As part of the 2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 5th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Thursday, January 15.
2014 hennemusic Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
10 – PINK FLOYD
09 – JUDAS PRIEST
08 – QUEEN
07 – AC/DC
06 – KISS
hennemusic Rock News Artist of The Year No. 5 – GUNS N ROSES
Guns N’ Roses opened 2014 by announcing dates for a spring tour of South America, with shows running mid-March to mid-April.
In early February, the band teased news about a second residency in Las Vegas, and then issued a formal announcement late in the month.
Axl Rose wrote a cheeky editorial for music industry magazine Billboard regarding the controversy over the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ mimed performance during the Super Bowl 48 halftime show in New Jersey.
A week later, Rose took to Twitter to issue a series of rants about the killing of a two-year-old giraffe at the Copenhagen Zoo; he then posted an open letter on the subject, declaring the event needless, “barbaric” and a tragedy.
April saw GNR debut their 3D concert film, "Appetite For Democracy", in theaters worldwide ahead of its release later in the year; the band were captured during their 2012 Las Vegas residency as they marked the 25th anniversary of their debut, “Appetite For Destruction.”
The cinema event took place just days before the group launched the South American tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on March 20.
Fans erupted at news that former GNR bassist Duff McKagan would join the band for five shows during the South American run, while Tommy Stinson stepped aside to plays previously scheduled dates with The Replacements.
McKagan played his first full show with the group in 17 years in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 6, handling lead vocals on a pair of covers of tune by The Misfits and The Stooges.
Natutrally, McKagan’s return – even for just five shows – was enough to fire up GNR reunion talk and headlines. Asked to comment on the “mini-reunion”, Slash responded "Duff's relationship with Axl is different to mine. That call to me is just not going to happen."
McKagan reteamed with the band for an hour-long headlining set at The Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show in Los Angeles on April 24, where Rose was honored with the 2014 Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award – presented to him by actor and megafan Nicholas Cage.
The status of a new GNR album was addressed by guitarist Richard Fortus at the Golden Gods, who said “We are working on stuff and hopefully very soon we're going to have new stuff out…in the next year."
As GNR opened their second Las Vegas residency on May 21, a tabloid published a rumor that Rose was planning to retire following the series of shows; Axl responded by posting a photo of himself on the band’s Facebook page with the caption “I’m not going anywhere.”
During the Vegas run, Rose shared his own update on new GNR music, revealing two follow-ups to “Chinese Democracy” were already recorded – a remix of songs from the 2008 album, as well as a project he referred to as “the second half of 'Chinese'”.
On May 31, McKagan returned for an encore appearance with GNR in the middle of the Vegas shows.
GNR wrapped up their 2014 live dates in Vegas on June 7 and released the “Appetite For Democracy” DVD on July 1.
GNR news resurfaced in November with word that the 2008 biography, “Reckless Road: Guns N' Roses And The Making Of Appetite For Destruction" by band friend Marc Canter is in talks to become a movie.
An internet death hoax regarding Axl surfaced in December, with the singer confirming he was still alive by tweeting, “If I'm dead do I still have to pay taxes?”
See also:
2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
Van Halen and Pearl Jam top the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
