2002.08.23 - Carling Weekend Leeds Festival, Leeds, England

G N' R TO PLAY LEEDS

Legendary rock gods GUNS 'N ROSES are to play this year's CARLING LEEDS FESTIVAL on August 23, it was revealed today.

It will be the band's first UK gig for nine years and comes in the run-up to the release of their long-awaited new album 'Chinese Democracy'.

It's not yet been confirmed whether or not they will also play the Reading leg of the festival, which also takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The full line-up will not be officially announced until Monday evening (April 29).

Guns 'N Roses have had a troubled history of late and cancelled a European tour for the second time last year.

The cancellation was blamed on delays to the release of the new album, which frontman Axl Rose has been working on for the past five years. It will be the band's first volume of new material to be released since 1991.

However, the band did manage to play a couple of gigs at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe on January 29 and 30 as part of their faltering comeback campaign. Almost a year before that, they'd played a one-off gig at Brazil's Rock In Rio festival and had also played again at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe on New Year's Eve 2000.

The full Carling Reading and Leeds Festival line-ups will be revealed by NME.COM on Monday, along with that of sister festival the Glasgow Gig On The Green.

CARLING WEEKEND BILL REVEALED

NME.COM can exclusively announce the line-up for this year’s CARLING WEEKEND FESTIVAL – and there’s a few surprises.

NME readers’ favourite band The Strokes, winners of three NME Carling Awards this year, are to co-headline the main stage of the festival which takes place in Reading and Leeds over the Bank Holiday weekend of August 23-26.

The Strokes weren’t planning to return to the UK this year, but they have been persuaded to play the Carling Weekend and this will be the only chance to see the New Yorkers again in 2002. By August, the band should also be ready to unveil more new songs which are destined for the follow-up to their hit debut ‘Is This It’. The Strokes and Pulp are the co-headliners at Reading on Friday (August 23) and Leeds on Saturday (August 24), with Weezer and The White Stripes also appearing on those days.

The real surprise is the long threatened return of legendary rock band Guns 'N Roses, who are co-headlining the Carling Weekend at Leeds on Friday, August 23. Due to other commitments, though, Guns 'N Roses will not play Reading.

Jane's Addiction, another rock giant from the past, are also confirmed to play the festival – an exclusive appearance and the band’s first show in the UK for a decade.

Prodigy also return to play their first UK shows in four years, co-headlining Reading on Sunday (August 25) and Leeds on Friday (August 23). Their long-awaited new single, set to be ‘Baby’s Got A Temper’, is due for release in July. US rockers The Offspring appear on the same bill, co-headlining at Reading only.

Foo Fighters headline Reading on Saturday (August 24) and Leeds on Sunday (August 25). Also appearing on this bill are Muse (with their only UK shows this year), Ash, Sum 41, A, Less Than Jake and Andrew WK, with further special guests to be announced.

On the Carling Weekend bill for Prodigy, The Offspring and Guns 'N Roses, NME.COM can also reveal that Slipknot, Incubus and NOFX will be playing.

The headliners of the Evening Session Stage are confirmed as Feeder, as tipped on NME.COM, Spiritualized and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The first act announced for the Dance Stage is The Streets.

Tickets are priced £90 plus booking fee for the weekend, including camping and parking. Day tickets are priced £39 plus booking fee. For tickets call the NME Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663. Calls are charged at national standard rate.

LICENCE REFUSED FOR LEEDS LEG OF CARLING WEEKEND
The event is thrown into doubt by the decision...

The future of the LEEDS leg of the CARLING WEEKEND FESTIVAL has been thrown into doubt after its application for a licence was rejected.

This year’s festival is set to take place at Temple Newsam Park in conjunction with the Reading leg over the weekend of August 23-25. The highlight of the event is a headline appearance from Guns ‘N Roses, who are not scheduled to appear in the south.

However, the licence application has been refused.

In a statement, the acting chair of the licensing and regulatory panel, councillor Graham Hyde explained: “The panel are concerned that, at previous applications for a public entertainment licence for the Leeds Festival at Temple Newsam, certain assurances were given that improvements would be made to the control and management of the site.

