Timeframe: Guns N' Roses and their 15-year connection with the UAE

Guns N' Roses' Abu Dhabi concert this month is a continuation of their 15-year love affair with the UAE. They are one of the few major rock acts to have performed consistently in the country and across the Gulf during that period. Fans in the UAE have seen the band at various stages of their career: from the time it was essentially a solo vehicle for Axl Rose, backed by hired hands, to the reunion of the classic line-up, including guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan. The band continues to sell out arenas around the world. Their visits to the UAE have mirrored Abu Dhabi's own evolution as a live events destination, from their shows at Etihad Park, the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix and their sold-out concerts at Etihad Arena. Each of these packed shows not only reaffirmed the UAE's place on the band's touring map, but also laid the groundwork for other hard rock acts. These have included everyone from Metallica to upcoming gigs by Limp Bizkit and Smashing Pumpkins, who are making their first visit to the city. Their impact would have been hard to predict when Guns N' Roses first came to Abu Dhabi in 2010. With Rose the only remaining member from the classic line-up, it was difficult to muster much enthusiasm beyond the novelty of the group's first UAE performance. Yet the show turned out to be a triumph of will for Rose, who delivered a two-hour-plus set featuring 23 songs – including hits and defiant cuts from their 2008 album Chinese Democracy. Former keyboardist Dizzy Reed remembered the band's first Abu Dhabi visit as memorable for what happened offstage. 'It was trippy,' he told The National in 2013. 'We saw Emirates Palace and the world's most expensive Christmas tree. We also caught a soccer game and went to this yacht club – it was pretty amazing.' With the novelty of a first appearance gone, Guns N' Roses' return to Etihad Park three years later – with the same line-up – was a no-frills affair in the best way, featuring a set list that stretched to nearly 30 songs. According to The National's review, Rose was on scintillating form. 'No lip-synching from this guy – a physical performer, he ran himself breathless at times – yet Rose hit the right notes all the time, every time, proving he can still snarl, scream and roar,' wrote The National's Ellen Fortini. 'The band was gelled, tight, and put on a memorable show. Every bit of it came across as genuine, even Rose himself, who laughed, smiled, danced, strutted and spun his way through the set with a few well-timed and good-natured microphone stand tosses.' Perhaps as a reward for staying the course, Rose returned to the UAE in 2017 with the reformed classic line-up, delivering a sold-out performance in front of nearly 30,000 people at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena. The return of Slash and McKagan brought a renewed energy and added potency to what was a thrilling show. 'Do the three reassembled key players like each other? Does it even matter? Bands have been built on money and ego for as long as recorded music has existed. Do they have the same cultural zeitgeist – the same whiff of danger and ability to shock – that they did 25 years ago? Of course not,' read The National's review of the show. 'But Slash and Duff's return has comfortably upgraded the group's legacy from a touring tribute circus outfit to long-reigning rock 'n' roll heroes. And on the basis of this euphoric, knockout juggernaut of a show, there's no rock band of the past three decades who can rival the might of Guns N' Roses.' After cementing the reformation's staying power with a follow-up show at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix a year later, the band went one better by choosing the UAE capital as the opening stop of their 2023 world tour. This time, they dug deep into their catalogue, performing Bad Obsession and Pretty Tied Up for the first time in 30 years, and featuring McKagan on lead vocals for the first time for their cover of T.V. Eye by The Stooges. With no new music reportedly on the horizon, Guns N' Roses' return to the UAE may seem minor, but their enduring relationship with the region reflects a band comfortable to dig deep into their catalogue, and a fan base embracing them in whatever form they take.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Cosmopolitan ME

