This is one of those titles that supports everything bootlegs have to offer. A rare glimpse of what REALLY happened on a given night. It's history. Sometimes legendary stuff, sometimes just ugly. Here both descriptions fit.
Before I get into the content, I'll say that this title is probably taken from a 3rd generation copy of the pro-shot footage. An excellent video with unmixed soundboard audio. The color is a bit washed-out but the video footage is great. Towards the end where the riot footage starts and the lights are up, it has that "Cops" TV show feel to it. Very bizzare to sit and watch. It is all presented on a Picture Silver DVD Disc and has extensive notes on the happenings this unsettling summer night in St. Louis back in '91. This IS the infamous Riot Gig!
The concert itself isn't really anything special. The band members seem to be on different planets altogether and it makes for a rather uninspired walk-through. But, the boys sure get jolted back into reality later! The highlight of the musical performances is really the Izzy Stradlin tune "Dust N' Bones". Axl Rose looks absolutely ridiculous, once again, wearing a baseball catchers' chest pad with no shirt and a kilt. I will withhold further comment on this joker.
The dynamics at play this evening are that Axl Rose is a dick; there seemed to be VERY lax security; and that security team let some friends who were a local biker gang (the Saddle Tramps), take over the front row area. Add to that, a rambunctious crowd who were throwing bottles all night, even hitting bassist Duff Mckagan twice. Now, Rose picks up on the irritating behavior by both the biker gang AND security early on, and he's getting increasingly annoyed at the whole thing. (At one point the guy who would eventually be Axl's target, kept waving a card at Axl and insisted he take it. Axl berates him momentarily about interrupting the show. The guys' name is "Stump".)
We could maybe credit Rose for waiting 90 minutes before he explodes, but!...he still certainly could have handled the situation much better. So, as the band get into the first verse of "Rocket Queen", Axl tells security to "take that away from this guy", referring to Stump, who is wielding a camera and taking pictures. Unfortunately, Rose doesn't give the security team more than 2 seconds to react....and he jumps into the crowd after this guy. After a crowd-parting scuffle, Axl emerges and appears to punch a security guy before getting himself back onstage. Once onstage, Axl grabs the mike and exclaims "well, because of the lame-ass security, I'm going home. click." The band plays for just a few more seconds, lay down their instruments, shrug their shoulders and exit the stage.
The riot ensues when the houselights are brought up and it is really quite amazing how quickly things progress. About 3 or 4 minutes into the situation, our handy cameraman is already backstage and it appears that the band is a little shaken and concerned...and were lining up to go back out for one more song. Then all hell breaks loose and they basically flee!
The riot footage goes on for quite awhile with an increasing amount of law enforcement taking the stage, getting pummeled with bottles and theater seats being torn up and flung at the stage. Amazing. Many roadies and police personel are injured, you hear glass shattering constantly. Quite a document of an ugly event in Rock and Roll.
This isn't an essential acquisition but you might want to inquire through your trading channels and see if you can swap for a copy! It is entertaining!
Oh yeah, why Bondage Music included the lame slideshow with a dozen pictures of the band and Rolling Stone Covers, I'm not sure. It lasts for just under 90 seconds.
