Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion Tour I & II DVD5 & DVD9 (1992)

Use Your Illusion Tour is a live DVD by Guns N' Roses. Filmed live at the Tokyo Dome, Japan on February 22, 1992 during the Japanese leg of the Use Your Illusion tour. The concert was originally recorded by Japan Satellite Broadcasting, Inc. for a programme to be aired on their TV channel, and that programme is split between the two separated DVDs.
Opening with the bemusing crowd chant of "Guns And Low-ses!" there is no mistaking that the seminal rockers are live in Tokyo and that this is 1992, as the Gunners are at their apparent peak (though this proves to be questionable). Taking to the stage in the sort of hot pants that even Christina Aguilera would have shot her stylist for suggesting, the ginger minger that is Axl Rose leads his band of glammed-up rockers into part one of the Use Your Illusion tour with a terrible rendition of Night Train. Not only is the under-dressed and over-inflated frontman seriously flat throughout, but he makes heavy use of three archaic auto-cue screens on stage in case he forgets his lines! Whether it's the drugs or the time consumed by his numerous costume changes that have prevented him from memorising lyrics that he wrote, from the outset of this gig, it's clear that there is no bigger contender for Wacko Jacko's crown of King of the Egos. Mr Brownstone and It's So Easy both pass off with similar disappointment, but Duff Mckagan's rendition of The Misfits' Attitude is much rawer and welcome. I'm not sure the Japanese knew what to make of it all though, clapping and smiling politely as the decadent lads play their way through songs about prostitutes, S&M, drug abuse and all other things coital.
Finally, by the time Welcome To The Jungle hits the speakers, both crowd and band shift up to sixth gear. This brilliant rendition of such a classic G 'N' R song unfortunately only serves to highlight the atrocities performed on the previous tracks, although Double Talkin' Jive (which opens with the Voodoo Child lick), and the epic Civil War both keep the band's reputation somewhat afloat (despite Axl's five costume changes during the latter song!).
Volume two of the Use Your Illusion opus has five tracks less than its predecessor, three of which are centred around various solos. It simply has no justification for being sold as a separate package rather than being incorporated into a two disc set. Having said that, those solos are extremely impressive, with Matt Sorum's drums sounding dated but blistering nonetheless. Unfortunately it all descends into a bit of a school boy jam as Duff joins in on the toms, but is rescued from disaster by six string surgeon, Dr Slash, whose abuse of a Les Paul holds the entire Tokyo Dome captivated endlessly. The Godfather theme works extremely well, and perhaps highlights how well off these talented lads are without Axl even on the stage! As if attempting to match his band mates, Axl returns to squeal his way through an a cappella verse, which doesn't do him, or the crowd, any favours. As Slash limbers into the lead lick of Sweet Child 'O Mine, Axl's voice sounds like he's gargling with bleach and will make you skip the track. However, Rocket Queen and the extravagant Knockin On Heaven's Door enter good old G 'n' R hall of fame territory, as does the fabulous finale of Paradise City. The stark mix of a band flitting between being incredibly professional and then acting like a shabby covers band strongly suggests this re-release package should have been streamlined into one, with 15 or so hot tracks. The reality is that these DVDs document a mediocre display by one of rock's supposedly very best bands, who instead were sounding pretty pants. Why you would release a video of yourself looking far from you best, and sounding even further away from it, is beyond me. It is a sad thing to see such an immense band so poorly represented, and you'll be left to use your imagination to create an illusion of better days for Slash and the boys.

Tracks:
volume 1
1. "Introduction": "Tokyo! Banzai motherfuckers! From Hollywood… Guns N Roses!"
2. "Nightrain"
3. "Mr. Brownstone"
4. "Live and Let Die"
5. "It's So Easy"
6. "Bad Obsession"
7. "Attitude"
8. "Pretty Tied Up"
9. "Welcome to the Jungle"
10. "Don't Cry" (Original)
11. "Double Talkin' Jive"
12. "Civil War"
13. "Wild Horses"/"Patience"
14. "November Rain"

volume 2
1. "Introduction"
2. "You Could Be Mine"
3. "Drum Solo & Guitar Solo"
4. "Theme from "The Godfather""
5. "Sweet Child o' Mine"
6. "So Fine"
7. "Rocket Queen" (w/ "It Tastes Good, Don't It?")
8. "Move to the City"
9. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
10. "Estranged"
11. "Paradise City"




Big thx to the original uploader