows, it’s the moment they live up to the hype.
So what do they do? Sweet Child O’ Mine. The arena explodes. This is the moment thousands of rock star wannabes have been waiting for. Yes, Slash did a great version at Download, but this is better. Sacrilege, but true.
A bizarre, but oddly affecting, foray into Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall follows, leading into November Rain – the holy grail for diehard devotion. It builds to the searing signature solos of the fiery finalé.
Thal gets a solo showcase, turning the Pink Panther theme into a Satriani-style rock-out, then Dylan’s Knocking On Heaven’s Door has the faithful in full voice, mobiles in the air.
The set proper ends with Nightrain, during which Guns – powered by Frank Ferrer’s driving drumming – briefly reaches the heights of the earlier You Could Be Mine.
A mixed encore bag includes the Zeppelin-like Madagascar (still a way to go before they even approach the majesty of Kashmir) and a celebratory cover of AC/DC anthem Whole Lotta Rosie.
The set, shorter than its counterparts at London’s 02 Arena, ends inevitably in Paradise City, fitting midnight stop for the runaway train that is Guns N’ Roses, complete with confetti cannons, belches of flame and fireworks.
So, yes, classic Guns N’ Roses they are not. But there’s more than enough here to suggest that Axl is starting to get it right and, besides, it’s a damn good rock and roll night out in its own right.
And yet, and yet ... Duff McKagen got up and jammed with them in London. Steven Adler played on Slash’s recent solo album. Izzy Stradlin has guested with both Guns and Velvet Revolver.
And Led Zeppelin said they’d never do it again. Just one night, perhaps?
THE SETLIST
1. CHINESE DEMOCRACY
2. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
3. IT’S SO EASY
4. MR. BROWNSTONE
5. SORRY
6. SHACKLER’S REVENGE
7. JAMES BOND THEME
8. LIVE AND LET DIE PLAY
9. THIS I LOVE PLAY
10. ROCKET QUEEN
11. ZIGGY STARDUST
12. STREET OF DREAMS
13. YOU COULD BE MINE
14. SWEET CHILD O’ MINE
15. ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL PART 2
16. NOVEMBER RAIN
17. PINK PANTHER THEME
18. KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR
19. NIGHTRAIN
20. MADAGASCAR
21. WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE
22. PARADISE CITY
Source: Sunday Mercury
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2667
It's 9.15pm, half an hour after the band is due onstage – and flamboyant frontman Axl Rose has yet to touch down at nearby Birmingham International Airport in his helicopter. Nothing changes on planet Guns N’ Roses.
In fact, it’s close on 10pm when the LG Arena house lights are cut, and the opening strains of Also Sprach Zarathustra – theme tune to space opera 2001 – boom out. Only an hour and a quarter late, then.
The slashed guitar chords of Chinese Democracy cut through a haze of muddy sound, a chubby Axl bounds to the front of the huge stage and the 12,000 or so faithful are prepared to forgive and forget.
The two-hour trawl through the catalogue that follows answers the big questions.
How can it be Guns N’ Roses without guitar guru Slash? It can’t.
How can Slash’s solo career match his Guns glories without Axl? It can’t.
Like Daltrey and Townshend; Plant and Page; Jagger and Richards; Tyler and Perry, it was the synergy of the two talents that made the original Hollywood hellraisers what they once were.
And yes, there were those who mumbled and grumbled through last night’s gig; there were those who adopted a pose of studied indifference to the rock and roll feast laid out before them.
But purists be damned. That was then; this is now. Take Guns and Slash for what they are – two incendiary bands who just happen to share a back catalogue crammed with rock classics.
And although Rose has piled on the pounds (no more leggings for him); although he looks like a villain from TV’s Miami Vice, he still has that throat-shredding rock vocal. It’s not always there on demand, but it’s still a weapon of mass seduction.
Axl, of course, has addressed the absence of probably the world’s greatest guitarist by replacing him with not one, not two but three axemen, each with their own identity: Richard Fortus, DJ Ashba and Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal.
