Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Rhiad and the Bedouins is one of the more controversial GnR songs.  It's kind of a love or hate song.  But the problem is most live versions of the song are pretty bad.  In the 2002 guise, Axl couldn't hit the notes in person to perfection.  But the 1/1/01 Vegas show performance was strong.  The intro to Rhiad is bad ass, I still love that intro.  So is Buckethead's solo.  We know that Rhiad was included as a song Ron Thal had to learn for the current tour even though they haven't played it.  But I have a feeling that the studio version will kick ass even if it isn't on CD.  I think we'll hear the studio version eventually.  once CD is released, the pressure won't be as great.  I think the new GnR will release 3 albums within 5-6 years and we'll finally hear the real Rhiad.  But I don't get why people hate this song, if you've heart the 1/1/01 Vegas version you would realize it rocks  : ok:

Yeah, it's a kick ass song. I don't quite understand though why they haven't played it at least once or twice on this tour...

I think many people don't like this song because all the bootlegs we have from this song are bad,  and they judge the song by that. Or maybe they get confused by the lyrics.  :hihi:
It would be great to hear Axl nail those vocals for once. Well maybe someday when and if we get studio version...

I agree..Its one of my favs..I love the changes in the vocals and the music in the song..
Love to hear a studio version.. : ok:

its a fk'n rocker, i dig it big time :beer: :beer:

i hope they play rhiad on the US tour (along with a decent setlist change)

I hope they slip this into the setlist at some point. its a great tune  : ok:

Shit, can't even remember how it sounded. Does someone know where I can listen to some kind of version of the tune?

SB1978, I sure hope so.  I've always said this song has potential.  Definitely a good rocker.  With all that screaming, definitely a "blast this on my radio until my mom gets pissed off" type of song.   ;D

The only new song I can't see as worthwhile is S-Worms.  Oh well, we'll see what happens soon.  :)

What the hell is a "Rhiad"?

also the capital of saudi arabia

Riyadh is the correct spelling. The song has a killer guitar riff-in my not so humble opinion. :beer:

on the actual setlist.. when it had this song under options.. it was spell "Rhiad"... prob. cuz the person didnt no how to spell it, or cuz they were making it short...

but anyway, that is why some people spell it that way.


And to see Rhiad back in the setlist, permannetly or just a few times, would be awesome! That song in '01-02 had potentional and I bet now, it would REALLY rock!

I liked the sound of the Vegas performance. Like i have posted in the past, while the song sounded good, it also sound unfinished. It lacked lyrics. There's was far too much whoa, waa, waa, waa going on  :hihi:  I got the impression that lyrics would surface someday and replace the whoa, waa, waa, waa.


I'm stupid, whats the meaning of the song? whats it about? whats a Rhiad, an animal? :hihi:


Just did some Google research. Rhiad appears to be someones name:
Rhiad was also a psionicist, not a match for Grabella's mental fortitude, but a power in his own right. He received a psychic distress call from an old friend he left behind in Tremarkia, an urgent plea for help he could not ignore.

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:ZVFK9p6QdZEJ:www.tragena.net/html/history.php+meaning+of+Rhiad&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=1

and meaning of psionicist is
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, psion or psionicist is one of the optional character classes. A psion is a versatile class, capable of combat and of using psionic powers. The Psionics Handbook covers the game mechanics of psions.

IMO, it's the best instrumental of the new songs. Powerful guitar riffs, bass lines heavy as hell and a killer drum. I like Axl singin' too, but people bitch about his high pitch voice back in 2002. I'm sure if he sing it live now people will enjoy the song, since his voice is way better.

Also, I agree about the bootlegs. People judge the song by the quality of the recordings.

Riyadh And The Bedouins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riyadh

Riyadh and the Bedouins

translates to:

Riyadh and the Desert Dwellers
'Riyadh' being a location.


So Axl's singing about the Arabs as well as the Chinese now.
Maybe Riyadh and the Bedouins will appear on disc no.2 Arab Democracy  :hihi:

I'll withhold judgement till i hear a studio version because the live version did not get me excited for this song :-[

From DICTIONARY.COM:


Ri?yadh    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (r-y?d)

The capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, in the east-central part of the country east-northeast of Mecca. Situated in a desert oasis, it was a walled city until the oil boom of the 1950s led to the demolition of older structures to make way for commercial expansion. Population: 3,000,000.


Bed?ou?in also Bed?u?in    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (bd-n, bdwn)
n. pl. Bedouin or Bed?ou?ins also Beduin or Be?du?ins
An Arab of any of the nomadic tribes of the Arabian, Syrian, Nubian, or Sahara deserts.

It is quite possible that Axl used the word Rhiad with a double meaning, or perhaps he is not referring to the city at all, which is why the name is spelled this way. Axl does seem interested in this type of stuff (psychic powers, past lives, etc.) so it would not surprise me.

Rhyadh will be a kickass song for sure.

I thought I remember reading somewhere that ths song won't be released on CD, but rather on the follow-up?

who knows, man...

anyway, after hearing the 1/1/01 version...well, it's good!

I really like the 1/1/01 version. But, I believe that it has gone through/will go through a lot of changes if it is on CD.