“It is clear…that these improvements were not made. The Panel has no confidence that the assurances made today will be carried through and, therefore, the application is refused.”

Last year’s Leeds festival was marred by violence, with police in protective equipment being called in to control people throwing “stones and missiles” on the final night of the event.

Trouble started after a core of 30 people in a festival campsite set fire to three toilet blocks shortly after the end of the headline band at 11.30pm.

Local pressure groups had been petitioning to block the festival taking place. According to the local Yorkshire Post newspaper, the Friends of Temple Newsam Park, residents and councillors penned a letter to the licensing panel requesting the festival be held in another location.

On councillor, Lee Benson, wrote: “Members of the licensing panel will be aware of the repeated violent conflicts that once again occurred at the 2001 event and I would request that the licensing panel give serious consideration to the risk of this being repeated.”

Another letter of complaint read: “As a resident I am affected every year by the appalling mess created by the people attending the August concerts. There is litter everywhere, it takes weeks to clear the park… The noise is a nuisance, often it is booming out until after midnight.”

The Friends of Temple Newsam Park concluded: “Many people now believe this type of large-scale event is causing a great deal of distress to the environment and it was high time it was stopped.”

An immediate appeal has been lodged to the Magistrate’s Court. Melvin Benn, Managing Director of the Mean Fiddler, who organise the festivals, said in a statement they feel they should be judged on their preparations for 2002, not the events of last year.

He claimed: “The preparations for this year’s event have gone well. The Police, the Fire Service, the Ambulance Service and all the Council Officers have raised no objections to the event because of the thoroughness of the preparation that have gone into this year’s application.

“However, the issues of last year have played on the minds of the Councillors and local residents and I believe the Councillors have judged last year’s event, rather than this year’s application. It is an emotional judgement, but I am certain will be overturned at the Magistrate’s Court….I am certain that Leeds Festival goers need not worry about the future of the event. It will go ahead.”

At the time of going to press, tickets for the festival remain on sale.

Leeds Festival Cancelled?

This year's Leeds Festival may be cancelled after promoters Mean Fiddler were refused a permit to host the mammoth music event which features the only UK appearance by Guns N' Roses.
Local residents were apparently appalled at the state festival site, Temple Newsam Park, was left in after last year's event and the council are withholding the necessary permit.

"The preparations for this year's event have gone well," said Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Mean Fiddler in an official statement. "The Police, the Fire Service, the Ambulance Service and all the Council Officers have raised no objections to the event because of the thoroughness of the preparation that have gone into this year's application.

"However, the issues of last year have played on the minds of the Councillors and local residents and I believe the Councillors have judged last year's event, rather than this year's application. It is an emotional judgement, but I am certain will be overturned at the Magistrate's Court. In fact, I am unsure what reason Leeds City Council will come up with to defend this bizarre decision and I am certain that Leeds Festival goers need not worry about the future of the event. It will go ahead."

Apparently the council have offered to withdraw their objections if departed GN'R axeman Slash rejoins the band!

LEEDS ON

The CARLING WEEKEND in LEEDS will take place at TEMPLE NEWSAM this year, NME.COM can reveal.

The future of the northern leg of the Carling Weekend was decided at a hearing today (July 24). The licence application for 2002 was originally rejected amid vociferous complaints from local pressure groups.

However, organisers Mean Fiddler lodged an appeal to Leeds Magistrates' Court. At this hearing, a decision was made as to whether the event can take place at Temple Newsam Park in conjunction with Reading over the weekend of August 23-25.

Moments ago, a spokesperson for the festival called NME.COM to confirm that the appeal had been successful.

In a statement, Mean Fiddler Managing Director, Melvin Benn said: "This is obviously fantastic news for the festival and for the thousands of fans that have already bought the tickets and those that no doubt will rush to do so now. The confidence that the fans have shown in our ability to overturn what they also saw as a bizarre decision was very heartening and they and we can now look forward to a great weekend."