If Marvel Comics did guitar heroes, these three would fit the bill. Fortus and Ashba, in particular, are primary colour cartoon rock idols. Thal is less in your face, more the image of an old-fashioned rocker.
It’s Thal, too, who takes the honours. He has more subtlety than the others, not just replicating those Slash solos but stamping his own indentity on signature songs. Axl should have a spending review.
But the set. Welcome To The Jungle, It’s So Easy and Mr Brownstone follow in quick succession, old school crowd pleasers all. Gradually the sound improves, too. Must be tough doing a soundcheck without your singer.
Then comes the first real surprise of the night. The dramatic, bluesy Sorry – not one of the obvious highlights of Chinese Democracy – is a smouldering sensation, dwarfing all that has gone before. Axl, it seems, can take the band forward.
Then he blows it with the muddled and messy Shackler’s Revenge, the sheer number of participants (this is an eight-piece band, remember) getting in the way of each other. Musically, it’s like a crowded Premiership penalty box.
Cue a cliché. Fortus cranks up the amps for a solo take on the James Bond theme, leading in to McCartney’s Live And Let Die, complete with flame guns and pyrotechnics echoing the way Wings used to do it.
A lame This I Love is forgiven as the band race through Rocket Queen, garnering the loudest audience reaction so far. Dizzy Reed serves up an instrumental piano play on Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, easing in to Street Of Dreams.
Next up is a barnstorming You Could Be Mine, arguably the highlight of the entire show. It’s here that Guns N’ Roses finally shift up into top gear, and take the gig by the scruff of the neck. Whatever else follows, it’s the moment they live up to the hype.
So what do they do? Sweet Child O’ Mine. The arena explodes. This is the moment thousands of rock star wannabes have been waiting for. Yes, Slash did a great version at Download, but this is better. Sacrilege, but true.
A bizarre, but oddly affecting, foray into Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall follows, leading into November Rain – the holy grail for diehard devotion. It builds to the searing signature solos of the fiery finalé.
Thal gets a solo showcase, turning the Pink Panther theme into a Satriani-style rock-out, then Dylan’s Knocking On Heaven’s Door has the faithful in full voice, mobiles in the air.
The set proper ends with Nightrain, during which Guns – powered by Frank Ferrer’s driving drumming – briefly reaches the heights of the earlier You Could Be Mine.
A mixed encore bag includes the Zeppelin-like Madagascar (still a way to go before they even approach the majesty of Kashmir) and a celebratory cover of AC/DC anthem Whole Lotta Rosie.
The set, shorter than its counterparts at London’s 02 Arena, ends inevitably in Paradise City, fitting midnight stop for the runaway train that is Guns N’ Roses, complete with confetti cannons, belches of flame and fireworks.
So, yes, classic Guns N’ Roses they are not. But there’s more than enough here to suggest that Axl is starting to get it right and, besides, it’s a damn good rock and roll night out in its own right.
And yet, and yet ... Duff McKagen got up and jammed with them in London. Steven Adler played on Slash’s recent solo album. Izzy Stradlin has guested with both Guns and Velvet Revolver.
And Led Zeppelin said they’d never do it again. Just one night, perhaps?
THE SETLIST
1. CHINESE DEMOCRACY
2. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
3. IT’S SO EASY
4. MR. BROWNSTONE
5. SORRY
6. SHACKLER’S REVENGE
7. JAMES BOND THEME
8. LIVE AND LET DIE PLAY
9. THIS I LOVE PLAY
10. ROCKET QUEEN
11. ZIGGY STARDUST
12. STREET OF DREAMS
13. YOU COULD BE MINE
14. SWEET CHILD O’ MINE
15. ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL PART 2
16. NOVEMBER RAIN
17. PINK PANTHER THEME
18. KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR
19. NIGHTRAIN
20. MADAGASCAR
21. WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE
22. PARADISE CITY
Source: Sunday Mercury
Guns N’ Roses Review – O2 Arena 14th October
Sunday • October 17, 2010 6:11:55 PM
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2665
Twenty years ago Guns N’ Roses were the most dangerous, unpredictable band on the planet. Going to see them live was a gamble. You could witness one of the greatest concerts of your life, or Axl Rose, the band’s fiery front man, could storm off stage in a fit of rage. He might even jump into the crowd to tackle a fan, sparking a riot.
