Axl still managed to sing for over two hours at Dubai gig
Guns N’ Roses were forced to abandon their concert in Dubai after Axl Rose was severely ill with a stomach upset.
Before the concert, Rose came on stage at the Du Arena to warn fans that he had been throwing up backstage, but still wanted to perform if possible. The band, playing after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, played for over two hours before the singer’s illness meant they were unable to continue.
Rose had told the 25,000-capacity audience: “They’ve got me on IVs and a bunch of injections, because I got sick today. I’ve been throwing up for the last five hours. Instead of canceling, we’re going to do the best show we can for you.”
The band managed to play 17 songs, including ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ before cutting short the show after their classic ballad ‘November Rain’.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Rose had a reputation for awkward on-stage behavior, including famously refusing to play a Guns N’ Roses show in Newcastle in 2006 until he’d eaten a full roast lamb dinner. However, since guitarist Slash rejoined Guns N’ Roses in 2016, the band appear to have been completely professional.
Writing after the Dubai show, Slash praised Rose for going through with the concert, writing on Twitter: “Axl was severely ill. But you were all hugely supportive. Thanks for that. We’ll see you again next time. Cheers!”
Abu Dhabi, you guys were fucking great tonight! Axl was severely ill. But you all were hugely supportive. Thanks for that. We'll see again next time! Cheers! iiii]; ) '
— Slash (@Slash) November 25, 2018
Bassist Duff McKagan also tweeted his support for Rose, saying: “Axl Rose pulled a damn miracle. The man was beyond ill, and pulled off something I’ve never seen in my beyond 40 years of playing. You all pulled him through.”
Thank you Abu Dhabi! @axlrose pulled a damn miracle…the man was beyond ill, and pulled off something I've never seen in my 40 yrs of playing. You all pulled him thru. Til next time!
— Duff McKagan (@DuffMcKagan) November 25, 2018
Guns N’ Roses’ most recent album was ‘Chinese Democracy in 2008, which didn’t feature Slash or McKagan. Their last album with the band’s classic line-up was ‘Use Your Illusion I & II’ in 1992, with Slash and McKagan departing during the making of covers album ‘The Spaghetti Incident?’ the following year.
Slash said in September that the band are working on a new album, saying that Rose had “a ton” of songs ready, while the guitarist had also recently been inspired to start writing for Guns N’ Roses again.
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