When Slash left Guns N' Roses in 1996 the band everyone had come to know and love over the past decade had pretty much come to an end (as many of the other members left shortly after as well), thus beginning the feud between the guitarist and vocalist Axl Rose. Their hatred of each other became so immense and notorious that no one on God's green Earth ever thought the two of them would ever even be in the same room together again, let alone play together. However, it seems that time really does heal all wounds. Nearly two decades after the implosion of one of the greatest things to ever happen to rock n' roll, Guns N' Roses has returned in one of the purest forms we've seen it in a long, long time.
Though Guns N' Roses carried on with Axl as the sole original member for a couple of decades, the band is now back in action with familiar faces Axl Rose on lead vocals, Slash on lead guitar, Dizzy Reed on keys, and Duff McKagan on bass. However, there are members from Axl's solo version of GN'R as well including: Richard Fortus on rhythm guitar, Frank Ferrer on drums, and newcomer Melissa Reese on secondary keys. Though it's not all of the people the old fans want to see on stage together, I have to say that this is still a pretty solid and tight line-up. They work well together as a unit.
I honestly wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I clambered into my seat at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 1st. I knew that while this was going to be one hell of a ride, it wasn't going to be the exact same band I had idolized in my angst filled late teen years. The guys would all be noticeably older and wouldn't be the same raging rock n' roll party animals they had been in the late 80's/early 90's. Fortunately however, my fears were all quieted the moment the silly intro (the Looney Tunes theme) was done and the real build-up began.
When the pyrotechnics went off and the lights came on, the crowd (myself included) cheered and went NUTS as the band kicked into "It's So Easy". I immediately dropped any fears I had about this performance. The guys looked and sounded GOOD. It was a wonderful feeling to be assuaged and see these guys despite their age being rather spry on their feet and playing better than guys half their age.
Guns N' Roses throughout their set list ran through the vast majority of their hits such as: Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O' Mine, Paradise City, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, November Rain, Live and Let Die, etc. They also included many non-radio fan favorites including most of the Appetite For Destruction album as well as some Use Your Illusion deep cuts/surprises like Coma (the band's longest studio song to date that has barely ever been performed, clocking in at 10 minutes), and surprisingly a few tracks from Chinese Democracy (the album Axl did with no original members besides himself).
On that note, I'm actually rather enthused about the fact that they threw in some Chinese Democracy tracks because they got re-imagined in an old school GN'R way. No longer did they sound like the cold lifeless industrial compositions they once were, but instead had some organic warmth and rock drive to them. Plus, Slash's soulful soloing made the solo sections sound way better than they ever had before - especially in Better and This I Love. I would actually be ok with that whole album being rerecorded by the current line-up as much as I love it as it is.
Now that said, I do have a few minor gripes that I can honestly overlook due to how astounding of a performance this was overall. The first two do have to do with the age. First of all, Axl definitely can't be a consistent vocal powerhouse the way he used to be. There were moments where his iconic raspy high voice gave out briefly. To be fair, I don't expect a man who is 54 to be able to sing the way he did 30 years ago. However, despite that he still gave it his all and still had it where it counts. In a way, it made the show more exciting. I was gripping on just wondering how long Axl's voice would hold out at certain points - just dying to know if he would hit a key note in the song. I'd be sad if he didn't and blown away if he did.
Secondly, you could definitely tell that the band as a collective didn't have that driving rage that powered their music back in the day any more. They played their asses off with great passion for their music and sounded fantastic, but you can tell that Slash and Duff aren't young angry punks any more. It was obvious that this was more of a way for them to celebrate the past rather than them saying something to the world with their music. Axl on the other hand still has all of rage he ever has.
No Patience or anything else from GN'R Lies? WTF, you guys?
The only other small thing I would complain a little about is the fact that neither Izzy Stradlin, Gilby Clarke, Matt Sorum, nor Steven Adler were brought back as full time members of the band for the reunion. Izzy I know would be a long shot anyway because he doesn't like all of the attention, but you would think that since this is supposed to be a celebration of the past that they could have brought back one or two more people that the old fans are familiar with. That said, Fortus and Ferrer sounded absolutely GREAT with the old members that did come back.
Now that all of my bitching and moaning is out of the way, it's back to the good stuff. I expected to hear Slash do his version of The Godfather theme for his solo, which he of course did do. However, it was still rather surreal and chilling to the bone to see it for the first time in person myself - especially since it was at a GN'R show and not at one of his solo shows. He also did a rather delightful instrumental guitar duet version of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here with Fortus.
Near the end the whole band covered The Who's The Seeker, which was driving and fun. I think one of my favorite parts of the entire concert however was when the whole band did an instrumental jam of the outro to Eric Clapton's Layla as an extended intro to November Rain. Slash did some of the most beautiful soloing I've ever heard him do in this. Plus, it was nice to see Axl being so soulful at the keys.
This might not be the same GN'R you knew as a kid, but they still deliver all the punches. Yeah, the guys might be older now but they sound as tight and rocking as they ever did and they have most of the key members. The tickets (if any are still available) might be pricey but are well worth it. The Not in this Lifetime... tour is history in the making. It is absolutely unreal to see Slash and Axl on the same stage together again after all this time. I am beyond happy and proud to say that I saw Guns N' Roses on this tour. You will be too if you can get to a show.
This performance receives 4 out of 5 stars.
Guns N' Roses Chicago 2016 Soldier Field Set List:
- Looney Tunes Intro
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The Equalizer(Harry Gregson-Williams song)
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It's So Easy
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Mr. Brownstone
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Chinese Democracy
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Welcome to the Jungle
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Double Talkin' Jive
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Estranged
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Live and Let Die(Wings cover)
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Rocket Queen
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You Could Be Mine
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New Rose
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This I Love
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Civil War
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Coma(with band introductions)
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Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From The Godfather)(Andy Williams cover)
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Sweet Child O' Mine
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Better
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Out Ta Get Me
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Slash & Fortus Guitar Duet("Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd)
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November Rain
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Knockin' on Heaven's Door(Bob Dylan cover)
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Nightrain
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Jam
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Don't Cry
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The Seeker(The Who cover)
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Paradise City
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