Guns N Roses Melbourne 2017: Fans get to MCG early for good spot

AFTER an hour-long wait and a dubious intro, Guns N’ Roses showed why they are among the best-selling and most revered hard rock bands in history. SEE THE PICTURES

• How I survived Guns N’ Roses 1993 Calder Park gig
• Guns N’ Roses reunion worth the wait
• Not in This Lifetime tour kicks off

IT’S called the Not In This Lifetime tour for good reason.

The last time Guns N’ Roses played in Melbourne in 2013 it was just Axl Rose fronting a bunch of ring-ins and after decades of disagreements and sniping with former band mates, the prospect of the classic line-up ever touring together again seemed more remote than Slash sporting a short back and sides.

But time — and money — are wonderful healers and the patient fans got their just reward at the MCG on Tuesday night when Rose joined forces once again with the members who formed the core of the band, guitarist Slash and bass player Duff McKagan.

Axl Rose during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

Axl Rose during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

Axl Rose during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

And despite some of the issues common to many stadium gigs — namely distance and at times muddy sound — together they showed why the Gunners are among the best-selling and most revered hard rock bands in history.

Many of the fans in the stadium of a certain age may have still been traumatised by the 1993 Calder Park debacle, but had their faith restored as the revitalised outfit tore through their catalogue of hits, leaning heavily on fan-favourite albums Appetite For Destruction and Use Your Illusion 1 and 2.

While the band started on the back foot with a chorus of boos after a rookie, Spinal Tap-like shout out to Sydney, they recovered quickly with It’s So Easy and Mr Brownstone forming a killer one-two punch to open the show, soon followed by Welcome To the Jungle.

Slash during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

Axl Rose during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

Axl Rose and Slash during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

Axl Rose and Slash during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

AxlRose during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

A frenzied You Could Be Mine upped the ante and by the time those unforgettable opening notes of Sweet Child O’Mine chimed around the stadium, the sea of black-shirted fans was just about ready to lose its collective mind, sparking a huge singalong.

The roar got even louder when AC/DC guitarist Angus Young joined them on stage for a hard-rock collaboration for the ages.

The Aussie rock great was returning the favour after Rose stepped in for singer Brian Johnson on some AC/DC dates last year and the Gunners front man sounded totally at home belting out Whole Lotta Rosie and Riff Raff.

The crowd during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

Axl Rose during the Guns N' Roses concert at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair

Never shy of reinventing a song, the Gunners’ better known covers, such as Live and Let Die and Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, were as on point as always — just as impressive was a version of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, featuring a blinding duet between Slash and fellow guitarist Richard Fortus.

After years playing with other outfits it’s a genuine pleasure to see the top-hatted founding guitar virtuoso embracing the songs that made him a star, particularly impressing on Double Talking Jive and Civil War.

Rose, who has one of the most distinctive voices in rock can thankfully still hit the high notes, and pounded the keys like a man possessed in the beloved power balled November Rain, one of the evening’s highlights.