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The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Review: Guns N' Roses play Human Being live for first time in tribute to Axl Rose's late idol
There are only two acts I can remember who came on stage precisely at the advertised 8pm start time – Selena Gomez and Guns N' Roses. That the latter was once one of the most notoriously tardy bands in the history of rock n' roll is not lost on me. But that's a testament to what Guns N' Roses have become in 2025. Their misbehaviour may be the stuff of legend, and feuds may have kept the core members – Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan – apart for more than two decades, but it's been about 10 years since they made amends. This is not a victory lap or a quick cash grab – this is a band built to last for decades to come. And it makes sense that they would follow in the footsteps of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Elton John and Paul McCartney and potentially play into their eighties. This has always been a band built on those influences – which made them an anachronism even when they debuted in 1985. At that time, their power as a unit was so mighty that they nearly single-handedly pushed mainstream hard rock back to the 70s – the decade when classic rock came to its own – for better and for worse. And now, with each core member either in or approaching their sixties, they're one of the few bands keeping classic rock alive in 2025. Not all the band's 70s heroes are still on stage, of course. In February, the music world lost David Johansen, the front man of the proto-punk pioneers New York Dolls. Johansen's famed on-stage swagger was one of the key influences on Rose, which he has been vocal about since GNR's early days. Most famously, the band paid tribute to the Dolls on their 1993 album The Spaghetti Incident?, covering their 1974 deep cut, Human Being. But for decades, the band never played their New York Dolls cover live. That made it particularly moving when Guns N' Roses played Human Being live on stage in Abu Dhabi for the first time in their history. Rose noted the debut with a smile, along with a tribute to his late hero. It's rare the band has looked this happy and healthy. Rose no longer sports the long hair and bandana, and looks and sounds noticeably better than he did when the band reformed in 2016, which allows him and his cohorts to breeze through a more than three-hour show at Etihad Arena – hitting all the right notes. Slash, on the other hand, remains ageless – his style has never changed, nor has his immaculate and virtuoso playing style. And most importantly, their camaraderie is palpable, with no signs of discord between them. The band, accompanied by their capable new drummer Isaac Carpenter, who joined the band in March, toured through all their beloved hits, starting with Welcome to the Jungle and ending with Paradise City, as they often do. Sweet Child o' Mine, and their covers of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door and Wings' Live and Let Die were joyously performed. They even reached for some deep cuts, performing Attitude and Reckless Life for the first time on their current tour, and Used To Love Her for the first time since 2018. While the energy of the crowd may not have matched their 2017 show at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena, which had 30,000 thrilled fans comes to see the reunited line-up for the first time – that is to be expected. This is the band's fifth time in the UAE, after all – and second time in Etihad Arena so far this decade. But their return is welcome, nonetheless, and marks perhaps their best performance yet. If this is the Guns N' Roses we're going to get for the next few decades, the UAE will welcome them back gladly each time.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dead man's fans again! Hundreds of Motörhead fans arrive in Stoke as statue of front man Lemmy famous for their hit Ace Of Spades is unveiled in his home town
Thousands of eager Motörhead fans gathered to witness the unveiling of a statue dedicated to frontman Lemmy Kilmister yesterday. The two-metre tall tribute to the renowned musician, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, has been erected on Market Place in his hometown of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, nearly a decade on from his death. Renowned for their popular 1980s hit Ace of Spades, featuring the line 'the dead man's hand again', Motörhead skyrocketed to international stardom in the late 1970s, releasing 20 studio albums over the course of a 40-year career. By 2025, the heavy metal band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, with the group often credited for influencing multiple music scenes. Now, 50 years since the legendary band was formed, fans in their thousands were keen to catch a glimpse of the new monument which depicts the beloved rockstar during his 1980s heyday. Designed by Blurton sculptor and lifelong fan Andy Edwards, the statue even includes space to include Lemmy's ashes, which were accompanied to the ceremony by a procession of motorbikes. Renowned for their popular 1980s hit Ace of Spades, featuring the line 'the dead man's hand again', Motörhead skyrocketed to international stardom in the late 1970s, releasing 20 studio albums over the course of a 40-year career Alongside the unveiling of the new monument, other highlights to mark the anticipated event included a biker cavalcade, a 21-rev salute, and even an appearance from Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell. Lemmy found early success with the band Hawkwind before rocketing to international stardom with Motörhead in 1975. The group later became one of the defining metal bands of the 1980s, with Lemmy, lead singer, founder and bassist, once described as having 'one of the most recognisable voices in rock'. He died, aged 70, on December 28 2015, with his heartbreaking passing announced in a statement on the Motörhead Facebook page, which remembered a 'mighty, noble friend' and called on fans to play his music loud and 'have a drink or few'. His death came just over a month after the passing of his bandmate Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor. Famous for his hard-rocking lifestyle, Kilmister said he drank a bottle of Jack Daniels every day for many years, and also claimed to have slept with more than 1,000 women. He said he had never married because the love of his life, a woman named Susan Bennett, had died of a heroin overdose aged 19. He dedicated his autobiography to Ms Bennett. Pictured: fans gathered for the unveiling ceremony, which also featured a biker cavalcade, a 21-rev salute, and even an appearance from Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell In November last year, MailOnline reported that his ashes were understood to have been rehomed at Stringfellows nightclub in Covent Garden. The venue, which Lemmy was known to frequent, was even the place where Motörhead celebrated their 35th anniversary in November, 2010. Motörhead's former manager Todd Singerman said Stringfellows 'always had a special place' in Lemmy's heart. He told The Sun: 'He loved the relaxed environment — and he certainly loved the view. I know he's relieved he can get back to enjoying one of his favourite places.' It was the musician's request before his death for his remains to be placed inside bullets and sent to his loved ones. And in 2021, crew members Eddie Rocha and Emma Cederblad shared a video of them getting the permanent tribute to their late friend. Lemmy, whose real name was Ian Fraser Kilmister, later lived in nearby Newcastle-under-Lyme and Madeley after growing up in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent The clip began with the caption: 'Some of Lemmy's ashes were shared with family and close friends.' The bullet was then shown before the powdery residue was seen being slipped into ink to create a portrait of the musician for Eddie's leg and the band's iconic spade emblem for Emma. Former MTV Headbangers Ball host Riki Rachtman was the first to share the golden bullet he received engraved with Lemmy's name earlier that year. He captioned his Twitter post: ' Before his death #Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets and handed out to his closest friends Today I received a bullet and was literally brought to tears Thank you @myMotorhead.'
