His up-beat music was enough to get the crowd going, but it got a little tedious towards the end.
Bullet For My Valentine then played a very short set.
Finally the wait came for Guns N’ Roses. We waited for quite some time. The crowd started to boo at times and some people started to leave as it was getting very late. It was not until 10.45pm that the echoed opening for ‘ Welcome to the Jungle’ kicked in and the crowd went crazy. The atmosphere was amazing. This was the moment I had been most looking forward to.
Guns N’ Roses soon rolled through ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Its So Easy’ and ‘Mr Brownstone’ immaculately. They sounded superb. Later into the set, during his guitar solo just before ‘ Sweet Child O’ Mine’, Robin Finck played ‘God Save The Queen’. Here is the full setlist:
Welcome To The Jungle
Its So Easy
Mr Brownstone
Live And let Die
Robin Solo God Save The Queen
Sweet Child O Mine
Knockin On Heavens Door
Piano Moving Jam
Dizzy Solo
The Blues
Piano Movin Jam
Better
Richard Solo
Richard Robin Beautiful
You Could Be Mine
Bumblefoot Solo Dont Cry
Out Ta Get Me
Sway (stones cover) W Izzy
Sailing With Izzy
Back in the Ussr W Izzy (Back in the Fuckin’ Uk)
Think About You W Izzy
My Michelle W Bach
Patience W Izzy
Piano Moving Jam
November Rain
Jam
Rocket Queen
Nighttrain W Izzy
Encore:
I.R.S.
Paradise City W Izzy
A few songs into the setlist, Axl gave details of what would be a very special night for a select 20 people in the audience. He announced: ‘we’re actually doing two shows tonight’. He then gave details. 20 people were to be drawn from a lottery and invited to a Club in central London to watch Guns N’ Roses play a acoustic gig. One lucky person selected right at the end, then won an all expenses paid trip to California to watch Guns N’ Roses play (another now confirmed gig), with accommodation at a 5 star hotel thrown in. This got the crowd’s hearts racing as to who would be picked at random. Unfortunately, this time, it would not be me.
Axl also commented on his arrest at Stockholm.
Guns N’ Roses then played some exclusive songs just for this gig stating ‘We’ve never played these songs live before’. They started with a Rolling stones cover of ‘Sway’ then playing ‘Sailing’ by Rod Stewart (this got the crowd singing along) finally playing an adaptation of ‘Back In The USSR’ by the Beatles but changing the lyrics to ‘Back In The Fuckin’ UK’.
Izzy Stradalin joined the band for 7 songs. It was good to see him with the band, interacting with the other members. The reaction he received when he came on stage was awesome. Sebastian Bach then joined for ‘My Michelle’, which was another great performance.
Overall, I can confidently say that this gig was the best I’ve ever been to. The pyrotechnics were superb, the songs were played perfectly, the band were in good spirits and looked as if they were really enjoying the show, Izzy Stradalin and Seb Bach were superb special guests, they played a number new songs and I was particularly pleased when they played I.R.S.
I would strongly advise everyone to watch this band. They have now proved to the world of GNR fans that the new band can play. They certainly showed this at the Wembley gig - just Flawless.
Giles (www.gnr-uk.com , www.gnruk.bbfunpro.com )
