AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler says that he has been working on the return of GUNS N’ ROSES for years and has predicted that the reunion of Slash, Axl Rose and Duff McKagan will be “huge.”
GUNS N’ ROSES will play two shows before its mid-April appearance at the Coachella Music And Arts Festival in California, with the band now scheduled to perform at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 8 and April 9, just days after the venue opens for business on April 6.
GUNS N’ ROSES‘ headlining slots on April 16 and April 23 at the Coachella event in Indio, California were confirmed earlier this month after widespread speculation that the band would appear at the festival.
The band’s lineup will feature Rose, Slash and McKagan performing together for the first time since 1994, although the rest of the group roster has yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to Getty Images while preparing to board a flight at the Los Angeles International Airport, Tyler said about GUNS N’ ROSES‘ comeback: “I’ve been working on it for years.” He explained that he “just told [Slash] that the world needs more rock and roll and [there is] enough of people arguing, especially when they’re as talented and as great. Everybody loves their songs. That’s what rock and roll is about.”
Asked how big be thinks the GUNS N’ ROSES reunion will be, Tyler responded: “Huge. There are no words.” But he cautioned: “Just don’t forget this: it don’t happen ’till it happens.”
Pressed on why he thinks Slash and Rose finally decided to reunite after more than twenty years, Tyler said: “‘Cause obviously there was a row, and they finally made up. What do you think?”
GN’R is reportedly negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. The band is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show, with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.
In an interview with Guitar World, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry said about the classic lineup of GUNS N’ ROSES: “[They] were great and really made a mark in rock and roll history. It’s a shame that whatever energy they saw in each other on that first record they couldn’t sustain. They made a great record and could have been huge all around the world for as long as they wanted.”
He added in a separate chat with USA Today: “It would be great for the original [GUNS N’ ROSES] to get back together, but it takes more than great songs to keep a band going. Slash has done an amazing job on his own.”
Source: Blabbermouth
