Axl Rose With Guns N' Roses In Brisbane, 2017 / Photo: Tom Sue Yek

Axl Rose Was Allegedly Denied A Police Escort To Guns N’ Roses’ Melbourne Show

February 16, 2017

Guns N’ Roses were a little late hitting the stage at their Melbourne show on Tuesday night, and it appears the reason may have been their routinely unpunctual frontman Axl Rose.

GNR started their MCG show around 45 minutes later than expected, and now an unnamed source has told the Herald Sun that Rose refused to leave his hotel room without a police escort, after seeing a large amount of traffic in the streets below.

Rose’s bandmates were supposedly already at the venue a few kilometres away, and are said to have “pleaded” with him to make his way to the MCG.

Victoria Police has confirmed to the Herald Sun that a request for a police escort was received on Tuesday night, but was denied. Police haven’t confirmed who requested the escort.

“A request was made and a risk assessment was conducted. The request was denied,” police said.

The promoter behind Guns N’ Roses’ current Australian tour wouldn’t confirm if a police escort had been requested, but has told Music Feeds, “The show started late because there was a traffic gridlock. We had changed the start time to ensure everyone was in the venue and got the start of the show.”

Rose is yet to publicly comment on the alleged request for a police escort.

Guns N’ Roses’ Melbourne show was also marred by an unfortunate error by the band’s announcer McBob, who opened the show by saying the band were in Sydney, despite being in Melbourne. The announcement drew boos from the crowd, and GNR later apologised for the mistake.

Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Not In The Lifetime Tour’ continues in Adelaide on Saturday, before finishing in Perth next Tuesday, 21st February.