Wtf is wrong with being called an escort? I visit escorts regularly & they're good people.. Don't get what the big deal is personally.. Mind you, having an ex-hooker as First Lady I suppose might upset some religious nut jobs.. funny tho.

Yes. Solar flares can't melt steel beams.

I agree with most of what you said, tho actually I would be a little more enthusiastic & forgiving on both axl & slash on the CD stuff.
(If Slash had input in their creation things would be easier, he'd have transformed them fuller - + you can't polish turd after all )

In terms of passion and soul, I think that that has been apparent across the organisation & has been in place since the reunion. Hell the fire dimming is part of the reason this trip is happening.
Which is partly why it's bittersweet. (It's bittersweet for other reasons to).
But I think it's harsh just singling out just slash for the crime, tho I get we're talking about him here. I'd just rather accuse everyone of the same thing while we're at it! You can see it in their body language as well I think, just going thru the motions.. Maybe I'm wrong tho. It is just nostalgia after all, & I mean how much can they relate to it & deliver it at this point? The tunes are undeniable tho, those vibrations are eternal groove so maybe that's force enough..

Again tho, I think maybe on reflection you might see more value in slashs playing these days. It's not just technically that he's shining, the professionalism to his playing brings a new value: authority.
(& tbh I think we're a bit spoiled by buckethead/bbf noodling and shredding that we underestimate just how astonishingly adept slash already was on arrival never mind the astonishing techical prowess your de force UYI albums - my point is he's always been technically a master craftsman & he was as deserving of the title back then as he is now).

Anyway as to his playing in modern times, like I say I think you'll come to appreciate it more. It carries a confidence & an experience that adds further weight: he is a proper bluesman who has survived. He's walked the walk of those who sold their soul at the crossroads. & he's not even a white bluesman like Clapton, he's black ffs he's the genuine thing. He's like junior kimbrough or fuckin son house. He's lived to tell the tale! He should do an all acoustic album!

Get axl to sing on a song or two..

Do festivals have impact on the practicalities & logistics of the show? Like how expensive/expansive the setup is? For example, if they're doing the festivals they'll hardly be bringing the stage/set from this current stadium run? Would they have carted that all round Europe anyway??

Good to see they're being talked of in the same breath as the mega tours of Springsteen et al again. These tours n venues are well travelled now. But yea I suppose the matter of competition it makes sense to do the festivals..

They could play two festivals one weekend. P sure they did it in '02 when they headlined Leeds but couldn't play Reading cause they'd booked another euro festival..?? Play one on the Friday the other on the Sunday.
Or even the Saturday depending on logistics..

Was thinking of maybe takin in a couple of shows, but now think I'll wait for the inevitable arena run..  Don't have the stamina for festival weekends anymore..
I'll see where they're playin first.. Hopefully it's not all festivals. Amsterdam r Berlin, tho that's unlikely. Barcelona would be good. & an Irish date.