Last night at the O2 Arena Rose kept his cool and delivered a blistering mix of old and new material in a set that ran well past midnight and contained over 30 songs.
Unsurprisingly the band was late in getting started, arriving on stage at 10pm, one hour and 20 minutes later than planned.
As they worked through Chinese Democracy, Welcome to the Jungle, It’s So Easy, Sorry and Better, Guns N’ Roses appeared to be settling into a comfort zone, devoid of the volatility and unpredictability that was so often their hallmark.
Just as the show appeared to be passing off without incident – by their standards – the band’s original bassist Duff McKagan came on stage. It was his first appearance with Rose for 17 years, and the shock amongst the crowd was palpable. He is the second original member to play with Rose after rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin in 2006.
McKagan played You Could Be Mine and Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – the latter easily the most rousing song of the night, with the crowd belting out the chorus as Rose acted as the conductor.
His appearance brought into focus the spectre that hangs over every Guns N’ Roses concert: the original line up. They lived fast, and produced some brilliant records in the process. Miraculously, they didn’t die young. Since they disintegrated in the mid 1990s, Rose has struggled to pick up the pieces and find a settled group.
Rose and his crew of ‘hired guns’ have struggled to emerge from Guns N’ Roses’ early success. Indeed, the inescapable conclusion you form whilst watching Rose shimmy across the stage is that there is just something missing.
Age has taken its toll. Rose has put on weight and while he was full of energy, making full use of the stage, he appeared to be out of breath at times. Guitar solos and instrumentals were the key for him to nip backstage for a change of costume and a breather.
His voice has not withered with age – the ear piercing screams and growls are still there, as his distinctive dancing.
It is amongst the other members of the band that the yearning for the past arises. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, DJ Ashba and Richard Fortus – the band’s current guitarists – are accomplished in their own right, but the effortless brilliance of Slash is missed.
Seeing a guitarist other than Slash play the opening riff to Sweet Child O’ Mine feels like lyrical sacrilege. The ‘Axl and friends’ tag sticks and many people will have turned up last night solely to see Rose.
McKagan’s appearance will fuel talk of a possible reunion and no matter what he does Rose cannot escape from his past. Classics such as Sweet Child O’ Mine and November Rain got the biggest cheers of the night and had the audience on their feet.
The reception for the newer material was hardly ice cold. However, both Rose and the crowd seemed infinitely happier playing the popular and familiar.
Rose’s performance last night showed that a reunion would make sense musically. He is not haggard and over the hill – he can still put on a good show. Many have turned their back on the band because it is not the Guns N’ Roses they once knew.
First Izzy. Now Duff. Who is next?
The appetite for reunion remains insatiable.
4/5
Source: Alan McGuinness - www.alanmcguinness.com
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2665
Twenty years ago Guns N’ Roses were the most dangerous, unpredictable band on the planet. Going to see them live was a gamble. You could witness one of the greatest concerts of your life, or Axl Rose, the band’s fiery front man, could storm off stage in a fit of rage. He might even jump into the crowd to tackle a fan, sparking a riot.
Last night at the O2 Arena Rose kept his cool and delivered a blistering mix of old and new material in a set that ran well past midnight and contained over 30 songs.
Unsurprisingly the band was late in getting started, arriving on stage at 10pm, one hour and 20 minutes later than planned.
As they worked through Chinese Democracy, Welcome to the Jungle, It’s So Easy, Sorry and Better, Guns N’ Roses appeared to be settling into a comfort zone, devoid of the volatility and unpredictability that was so often their hallmark.