an hour ago

• Cosmopolitan ME

This is the summer staycation vibe you've been waiting for

If your summer mood board is giving 'coastal cool meets city chic,' Delano Dubai is about to be your new fave escape. Found on Bluewaters Island, this spot is offering the ultimate staycay deal from now until September 30 (and honestly, it's giving everything). Think: complimentary daily breakfast and dinner, 20% off dining (hello, fancy lunch plans), and Dhs150 to spend at the iconic Banyan Tree Spa. Yes please. The vibes? Minimal, natural, sun-drenched perfection. Every room and suite is filled with soft textures, sleek lines, and Insta-worthy views from private balconies. Delano's pool is made for lounging. Want to move your body? HWH Studio has yoga, Pilates, and chill wellness sessions that hit just right. As the sun sets, the food scene turns all the way on. Sip cocktails at the moody Rose Bar, get into beachside dining at La Cantine, or try Japanese with a twist at Gohan and Blue Door serves up luxe Anatolian plates that are as delish as they are pretty. GTK these summer deals within the hotel: Tutto Passa – Pizza & Vino Drawing from the coastal charm of southern Italy, Tutto Passa channels effortless refinementthrough timeless flavours. The Pizza & Vino offer, available daily from 12:30PM to 4PM, invites guests to choose from a curated selection of artisanal pizzas including Margherita, Quattro Formaggi, Calabrese, or the rotating Pizza del Giorno, perfectly paired with two glasses of wine including rosé, white, or red, for Dhs190 per person. Blue Door – Rake & Mezze As the sun sets, Blue Door invites guests to linger into the evening with Rake & Mezze a ritual of shared flavours and Anatolian heritage. Priced at AED 390 for two people, the experience includes a custom cold mezze board featuring six selections from the menu, served alongside a 350ml half carafe of Yeni Rakı. Available daily from 5PM onwards. Rose Bar – The Rose Hour At Rose Bar, The Rose Hour unfolds with a curated menu of classic and contemporary cocktails, fine wines, and elevated bar bites. Signature cocktails such as the Miami Vice, N.Y. Sour, Margarita, and Aperol Spritz are offered at Dhs45. A selection of wine, beer, and spirits is available at AED 35, while indulgent bites like Lobster Tacos and Beef Sliders are served at Dhs40. Gohan – Sushi Matsuri Set against a backdrop of R&B and Hip-Hop beats, Gohan Bluewaters invites guests to unwind with Sushi Matsuri, a Thursday night ritual of rhythm and refined flavour. Priced at Dhs310 per person, the experience features unlimited made-to-order Maki and Nigiri featuring favourites like Salmon, Yellowtail and Mushroom Nigiri, alongside standout rolls such as Crispy Crab and Hamachi. Two gourmet sides including Mushroom Miso Soup and Crispy Shiso Tuna Tartare, and a choice of two beverages complete the evening. Available every Thursday from 7PM to 12AM. La Cantine Beach – Après-Soleil Night Swim As the sun dips below the horizon and the last golden light lingers on the water, La Cantine Beach offers a new experience with the Après-Soleil Night Swim, launching on 22 May and running every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7PM till late. Guests can choose from sunbeds at Dhs249 or lounges at Dhs299, both fully redeemable on the Night Swim menu. For an added touch of indulgence, a bottle of Pearl Rosé is available at a special price of Dhs400. With ambient lighting, late-night swims, and chic bites by the water, it's a twilight escape designed for warm summer nights. Delano Pool & Beach – Day Passes The rhythm of the season continues at Delano Pool & Beach, where new summer day pass rates invite guests to slow down in understated luxury. Starting 9 June, weekday passes from Monday to Thursday are priced at Dhs200 per person, and weekend passes from Friday to Sunday at Dhs300 per person both with 50% redeemable on food and beverage. In short: Delano Dubai is where you go to slow down and glow up this summer. Don't sleep on it.

The National

2 hours ago

• The National

Family man Robert Whittaker puts his game face on for UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi

