Katarina Benzova
Guns N’ Roses with Slash on lead guitar? “Not in this life time.” At least that’s what Axl Rose said back in 2012 when asked about a potential reunion with the band’s original members. Fast forward four years and there they are sharing a stage before sold out arenas under the GNR banner. This is the first time since 1993 that three of the original members – front man Rose, lead guitarist Slash, and bassist Duff McKagan – have delivered their eardrum-bursting rock n’ roll together.
Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboard) joined the three legends to finish out the group.
After all these years it’s a miracle that they’re even alive after all the carnage and chaos of the L.A.
metal scene they spawned from in the 1980s.They quickly became one of the world’s most raucous, and successful, rock bands. During that time they amassed an impressive and dedicated fan base that has been sorely missing its rock n’ roll fix since ’93.
GNR’s set list encompassed all the hits that fans have been craving to hear live once more. No doubt the demographics have changed since the last tour. Instead of long-haired rebel rousers, the event sported all age groups. Many of the 40,000 in attendance at the Georgia Dome were in diapers the last time an authentic GNR show toured.
Among the history of decadence that the band has, they also are known for their tardiness. That frame of mind seems to have gone out the window along with Axl’s previous certainty that the band would never reunite. Guns N’ Roses has been taking the stage on this tour on time, even early for some gigs.
That’s not a bad idea considering they put on a jam-packed set that goes non-stop for over two and a half hours. The Georgia Dome set list included:
It's So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Chinese Democracy
Welcome to the Jungle
Double Talkin' Jive
Estranged
Live and Let Die
Rocket Queen
You Could Be Mine
You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory/Raw Power
This I Love
Civil War
Coma
Band intros into Slash solo - Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From The Godfather/Andy Williams)
Sweet Child O' Mine
Out Ta Get Me
Jam ("Wish You Were Here/Layla”)
November Rain
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Nightrain
Encore:
Jam/Angie/Patience
The Seeker
Paradise City
The band sounded great. They didn’t look too bad either. Like most men in their 50s, Axl has put on a bit of the middle age spread. But his vocal chords are still in perfect pitch. He hit all the high notes to their now classic hits. Slash seems not to have really changed at all since the good ole days – as far as one can tell beneath his signature black top hat perched atop of a jungle of curly black hair, standing behind his screaming Gibson Les Paul. Duff McKagan laid down excellent bass riffs throughout the night and took the microphone for a cover of Iggy and the Stooges’ “Raw Power.”
As the last sets of pyro flamed out to the chorus of “Paradise City” it was clear that we should never count something out too soon. Guns N’ Roses has come back to the stage where they belong.