Just as the show appeared to be passing off without incident – by their standards – the band’s original bassist Duff McKagan came on stage. It was his first appearance with Rose for 17 years, and the shock amongst the crowd was palpable. He is the second original member to play with Rose after rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin in 2006.
McKagan played You Could Be Mine and Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – the latter easily the most rousing song of the night, with the crowd belting out the chorus as Rose acted as the conductor.
His appearance brought into focus the spectre that hangs over every Guns N’ Roses concert: the original line up. They lived fast, and produced some brilliant records in the process. Miraculously, they didn’t die young. Since they disintegrated in the mid 1990s, Rose has struggled to pick up the pieces and find a settled group.
Rose and his crew of ‘hired guns’ have struggled to emerge from Guns N’ Roses’ early success. Indeed, the inescapable conclusion you form whilst watching Rose shimmy across the stage is that there is just something missing.
Age has taken its toll. Rose has put on weight and while he was full of energy, making full use of the stage, he appeared to be out of breath at times. Guitar solos and instrumentals were the key for him to nip backstage for a change of costume and a breather.
His voice has not withered with age – the ear piercing screams and growls are still there, as his distinctive dancing.
It is amongst the other members of the band that the yearning for the past arises. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, DJ Ashba and Richard Fortus – the band’s current guitarists – are accomplished in their own right, but the effortless brilliance of Slash is missed.
Seeing a guitarist other than Slash play the opening riff to Sweet Child O’ Mine feels like lyrical sacrilege. The ‘Axl and friends’ tag sticks and many people will have turned up last night solely to see Rose.
McKagan’s appearance will fuel talk of a possible reunion and no matter what he does Rose cannot escape from his past. Classics such as Sweet Child O’ Mine and November Rain got the biggest cheers of the night and had the audience on their feet.
The reception for the newer material was hardly ice cold. However, both Rose and the crowd seemed infinitely happier playing the popular and familiar.
Rose’s performance last night showed that a reunion would make sense musically. He is not haggard and over the hill – he can still put on a good show. Many have turned their back on the band because it is not the Guns N’ Roses they once knew.
First Izzy. Now Duff. Who is next?
The appetite for reunion remains insatiable.
4/5
Source: Alan McGuinness - www.alanmcguinness.com
Duff McKagan Joins Guns N' Roses Onstage in London!
Friday • October 15, 2010 1:56:58 AM
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2661
Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan joined the band's current lineup onstage earlier tonight (Thursday, October 14) at London, England's O2 arena to perform four songs: "You Could Be Mine", "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover), "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) and "Patience".
The first photo of this historic event can be found at this location. More pictures are available below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Intro
02. Chinese Democracy
03. It's So Easy
04. Mr. Brownstone
05. Sorry
06. Shackler's Revenge
07. Richard Fortus Solo
08. Live And Let Die
09. Instrumental Jam
10. This I Love
11. Better
12. Rocket Queen
13. Dizzy Reed Solo
14. Street Of Dreams
15. You Could Be Mine (w/ Duff McKagan on bass)
16. The Ballad Of Death
17. Sweet Child O'Mine
18. Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)
19. Axl Piano Solo
20. November Rain
21. Bumblefoot Solo
22. I.R.S.
23. Nice Boys (w/ Duff McKagan on guitar)
24. Knocking On Heaven's Door (w/ Duff McKagan on guitar)
25. Nightrain
Encore:
26. Don't Cry
27. Madagascar
28. Patience (w/ Duff McKagan on tambourine)
29. Whole Lotta Rosie
30. Waiting On A Friend (jam)
31. Paradise City
According to Rock Radio, singer Axl Rose claimed the event came about by accident because he and McKagan happened to be staying at the same hotel. He told the crowd: "There was this guy at the end of my hallway playing all this loud music and shit. What the fuck? Oh — it's Duff!"
Original GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin jammed with the current version of Guns N' Roses at a number of shows in 2006.