Guns ‘n’ Roses (Main Stage, Friday)

Right up until Axl Rose finally takes the stage just after 11pm the rumours are flying - but apparently he’s not. He’s not coming. He’s here but he won’t go on. He’s in London. So when the video screen on stage flashes on with images of vice, crime and other nastiness and the new line up of Guns ‘n’ Roses takes to the stage, the massive crowd forgets the wait instantly and gets down to some good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. It’s 1991 again! Kicking off with ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, Axl looks just like he did ten years ago, wearing that same red bandana, while his voice is clearly on top form, all the high notes hit effortlessly and with flair.

The new band (Axl being the only original member) show they have all the talent of their predecessors, with Buckethead entertaining by showing off his guitar tricks and bizarre robotic dancing. G ‘n’ R know exactly what we want from tonight and play through a string of old favourites, Axl bonding with the crowd and obviously very pleased with himself (and rightly so!).

Highlights of the show include a literally explosive ‘Live and Let Die’, audience favourite ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, and a truly amazing rendition of ‘November Rain’ which makes everything in the world seem ok for a moment or two. Rounding off with ‘Paradise City’, Guns ‘n’ Roses have pulled off something very big tonight, this their first UK date since 1993. Triumphant, magical and magnificent.

- Katy Bush

Leeds 2002 - Friday
23 August 2002

As it reaches curfew time (an hour and a half after they were due to take the stage), the headliners have still not appeared. In fact, there have been rumours for weeks that they would never appear. Why, they haven't appeared for over nine years. And then, in a sudden flash, the opening bars of 'Welcome to the Jungle' burst forth like a ravenous beast returning to reclaim its territory. For a split second, the crowd is silent - stunned. Then 50,000 voices cry out in unison. This is it. The celebration of celebrations. Up there with World Cup Victories and Moon Landings. It's really happening. Guns N' Roses are back!

Axl Rose wastes no time in bee-lining it up the front of stage ramp, and takes his trademark stance, foot on the monitor, beaming like a child in a Disney Land advert, beneath his red bandana and American Football top. My god, it's 1992. The illusion is only betrayed by the man's size upgrade, dreadlocks, fine-tuned voice and of course, this new cast of characters.

'It's So Easy', 'Mr. Brownstone' and 'Live and Let Die' follow in quick-fire succession. The band are immaculately tight. Perhaps this is the problem. Slash and his old lot, for all their glory, were a ramshackle bunch live, at the best of times. That was part of the charm, surely. These new people are technically superb musicians, and the 3 guitarists juggle Slash's solos note for note, but it's missing the soul that made them so much more special than the rest of the late eighties hard rock crop.

This is going through the motions on a big scale, and it's a feeling I can only liken to sleeping with an ex-partner. You've both moved on, and the magic is not there now - it's out of context. It's all a bit weird. Regrettable, jeopardising those cherished memories of the good times. Well, that's until they kick into 'Think About You', the one you always skipped on your Appetite CD. But wait a minute - it sounds bloody good! Better than it did originally. At last, on a song that the old band never played live, the new boys are coming out of their shells, and showing us that they have a sound of their own. It's post-modern with a funky edge and almost Matt Bellamy-esque guitar tones.

Having found their feet and earned our acceptance, the band throw themselves headlong into the rest of the set, which is nothing less than blistering. 'You Could Be Mine' outclasses any previous live verson, and now they are more relaxed, the transcribed solos give way to some impressive, playful improvisation.

Rose is, unsurprisingly, in excellent spirits. "Look at all these f**king people!", he laughs, before congratulating us for discounting the no-show rumours.

How we rejoice when that legendary confrontational spirit emerges. Past midnight, they have only played half the set, but the promotors and city council want them offstage, because it is improper to enjoy oneself at such an hour amongst a large public gathering, don't you know.