I've always liked Rhiad. I think if they add another verse and, by doing so, make it a little longer, along with Axl hitting all the notes in the studio, it will turn out to be a really good song. This idea is somewhat along the lines of how after they tinkered with Chinese Democracy, it (in my eyes at least) became one of the better new songs.

The intro is awesome, Im sure its been re worked alittle.  I mean IRS, imo sounds better live then the demo

It probably comes from being a manic depressive. Behind the large ring, fast cars, long legged women, the lists of request is a person is maybe not as happy as the front he puts on. Did Matt Sorum once say "i hope he finds happiness some day". Times getting on, so maybe with the release of CD he'll find happiness.

I was at the Vegas 01.01.01 show. Recall that nobody had seen or heard from the new band at all, except the shoddy OMG. There were no bootlegs, no lyrics. Nothing to go on. So there I am at this show, hearing about 5 brand new songs with nothing to go on but my ears and the memory of the show. Right after the show, the only song I could recall was what I later learned was called Rhiad. I remember the vocals being a strong point ... in fact they were the center of the song. So I have never thought this was a controversial song. The only horrible terrible song was Silkworms. I haven't figured out why Rhiad hasn't been played since, and I sure don't see why people hate it. I would love to hear a studio version.

Actualy Rhaid was played on the Asian and European dates in 2002, and in Michigan in 2002.   Michigan was the last time it was played, 11/21/2002.

I've always really liked 'Riyadh'. It's just got such a classic aggression to it, and Axl's wails are fantastic. I heard the studio version in a dream one time and it kicked ass  :hihi:

if it were not for the leeked demos, Better IRS and twat on boots would excite as much controversy as Riyadh or even as silkworms among the net fans.  : ok:

I love the wicked vibes of the song. like billo said, it's buoyant with the changes.
Yep it sounds like to be continued... longer version with more verse would be super but maybe that depends on the sequence of songs.


what notes were they???

Seriously?
i wouldnt plan on it

I was at the Vegas 01.01.01 show. Recall that nobody had seen or heard from the new band at all, except the shoddy OMG. There were no bootlegs, no lyrics. Nothing to go on. So there I am at this show, hearing about 5 brand new songs with nothing to go on but my ears and the memory of the show. Right after the show, the only song I could recall was what I later learned was called Rhiad. I remember the vocals being a strong point ... in fact they were the center of the song. So I have never thought this was a controversial song. The only horrible terrible song was Silkworms. I haven't figured out why Rhiad hasn't been played since, and I sure don't see why people hate it. I would love to hear a studio version.


I was there to and what you said is exactly how I feel. : ok: :peace:

Dizzy apparently said that it was a "test track" for the 2002 tour..test for what? i dunno see what would impress the crowd i guess...since it apparently a song that is ready to play for this euro tour i would think it'll be on CD...but who knows

Right on!  :beer:

I'd imagine it was among the 32 songs mentioned in the interview @ korn party and would be either on CD or on the succeeding album.

One of the only versions I've ever heard sounded like a train-wreck.  Don't remember if it was Rio III or something else.  Rio sounds familiar.

Personally, I think Rhiad will be a "B" side track that may or may not appear on CD. The first single without doubt (in mty opinion again) will appear on CD as the new fans will want to see the single on the album if you see what I mean, as will the record company.

They have a market for the die-hard fans already in place, but they'll want the new generation fans too.  There is plenty of dissing going on about the old line-up v the new, something ultimately you don't get as much with the newbies.

Axl Rose is a clever man and will be looking to ensure that "14 years" of pain (ok not strickly true) is going to heal over the bad blood and GNR become a reliable band delivering a gig when its booked.  The CD is going to kick that off, and its Axls way of saying " you may or may not think we are guns and roses but hears the album anyway".  There is another point to this too, the album after CD willl I think contain songs written in conjuntion with Axl and this will finally seal the "new members" identity as the new Guns n fuckin Roses, and being accepted as such.

CD has and always will be, Axls baby.

Although it seems as if loads of people will be disappointed if I'm correct, I have a feeling that Rhiad (or Rhyad, or Ryadh) is scrapped. They did play the song in 2002, quite a few times, in Asia and Europe. Most of the songs played back then are played now as well (IRS, Blues, they played Maddy a couple of times), but this one (and Silkworms) isn't. Telling sign to me.

I think the final version will be very diffrent to the version we've heard played live.

it`s on the setlist as a "special" : ok:

Which might be a telling sign to us.

IRS was never played in 2002, to my knowledge.

The wails often sounded off key in 2002, and the vocals weren't that good.  The 1/1/01 version was a strong vocal performance but unfortunately the quality of the recordings from that show aren't very good.  The best performance of the song to date is marred by a weak recording.  And I can see from some of the 2002 versions why people woudn't like or be excited about the song

With the amount of material they've recorded, I'd be surprised if they didn't.  Once Chinese Democracy hits the shelves, a lot of the pressure will be off Axl.  He's spent a long time perfecting CD to make what in his mind is the best record he can make.  After that, there will be a lot less pressure and I think they'll release a couple more albums within the 5-6 years following CD.  They have already recorded a ton of material and are currently working on new songs.  After CD is finished they'll have at least 2 more albums worth of material recorded

rhiad and silkworms suck

but 'oh my god' is AMAZING !