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
- “It’s So Easy”
- “Mr Brownstone”
- “Chinese Democracy”
- “Welcome to the Jungle”
- “Double Talkin’ Jive”
- “Better”
- “Estranged”
- “Live and Let Die”
- “Rocket Queen”
- You Could Be Mine”
- “Attitude”
- “This I Love”
- “Civil War”
- “Yesterdays”
- “Coma”
- “Johnny B Goode” (jam)
- “Speak Softly Love”
- “Sweet Child O’Mine”
- “Used to Love Her”
- “My Michelle”
- “Wish You Were Here”
- “November Rain”
- “Black Hole Sun”
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
- “Night Train”
- “Don’t Cry”
- “Whole Lotta Rosie”
- “Patience”
- “The Seeker”
- “Paradise City”
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http://ultimateclassicrock.com/guns-n-roses-appetite-for-destruction-double-album/