Well, look who decided to grace us with their presence again — it’s Slash, the human embodiment of “I woke up like this” guitar tone, casually explaining how GUNS N’ ROSES keeps things “fresh” by basically just winging it every night.
In a recent interview that probably happened between guitar solos and bourbon sips, Slash sat down with Walter Flakus from Chicago’s Rock 95.5 to discuss the band’s live show evolution. Spoiler alert: it hasn’t evolved much, and Slash is very proud of that.
“GUNS has never been what you call a big sort of live set, live choreographed thing,” Slash explained, probably while casually shredding in the background. “We put our gear up there and then we just go and play.” Revolutionary stuff, really. Who needs choreography when you can just… play instruments? Groundbreaking.
He continued, revealing the shocking truth that GUNS N’ ROSES doesn’t use a setlist. “It’s not even something where we go out and have a set set and then play that through the whole tour. We move stuff around every single night.” Wow, they’re like jazz musicians but with more leather and fewer chord changes.
The guitarist also shared his deep thoughts on guitar solos, which apparently he hates doing alone. “I never liked doing guitar solos by myself — ever. I would do it out of necessity ’cause people need a break or whatever, and I cringe at it.” Nothing says rock star like admitting you hate your own signature moment. But don’t worry — he’s found a solution: “if you do it at least jamming along with the band, you can write something that has some cool changes and feel it more.” Ah yes, the classic “I’ll only do my job if my friends are there to hold my hand” approach.
Meanwhile, GUNS N’ ROSES announced their 2026 world tour with special guests that read like a Spotify algorithm gone rogue: THE BLACK CROWES (makes sense), Ice Cube (okay, sure), PIERCE THE VEIL (wait, what?), PUBLIC ENEMY (now it’s just random), and BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA (who?). It’s like they spun a wheel of bands and said, “Yeah, that’ll work.”
The tour promises to hit all the usual suspects — Mexico, Brazil, Europe, and North America — with a special stop at the Rose Bowl, because nothing says “we’re still relevant” like playing the same venues you played 30 years ago.
For those who want to spend even more money on this nostalgia train, VIP packages are available. Because what’s better than paying $200 for a concert ticket? Paying $500 for a concert ticket that comes with a commemorative keychain and the opportunity to stand in a special roped-off area!
The band also dropped two new singles, “Nothin'” and “Atlas,” which Slash probably wrote during a coffee break between explaining how he hates guitar solos and announcing yet another world tour. These tracks join their recent output, which has been steadily released alongside their “sold-out tours across the globe” — a polite way of saying “we’re still making money off 30-year-old songs.”
Let’s not forget their impressive stats: 100 million albums sold, one of the most-streamed rock bands on Spotify (average 27 million monthly listeners, which is both impressive and sad), and a Grammy Hall of Fame induction for Appetite For Destruction. They’ve essentially become the McDonald’s of rock music — consistent, profitable, and you know exactly what you’re getting.
Their touring history reads like a conquest: 1.3 million tickets sold in 2024, headlining Glastonbury and Hyde Park, co-headlining with AC/DC and METALLICA (because apparently they needed two other dinosaur rock bands to fill the bill), and ranking as the “fourth-highest grossing concert tour of all time” with their “Not In This Lifetime…” tour. Spoiler: it was in this lifetime, and they’re still milking it.
The current lineup includes Axl Rose (vocals, keyboards), Duff McKagan (bass), Slash (lead guitar), Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Isaac Carpenter (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboard). That’s seven people to recreate what five people did in 1987, but hey, more the merrier when you’re charging premium prices!
So there you have it — GUNS N’ ROSES, still doing what they’ve always done, charging what they’ve always charged, and somehow making it work. Maybe the real evolution is in their bank accounts. 🎸💰
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
