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BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Guns N' Roses at Villa Park: What fans need to know
The legendary Guns N' Roses kick off Birmingham's summer of rock and metal on Monday night with an open-air gig at Villa Park. The Los Angeles band are stopping in the city on their latest tour Because What You Want and What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things. Axl Rose and bandmates Slash, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Melissa Reese, Richard Fortus and Isaac Carpenter last played in the UK in 2023 when they headlined show comes less than two weeks before the highly-anticipated last ever gig by Black Sabbath at Villa Park on 5 July. For guitarist Slash - real name Saul Hudson - the night will mark a return to the what is surely one of Stoke-on-Trent's best facts, the musician was raised in Blurton until the age of band began their latest tour last month in South Korea and will perform at venues across Europe and Latin America. From the set list to travel, here are some of things fans coming to Birmingham need to know. Will there be extra transport? Aston is used to thousands of people descending on its small railway station most weeks, so transport chiefs are usually ahead of the game in terms of planning. Transport for West Midlands has confirmed additional rail services will run to and from Witton railway station - nearest the stadium - with the final train departing to Rugeley Trent Valley at 23:32 services will also run to and from Aston, with the last train leaving at 23:52 towards Birmingham city centre. Trams between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will operate as normal, however, Witton Lane and Trinity Road will be closed from 13:00. Aston Villa are also offering a shuttle bus from Dudley Street, Birmingham, to Villa Park between15:30 and 19:30, with return journeys running from 22:00 until guidance is available on the Transport for West Midlands website. How early should fans arrive? The most avid fans who have purchased a VIP or Gold Circle ticket will be able to enter the stadium from 16:00 BST before the main gates open 30 minutes later. No doubt hardcore supporters will have started congregating around the stadium long before then. The support act will get under way at 17:30 BST with the headliners expected to take to the stage any time from 18:45 BST, according to Aston Villa's website. They are expected to rock out with the crowd until 22:15 BST. What is the setlist? An official setlist for the tour has not been released, however, according to Ticketmaster, the Czech Republic gig on Sunday saw the show open with Welcome to the fans with an Appetite for Destruction can expect to hear some of their most well-known tracks including Mr Brownstone, Sweet Child O' Mine and Paradise City. Who is the support act? Fellow American rockers, Rival Sons, will open the group from California are playing a total of 10 nights during the European part of the Roses' tour, including their second and final date at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. Public Enemy will join the band across Europe from 29 June until 21 July, before Sex Pistols make two appearances on 24 July in Vienna and 28 July in Luxembourg. Is it a sell-out? There is still a chance to join in with the action depending on what fans are willing to die-hard supporters have paid more than £1,300 to secure a spot in the stadium's Gold Circle, while the majority of rockers will enjoy the action for a less eye-watering fee of about £70 with some tickets still available. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Why popular international bands are heading to India?
In the years following the COVID-19 lockdown, new records are being set in India's live music space. The demand for live concerts has increased so much that it led Coldplay to perform the biggest show of their storied career in Ahmedabad in late January this year, packing the Narendra Modi Stadium with over 2,22,000 attendees across two days. More recently, the producer and promoter of the shows, BookMyShow Live, brought down Guns N' Roses to play for a reported 35,000 audience at Mumbai's Mahalaxmi Racecourse on May 17. Sure, Axl Rose was off-key and no longer at his best, but what has been driving audiences to catch the likes of Guns N' Roses, Maroon 5, Coldplay, Bryan Adams and soon, Enrique Iglesias is the nostalgia factor. The rush for tickets is also driven by social media and the FoMO it can quickly induce in anyone scrolling through their feeds. Never mind that you may not know more than a handful of songs out of the average 90-120 minute setlist. What further adds to the hysteria is the fact one never knows when these artistes will be in the country again. In December last, Canadian rock favourite Bryan Adams took on his most extensive India tour yet, performing in seven cities including Shillong, Goa and Kolkata. He told me in an interview ahead of the tour kickoff, 'I've been banging on to everybody to get back to India for a couple of years now. And so we finally organised it and I really, honestly didn't know what to expect because I haven't been here for a few years and, times change… but my goodness, the tickets have virtually sold out.' The tour – Bryan's sixth visit to the country – was put together by EVA Live and SG Live. A representative for EVA Live confirms that the nine-day, seven-city tour brought in over 1.5 lakh fans. The company's marketing manager Pallavi Maloo says, 'The primary advantage of multi-city tours lies in shared marketing costs and increased sponsor interest. While artistes are generally inclined towards more shows, the financial benefit of a multi-city arrangement typically ranges from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.' Larger