"I didn't come all the way to England to be told to go home by some asshole!", fires Rose [referring to festival organiser Melvin Benn], "Tell you what - I don't want to be accused of inciting a riot, but if you stay here, we'll stay, and we'll see what happens." For a moment, there is an uncomfortable air of confrontation. Afterall, this sort of thing hasn't happened for nearly a decade. Live outdoor music events are now slick, respectable affairs. Axl's ear to ear grin suggests that he's missed all this as much as we have, and grown men are crying with joy.

As it happens, the council agrees to extend the festival's licence so the band can play on. Not so much as a gesture of good nature, rather that a riot could prove rather expensive. So Guns N' Roses go down as the only band in history to mess with fearsome promotors Mean Fiddler and emerge victorious. What an amazing night this is turning out to be.

'Knocking on Heaven's Door' is restored to its reggae roots, although without the "I'll sing one then you sing one" bits, it's a little flat. New songs 'Madagascar' and 'Chinese Democracy', however, showcase the new band in their full glory, complete with post-modern/ sequencer sheen and a fresh, soulful quality to Axl's voice.

As the dying strains of 'Paradise City' ring out, the truth is well and truly out there. It may not be life as we know it, but there is certainly life after Slash. I have been converted. Shame on me for my initial doubts. Can't wait to catch them again.

Let's meet the band...

Buckethead (guitar): A disturbing figure with an expressionless white-painted face and a KFC bucket on his head, this man has fast fingers and looks like an undead Kevin Shields from Primal Scream. He even gets a solo spot, where he pulls off a dazzling, yet surreal 'nunchukka spinning' and robotic dancing display.

Robin Finck (guitar): Formerly of Nine Inch Nails, this odd looking but strangely endearing character looks like he'd be more at home in the Marilyn Manson band. Gothed up to the eyeballs with tight one-piece zipped up suit, the tall, skinny Finck struts around the stage with style and grace, and his playing is phenominal, whether it's sleezy blues soloing or weaving futuristic sci-fi noise.

Richard Fortus (guitar): The newest and youngest addition, and the only human-looking guitarist, Fortus is Izzy Stradlin on speed, with the stonesey vibe, chopping his telecaster like a man possessed by Keith Richards.

Tommy Stinson (bass): The only let-down of the new band, Stinson is invisible, save for his black and white checkered suit. Must think he's in Robby Williams' band.

Brain (drums): Not exceptional, but definitely more Adler than Sorum.

Dizzy Reed (Keyboards): The only other member besides Rose to play with the old band. Dizzy is obviously so far under Axl's thumb, that he is sporting the same silly dreadlocks as his master.

The full set list was:

'Welcome To The Jungle'
'It's So Easy'
'Mr. Brownstone'
'Live And Let Die'
'Think About You'
'You Could Be Mine'
'Sweet Child O' Mine'
'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'
'Madagascar'
'November Rain'
'Out Ta Get Me'
'Rocket Queen'
'Chinese Democracy'
'Patience'
'Nightrain'
'Paradise City'

Guns N' Roses bring Leeds to its knees!
24 August 2002

There's only one band that could so effortlessly make underdogs of The Prodigy, and bully the promotors into jeopardising the already delicate future of a festival, so that they can perform a full set in light of technical delays. GNR play until 1am!

Despite a line-up that would rank as exceptional, without their presence (Incubus, Slipknot, Puddle of Mud, The Offspring - The Prodigy's first English appearance since 1998!), there was but one band dominating the proceedings at the first day of the Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival 2002. From the t-shirts, to the campsite stereos, to the abundance of bandanas and top hats in the crowd, to the backstage gossip to the comedy tent banter, the entire site was overshadowed by a heavy fog of anticipaction.

Indeed, this marked the first UK appearance by Guns N' Roses for nine years, and represented the unveiling of an all-new line-up. The Leeds site was packed to bursting point with people of all ages wanting to be a part of this momentous event - from the die hard nostalgia junkies to the new metal kids (who pilfered their big brothers' record collections to hear this stuff, in the same way that their big brothers nicked their dad's Led Zeppelin), to the plain curious who simply wished to see if there is life after Slash.

