2007.06.29 - Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand

Guns N' Roses set to rock Auckland

By Joanna Hunkin

Guns N' Roses are set to rock Auckland's Vector Arena this June in a special one-night-only concert.

The infamous rockers will come to New Zealand for the first time since 1993, as part of the Chinese Democracy World Tour.

They will play the 12,200 capacity stadium on Friday, June 29th.

Tickets to the show will go on sale on Monday, April 30th at 9 AM through TicketMaster.

The band will be joined by two special guests - former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach and Australian blues rockers, Rose Tattoo.

Gun N' Roses last played in New Zealand to a crowd of 52,000 at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.

Guns N’ Roses Announce Their Only NZ Date

Finally The Long Wait Is Over
The return of GUNS N’ ROSES

Believe the hype. Guns N’ Roses are back. The Chinese Democracy World Tour and another awesome moment in musical history is upon us. Sit down, strap in and hold on… it’s gonna be one hell of a ride.

After 14 years, the biggest and baddest band in the world, the rock’n’roll machine known as Guns N’ Roses, is set to return to New Zealand shores in June as part of their mammoth Chinese Democracy World Tour.

This will be the first time New Zealand audiences have seen the band since their legendary 1993 performances at Mt Smart Stadium (52,000 tickets sold). Guns N’ Roses will play just one show in Auckland on Friday 29 June at the new Vector Arena; there will be no other New Zealand dates. Tickets go on sale Monday 30 April.

2006 saw Guns N’ Roses perform over 70 concerts all over the world to rave reviews. With the release of the highly anticipated and long awaited Chinese Democracy album imminent, 2007 promises to be the time that Guns N’ Roses reclaim their throne as the world’s most dangerous band. Lead vocalist W. Axl Rose, guitarists Robin Finck, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboard players Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman, and drummer Frank Ferrer are a rock n’ roll spectacular that have to be experienced to be believed.

Guns N’ Roses special guests for the show will be none other than former Skid Row singer, the irrepressible SEBASTIAN BACH and Australia’s ROSE TATTOO.

Skid Row were the main support act for the legendary Mt Smart performance, and since then Bach has remained in the public eye through a series of acclaimed musical roles, a part in the popular television series Gilmore Girls, and more recently, his controversial appearances in the reality TV show Supergroup. The vocalist did a world tour last year to packed out shows, and with his new band in tow, Bach promises to deliver the goods all over again.

ROSE TATTOO fronted by legendary Aussie Rocker ‘Angry Anderson’ are back after recently finishing their sell-out “BLOOD BROTHERS” tour of Europe. The Tatts are set to rip it up onstage once again.

GUNS N’ ROSES
CHINESE DEMOCRACY WORLD TOUR
Friday 29 June AUCKLAND Vector Arena
TICKETS ON SALE 9:00am MONDAY 30 APRIL THROUGH TICKETMASTER

Guns 'n' Roses at Vector Arena

By: Rebecca Barry

It will never be the same. But no one here - not even the bogan chick spewing over the railing or the teens in their ironic bandanas or the politely seated older fans - expects this strange incarnation of Guns'n'Roses to fully transport them to the 80s. You have to use your illusion.

Axl Rose, now 45 and the only original member of GnR, is almost unrecognisable with his rotund frame, ridiculous corn-row braids and shades. Backed by seven rock ring-ins, (including long-term guitarist Robin Finck and keyboardist Dizzy Reed) and booming fire balls that erupt from behind the drum kit, he belts out the thrilling opener, Welcome to the Jungle. It's 11.45pm.

Rose does all the characteristic moves - spinning with his mic stand, bobbing from side to side and running, faux-recklessly, across the stage. But he moves in a more considered way. He calls himself the "kinder, gentler Axl", and at one point, stops the music to ensure no one is getting crushed in the mosh. When he holds the mic skywards and gives his first "cry-eee-eyee" on Live and Let Die, he almost looks like a gospel singer.

Pity he doesn't quite sound like one. It's not until Sweet Child O' Mine that his squally rock howl really makes an impression. When he's not getting the crowd to sing the chorus, he gives a heartfelt performance of Knockin' on Heaven's Door.

Elsewhere though, that snakey vocal is a little swamped, and new songs from his promised but not-yet-delivered Chinese Democracy album wash over an indifferent crowd.

The ring-ins play the hits with the accuracy of a practiced house band: It's So Easy, Mr Brownstone and, when the grand piano is wheeled out, November Rain.

It's when they make the show about their own rock theatrics that things start to get messy. There are torturously long and flamboyant solos from Finck and Reed, and what's with the Bob Marley covers? Pink did Redemption Songs a few weeks ago; this time it's a naff duet by the two guitarists, as Rose disappears into the wings again.

By the time support act Sebastian Bach reappears for a guest turn the crowd are restless for a hit. They get it from Patience, Night Train, and, in the encore, Paradise City.

Does it feel as dangerous as it once was? Hell no. But it's still fun, if a little freaky, to go back in time.

As the tired Auckland crowd heads home just after 2am - a crowd Rose once thought of as one of the "rowdiest" he'd encountered - you have to wonder if his late stage appearance was rock'n'roll arrogance or a sensible decision from a former hellraiser who has well and truly grown up.