For a 20-year-old college student, a Guns N’ Roses concert was inconceivable in my lifetime, but 2016, yet again, changed everything.
Guns N’ Roses had not shared the stage in 23 years prior to their 2016 reunion, which kick-started back in Detroit and at Coachella, so it was doubtful that they would be able to successfully put together a U.S. and world tour.
Despite what many thought the reunion tour would be like, Guns N’ Roses were back with a vengeance. With nothing but straight rock n’ roll, the band performed for a whopping 2 hours and 44 minutes, which included their classics and a transcendental cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” performed as a guitar duet between Slash and Richard Fortus.
The night was gifted with multiple Slash guitar solos, but the lead singer, Axel Rose, also presented the audience his Piano artistry. Rose captured the crowd while behind the piano during “November Rain” and the band’s famous cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
By this point, everyone in the stands is ecstatic and transported back to 1991, indeed not at all worried whether or not the band will perform an encore (they have already performed for 2 hours, so we couldn’t be greedy). Yet Guns N’ Roses did something that will stay with their fans for the next 23 years to come, took us to paradise city.
With their four song encore, Gun N’ Roses finished their set with an extended version of “Paradise City.” Their last song consisted of Guitar solos, call and response between Axel and the passionate crowd and fireworks (literally). The band’s finale was long and liberate enough to fully immerse yourself in the paradise city and welcome the idea that the original Los Angeles Hard Rock band was back. (New album? *fingers crossed*)