bands such as Guns N' Roses may have only performed one show – as did the likes of Deep Purple (although they were originally slated for two) – which points to how touring with a leaner live setup can obviously help reach more cities. Case in point, Ed Sheeran returned to India within a year of his 2024 show, performing in cities such as Chennai, Shillong, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru for the first time between January and February 2025. It was just Sheeran, his guitar and his trusty Loopstation to devise catchy, groovy loops of rhythms and layers to keep the crowd engaged. While BookMyShow clearly has processes in place to be the go-to promoter or organiser for artistes represented globally by companies such as AEG and Live Nation, the likes of EVA Live, District By Zomato and Skillbox are scaling up to keep the competition healthy. Just one rung below are more promoters who see the strong attachment and nostalgia evoked by the likes of Enrique, Backstreet Boys and others. In fact, Backstreet Boys' member Nick Carter was in town for a solo tour for the first time early this year. He said in a media interaction in Bengaluru, 'I've been dying to get over to India for so long. We've come a couple of times with the Backstreet Boys, but I just felt like it was never enough. And so it was the perfect opportunity for me, because I have a little more control over where I go as an individual. It's a little harder with the Backstreet Boys, because it was a bigger show. Mine's a bit smaller, and I can take it to certain places that we necessarily could not go.' EVA Live breaks down how cities are gauged as viable markets for international acts. Tier 1 includes Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Tier 2 cities such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, Shillong, and Pune definitely possess what they term 'a viable market.' Tier 3 cities, including Jaipur and Indore, along with other large capital cities, 'have a somewhat smaller market.' Below that, it doesn't get significant, but what promoters do count on while planning international shows, is that tier 3 and 4 city fans will travel to attend shows. Coldplay's shows in Ahmedabad drew visitors from over 500 cities spanning all 28 states and five union territories, according to a report made by EY-Parthenon. Out in Kolkata, Aveek Chatterjee, who runs a local label, Free School Street Records, is an avid fan of classic rock and blues. Catching the likes of Guns N' Roses in Mumbai, Aveek is the kind of fan who invests in travelling abroad to catch his favourite bands, in case they don't come to India. Over the years, this is the shift taking place — that Indians may not need to travel overseas to catch artistes. 'I was absolutely thrilled to watch Deep Purple, Extreme, Sting, Greta Van Fleet and Mr Big live in India,' says Aveek. It means that he has been zipping across Bengaluru, Shillong and Mumbai, among other cities for concerts. Considering himself a 'rock n roll pilgrim,' Aveek has been happy to travel outside his home city, but also notes that more needs to be done to put a city like Kolkata on the map for international artistes. 'The reason is Kolkata lacks the right infrastructure and sponsors, coupled with low ticket sales due to affordability and economic issues. However, it's great to see that things are improving now as at least tier B and C international artistes such as Aristocrats, Steve Vai, Karnivool have played in Kolkata in recent years and Steven Wilson is slated to play this November .' A recent surge of events in Meghalaya also points to the involvement of government authorities, with Bryan Adams and Ed Sheeran's gig getting support from Meghalaya Tourism. EVA Live hails them as 'fantastic.' Since Coldplay's ₹392 crore impact on Ahmedabad was highlighted by Prime Minister Narenda Modi himself, Assam Government has made a move to crack concert economy in December, bringing in hip-hop and pop star Post Malone. It's not so much about nostalgia as it is about artistes mounting much more expansive tours. That way, everyone's a winner. Aveek rightly sums up, 'The live music industry is emerging as a new economy booster and India is poised to have exponential growth in this sector.' Showtime Enrique Iglesias: October (dates to be announced), Mumbai Travis Scott: October 18 and 19, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi Steven WIlson: November 2 - 9, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi-N Post Malone: December 8, Assam
Axios
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
AC/DC makes long-awaited Cleveland return with stadium concert
Tens of thousands of people will take the highway to hell toward Huntington Bank Field Wednesday. Why it matters: AC/DC's stadium gig is one of the biggest local concerts of the summer and the first time the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band has played Cleveland in nearly a decade. State of play: It's the final North American stop on the AC/DC "Power Up Tour." Taylor Momsen's hard rock band The Pretty Reckless will serve as the opening act. The intrigue: Tour reviews have praised AC/DC's energy, which is saying something for a band whose members are all past retirement age. The setlist stretches 21 songs, starting with "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" and closing out with "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)" followed by fireworks. Flashback: Despite hailing from Australia, AC/DC has made Cleveland a regular stop over the decades, starting with club shows in the late 1970s. Other memorable concerts include the 1979 World Series of Rock and back-to-back nights at Richfield Coliseum in 1988. AC/DC last played Cleveland on the "Rock or Bust World Tour" at Rocket Arena in 2016 with Axl Rose as the fill-in frontman.
