Axl Rose and Slash could be about to bury the hatchet and re-form the classic lineup of Guns N’ Roses. According to reports in Billboard, the band are planning to headline Coachella festival in April 2016 along with a series of other US dates. It will be the first time Rose and Slash have played together since 1993.
Billboard claims that the band are discussing the possibility of playing 25 stadium dates in North America next summer. Sources have claimed that the band are asking for $3m per show, with tickets costing up to $275.
The story emerges after several months of rumours regarding the band’s re-formation. The band’s website and Facebook page have undergone makeovers, leading to fan speculation that an announcement was imminent. In addition, several people reported seeing brief clips of their song Welcome to the Jungle in a mysterious trailer before screenings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The last time the original lineup performed together was at a show in Argentina in 1993. Guitarist Slash left the group in 1996, and has not been on amicable terms with Rose since. However, a music insider at Dish Nation claimed earlier this month that the pair had “verbally agreed to get things together again and re-form the original band”.
Coachella has a reputation for tempting bands out of retirement. Previous bookings have included Outkast, Rage Against the Machine and My Bloody Valentine. Guns N’ Roses are not the most reliable of bands however, and you’d be a fool to guarantee their return until they’re onstage.
