December 16th, 2010, It's been about 2 years, and I knew it would be somewhere in the region, but I couldn't say for certain that on such day "Abu Dhabi", was really going to turn my very own "Paradise City"! I had my VIP tickets booked on the real first hours that the record was proclaimed on Thinkflash website, Considering the fact that life in Iran -one of the major dead ends of the world- which you don't yet have admittance to Credit Cards whatsoever, well, that explains a lot of things! Besides, the point was in Abu Dhabi so I too had to get a reasonable and affordable transport to do to get to Yas Island since I would be staying in Dubai and all my friends were out of UAE by the metre or were too busy to attend, and I wasn't going to take an Iranian -even a house member or a friend- as my companion even if it was a free ride, because I really wanted to party my very own way, even if it has to be unique and by my self.
I can even it feel let alone remembering it to say that, It was just a few years remaining to the picture and all you could listen on music radio stations all around Dubai was "Sweet Child O'Mine", "Paradise City" and short talk shows approximately the concert every single sentence you would have a rally in a car, like you didn't want to put your music player to put more to the excitement!
Had Bought a couple of jeans, a pair of hours good before the show, And a bikers Leather Jacket on a Rolling Stones Black Tee, and summed them up with my long curly hair, I was surely going to remove the hollow set of "Slash" in a way, anyway!
That said, Holding the Bus tickets from Dubai to Yas Island (the Venue), from Jumeirah Beach Residence which is more of a swish and new neighbors of Dubai in which by that I wish to point out that you don't see major displays of Rock n' Roll-ish outfits and lifestyles at least comparing to how I was looking on that day: a Rock N' Roll outlaw!
Had such a tiring day, I had to drive a big cup of Starbucks to hold up staying awake and wise. Although I knew it was passing to regard the strength of Alcohol euphoria an hour later in the venue. I finally got on the bus, sitting by myself, thinking: IT IS HAPPENING!
Later on the bus ride, two girls sitting on a row beside me, one of them looked at me and asked about my hair, if it was genuine and since it was, how long have I hadn't cut it. Now you Iranians can visit me a Racist if you want, for not getting offended by the typical question they asked since she was a Palestinian along with her British friend! and we chat during the ride. Later on, knowing it would be a long shot since she was wearing a "chance street outfit" with "yoke of sandals" for a "Rock Concert" (! I asked if they had VIP tickets and she end up joking herself: "Do I still smell like a Guns n' Roses Fan?!"
Finally Arrived at the Venue, with a bunch of "interesting and known character of people" walk to the show, which was really my very low one act show, since I had ever taken that much expense and try to look at least 2-day Festivals prior to that. It was fun from the real first minute: firstly, there were strict rules about cameras so I had to take my camera checked before standing in a note to enter. a dark sweet guy was announcing people with a speaker in his paw to do the condition and when I asked him around my camera, he started talking to me introducing me to the crew with whatever funny joking of his and apparently interviewing me as if I am "Slash" and whether I am going to do that night or I have kissed and made up with Axl Rose which turned out something totally funny!!
When I entered, I was being looked at, hi 5-ed, greeted, praised, called "Slash" as if they were all my own friends who has nicknamed me "Slash" for the solid background thing! and I totally felt I was among thousands of potential friends! Girls surrounding me, taking pictures with me, offering me Beer, Cigarettes, even on one place one girl giving me her T shirt!, it was one hell of a welcome to the jungle! Haha! I was walk round the venue, enjoying every footstep that I was taking, putting a cigarette in my mouth, mimicking Slash for the pit of it, giving out positive energy and receiving the same great feedback from the coolest friendly ones available, people who could be my companions through the dark and perhaps even late as friends!
On one hand, It was such a disappointment that there were no official Merchandise for sale, but on the other hand, there were two big stands for Alcoholic Drinks: one exclusively for Beer, and the other. Heaven! Nobody was granted a drink permit wrist band at entering so a precaution would decide at the entry of every line whether you were over 21 or not. and when it came to me, not only the big guy could tell I'm eligible to make a drink, but I bet he could also say that I'm going for a double stroke of Jack n' Coke! I went thither and ordered Vodka and some juice since I didn't ask them much, (due to what I had experienced before) but when I saw the form of available drinks, I was astonished and all felt scored when I saw the mighty Jack Daniels bottle, which I had already been drinking every night since I had arrived. First I arranged a one shot, went double, straight, and the eyes of bartender popped, but so I chose to mix it up a coke, playing a bit cautious, not to break the dark by forgetting where I was or vomiting.
Well, that cautious play actually didn't turn out and apparently I had my drinks and got drunk right from the opening act, in a way that this time I was the one who was asking ladies to take pictures with and now look at some of the pictures, I could distinguish the jealous face of their partners !, not to observe in one occasion an old woman rejected me! though It was not only about ladies, it was almost hanging out and having fun with people. making the better of it.
The opening act was "Juliana Down", which I had previously seen before back in Desert Rock Festival 2008. They had gone through a pair of changes and well, it was for well I guess, since they did put up a good appearance and showed that they have evolved to a professional band which makes me to say, they were a right selection for an opening act from local bands. I subsequently had a chance to play with the principal singer a few minutes late by a chance, which seems to have become my affair on festivals! and had a little chit chat.
Fond and excited, put up to that by crowds feedback who were saying I should be on leg and having my gear and guitar ready, and the charge of Jack n' coke which had already kicked in smoothly, I was stressful to get a safe place for me as nigh as possible to the stage. So by Interacting with masses round me, I got lucky and got as closely as I could get until I couldn't go further than a lot of Arab boys and girls, who would act totally furious toward anybody around them, by even a slight push, insulting unbelievably rude and ugly, which was rather shocking than surprising, so I managed to work it cool!
That said, I must accept that I had never been to a concert which it divides crowd, so holding a VIP ticket was an advantage. I found myself amount the very Guns n' Roses fans, just there for the show, and since It was a classic "Band" or better saying these days a "Hellenic NAME" (!), and/or simply teenagers couldn't afford Golden Circle tickets, The Crew were 25 and above which made it awesome. An Adult atmosphere, which I had previously witnessed only during "Robert Plant (of Led Zeppelin) and The strange Sensation" Show and the Fans of 70's Rock Era.
I along with a great amount of people about me were expecting Mr. William Axl Rose and his lot to possibly show up a few hours late, but the show started at a sensible time after the opening act's set with no stay at all.
Until suddenly all the lights went off and crowd started to cheer...
Øordf;Oslash;plusmn;Oslash;not;Ugrave;#8230;Ugrave;#8225;Oslash;iexcl; ÙOslash;sect;Oslash;plusmn;Oslash;sup3;Ucirc;#338; Ù#8224;Ugrave;#8218;Oslash;macr; Úcopy;Ugrave;#8224;Oslash;sup3;Oslash;plusmn;Oslash;ordf; Úmacr;Oslash;sect;Ugrave;#8224;Oslash;sup2;Ugrave;#8224; Øplusmn;Ugrave;#710;Oslash;sup2;Oslash;sup2; Ømacr;Oslash;plusmn; Øsect;Oslash;uml;Ugrave;#710;Oslash;cedil;Oslash;uml;Ucirc;#338; Øuml;Ugrave;#8225; Øsup2;Ugrave;#710;Oslash;macr;Ucirc;#338;...
May 18, 2011 - The number of emotional damage in the Gramercy Theatre last night could take an orphanage, with large bespectacled women and bleached blonde cardboard cutouts hardly co-mingling with stumbling drug casualties, rock n roll wannabees with overzealous intoxicated girlfriends, and Brads-from-Accounting, along with a morose minority of pitiable sad sacks.
