It's raining Guns N' Roses

There's no greater sense of fulfilment than seeing one's dreams come true. One of mine will be realised on December 16 when Axl Rose, arguably rock's greatest frontman performs in Abu Dhabi with his legendary hard rock band Guns N' Roses.

I know many other 1980s rock and metal fans will share my sentiments, but I am also aware that some fans feel Guns N' Roses is not the same without its former members (particularly the top-hatted guitar ace Slash).

Yes, all of us diehard Guns fans were heartbroken when the original line-up parted ways citing creative differences. Everyone held Rose responsible for the debacle. He has been accused of being immature and an egomaniac even by some of his staunch supporters. Critics have branded him racist, misogynistic and downright silly. He has drawn flak from concert organisers and even his own bandmates for following his own clock (he has been accused of taking to stage two hours later than the scheduled time).

When Rose returned last year with his Chinese Democracy tour that kicked off in South East Asia, things weren't easy. Some fans ignored his great vocal range, which at the age of 48, is still going strong. They chose to focus more on his ageing face and expanded waistline. The media, on the other hand, has always found it very exciting to paint a ghastly image of him.

But the question is, do Rose's personal troubles and the much-written about temper tantrums overshadow his talent? The answer is a categorical no. Axl Rose still rocks. In the 1980s, he stormed on to the big stage and gained instant fame (or notoriety?) with his fiery, rebellious lyrics, piercing screams and ‘stomping' stage presence. He became the hero of all angst-ridden youngsters because he did not play by the rules, never tried to look pretty and made people listen no matter what he said. The bad boy vibe made him irresistible to his female fans.

In March 1985, Rose put together one of the greatest bands of all time, but there were birth pangs. Guns N' Roses was initially formed with Izzy Stradlin, guitarist Tracii Guns and drummer Rob Garner, but a reported dispute saw Garner and Guns parting ways with Rose. Undeterred, he brought in Slash on lead guitar, Duff McKagan on bass, Steven Adler on drums with Stradlin on rhythm guitar. The formidable line-up we all came to love released its first EP the same year called Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide under their own record label Uzi Suicide.

The turning point came in 1986 when Guns N' Roses signed up with Geffen Records. The band marked their entry into the pantheon of rock when they released Appetite for Destruction in 1987. The album drove listeners so crazy that even today it is reportedly selling an average of 9,000 copies a week.

The band's brand of rock had such a powerful influence on the masses that Guns N' Roses was able to fill stadiums anywhere in the world. Some measure of the band's success goes to Rose's songwriting partner Stradlin, McKagan and, of course, Slash for his powerful riffs and electrifying guitar work during concerts.

While everyone supposedly had a role in the songwriting, the lyrics definitely have Rose's signature style. And above all, Rose's screeching vocals set Guns N' Roses apart. It wasn't only the smashing hits like Sweet Child O' Mine, Paradise City and Welcome to the Jungle that got people hooked on to the band, but the raging songs like the angry Outa Get Me, the hateful Double Talkin Jive and the bizarre My World, also left everyone awestruck.

The success of the follow-up to Appetite, the EP GN'R Lies and the twin albums Use Your Illusion I and II further consolidated their position as the finest rock band of all time. A hugely successful tour to promote the albums followed. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed came on board around this time.

The 1990s brought all sorts of trouble for Guns N' Roses. Adler was replaced by Matt Sorum. Stradlin followed in 1991 and Gilby Clarke took his place. Slash, McKagan and Sorum all left Guns N' Roses at various points between 1996 and 1997, leaving Rose and Reed the only remaining Illusion-era band members. Rose's personal life took a beating - failed relationships, lawsuits and depression, you name it. He withdrew from the public eye, not even bothering to respond to a slew of allegations against him.

The biggest accusation levelled against Rose is that he is a control freak who destroyed the iconic group with his behaviour. With due respect to every band member, Rose deserves the credit for getting Guns N' Roses to the pinnacle of rockdom. Rose certainly had his troubles, but his bandmates were also battling substance abuse. They couldn't look after themselves, let alone take care of the band.

All said and done, it's great to see Rose back on stage visibly happy to be performing with his new line-up of musicians - lead guitarists Ron ‘Bumblefoot' Thal and DJ Ashba, rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer. Videos of recent concerts show he has not lost any of that volatile brilliance.

Guns N' Roses' latest album Chinese Democracy may have been ripped to bits because it was 13 years in the making, but Rose still holds his head high. It's his nonchalance that forms the core of his appeal. Rose may flirt with controversy, but politically correct he is not. In today's PR-driven world, where astute marketing decides whether you're good or bad, Rose speaks his mind and stands by his convictions. His true fans respect this.

I've never watched Axl Rose perform live, I'm sure it will be a phenomenal experience. The uncertainty factor adds to the excitement. He might give a mind-blowing performance or he may walk away infuriated over a trifle. Once in his element, however, Rose has always given fans the best show of their lives.

So all Guns N' Roses faithful, all I can say is Welcome to the Jungle!