From the moment the band arrived, the show effectively began, as the cavalcade of no less than eight police-escorted black stretch limosines cruised onto the site, disappearing into the expansive sealed-off 'GNR only' area occupying half of the backstage compound.

Due to 'technical difficulties' they took the stage an hour and a half later than schedule, kicking off with a short film intro at 11.30pm (the normal curfew time for the event!). The set was virtually identical to that of the recent Hong Kong shows, relying heavily on material from the Appetite for Destruction, with the inclusion of 2 new songs, 'Madagascar' and 'Chinese Democracy', title track from the forthcoming album. Rose was notable for his lack of costume changes (he donned black leather trousers and an American football top throughout) and his voice which was more consistent and controlled than ever. The new band added a slick new sheen and professional tightness to the older songs.

The controversy kicked off mid-way through the set, when Rose announced, "Looks like this is going to be an interesting night. I have just been informed by Leeds city council and the promotors [Mean Fiddler] that they want me to end the show [due to the time constraints resulting from the earlier delays]. Now, I don't want to be accused of inciting a riot, but I didn't come all the way to England to be told to go home again! I've had nothing but shit from the press here. Axl this, Axl that. Anyway, if you stay here, we'll keep playing and we'll see what happens".

With the festival's future at this venue already in jeopardy, due to local campaigns that nearly prevented its licence this year, the promotors were instantly thrust into a very difficult position. In 1992, riots broke out in St. Louis (Rose was charged with incitement) and Montreal after GNR cut their sets short.

Obviously, it was decided that pulling the power just wasn't worth the risk, and Axl subsequently announced, "They're going to let us carry on. I want to thank whoever was responsible for that".

Rose reacted to a Virtual Festivals crew member's chants of "We want Slash" by quipping, "Up my arse, that's where Slash is. Fuck off, go home". The band eventually left the stage after 1am - unheard of for a British Festival.

GUNS UK COMEBACK DELAYED

GUNS N' ROSES show at LEEDS CARLING WEEKEND was delayed by over an hour last night resulting in a "very substantial overrun" for festival organisers to deal with.
The band were due headline the Main Stage, due on at 10pm following The Prodigy. However, the stage was running approximately half an hour late, fuelling rumours whether the band would actually appear.

They did, but not until after 11pm - over an hour behind schedule. The Gunners then played a set running to almost two hours, not finishing until just before 1am.

Their show, the band's first in the UK in almost a decade, was similar to that on other nights in the tour, featuring a small amount of new songs and their greatest hits.

Eyewitnesses claim that at about 12.15am, just before 'November Rain', Axl announced the council and promoters wanted him to finish the show. He said he didn't want any trouble, but he still wanted to play another 7-8 songs.

He added that he had travelled a long way for the dates, and didn't want to disappoint - much to the crowd's joy.

They played two more songs, when it was announced they had been given more time, and the show continued without disruption, ending with 'Paradise City'.

Melvin Benn, a spokesperson for the festival said in a statement: "It was a very unusual night which due to technical problems resulted in a very substantial overrun. We took a good number of steps to minimise the impact this would have on the local environment and we do not expect this to happen again.

"In view of the many thousands of fans that had waited diligently for the first Guns N' Roses appearance in nine years, and the potential consequences of that meant an overrun became the only option."

Guns 'N Roses headline London Docklands Arena on Monday (August 26).

Leeds – 50,000 fans cheer as Axl screams for the show to continue

Guns N’ Roses wish it to be known that Saturday night’s appearance in front of the massive sell out crowd was delayed through logistical problems beyond their control.

The band were contracted to play a 2 hour set and scheduled to take the stage at 10pm, at which point The Prodigy were still on stage. Despite concerted attempts from the festival organizers to make up time, the show continued to run late. The running delay was further compounded by the vast amount of equipment between the two bands. As a result the Guns N’ Roses crew were not able to take control of the stage until 10.30 pm to begin their preparations for the band’s set.

