Axl Rose poured water on the fire last week, extinguishing rumors of a Guns N' Roses reunion and declining to attend the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Rose hadn't changed his mind by Saturday's induction ceremony in Cleveland. According to a Billboard report, he didn't show.
Those who watch an edited version of the ceremony Saturday, May 5, on HBO will see Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy lead the band through a three-song set that includes "Mr. Brownstone," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City." The Hall also inducted the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys and several others this year.
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Highlights And Happenings With Scott Shelters
In a letter addressed to the Hall, Guns N' Roses fans and whom it may concern, Rose declined induction.
"Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in 'our' induction (that for the record are decisions I don't agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things ... no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected," Rose wrote.
It doesn't look like Rose was happy with who made the invite list. Continuing, he pretty much eliminated any hopes of a true Guns N' Roses reunion.
"The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of 'for the fans' or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal and DJ Ashba."
Maybe it's my inexperience talking, but I don't know who most of those guys are. If Rose thinks they're more deserving of enshrinement in the Hall than Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum or Steven Adler, he's lost his mind. From what I've read and seen over the years, he probably lost it a long time ago.
I'm not sure why one of rock 'n' roll's iconic vocalists would deprive himself of what could've been one of the greatest moments of his life. Maybe the ceremony would've been awkward. Maybe Slash and Rose wouldn't have gotten along so well. Tough.
The induction is for the fans as much as it's for the performers. If Rose can't tough it out with guys he doesn't like for 10 minutes on stage, he doesn't deserve to hold onto the Guns N' Roses name, which he has dragged through the mud since the late 1990s. With the lineup he listed above, he needs to change the band's name to "The Axl Rose Band." One guy doesn't make a band. If he had a couple of original members on his side, he'd have the right to continue making money off so-called Guns N' Roses shows.
Unfortunately, he doesn't. Other band members have sounded open to band reunions in interviews. Rose is causing the problems. He's 50 years old, and it's time for him to grow up.
Rose will never know what it feels like to stand on stage and receive a Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame induction. I bet he'll look back one day and wish he had attended the ceremony. At this point, it looks like he couldn't care less.
"Time to move on," Rose wrote. "People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another's, or in this case several others', expense. Don't get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we've endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types."
Whatever that means. It's no one's fault but Rose's that he wasn't there Saturday night.
Here's what's going on in the area:
HIGHLIGHTS
"Godspell" To Open Friday: Big Time Productions will present "Godspell" Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 8 p.m. The show will also run Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, at 8 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $12. They can be purchased at The Labyrinth Press Company, 12 E. Fourth St., Jamestown, at the Babalu Cafe, 14 E. Second St., Jamestown, or at Catholic Academy of the Holy Family, 1135 N. Main St., Jamestown. Tickets will be $15 at the door. The production will benefit Catholic Academy of the Holy Family.
Chautauqua Lake Erie Art Trail Member Show Now Open: New and current members of Chautauqua Lake Erie Art Trail will preview their open studio tour with a show at the 3rd On 3rd Gallery in Jamestown. The show is open now through Friday, May 18. A public reception will be held Friday, April 27, at 7 p.m.
The show includes plein air paintings by Thomas Annear, figurative paintings by Jeremy Daly-Griffen, abstract photographs by Lori Deemer, large format photographs by James Hoggard, landscapes and figurative paintings by new artist Nancy Hutchinson, landscape photographs by Tom Janik, photographs and abstract paintings by Trenton Lutes, figurative works by new artist Christine Davis Mantai, figurative works by Susan MacKay, bird sculptures by new artist Harold Nass, and glass works and abstract paintings by new artist Becky Tkaczyk.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Erie Art Trail and the open studio tour, visit chautauquaarttrail.com. The 3rd On 3rd Gallery is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Private viewings may be scheduled by calling 664-2465, ext. 227. Additional evening and weekend hours will be posted at artscouncil.com. 3rd On 3rd Gallery is located at 116 East Third Street in Jamestown.
