Guns N’ Roses
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
July 19, 2016

My love affair with Gun’s N’ Roses stems back to 8th grade. There was a cute boy in my grade who thought they were the best band ever, so I decided I would like them too.  He made me a mix-tape of his favorite GNR songs; “Civil War” and “Yesterday,” among many more.  There also a note attached letting me know that he only liked me as a friend and was in love with some other girl in our class.

That’s okay though, because I soon fell in love with Axl Rose. The long red hair, the bad boy attitude and those tight white shorts were what every girl dreamt about in the early 90’s. Or at least I did.

I wore that tape out. I carried my Walkman everywhere, and blasted it. My mom refused to let me play it out loud, because Axl was a womanizer. Whatever that meant.  I was 12.

I am now 34. Axl is 54.  He is still one bad boy rock star, except a little more on time with his performances.

I attended a sold out show on July 19th at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Ma. I was in the 5th row, on Slash’s side of the stage. Stage left if you want to get technical.

Lenny Kravitz opened up for GNR and he did well. The stadium was mostly empty, but Lenny rocked on like it was full. Lenny played his big hits, “Are You Gonna Go My Way”, “Fly Away”, “American Woman” and my personal favorite “Believe.” Their set, however, seemed to be plagued with problems.

During “American Woman,” the entire PA cut out for about 45 seconds, but he rocked on like nothing happened. Craig Ross has a great guitar solo during “Believe.” It has a great sound and hearing it live is the best way to hear it.I was really saddened when halfway through the solo he managed to unplug his guitar. He too, kept rocking like nothing happened.

Lenny Kravitz and his band members played for about an hour, and by the time they got off stage, the stadium was almost full. I was really trying to contain my excitement, because Axl Rose is not a timely gentleman. They were dealing with a curfew of 11:15  though, so I had high hopes that I wouldn’t have to wait too long. The last time I saw GNR was in 2006, where we waited almost 2 hours after the opening acts ended.

About quarter after 8, the screen on the stage started flashing Gun’s N’ Rose’s signs.  They were really amazing, with bleeding roses and different guns shooting bullets.  Just as the gunfire sounds started to get annoying, the show started.  First the drummer came out, Frank Ferrer, followed by Melissa Reese on keyboards, and then the guitarist, Richard Fortus.  I clapped.  Duff McKagan came out next, and I got goosebumps.  The man hasn’t aged.  He was wearing a Lemmy shirt and had the Prince symbol on his bass. If I wasn’t emotional enough, wearing items to pay your respects to dead legends wasn’t helping.

I really wasn’t ready for the next thing,  I wasn’t ready for Axl and Slash to appear on stage together. They were there though.  They broke right into “It’s So Easy”, as if they had never stopped touring together.  Axl sounded great.  He certainly isn’t as young as he once was, but he didn’t let that stop him.  He ran from one side of the stage to the next.  He rocked his hips back and forth, and changed his outfits.  However, there were no short shorts, or shirtless costumes.    

Slash was as talented as ever.  I saw him last year with Miles Kennedy last year, so I knew he could still jam.  He still wears his top hat, and has his long bushy hair.  He plays his double neck guitar like no one else. You can close your eyes and know it’s him.  

The night included fireworks, and pyro during certain songs.  I was really surprised that they didn’t have something bright go off during “Live and Let Die”.  They had animated guns and concussions that went off backstage.  Better than nothing, I suppose.

Speaking of “Better”, I was really happy to hear some songs of Chinese Democracy.  I had been wondering if they would play anything since Slash and Duff were not involved with that album. To my delight they played “Chinese Democracy” and “Better”. “Better” has been climbing up my ladder ever since its released. For all the negative comments Chinese Democracy received when it was released, there are some really well written songs. I wish more people would have given it a chance.

My other highlights from the night included “Double Talkin’ Jive”, “Estranged”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, “November Rain” and “Nighttrain”. Otherwise known as almost the entire setlist.  Every song in their nearly three hour-long set was done with care and perfection.  If you had told me it was 1985 and I was watching a band pour their heart into their music so they could “make it,”  I would believe you.

My only disappoint from the night was not seeing “Don’t Cry”.  The set list I had looked at had it listed, but they changed it to “Patience” instead.  Unlike most fans, I do not like “Patience”.

I will never forget this concert.  I hope that Axl and Slash can repair their friendship.  I hope they can find a way to get Steven Adler on stage more often, and I pray they come back around again.

Setlist
It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Chinese Democracy
Welcome to the Jungle
Double Talkin’ Jive
Estranged
Live and Let Die
Rocket Queen
You Could Be Mine
New Rose
This I Love
Civil War
Sorry
Out Ta Get Me
Coma
Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From The Godfather)
Sweet Child O’ Mine
My Michelle
Better
Guitar Solo featuring Wish You Were Here & Layla
November Rain
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Nightrain
—–
Patience
The Seeker
Paradise City