In a 2009 interview with AskMen.com, Duff was asked what he thought of Guns N' Roses' latest album, "Chinese Democracy", which was released in November 2008 as a Best Buy exclusive, 17 years after the last all-original Guns sets, "Use Your Illusion I" and "II". "It's funny; so many people have asked me that question and I gotta figure out why people think my opinion matters," Duff replied. "I think Axl did a great job on that record and other than that, the songs and the band are a completely different thing, so for me to really comment on the band, I might as well be commenting on the new Slipnot record. It's that far removed from me. We [Guns] made our last record in '92 or '93 or something — that was 16 years ago. That was a lifetime ago for me. I was still using and stuff back then. So, that's how long ago it was for me." He then added, "It's ['Chinese Democracy'] great. There are songs on it that I like and there are songs on it that I don't like, just like any other record."
During a 2009 interview with Billboard, Rose insisted that he will never share a stage with former GN'R guitarist Slash again. "One of the two of us will die before a reunion," Rose said. "However sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is." He also said, "I could see doing a song or so on the side with Izzy or having him out [on tour] again. I'm not so comfortable with doing anything having more than one of the alumni. Maybe something with Duff, but that's it."
Last year McKagan told Rolling Stone magazine that he's open to the idea of working with Rose again. "I'm not going to be one of those guys who's like 'fuck that, that'll never happen.' he said. "It could very well happen. I love Axl. We've been through a lot of shit together that nobody can take that away from us."
In addition to Rose, the current lineup of Guns N' Roses includes guitarists DJ Ashba, Ron Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.
"Chinese Democracy" was a commercial disappointment, selling less than one million copies in the U.S. (according to Nielsen SoundScan) despite the long wait.
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2661
Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan joined the band's current lineup onstage earlier tonight (Thursday, October 14) at London, England's O2 arena to perform four songs: "You Could Be Mine", "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover), "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) and "Patience".
The first photo of this historic event can be found at this location. More pictures are available below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Intro
02. Chinese Democracy
03. It's So Easy
04. Mr. Brownstone
05. Sorry
06. Shackler's Revenge
07. Richard Fortus Solo
08. Live And Let Die
09. Instrumental Jam
10. This I Love
11. Better
12. Rocket Queen
13. Dizzy Reed Solo
14. Street Of Dreams
15. You Could Be Mine (w/ Duff McKagan on bass)
16. The Ballad Of Death
17. Sweet Child O'Mine
18. Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)
19. Axl Piano Solo
20. November Rain
21. Bumblefoot Solo
22. I.R.S.
23. Nice Boys (w/ Duff McKagan on guitar)
24. Knocking On Heaven's Door (w/ Duff McKagan on guitar)
25. Nightrain
Encore:
26. Don't Cry
27. Madagascar
28. Patience (w/ Duff McKagan on tambourine)
29. Whole Lotta Rosie
30. Waiting On A Friend (jam)
31. Paradise City
According to Rock Radio, singer Axl Rose claimed the event came about by accident because he and McKagan happened to be staying at the same hotel. He told the crowd: "There was this guy at the end of my hallway playing all this loud music and shit. What the fuck? Oh — it's Duff!"
Original GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin jammed with the current version of Guns N' Roses at a number of shows in 2006.
In a 2009 interview with AskMen.com, Duff was asked what he thought of Guns N' Roses' latest album, "Chinese Democracy", which was released in November 2008 as a Best Buy exclusive, 17 years after the last all-original Guns sets, "Use Your Illusion I" and "II". "It's funny; so many people have asked me that question and I gotta figure out why people think my opinion matters," Duff replied. "I think Axl did a great job on that record and other than that, the songs and the band are a completely different thing, so for me to really comment on the band, I might as well be commenting on the new Slipnot record. It's that far removed from me. We [Guns] made our last record in '92 or '93 or something — that was 16 years ago. That was a lifetime ago for me. I was still using and stuff back then. So, that's how long ago it was for me." He then added, "It's ['Chinese Democracy'] great. There are songs on it that I like and there are songs on it that I don't like, just like any other record."
