2017.11.17 - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Guns N' Roses: Getting the band back together

By Matt Kelemen

They said hell would have to freeze over before they’d tour again … wait, no. That was the Eagles. We’re talking Guns N’ Roses here, and before Axl Rose invited Slash over for dinner in the spring of 2015, reunification was something that wasn’t going to happen in either of their lifetimes. “What’s clear is one of the two of us will die before a reunion,” Rose told Billboard in 2009, insinuating the fault fell on his former bandmate’s shoulders. In 2012, Slash had told Fox News in an interview, “It is not going to happen.”

The guitarist, who had last played with Guns N’ Roses on July 17, 1993, in Buenos Aires, must have really enjoyed dinner, because he’s onstage with Axl again and the Not in This Lifetime Tour is happening. It’s also shaping up to be one of the most successful tours of 2016-’17, with three-fifths of Guns N’ Roses’ classic lineup reunited for the first time since 1993. Founding member Duff McKagan, who had previously played with the band in 2014 as a temporary replacement for then-bassist Tommy Stinson, was on board, and drummer Steven Adler managed to keep time for a few shows despite a back injury that prevented him from joining full time.

Izzy Stradlin, Rose’s boyhood friend, was the only holdout from the Appetite for Destruction-era lineup. (According to a Sept. 8, 2016, tweet by Stradlin: “They didn’t want to split the loot equally. Simple as that.”) But the fans have Rose, Slash and McKagan all onstage again, and that’s more than good enough. The reunion kicked off with an April 2016 show at the Troubador in L.A., then Rose broke his leg before the band officially opened the tour with two shows at T-Mobile Arena.

He wound up singing while seated in a customized “throne” once used by a hobbled Dave Grohl, but the easily agitated Axl Rose of old appeared to be gone as he barely contained himself in his seat and received critical accolades for his vocal performance. The good reviews kept coming as Gun N’ Roses headlined Coachella, bringing Angus Young onstage to play AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” and “Riff Raff.” They also played most of the covers that are included in current set lists. The Damned’s “New Rose,” Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” the Misfits “Attitude” and Glenn Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” have all been rendered in GNR fashion.

They’ve also been including Wings’ “Live and Let Die” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” longtime GNR staples that were recorded for Use Your Illusion I and II. Sets have been spanning the gamut of the band’s catalog, with “It’s So Easy” first on deck and “Paradise City” closing out the double-marathon concerts, which have been running for more than three hours and, uncharacteristically, starting nearly on time. The only wish unfulfilled for fans is that the classic lineup would record again. Maybe one more dinner at Axl’s house can lead to that happening.

T-Mobile Arena, 8 p.m. Nov. 17, starting at $64 plus tax and fee. 888.929.7849

Gunners blaze: Guns N’ Roses rock hard at T-Mobile Arena

By Jason Bracelin

The song was prefaced by a word with as many definitions as the band singing it had guises.

“Illusion: Perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature.”

Said passage was one of many lines that flashed across T-Mobile Arena’s video screens Friday as Guns N’ Roses launched into “Estranged,” a brooding ballad propelled by an arcing, aching guitar line distilling the pain of the song’s protagonist.

The tune is from 1991’s “Use Your Illusion II,” an album with a title directly linking the song to its preceding citation.

But there were indirect connotations here, too: One could equate the above use of ‘illusion’ with the version of Guns N’ Roses that toured for over a decade beginning in the early aughts, when frontman Axl Rose was the only original member of the band.

That group played hundreds of gigs, released a coolly received album, 2008’s “Chinese Democracy,” and kept Guns N’ Roses alive, if only in name.

Everything changed in April 2016, when Guns N’ Roses launched its current “Not in This Lifetime Tour,” which began in earnest in this very venue, reuniting Rose with bassist Duff McKagan and guitarist Slash from the band’s classic lineup.

These Gunners have been selling out stadiums and arenas ever since on what has become one of the biggest rock tours ever.

So, what’s different with the new, old Guns N’ Roses this go ’round?

Nowadays, menace comes with a smile.

A sly grin crept across Rose’s face as he delivered the snarling chorus to “Double Talkin’ Jive” over a locomotive guitar shuffle. His grin broadened widely upon the conclusion of “Live and Let Die,” as he held his mic stand aloft over his head, like a weightlifter gripping a barbell after a successful clean and jerk.

This was no small thing. In their late-’80s, early-’90s heyday, Guns N’ Roses became one of the world’s biggest hard rock acts, but seldom seemed to really enjoy themselves. The band’s well-documented struggles with substance abuse and internal acrimony frequently turned triumph into tumult.

Who knows whether that acrimony is truly past. Rose and Slash interacted little during the more-than-3½-hour show, except when Rose briefly placed his hand on Slash’s shoulder during “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and “Better.”

Nevertheless, the Gunners showed glimmers of joy. Slash sometimes spun himself in giddy circles and McKagan beamed while belting out the Misfits’ “Attitude.”

And the chemistry was still there — it had to be, as the band seldom played these songs straight. Slash, in particular, took liberties on verbose, expressive solos for songs like “Rocket Queen” and “Prostitute.”

Rose, meanwhile, performed like a veteran athlete who knows that, because of the passing of time, he can no longer get by on physical feats alone.

