Guns N’ Roses Make Triumphant Return to Scene of Infamous 1992 Riot

Guns N’ Roses' Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan shared a stage in Montreal last night for the first time since their group's controversial appearance in the Canadian city ended in a large-scale riot 25 years ago.

But the open-air performance at Parc Jean-Drapeau was far more successful than their abandoned co-headlining show with Metallica at the Olympic Stadium on Aug. 8, 1992.

“They know it’s better not to place you and us in a stadium,” frontman Axl Rose jokingly told the crowd during the 30-song set, the first since the group's classic-era lead guitarist and bassist returned to the lineup last April. (The Rose-fronted, McKagan- and Slash-less version of the band had previously played Montreal without incident in 2010 and 2013.)

A quarter of a century ago, Guns N’ Roses cut their late-starting show short after Rose experienced a resurgence of vocal issues that had seen several previous tour stops called off. The decision to walk off was taken after Metallica frontman James Hetfield had been the victim of a pyrotechnic accident that left him seriously injured. When GNR left the stage they triggered a riot that trashed the venue and extended to the streets outside.

However, their return was a different story – the band hit the stage on time, appeared to be in good spirits and bowed out just before curfew, having delivered a three-hour-plus set to 32,500 fans. Lapresse.ca reported: “Everything is forgiven” while Radio Canada said: “The legitimacy was total.”

Guns N’ Roses Montreal 8/19/17 Setlist

1. “It’s So Easy”
2. “Mr Brownstone”
3. “Chinese Democracy”
4. “Welcome to the Jungle”
5. “Double Talkin’ Jive”
6. “Better”
7. “Estranged”
8. “Live and Let Die”
9. “Rocket Queen”
10. You Could Be Mine”
11. “Attitude”
12. “This I Love”
13. “Civil War”
14. “Yesterdays”
15. “Coma”
16. “Johnny B Goode” (jam)
17. “Speak Softly Love”
18. “Sweet Child O’Mine”
19. “Used to Love Her”
20. “My Michelle”
21. “Wish You Were Here”
22. “November Rain”
23. “Black Hole Sun”
24. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
25. “Night Train”
26. “Don’t Cry”
27. “Whole Lotta Rosie”
28. “Patience”
29. “The Seeker”
30. “Paradise City”

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