Tickets Remain For Centaur Stride Benefit Show: A Centaur Stride open house night featuring a concert with Steve Johnson, Charity Nuse and Amanda Barton of Big Leg Emma will be held Saturday, April 28. The open house will begin at Centaur Stride, located at 8488 Jones Road in Sherman, at 3:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at the Sherman Stanley Hose Fire Hall at 5:30 p.m., and Johnson, Nuse and Barton will perform from 7-10 p.m. at that location. There will also be a door prize and a 50/50 giveaway. Seating will be limited to the first 250 guests. Tickets - which include the open house, concert, dinner, a drink, dessert and a chance to win a door prize - are $25. To reserve tickets, email Sheila Thurston at sheilam254@gmail.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.
HAPPENINGS
To include an upcoming show or event in this column, call Scott Shelters at 487-1111, ext. 253 or email sshelters@post-journal.com. Submissions for next week's column must be received by Tuesday night.
Tonight
Blue Grass Jam: 7-10, Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave., Celoron. All area bluegrass musicians are welcome to sit in and play.
Friday Night
Doc And Bill: 5-6:30, 21 East Cafe and Bookstore, Dunkirk.
"The Artist": 8 p.m., Reg Lenna Civic Center. Adult tickets are $7. Tickets for children under 12 are $4.25. The screening continues the Movies at The Reg series.
Rolling Roots Revue Jam Session: 8, 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Audience members will be able to play a part in the folk music performance. The Rolling Roots Revue is a troupe of musicians and recording artists for the Wepecket Island Records label. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $13 for Opera House members. Tickets can be purchased at the Opera House Box Office, by phone at 679-1891 or online at fredopera.org.
Coal Train: 9-1, 41 West, Fredonia.
Brian Hanna: 9-midnight, Murdock's, 104 E. Main St., Sherman.
The Bogarts: 10-2, The Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St., Mayville.
Mosaic Foundation and Smackdab: 10-2, Mojo's, 104 E. Second St., Jamestown.
Saturday
Jamestown Thunder's Community Drum Circle: noon-2:30 p.m., Reg Studio Theater, 108 E. Third St., Jamestown. Some extra drums will be provided. No experience is necessary to participate. For more information, contact Rich Schuler at 484-8121.
Reading And Signing Of "Wearing Heels In The Rust Belt": 2-4 p.m. The reading will begin at 2:30. Off The Beaten Path Bookstore, 28 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood. Karen Weyant's newest chapbook, "Wearing Heels in the Rust Belt," has been released. Weyant is an associate professor of English at JCC and a published poet.
"The Artist": 8 p.m., Reg Lenna Civic Center. Adult tickets are $7. Tickets for children under 12 are $4.25. The screening continues the Movies at The Reg series.
Willow Creek: 8 p.m.-midnight, Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave., Celoron.
"A Tribute to Hard Rockers Kiss" By Rock Bottom: 8 p.m., Struthers Library Theatre, 302 W. Third St., Warren, Pa. Call 814-489-3110 for more information.
"Albert Nobbs": 8 p.m., 1891 Fredonia Opera House. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards. It will continue the Opera House Cinema Series. The film is rated R for some sexuality, brief nudity and language. It runs 113 minutes. Tickets, which are available at the door, are $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and Opera House members, and $5 for students.
Kev Rowe: 9 p.m.-midnight, Steener's Pub, 322 Route 430, Greenhurst.
BandHanna: 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Kennedy Grill, 674 Route 394, Kennedy.
Sunday
Brian Hanna and Scott Horton: 5, Randolph Fire Hall.
Tuesday Night
"Albert Nobbs": 7:30, 1891 Fredonia Opera House. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards. It will continue the Opera House Cinema Series. The film is rated R for some sexuality, brief nudity and language. It runs 113 minutes. Tickets, which are available at the door, are $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and Opera House members, and $5 for students.