In consequence, Axl and band did not take the stage until just past 11.00pm – so the show overran the curfew set by local authorities, but nevertheless they continued to play to an ecstatic audience who witnessed several new songs which included ‘Madagascar’ and ‘The Blues’ in an electrifying set which included classics such as ‘Welcome To the Jungle’, ‘Mr. Brownstone', ‘You Could Be Mine’ and ‘Sweet Child of Mine’.

Guns N’ Roses would like to thank the promoters, The Mean Fiddler, for making the correct decision in allowing the show to continue in the interests of public safety.

I would like to take this opportunity to let everyone know about the "behind the scenes" events at Leeds regarding GN'R. From the first band all the way through the day, the set changes kept getting longer and longer. Prodigy was supposed to go on until 9.30pm, but didn't end up leaving the stage until 10.10pm.

This letter is not to make excuses for Gn'R taking time to get to the stage. We had out normal 45-minute set change. This letter is to thank one man. Festival organiser Melvin Been. He risked going to jail - and they were not idle threats from the local authorities - if he did not shut down the show. Myself and my partner Merck, and our production manager were in his office during the GN'R set, and I saw this man, who had been a gentleman to us from the inception of our committing to play the event, in great emotional turmoil and unrest. He faced the very real threat for being prosecuted, and the very real possibility of losing any future chance of ever having another Leeds festival. He also knew that if we shut down the show, the fans would most likely riot, and another rock'n'roll tragedy would be the headlines today.

Readers, if you enjoyed the festival as much as I did, I urge you to do what you can to keep Leeds alive. The whole event was one of the best bills I've bee involved in. And to Melvin, thank you for making the choice you did. You took a huge personal risk to make sure your fans were firstly safe, and entertained. Thank You.

Doug Goldstein, Co-President
Sanctuary North America,
Management Division

Guns N' Roses, Prodigy, The Offspring, Slipknot, Incubus, NOFX : Leeds Carling Weekend Main Stage

Guns N' Roses steam on over an hour late after a day of no-show rumours with 'Welcome To The Jungle'. Axl looks as big as a house, complete with bandana and dreadlock wig befitting a man so ridiculous. Meanwhile Buckethead tries to outslash Slash at every corner, and though they're little more than Axl Rose's mobile disco by now it's still attached to a juggernaut. His screech is still as blood-curdling as ever and if you squint it could be 1991.

'Sweet Child O' Mine', 'You Could Be Mine' and 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' are rolled out alongside a clutch of electronically-tinged new songs.

By 'November Rain', it's already an hour past curfew and the show has turned into a stand-off. Axl demands eight more songs, and there's little the authorities can do. The show blasts on, allowing Buckethead a five-minute solo spot and it ends as it should with 'Paradise City', fireworks and flame-throwers. No riot then, but who knows what will happen now.

***

The Prodigy don't begin well. In front of a backdrop straight out of Vegas, and Keith is less the twisted Firestarter than confused gurner.

Only Maxim carries their punk-techno freakshow with any conviction, and even that has a lot to do with his yellow contact lenses. But after 'Smack My Bitch Up' something explodes. At their bloodthirsty best, like on 'Their Law', the beats bolster the siren guitars and not the other way round. And even though their cover of 'Night Boat To Cairo' by Madness is baffling, it rocks hard enough to suspend your disbelief. By 'Poison' we're in complete awe and even 'Baby's Got A Temper' doesn't sound timid. Result!

You can always rely on The Offspring for stupid big chested rock. On form, they powerblast through an hour as beefy as Dexter's pecs.

Unbelievably, they infuse even 'Gotta Get Away' with dark soul. And even though they lose it with 'Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)' , which just sounds embarrasing next to the closing 'Self-Esteem', it's all good fun. which is the only real point.

Slipknot blast in at full throttle with a ear-crunching 'People = Shit'. The show is a scaled -down version of their arena pantomime, but the lack of pyrotechnics allows the nine-headed beast to roam even wilder. 'Purity' is demolished in an industrial drum 'n' bass racket and 'My Plague' leaves craters on the turf. This is Slipknot at their most crucial, critical mass. What happened to the Spice Girls when they started doing solo projects?

