On Friday, Guns N Roses were scheduled to play a show in Portland, Maine but then canceled the show after being informed they would not be able to consume alcohol on stage. The Maine law preventing performers and crew workers from drinking on the job has been in place for many years, but is something Guns N Roses feel has been enforced just for them, claiming that 'Clay Aiken and Green Day' never had that problem.
After a very poor ticket turnout, selling not even half of the 6500 available seats, Axl stands firm that it is not the poor ticket sales and lack of interest that kept them from playing, it was simply that they need to be drunk to do it... for the fans.
"It was important for us to play there and it is a shame that what should have been a great night for all of us was not possible due to the actions of two people," the 44-year-old singer explained Tuesday regarding the inspectors' decision to bar them from drinking beer, liquor and wine while performing.
He continued: "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."
To further make their case for not being a band full of gigantic alcoholic babies, a spokesperson for Guns N Roses also claims that they were being hassled by Fire Marshals regarding their pyrotechnic show, and the Fire Marshals behavior led them to believe the way rules were enforced at that venue would leave fans open to being "harassed and threatened."
The band is continuing their tour in support of their nonexistent album 'Chinese Democracy' and continue to see lineup changes as their former drummer left to stay home with his wife and baby and they recruited Frank Ferrer.
After a very poor ticket turnout, selling not even half of the 6500 available seats, Axl stands firm that it is not the poor ticket sales and lack of interest that kept them from playing, it was simply that they need to be drunk to do it... for the fans.
"It was important for us to play there and it is a shame that what should have been a great night for all of us was not possible due to the actions of two people," the 44-year-old singer explained Tuesday regarding the inspectors' decision to bar them from drinking beer, liquor and wine while performing.
He continued: "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."
To further make their case for not being a band full of gigantic alcoholic babies, a spokesperson for Guns N Roses also claims that they were being hassled by Fire Marshals regarding their pyrotechnic show, and the Fire Marshals behavior led them to believe the way rules were enforced at that venue would leave fans open to being "harassed and threatened."
The band is continuing their tour in support of their nonexistent album 'Chinese Democracy' and continue to see lineup changes as their former drummer left to stay home with his wife and baby and they recruited Frank Ferrer.
