Booze dispute helps sink Guns N' Roses gig

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According to an Associated Press report, inspectors from the state fire marshal's office gave GN'R the no-booze order when they came to look over pyrotechnics planned for the Nov. 6 show. Maine Public Safety Department spokesman Stephen McCausland said the band members wanted to drink beer, wine and Jagermeister during their performance, according to the AP. A couple of hours after being told that would be illegal, GN'R canceled the gig. A GN'R spokesperson blamed fire marshals for the last-minute cancellation, saying, "They have made it impossible for the band to perform their show to the usual high standards that their fans deserve."More importantly, we have been informed that officials intend to enforce rules and regulations that should not and do not apply in this venue."In a statement later posted on GN'R's website, Rose apologized for the last-minute cancelation, but said that it was best for everyone's safety."I agree with, and ultimately take responsibility for, the end decision not to jeopardize the safety of the fans, the crews, the bands and myself as a result of the methods of these particularly draconian authorities."Rose said that he and his management thought that the crowd in Portland could have tunred volitile had fans been allowed into the building. (The group's 2002 tour ended with mini-riots in Philadelphia and Vancouver, British Columbia, after Rose failed to take the stage--two situations that Rose said "are not legally resolved behind the scenes to this day and could have possibly jeopardized the future of Guns N' Roses.")"The professionals around me felt that Portland was a potentially explosive situation that could have had a somewhat similar result based on the behavior of the two aforementioned fire marshals (it's not my first barbeque!) had the fans been given entry to the building and the show started. In respect of these opinions, our fans, the people of Portland, and the bands scheduled to play with us that night, unfortunately the only sensible decision was not to take that chance."Ticketholders had the opportunity to attend the next gig--Nov. 8 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA--or get a refund. GN'R kicked off its "Chinese Democracy" tour Oct. 24 in Sunrise, FL. Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach is the opening act on all shows. Rose is the only original member in GN'R's current lineup, which includes guitarists Robin Finck, Richard Fortus and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal; keyboard players Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman; bassist Tommy Stinson; and drummer Frank Ferrer. Regular GN'R drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia is on personal leave to be with his wife and newborn child. The tour is named for GN'R's still-unreleased "Chinese Democracy" album, which Rose has been famously working on for about a decade. The record has been rumored to be right around the corner for many years. Rose recently hinted that it will finally be released before year's end.