You wanted the best? Well they didn’t fuckin’ make it. So here’s what you get…
It was a moment that most fans thought would never happen. And a moment that plenty thought probably shouldn’t have happened. But either way, it just fucking happened.
And regardless of your opinion on the much-hyped Guns N’ Roses reunion, witnessing the original core trio of Slash, Duff & Axl Rose appear together on stage for the first time in 23 years was nothing short of historic.
The classic threesome went back to where it all began, hitting LA (a.k.a. The Jungle) for a surprise intimate club gig at The Troubadour to warm up for their massive headlining slot at Coachella 2016. They performed a set spanning the entire Gunners discography, including plenty of songs from the iconic Appetite era, Use Your Illusion I & II and – yep – Slash and Duff even busted out a few Chinese Democracy tunes for the first time ever.
There were even a few covers thrown in – the group’s iconic renditions of Paul McCartney’s Live & Let Die and Bob Dylan’s Knocking On Heaven’s Door, plus a surprise Who cover. Slash even played the motherfucking Godfather theme!!!
The classic members were joined by longtime keyboardist Dizzy Reed, plus Dead Daisies guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer of the most recent incarnation of the band, and there was a surprise addition in the form of Melissa Reese in place of recent member Chris Pitman as second keyboardist.
People are calling her the first ever female member of Guns N’ Roses, so I guess their old backup singers and horn players don’t count?
The band played to a crowd of just 250 people, which reportedly featured plenty of celebs including Kate Hudson, Jim Carrey, Chris Brown, David Arquette, Emily Ratajkowski and Bradley Cooper, who apparently brought his mum along #bless.
One thing’s for sure: only true GN’R fans can grasp the magnitude of what just transpired, and if you’re a big old sap like me who grew up listening to this band while also living in a state of perpetual devo because you knew you’d never be able to see them live, you’re probably also feeling just a little bit emotional about the whole thing.
Check out Guns N’ Roses’ first official reunion show setlist – as well as fan-shot footage of their first concert together in more than two decades – below, and keep your fingers crossed for an Australian tour announcement sometime in the near future.
All we need is just a little patience.
Watch: Guns N’ Roses – Welcome To The Jungle Live @ The Troubadour 2016
https://youtu.be/-ARjFgSjySA
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDsWcxnOhYX/
Setlist:
It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Chinese Democracy
Welcome to the Jungle
Double Talkin’ Jive
Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
Rocket Queen
You Could Be Mine
Speak Softly Love (Andy Williams cover)
Sweet Child O’ Mine
New Rose (The Damned cover)
Better
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
My Michelle
Nightrain
Encore:
The Seeker (The Who cover)
Paradise City