Family, the gym and video games make up the 'perfect three' in life outside the octagon for Robert Whittaker. The former UFC middleweight champion's 16-year journey in the sport is well-documented. However, what is not as widely talked about is the fact he is a family man who spends most of his time at home with his wife and kids, whenever he is not in the gym. 'I'm a family man, I've got a big family. So if I'm not at the gym you'll catch me with the kids. I'm big into video games, I enjoy them for my downtime as well,' Whittaker told The National. 'That's something maybe people don't know, I'm not sure. Otherwise, yeah that's me. I'm at the gym, I'm with my kids or I'm at the computer. That's kind of my perfect three.' It is a different story inside the octagon, though. 'When I'm in the octagon, across from my opponents, it's business, you know. He's trying to take everything from me, I'm trying to take everything from him but I understand that 15-25 minutes, that's as long as it goes for,' he added. 'Outside of that, I'm a dad, I'm a husband, I'm another man. I'm just another person. We all have our strengths and there's a time and place for everything.' Next month, Whittaker will have to take a step back from family life as he takes on Dutchman Reinier de Ridder in Abu Dhabi. Whittaker, 34, enjoys a 26-8 win-loss MMA record, compared to his Dutch opponent's 20-2 record. The middleweights headline UFC Fight Night at the Etihad Arena on July 26. De Ridder made an impressive debut in the UAE Warriors by knocking out Magomedmurad Khasaev in the first round and was immediately signed by the UFC. He is undefeated in three appearances in the world's lead MMA promotion, ending all of them without inside the distance. 'I look forward to hard fights. They bring the best out of me. Obviously, the crowd and the fans enjoy it. But I like the test,' Whittaker said of his upcoming fight. 'I'm not here to fight chumps. I'm here to fight the best. He's well put together. He's got a good skill set. He's high calibre. So, I look forward to putting on a show.' Whittaker believes success against De Ridder will take him closer to another title shot. 'Yes, victory against RDR pushes me in the path towards gold. That's what I'm trying to head for. That's the direction I want to head to. It makes me a better fighter,' he said. Whittaker will look into his opponent's fighting skills and the challenges he may pose, but believes he will make his own assessment of De Ridder closer to the contest. 'I don't do too much research up until a little closer to the fight night. I let my coaching staff do that, so that I work on skill sets without any predisposition in my head,' he added. 'And once this week, next week, the week after, I'll do my own research and then everything will just click and fall into place.' Whittaker returns to the octagon for the first time since a first-round defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 308 co-main event in Abu Dhabi last October. There, Chimaev handed Whittaker a chastening defeat, crushing several of his teeth in the process. 'Outstanding,' he said of his preparation for De Ridder. 'I got that last month to sharpen up. I'm looking forward to getting in there and looking forward to going back to Abu Dhabi. 'I love fighting over there. So yeah, everything's in place and I'm going to be coming in fight week at 100 per cent.' I love fighting in Abu Dhabi. I jump at the opportunity. Any opportunity I'm given to fight in Abu Dhabi Robert Whittaker Whittaker hopes to arrive in Abu Dhabi 10 days before the fight; this will be his fourth visit to the capital. 'I love fighting in Abu Dhabi. I jump at the opportunity. Any opportunity I'm given to fight in Abu Dhabi, I take it because I just … I know the area now,' he said. 'I know how I got my set-up, my plans for when we get in, and where we're going to train, who we're going to work with. And I know everything's done well and professionally. So I always look forward to the opportunity of fighting there.' Whittaker has come a long way in combat sports, after moving on from rugby league in his younger days. 'I've always been in combat sports,' he said. 'I don't think I played a lot of rugby league when I was younger. Honestly, that's what I thought I'd be doing professionally, but then kind of branched off into MMA, and I'm glad I did. I did all right. 'Right now my trade is combat sports. After I finish up at UFC, I will probably look to do some jiu-jitsu, some coaching. 'I'm not sure if I'll compete anymore after that. I'll cross that bridge when we get there. I've got some things to do still while I'm active.' And the first of those on his 'to-do' list is the fight in the UAE next month. Preparation for bouts is pretty much routine: gradually move away from the comfort of home and get into fight mode. 'I stay with my family the entire time, but once I leave for the fight, the closer I get to the fight naturally, I start to hone into those instincts and that headspace of what needs to be done,' he said. 'As the weight starts to come off ... it's natural for me now. I've been doing it for so long, and I've been in the sport for so long that it happens naturally. You know, I don't really need to think. 'I want to get that title. That's what I'm fighting for. I'm doing everything in my power to beat RDR and that'll push me in the direction that I need to go to get rematches or fights with people that are holding the strap.' Whittaker will not be completely alone in his journey in Abu Dhabi as his family will join him for the contest. 'I can't wait to come out there once again, put on a show, bring my family this time so they can enjoy the area as well ... I look forward to it.'

