2017.02.07 - QSAC Stadium, Brisbane, Australia

Guns N’ Roses reunion worth the wait

FANS have waited more than 20 years to see Guns N Roses perform together again in Australia and the band didn’t disappoint.

By Sam Kelton

FOR years music lovers have been given gifts from the gods in the form of reunion tours.

The Eagles froze hell over, Fleetwood Mac dispelled the Rumours, The Beach Boys brushed away the Kokomo era for some Good Vibrations and Led Zeppelin gave us their Celebration Day.

Now Guns N’ Roses, arguably one of rock’s dangerous bands, have surprised the world with their reunion — aptly titled the Not In This Lifetime tour.

Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagen — the kingpins of the debaucherous LA strip have finally after more than 20 years taken the stage again as Hollywood’s greatest export since, well, Hollywood.

For years Australia has been treated to Axl Rose’s hired guns supporting the much maligned Chinese Democracy and Slash touring with Myles Kennedy performing all the hits that sound tracked our youth alongside his equally impressive solo material.

Bucketheads and Snake Pits may have provided respite to the casual listeners but for the fans who funnelled out of Eastern Creek and Calder Park in 1993 this is the tour they have been waiting for.

As enjoyable as both these acts were in their own right, it just wasn’t quite as dangerous and palpable as hearing the magic the group conjured up on that Appetite for Destruction cassette or the Illusions double set ... together.

It’s preposterous to think that it has taken 24 years for the original members to return to Australia, however that is now a redundant footnote in the band’s history with the rockers’ ensuing triumphant 2017 Australian tour.

Since reforming at Coachella last year it was just a matter of when they would bring the show down to Australia to give us a taste of the Not in This Lifetime tour.

Crowds gathered early in anticipation for the packed show at QSAC Stadium, many like myself and my best mate from high school, who thought this day would never come.

When the bass line rang out for It’s So Easy, it was party time.

The packed stadium belted out every word — particularly Axl’s iconic spoken line of “Why don’t you just f*** off!” and it was a killer opening to what would be a career spanning set and a lesson in rock and roll delivered in most part by the one and only Slash.

The band are on their A game, Slash nailing every note, squeal and solo down to a tee while Axl poured himself into the performance running around the large stage yet still managing to hold the big notes showing up many front men his junior.

The years of yoga and clean living has clearly rubbed off on Duff McKagen who had energy to burn as he belted out the powerful bass lines and trademark backing vocals.

The setlist, similar to that of the New Zealand tour covered everything from Appetite for Destruction up until Chinese Democracy and while many question that material — seeing Slash perform Chinese Democracy and highly underrated Better which was written after his departure — it was a seamless transition that had even the sceptics head banging along.

Mr Brownstone, Estranged, You Could Be Mine and fan favourite Used to Love Her followed — there was barely time to come up for air for many.

Use Your Illusion 1’s rollicking closure Coma was menacing as was Civil War where the double guitar made an appearance.

The band were unbelievably tight pulling off the iconic sound they created exactly thirty years ago and as a refreshing change of late, left the political talk at the door for a rock and roll show ... plain and simple.

For even the casual fan — this show is two and a half hours of power with no dull moments and just when you think it can’t get any better you get November Rain, Paradise City and Sweet Child O’ Mine.

That encore alone is worth the current asking price for a ticket.

It took them long enough to come back and as it turns out all we needed was a just a little patience ...

Guns N' Roses' Drummer Jams With Brisbane Musicians

Written by Gareth Bryant

When you venture into West End, Brisbane, you never know who you'll meet or end up jamming with.

Just ask 4101 resident and local legend Ofa Fanaika. The Chocolate Strings, Captain Dreamboat musician has reignited the regular Sunday West End jams with CHURCH happening every Sunday afternoon at The Bearded Lady.

A couple of Sundays ago (5 February), Ofa was at the bar during the intermission for the very first CHURCH when she began chatting with an American man. Unbeknown to Ofa at the time, she was chatting with Frank Ferrer aka the Guns N' Roses drummer.

She invited him up onto The Bearded Lady stage to jam with the local musicians of 4101. “I asked him what the name of his band was called, and he said a rock band called 'The Gunners' and asked if I'd heard of 'em. I said nah... but that doesn't mean much.

"I'm a bit out of the loop with these kinds of things. Always heaps of rad stuff happening in the neighbourhood, so I get a bit sheltered here.”

When 'Franky' is called up he starts laying out a shuffle where the rest of the musicians start vibing on it, fleshing out some gospel feels where Ofa comes in to lay down some vocals. “I was definitely feeling it. So I improvised a bunch of lyrics and got deep into it. Was an experience to remember.”

Kel Timmons (Bankrupt Billionaires) who later joins in on vocals as the jam progressed was amazed by Franky's appearance. “I know we have something special in West End. It's not unusual that big name artists (with spirit) sniff us out when they're on tour here. They see it too.

“I've seen it many times with many artists that have been to many places. That's how I know it's not just bias. People get impressed and uplifted.”

Ofa wishes to encourage musicians to come along with their instruments to these Sunday sessions and join in on the amazing talent the 4101 holds. Because you never know what is going to come out of West End: it might just be the drummer from Guns N’ Roses.