The National
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Review: Guns N' Roses play Human Being live for first time in tribute to Axl Rose's late idol
There are only two acts I can remember who came on stage precisely at the advertised 8pm start time – Selena Gomez and Guns N' Roses. That the latter was once one of the most notoriously tardy bands in the history of rock n' roll is not lost on me. But that's a testament to what Guns N' Roses have become in 2025. Their misbehaviour may be the stuff of legend, and feuds may have kept the core members – Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan – apart for more than two decades, but it's been about 10 years since they made amends. This is not a victory lap or a quick cash grab – this is a band built to last for decades to come. And it makes sense that they would follow in the footsteps of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Elton John and Paul McCartney and potentially play into their eighties. This has always been a band built on those influences – which made them an anachronism even when they debuted in 1985. At that time, their power as a unit was so mighty that they nearly single-handedly pushed mainstream hard rock back to the 70s – the decade when classic rock came to its own – for better and for worse. And now, with each core member either in or approaching their sixties, they're one of the few bands keeping classic rock alive in 2025. Not all the band's 70s heroes are still on stage, of course. In February, the music world lost David Johansen, the front man of the proto-punk pioneers New York Dolls. Johansen's famed on-stage swagger was one of the key influences on Rose, which he has been vocal about since GNR's early days. Most famously, the band paid tribute to the Dolls on their 1993 album The Spaghetti Incident?, covering their 1974 deep cut, Human Being. But for decades, the band never played their New York Dolls cover live. That made it particularly moving when Guns N' Roses played Human Being live on stage in Abu Dhabi for the first time in their history. Rose noted the debut with a smile, along with a tribute to his late hero. It's rare the band has looked this happy and healthy. Rose no longer sports the long hair and bandana, and looks and sounds noticeably better than he did when the band reformed in 2016, which allows him and his cohorts to breeze through a more than three-hour show at Etihad Arena – hitting all the right notes. Slash, on the other hand, remains ageless – his style has never changed, nor has his immaculate and virtuoso playing style. And most importantly, their camaraderie is palpable, with no signs of discord between them. The band, accompanied by their capable new drummer Isaac Carpenter, who joined the band in March, toured through all their beloved hits, starting with Welcome to the Jungle and ending with Paradise City, as they often do. Sweet Child o' Mine, and their covers of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door and Wings' Live and Let Die were joyously performed. They even reached for some deep cuts, performing Attitude and Reckless Life for the first time on their current tour, and Used To Love Her for the first time since 2018. While the energy of the crowd may not have matched their 2017 show at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena, which had 30,000 thrilled fans comes to see the reunited line-up for the first time – that is to be expected. This is the band's fifth time in the UAE, after all – and second time in Etihad Arena so far this decade. But their return is welcome, nonetheless, and marks perhaps their best performance yet. If this is the Guns N' Roses we're going to get for the next few decades, the UAE will welcome them back gladly each time.
The National
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
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.
