NH7

Legendary '90s hard rock band Guns N' Roses played the Mumbai leg of their first ever tour of India yesterday (Sunday, December 9), at the MMRDA Grounds, supported by Mumbai prog rockers Goddess Gagged. NH7 was there to check out the gig, and we've got a special gallery for you, accompanied by quotes from Guns N' Roses fans at the concert. As the picture above states, dancing or stepping on peoples' heads was not allowed.

Sunneith Revankar of Bhayanak Maut joined Goddess Gagged on stage for a couple of songs that required his services. This was one of GG's first shows in Mumbai after a break of about eight months. In their downtime, singer Siddharth Basrur's solo project took shape, while guitarist Devesh Dayal joined Skyharbor on tour. Bhayanak Maut and Goddess Gagged will both play the Bacardi Black Rock Arena at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2012, Bangalore. Buy your tickets here.

Devesh Dayal plays guitar for Goddess Gagged and Skyharbor. He just returned from Skyharbor's festival dates in Europe, and is probably used to playing to really large crowds now. Last night's show saw an estimated 15,000 people in attendance.

"Dude, his pants..." - Overheard in the photo pit.

Bassist Krishna Jhaveri is always the most animated member of GG on stage. Yesterday, he jumped around lots, and really added a kind of urgency to a set that seemed to receive a lukewarm response from the crowd.

"Why does he wear that t-shirt all the time?" - Photographer #1
"Maybe you're confused. Maybe he just wears a lot of t-shirts with purple and pink prints." - Photographer #2

...is what one female photog said to another female photog. The male photog listening in nodded in agreement.

Goddess Gagged ploughed through material from their debut album, Resurfaces, and even played a new song. This was not exactly their target audience. A significant portion of the crowd chanted 'GUNS AND ROSES' throughout their set, during the change-up and in the wait for the headliners as well.

"Wouldn't it make a lot more sense for people to chant 'G-N-R' instead of 'GUNS AND ROSES'?" - Female Goddess Gagged fan.

Pictured: guitarist Arman Menzies

is what one under-informed "rock" fan said. Clearly, he hadn't seen the fans in the front row of the 'Platinum' section.

This sound console, surrounded by scaffolding, blocked a large portion of the stage from the view of fans standing in the 'Silver' section. Thankfully, there was a giant screen back there, so hardcore fans wouldn't miss being up front and closer to the band.

"I just smoked one behind the sound booth." - Niraj, greasy stoner and ultimate Dream Theater fan.

The night's host came out on stage to introduce Guns N' Roses. He talked about how it's taken almost two decades for the band to get here, and it finally worked out.

Overheard just before:
"Choke! On a kiss! Thought I'd save my breath for you!" - Dave Grohl

"So apt. Some Foo Fighters on the PA just before GN'R take the stage. It's great how they're bringing down these really current bands. Can't wait for the Poison tour." - Journalist.

"Axl sounded fine. He pretty much silenced everyone with his singing ability. He's managed to carry the Guns N' Roses tradition forward. And don't talk about his wardrobe. Axl can justify anything. He WILL justify anything. And don't get me started on that Rock & Roll Hall of Fame crap." - Ardent GN'R and Slash fan.

"First of all, he looks nothing like Slash. And, GN'R hasn't evolved with time. What I mean is, when they reset their clock, it resets to 1992. They have to dress up like Christmas trees. That's what was in back then." - Fashion blogger.

Richard Fortus was one of three lead guitar players on stage. He played almost all the extended solos on 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door,' and he played them great.

"He's technically a great guitarist. He is what he is. A proper hard rock guitarist." - Tracy, social media enthusiast.

Tommy Stinson is better known as the bass player of influential Minneapolis indie rock band The Replacements. Bass and drums kept things going during the three-hour-long GN'R extravaganza.

"This has to be one of the most natural performers I've ever seen, and the only guy who didn't seem to have a rehearsed act." - GN'R fan with no prior knowledge of The Replacements.

and given the state of his ankle, Axl did what he could. He didn't do any of his classic moves, but I've known about his ankle for a long time. This stuff, even though it's toned down, is exactly what I came to see." - the same Tracy.

Frank Ferrer was in Love Spit Love with Richard Fortus, and joined the Guns in 2006, and recorded some drum parts for Chinese Democracy. He was monstrous on the kit last night, sounded huge and barely missed a beat.

"Kinda looks like Pitbull" - Journalist

"You mean Flo-Rida." - Raul Braganza

"Exactly." - Journalist

Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal is another one of GN'R's lead guitar players. His album The Adventures Of Bumblefoot is a legend among guitar players/soon-to-be-virtuosos.

"He was awesome. He was walking around the catering area backstage, with his guitar strapped on, just playing away." - Samantha

"Kinda looks like Jesus." - Varun

"Frusciante! I was just gonna say that man!" - NH7 Weekender Pune attendee, moderate GN'R fan.

"Really skilled, supremely talented. Only guy in the whole band who didn't have wardrobe changes." - Tracy.

According to Axl Rose, this is Chris. Chris plays keyboards for Guns N' Roses and he has spring-loaded keyboard stand that rocks back and forth without falling over. It's cool as hell, really.

"If I remember correctly, the santa hat was given to him by somebody in the crowd." - Abhishek, megafan.

"That Fortus solo track was awesome." - Anju.

Dizzy Reed still plays keyboards for Guns N' Roses. Last night, he played a soulful version of Led Zeppelin's 'No Quarter'.

"This is the man, the legend. Easily overshadowed, but I don't care. He's a legend." - Tracy, again.

"After several years of listening to GN'R's Live Era CD, it was a dream come true to see the band in the flesh, even though it was just Axl and Dizzy from the original lineup. Bumblefoot did a great job with all the solos." - Peter.

GN'R's huge setlist from last night:
'Chinese Democracy'
'Welcome To The Jungle'
'It's So Easy'
'Mr. Brownstone'
'Estranged'
'Rocket Queen'
'Blacklight Jesus of Transylvania' (Fortus solo)
'Live and Let Die' (Wings cover)
'This I Love'
'Motivation' - Tommy Stinson
'No Quarter' (Led Zeppelin cover)
'Catcher In The Rye'
'Street Of Dreams'
'Better'
'You Could Be Mine'
'Mi Amor' (DJ Ashba solo)
'Sweet Child O' Mine'
'Another Brick In The Wall' (Pink Floyd cover)
'(Axl Rose piano solo)'
'November Rain'
'Objectify' (Bumblefoot cover)
'Don't Cry'
'Civil War'
'The Seeker' (The Who cover)
'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'
(Jam)
'Nighttrain'
Encore:
'Madagascar'
'Nice Boys' (Rose Tattoo cover)
'Patience'
'Paradise City'