During a 2009 interview with Billboard, Rose insisted that he will never share a stage with former GN'R guitarist Slash again. "One of the two of us will die before a reunion," Rose said. "However sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is." He also said, "I could see doing a song or so on the side with Izzy or having him out [on tour] again. I'm not so comfortable with doing anything having more than one of the alumni. Maybe something with Duff, but that's it."
Last year McKagan told Rolling Stone magazine that he's open to the idea of working with Rose again. "I'm not going to be one of those guys who's like 'fuck that, that'll never happen.' he said. "It could very well happen. I love Axl. We've been through a lot of shit together that nobody can take that away from us."
In addition to Rose, the current lineup of Guns N' Roses includes guitarists DJ Ashba, Ron Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.
"Chinese Democracy" was a commercial disappointment, selling less than one million copies in the U.S. (according to Nielsen SoundScan) despite the long wait.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Irving Azoff Responds to Axl Rose Legal Claim
http://www.gnrdaily.com/news_detail.asp?id=2657
Thursday • October 14, 2010 8:52:13 AM
Earlier this year, we reported on Axl Rose's bombshell claims against Live Nation chairman Irving Azoff. Now comes the response.
Azoff, as head of Front Line Management, which once represented Guns N' Roses, is suing Rose claiming the rocker violated an oral agreement to pay 15% of earnings, or nearly $2 million, from a lucrative concert tour. Rose responded by filing a countersuit that claimed Azoff had gained enormous power in the music industry by involving himself in the "trifecta" of artist management, concert and touring promotion. Rose contended that Azoff had insufficiently promoted his "Chinese Democracy" album, lied about tour dates, and was trying to bully Rose into a full Guns N' Roses reunion.
At the time, Azoff's lawyer, Howard King, was incredulous. He quipped, "Rose didn't accuse Irving of being on the grassy knoll in Dallas on November 22, 1963?"
Alas, the countersuit is stil on the docket, and earlier this month Azoff filed an official answer to Rose's charges.
Azoff offers up 14 affirmative defenses to Rose's claims he breached fiduciary duty, committed constructive fraud and breached a contract.
Among them: the claims are barred by statute of limitations; there was a waiver; There was an accord and satisfaction; that Rose consented to Azoff's actions; that Rose failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate the damage; and that any harm that came to Rose was due to the singer's own negligence, fraud or misconduct.
No word yet on the timing of a jury trial, but given the personalities involved, this could be a barn-burner.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Thursday • October 14, 2010 8:52:13 AM
Earlier this year, we reported on Axl Rose's bombshell claims against Live Nation chairman Irving Azoff. Now comes the response.
Azoff, as head of Front Line Management, which once represented Guns N' Roses, is suing Rose claiming the rocker violated an oral agreement to pay 15% of earnings, or nearly $2 million, from a lucrative concert tour. Rose responded by filing a countersuit that claimed Azoff had gained enormous power in the music industry by involving himself in the "trifecta" of artist management, concert and touring promotion. Rose contended that Azoff had insufficiently promoted his "Chinese Democracy" album, lied about tour dates, and was trying to bully Rose into a full Guns N' Roses reunion.
At the time, Azoff's lawyer, Howard King, was incredulous. He quipped, "Rose didn't accuse Irving of being on the grassy knoll in Dallas on November 22, 1963?"
Alas, the countersuit is stil on the docket, and earlier this month Azoff filed an official answer to Rose's charges.
Azoff offers up 14 affirmative defenses to Rose's claims he breached fiduciary duty, committed constructive fraud and breached a contract.
Among them: the claims are barred by statute of limitations; there was a waiver; There was an accord and satisfaction; that Rose consented to Azoff's actions; that Rose failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate the damage; and that any harm that came to Rose was due to the singer's own negligence, fraud or misconduct.
No word yet on the timing of a jury trial, but given the personalities involved, this could be a barn-burner.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)