So he picked his spots, singing portions of some songs, like “Better” and “Coma,” in a lower register, his voice thin and strained when trying to sustain his old upper-octave aplomb.

But Rose also knew when to go big, hitting the high notes out of the park on a standout “Nighttrain,” singing with gusto on a tight “My Michelle” and ably scaling the operatic peaks of “Madagascar.”

Back in the day, Guns N’ Roses was all about excess, danger, a willful disregard for anyone’s demands but their own.

These days, they show up on time, smile for the cameras, rock hard and call it a night.

It’s less impulsive, more professional.

They haven’t lost their edge, they’ve just used it to cut the crap.

Five thoughts: Guns N’ Roses at T-Mobile Arena (November 17)

By Josh Bell

1. Guns N’ Roses’ former reputation for extreme tardiness (which was mainly just lead singer Axl Rose’s reputation) has turned into something like extreme punctuality, but plenty of fans clearly were caught off-guard when the band took the stage just 15 minutes after the show’s listed start time, with no opening act. The empty seats quickly filled up, though, and Rose and his bandmates played for a marathon (and somewhat exhausting) three and a half hours, ending right around the time one of their concerts might have started back in the ’90s.

2. The last time GNR was in town, in April 2016, it was for the kick-off of the still-running Not in This Lifetime semi-reunion tour, bringing Rose back together with fellow original members Slash (guitar) and Duff McKagan (bass), along with bandmates who’ve been working with Rose since Slash and McKagan left. That show was impressive, but the band has clearly gotten tighter since then, as well as increasing its stamina, sounding great from the first notes of “It’s So Easy” through the final notes of “Paradise City,” the older members meshing seamlessly with the later additions.

3. Also back in April 2016, Rose was recovering from a broken foot and performed the entire show sitting down, but this time he almost never stopped moving, and even with all the exertion, his voice still sounded fantastic. Rose’s frequent (as in, nearly every other song) mid-show breaks have become part of his mystique, but whatever he does backstage every few minutes to refresh himself, it’s worth it if it allows him to wail through epics like “Estranged” and “Coma” sounding nearly as powerful as he did 25 years ago.

4. Three and a half hours left a lot of room for a variety of material, including six songs from 2008 pre-reunion album Chinese Democracy, which were enhanced a bit by impressive lead guitar work from Slash, but there was only so much he could do for plodding dirges like “Prostitute” and “Sorry.” At least punchy rockers “Better” and the album’s title track have semi-decent hooks.

5. The band also threw in a whole bunch of covers—from GNR hits like Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” to concert staples like The Who’s “The Seeker” and Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” (an instrumental with dueling guitar solos from Slash and Richard Fortus). The holdover tributes to Glen Campbell (“Wichita Lineman”) and Chris Cornell (“Black Hole Sun”) were interesting left-field song choices, but felt slightly out of place, especially since they were presented without comment. Surely there are at least some vintage photos of the band members hanging out with Cornell that could have been displayed on the video screens?

Naty Ashba wrote:Night out in Las Vegas: Guns N’Roses not in this lifetime tour

Hello beautiful people! Happy Saturday
Days are getting so short! Here in Vegas it gets dark by 5pm, it feels like time flies away! Reason why, we need to make the best of it every day. I just recently started, it feels awesome.

Anyway, last night we went to see the Guns N’Roses show at T-Mobile Arena here in Las Vegas. I have not seeing a show since my husband played with them in that same Arena a few years ago.We got there at 7 pm since they announced the show was gonna start at 7.30pm and they had no opening band. We were at the Hyde VIP lounge with lots of friends and lots of alcohol. Too bad I don’t drink. It would have probably been more fun that if I did.
In their defense, our table was very far from the stage, that could be the reason why they didn’t transmit me much energy. Only one song touched my heart by bringing me back many special memories and magical moments spent together with Dj when we first met.. “This I Love”. On those notes, I fell in love with the guy

We left before the show was over, to avoid the big crowd and because we all were hungry. Ok, Maybe just me. We walked to the Montecarlo Hotel and casino across the street where the squad keep slamming shots, except me. The trooper
We gambled (and lost) till we decided to head to a bar close to home to finally eat.
Overall, the night was pretty awesome, thanks to the company.

For the night I decided to put together a sexy-rock look; I wore a vinyl black skirt with a silver and shiny top. I thought about matching a leather jacket but I decided to go with a more elegant coat to match my super amazing new boots by Saint Laurent.
It was the first time I wore them and surprisingly my feet weren’t in hell all night.
Usually, I avoid high heels when I go out in Vegas, because no matter where you go you will have to walk miles to get to your destination. We must have walked 4 miles last night. Maybe more.

Today, there’s another huge event! If you’re in Vegas you need to come to Dj’s Bday bash! The party will be at the ASHBA CLOTHING store at 2nd floor at the Stratosphere hotel and casino from 9 pm till 2am! There will be food, drinks, giveaways and……. My clothing line available for sale! Wohooo! I am so excited about this, I put a lot of time and work in this project and I couldn’t be more thankful of the result.
All the pieces on www.nawwclothing.com will be displayed at the store for you to touch, try and purchase! And yes, even shoes!!! Hope to see you there tonight!

I’ve been writing this post while getting a tattoo as Seven studio tattoo..
So painfull YUCKKKK!!!!

I wish you a fantastic weekend
Much love, Naty