Somebody must be having a laugh placing Incubus slap in the middle of drive-time, but muscular torsos make for weedy metal, and as crowd fave 'Wish You Were Here' some things really do only work on a Californian beach. "Thank you for having us", beams Brandon Boyd, but we're not convinced that he even knows the name of the city he's playing in.

NOFX play skate-punk like it should be played, or at least like it was in the late 90s. Orange hair, green dreadlocks and slamming riffs are the order of the day, carrying their punky ska pop through the afternoon. But by the ill-advised Irish jig with powerchords they sign off you can hear Phil Lynott turn in his grave.

Their mentors Limp Bizkit aren’t even here, but Puddle Of Mudd still look they’ll always be bridesmaids. They play lumberjack metal with stadium sized holes where their souls should be, ‘Control’ rocks like a bastard, with Wes Scantlin leading a singalong of ‘she fucking hates me’. Sounds a bit distasteful after the real life accusations of wife-beating.

Only on a rock day could Hundred Reasons feel like the pure pop interlude. They could even be U2 considering the everyman anthems they shovel out. ‘Silver’ is flowering into a proper classic, and these are the most life-affirming three-part harmonies you’ll hear all weekend.

Amen gamely remind us of the days when they looked like holders of the future rock baton. Cast adrift low down the bill, Casey Chaos shows us his smiling demon freakshow is still in working order. He bitches about Axl Rose, dives off speaker stacks and debuts killer new songs like ‘Please Kill Me’. ‘The Price Of Reality’ shows that pure evil will always find a way through

Later on Hundred Reasons dedicate ‘Silver’ to the Dillinger Escape Plan, claiming they’ll be they’ll be ‘the best band you see all weekend’. Hardly, but they are the first band worth seeing all weekend. Collaborator Mike Patton isn’t here, but their singer makes up by diving topless into the crowd to a soundtrack of fabulous jab-infused metal.

Dan Martin

Leeds, Carling Festival
Temple Newsam Park, Leeds -

The Carling Festival’s reputation as one of the more corporate pop festivals is taking a battering. Logos are refreshingly thin on the ground and the festival seems actually geared to music. This year’s bill treads a fine line between acting as a barometer of pop at the moment (okay, no manufactured pop acts, but plenty of punk/pop/metal hybrids) and offering enough glimpses of history to place the music in some sort of context.

In this and every other respect, obtaining Guns ’n’ Roses for their first UK appearance in a decade is a marvellous coup. After a nervous additional 75 minute wait, sole original member Axl Rose finally dispels fears of incompetence, tantrums and the curfew and thrills the biggest crowd of the weekend. Without infamous guitarist Slash, Guns don’t cause riots anymore — they just sound like one. Blistering renditions of Welcome to the Jungle and Axl’s hilarious response to a heckler are delivered with equal raw feeling: “Where’s Slash?

He’s in my ass! Fuckhead!” Business as usual, then.

From Gunners to Guns N’ Roses

Arsenal’s physio Gary Lewin proved that football is the new rock’n’roll when he responded to an emergency call last weekend and treated the dodgy calf muscle of the lead singer of Guns N' Roses, Axel [sic] Rose. Rose pulled a calf muscle performing at the Leeds Festival last weekend and needed intensive physiotherapy to be able to take to the stage on Monday at the London Arena. Which Digger is told he did in style.

Guns N' Roses live
8.5

Minus guitarist Slash, Axl Rose brought his metal anthems to England for the first time in a decade. The NME revelled in the “sheer lunatic glory” of Guns N' Roses as they played the Leeds Carling Weekend and at London Arena. Rose's best songs, “like all great teen anthems, remain ageless”, reckoned the Observer.

The future is rosy, added the Times. “Guns-style hard rock acts such as Limp Bizkit dominate the teen market... Rose could well reclaim his vacant throne as the biggest brat on the block... This belated comeback was more fun than it had any right to be.”

Matthew Bell