The National

3 hours ago

• The National

How Bahrain's Ali Daylami became first person from Gulf to win a Tony Award

In an industry shaped by familiar choruses and blockbuster adaptations, news that an original musical about two star-crossed robots had won Broadway 's top prize made an impact from Manhattan to Manama. With it, Ali Daylami became the first Bahraini, and person from the Gulf overall, to receive a Tony Award as part of the team that produces Maybe Happy Ending, which won Best Musical earlier this month. It is a personal achievement, but also offers a path forward for a region more accustomed to experiencing drama from the seats. 'I'm definitely energised and inspired to keep going, to find new pieces and work that speak to me and hopefully resonates with people in the same way this show did.' Daylami tells The National from New York. 'But I would love nothing more than to bring that energy back home to the Mena region. Not just as a show, but as something that's built for us, by us.' Daylami is keenly aware his achievement represents something larger than a testament to personal perseverance. While producers and impresarios emerge from the US, Europe and increasingly Asia, Arab voices in the industry remain rare. That road to a Tony Award is arduous not because of a lack of talent, he notes, but due to the absence of supporting infrastructure. 'We are sorted when it comes to the infrastructure, as we can see with places like Dubai Opera and the Royal Opera House Muscat,' he says. 'While we know how to build the spaces, what is needed are places to develop local talent, like academies and conservatories that train performers, artists and artisans. That is beginning to happen now with places like the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy.' Dynamic content is also needed, Daylami adds, to widen the palette of regional audiences raised on familiar material. 'How many times can someone see Phantom of the Opera or Hamilton? A content strategy is also needed that appeals to artists who want to make the work, and to audiences who want to see it again.' Daylami's own foray to the stage began as an audience member in Dubai Opera. 'It all started for me when Les Miserables premiere at the Dubai Opera,' he says, referring to the 2016 Cameron Mackintosh production. 'That was a bespoke Dubai production with a western cast. And I said to myself, this is happening here now. I got to be part of it.' The experience crystallised the need to remove himself from his job at an advertising firm in Bahrain to study theatre management and producing at New York's Columbia University. 'I needed to have theatre credits to apply confidently for the programme,' he recalls. 'That was the challenge. So I said to myself that I have got to start somewhere.' That beginning was a local production of Piaf, a play by British playwright Pam Gems about the life of French singer and Second World War dissident Edith Piaf. Premiering at the Manama Theatre Club in 2019 and featuring a cast made up almost entirely of artists living in the kingdom, Daylami says its relative success revealed an important lesson he later carried with him to Broadway. 'The shows that work are the ones you can scale down – something you could do in a car park, a garage, a park or even a living room – and still carry that spirit, intimacy and ability to reach people on a personal level,' he says. ' Piaf was assembled locally in Bahrain with a fantastic team and amazing local talent and it remains one of my favourite experiences.' Following a stint as a creative consultant during preparations for the musical, Umm Kulthum: The Golden Era, ahead of its West End premiere at the London Palladium in 2020, Daylami had gained enough experience to join what he recalls as one of only two Arab students in Columbia University's theatre management programme. It was in New York amid the cut and thrust of the industry that he worked on as many jobs as he could, landing production stints on the blockbuster Wicked and the jukebox musical The Heart of Rock'n'Roll. While describing those experiences as useful CV-building exercises, Daylami became aware of an off-Broadway English adaptation of the Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending, which already proven to be a hit in its home country. 'My area of study at Columbia gave me a strong interest in what was happening internationally as well as on Broadway and in the West End, so I was always tracking what was going on globally,' he says. 'So with Maybe Happy Ending, I knew it had an amazing reputation overseas.' Admiring the show from the stands is one thing. Being part of the team that brought it to Broadway defied some industry conventions. Maybe Happy Ending is not a recognisable brand based on popular source material or a historical backdrop. And the story itself, a tender tale of two outdated helper robots in Seoul, is a difficult marketing pitch. Daylami says the decision to back it was not shaped by university coursework or commercial trends. It was pure instinct. 'It was the music. It was absolutely divine,' he says. 'It is optimistic, heartbreaking and honest. It reminded me why we go to the theatre in the first place.' After an admittedly slow start since premiering on Broadway last year, the risk began to pay off. 'Our show came in with a lot of scepticism, but people fully embraced it,' he says. 'I think this is a great statement for the industry to reward itself for taking a huge gamble and supporting great art and supporting new writers and new composers and new theatre makers.' Now with a Tony Award to his name and the production continuing to pack in audiences at New York's Belasco Theatre, Daylami is already looking for another hidden gem to bring back to the Gulf. 'I would love to move away from the touring model,' he says. 'I would love to create something that is more bespoke for the region. Something that speaks to the local audiences. Something that appeals to their own histories, their own passions and their own experiences.'