Guns N' Roses' Melissa Reese To Miss 2026 World Tour

Guns N' Roses

Guns N’ Roses’ keyboardist Melissa Reese is set to miss out on the band’s forthcoming World Tour, citing “unforeseen personal reasons.”

“Rock legends Guns N’ Roses have announced that Melissa Reese will not be joining the band on tour due to unforeseen personal reasons,” the band shared in a short social media statement, adding, “We hope our fans understand.”

Reese joined Guns N’ Roses in March 2016, becoming the band’s second keyboardist – replacing Chris Pitman and joining longtime keyboardist Dizzy Reed.

Since the band’s reunion a decade ago, Reese has played the keyboard, handled the synthesiser, sub-bass, and programming, and performed backing vocals. Her role in the band has been described as the “enhancer,” as she produces sounds heard in Chinese Democracy songs and plays the Moog synthesiser on the hit track, Paradise City.

Upon her joining the band, Reese had a fortnight to learn 50 songs in preparation for their Not in This Lifetime Tour. She played for 15 hours a day to learn the songs. Reese explained that the band were aware of her work as a producer and musical partnership with their former drummer, Bryan “Brain” Mantia, whom vocalist Axl Rose asked if she could “pull it off.”

In 2021, Reese appeared on Guns N’ Roses’ first new music since Chinese Democracy on Absurd and Hard Skool. Earlier this year, the band dropped the singles Nothin’ and Atlas.

In November and December, Guns N’ Roses return to Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 2022. The band will headline the bp Adelaide Grand Final and perform in stadiums in Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle, Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland.

Guns N’ Roses’ 2022 tour Down Under saw them joined by Aussie punks The Chats and Cosmic Psychos. This time, the band continue their tradition of picking a homegrown support act, with rockers Airbourne landing the gig.

You can find out how to score tickets to the tour on The Music.