Guns N’ Roses Live in Chile: W. Axl Rose Touched my heart by Johanna Watson
17 years ago, I was 12 years old.
17 years ago, I went to my first concert: Guns n’ Roses
…last night, I relived my history and understood the root of my essence. I was able to listen to the songs once again and see the person who had marked the beginning of my musical taste for Rock. I have once again met with W. Axl Rose.
Even now, early in the morning, it hasn’t hit me yet that I was that close. I was close enough to smell him, define the color of his eyes, see the skin of his perfectly shaved face, and on his arms, the tattoos that I once drew in my school notebooks during my childhood.
But the image were real: my first rock hero would appear every second in front of me, singing the way he would always do and repeating those gestures on stage that many had recognized and were profoundly grateful for.
The concert began at 12:30 am (3 hours late). The rock singer sang classic tunes from the original band and the tunes from his new album (I didn’t think people would chant to them as much), however, the atmosphere got really crazy for the classics:
Welcome to the Jungle
, It’s so easy, Patience, Live and let die, Knocking on heaven’s door, You could be mine, Mr. Brownstone, Sweet child o’mine and November Rain , which took me from euphoria to the other side of the emotions: I went back to my youth, I saw myself buying cassettes and sticking a poster on the wall in my room. I saw myself recording that video clip on VHS and most of the things that appeared on TV about Guns n’ Roses. I saw hundreds of memories passing before my eyes and, yes, I also got thrilled when I saw Axl seated at the piano, with a look so different from the Axl I remembered: Axl is old and that’s evident. It was a mix of sadness and intense emotion. I have to admit, with a bit of shame that I cried. But I really cried, with tears and all. (I tried to refrain myself as much as I could).
Anyway I really thanked this concert. I was not prepared to see all the things I saw last night. I left behind the fact he is fat and old or the sound problems during the show. It was more than that. It was more than my heart could endure.
Now I understand why they did not play Don’t Cry: I had to play it myself.
http://www.thepulse.cl/2010/03/22/guns-n%E2%80%99-roses-live-in-chile-w-axel-rose-touched-my-heart/
