Last night Guns N’ Roses completed a club gig at The Troubadour which was just announced earlier that day.
Tension had been building as April Fools Day grew closer and closer with many anticipating the band’s classic line-up appearing at one of the venues on the Sunset Strip where they had originated from the dawn of their early days in their career.
When April 1st came, GNR revealed that they would be playing The Troubadour, the club where they signed with their record label Geffen Records, approximately “Sometime After 11PM” as stated on the concert flyer.
As soon as residents in the Los Angeles area caught wind of the news, a stampede of fans rushed for the Tower Records building where the tickets were being sold for $10 a pop. The former rock and roll landmark was also renovated and tagged with Guns N’ Roses logos while food and merchandise were distributed outside the establishment.
The horde of Gunners were so massive that police had to be brought in for crowd control. Although The Troubadour can only hold about 500 people, most were satisfied with the limited-edition memorabilia being sold to anyone on the streets of West Hollywood.
By the time it was nearing the beginning of the band’s set, the ones lucky enough to make it inside couldn’t have been more anxious to see their heroes front and center on a stage 3 feet away from them. The performance would be the first time Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan have been publicly united since 1993. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer accompanied the trio to complete the line-up.
However, the most significant aspect of the entire event is how it was put together in the same fashion as it would’ve been done in the 80’s.
Despite the fame and stardom of GNR, the group managed to trade the glamour of arenas and stadiums in exchange for a club show in order to serve fans an identical representation of their early history. Instead of charging triple digit ticket fees, Guns offered the vintage price of a criminally cheap cost for the sake of taking fans down a nostalgic road for one single night. Even this concert was kept hush-hush just like the news that would never get out during the pre-internet age.
All this was done by a band that’s been under fire with criticism by fans and critics alike. Throughout their career, there have been major ups, downs and questionable decisions but it’s notable for something like this to be attempted by them out of generosity.
Even though this special occasion came and went, this is only the beginning…
Guns N’ Roses will be taking their Not In This Lifetime Tour on the road starting April 8th as well as a Summer Tour marked on their official website which launches on June 23rd.
The Troubadour Setlist
1. It’s So Easy
2. Mr. Brownstone
3. Chinese Democracy (first time with Slash)
4. Welcome to the Jungle
5. Double Talkin’ Jive
6. Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
7. Rocket Queen
8. You Could Be Mine
9. Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from ‘The Godfather’)”
10. Sweet Child O’ Mine
11. New Rose (The Damned cover)
12. Better (first time with Slash)
13. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
14. My Michelle
15. Nightrain
Encore:
16.The Seeker (The Who cover)
17. Paradise City
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