Guns N' RosesOnly Guns N' Roses would have three lead guitarists. Say what you want about them - when you strip away the egos, the relentless tabloid noise and the years spent nurturing their rock star images, the Gunners (aka Axl Rose and friends) sure did write the shit out of some epic tunes in their time. Their current incarnation plays the songs well, but their impact has dulled a little these days as they basically act as pedestals for the scorching solos that the three leads play.
Rose Tattoo began the show with a gutsy set of classics that on reflection sounded grubby and crude compared to the other acts on the bill. Frontman Angry Anderson stalked around pointing and looking grouchy. His voice has lost none of its wasp-y, two-stroke charm.
ZZ Top, resplendent in sequinned mariachi jackets, grumbled and rocked through a sunburnt set of old numbers. No one knew what they were actually saying through their beards, but Billy Gibbons' guitar… man, that thing sang. He barely looked like he knew where he was and he might've been asleep behind the dark glasses, but his fat sausage fingers danced up and down the fret board and blazed through some insane blues work.
The lights went up and we all busied ourselves with fluid adjustments, settling in for a long wait that never happened. Only 20 minutes later the house lights dimmed and Guns N' Roses appeared. No big build up, just an opening chord before launching into Chinese Democracy. Rose and company looked like they'd stepped out of a H&M catalogue, draped in scarves, fedoras and other junk. It was all a bit ridiculous but it was also fun, and hit after hit pummelled us into submission.
You name it, they played it, and after a five-song encore they had completed a 28-song set that covered everything you wanted and some you didn't (Bumblefoot's turn in the spotlight earned yawns). Sure, it was a bummer not to bathe in the glory of Slash's dusty mop or swoon at Duff's crusty magnetism, but DJ Ashbar and Richard Fortus were nothing short of sensational. It was a technical showcase as much as a hit parade, and Roses' tubby presence seemed superfluous next to genuine musicians. Talent and energy trumped their ignorant flirtation with parody on the night, and the show proved they have boldly pushed past sideshow irrelevancy and into legitimate 'legend' status.
