This version of Axl Rose ...

[Mister Freeze]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPC_Pf9k_i8

Whenever I see clips from this era, I keep thinking about how Axl wasted so many of his prime years fronting a cover band.

By the time he reunited with Duff and Slash, the voice (and hair) were never the same.

[Turner Coates]

His singing often reminds me of Yoko Ono's singing.

[SterileEyes1]

I wasn’t a fan of these early Chinese Democracy years or any of the early material that leaked out. It was all over the place and Axl seemed really lost and unsure of himself.

By 2006 he was back in shape and sounding good.

[FreddyFender]

Lost hero on a journey, man.

You got to go through some shit in life - it isn't always pretty, and artists have to do it in public.

Late 90s-Early 2000s was definitely Axl's Lost Weekend.

[Sleek]

Weird he never put a normal band together...always this weird bunch of random freaks.

[DonJuanDeMarco]

I completely stopped paying attn to Axl during this time period. I forgot all about this and have never seen it before!

He obviously was packing on the pounds but still sounds like Axl! I really didn't get it though. Why did he drop the entire original band? I still don't really get it especially here when they are playing all of Appetite.

[Wild Obsession]

Weird he never put a normal band together...always this weird bunch of random freaks.

IMO, Axl is a sociopath, in the early days "a band" was nothing more than a means for him to present his ideas/songs. Once Axl had the money for studios, studio musicians, etc.,"the band" wasn't necessary, and in turn there was nothing to keep his music grounded. For example, I truly don't think he can understand, or appreciate the "magic" of AFD, never mind the difference between Slash and BJ Ashba, they are just "tools" (especially Ashba ) he needs to present his ideas in a live setting. The faux reunion is nothing more than a soulless cash grab probably orchestrated by his handlers once they finally got his prescription cocktail right.

[dmbrocker]

Weird he never put a normal band together...always this weird bunch of random freaks.

IMO, Axl is a sociopath, in the early days "a band" was nothing more than a means for him to present his ideas/songs. Once Axl had the money for studios, studio musicians, etc.,"the band" wasn't necessary, and in turn there was nothing to keep his music grounded. For example, I truly don't think he can understand, or appreciate the "magic" of AFD, never mind the difference between Slash and BJ Ashba, they are just "tools" (especially Ashba ) he needs to present his ideas in a live setting. The faux reunion is nothing more than a soulless cash grab probably orchestrated by his handlers once they finally got his prescription cocktail right.

Was it Axl's idea to have the rest of the band give him some reggae?