guns and roses tour lead singer

Who Is Axl Rose?

Born in Indiana, Axl Rose eventually moved to California, working odd jobs and playing in bands until the formation of Guns N' Roses in the mid-1980s. Guns N' Roses achieved critical acclaim, but Rose’s antics caused controversy. After the Use Your Illusion Tour, Rose became a recluse. He resurfaced occasionally, with the band, promising to release the album Chinese Democracy , which finally hit stores in 2008.

Axl Rose was born William Bruce Rose Jr. on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. His mother was 16, and his father, William Bruce Rose Sr., was 20. Rose Sr. left when his son was a toddler. Rose's mother later married Stephen Bailey and changed her son's name to William Bruce Bailey. Rose grew up believing that Bailey was his biological father until, at 17, he discovered the existence of his father while going through papers at his parents' house. He began using Rose as his last name.

Rose was frequently in trouble with the police and spent time in jail on charges of public intoxication and battery. When the police threatened to charge him as a career criminal, he moved to Los Angeles in 1982. Shortly after, he joined the band AXL. The experience was so all-consuming that he legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose.

Guns N' Roses

Rose worked odd jobs to support himself while playing in bands such as Rapid Fire, L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. He eventually formed Guns N' Roses, with the band releasing a 1986 EP followed by their 1987 debut album, Appetite for Destruction , on Geffen.

The band was successful, and Rose quickly became both a lauded and controversial figure. Though hailed as one of the most charismatic and successful lead singers of all time, he was frequently late for performances, and shows often started several hours behind schedule. When the band released G N' R Lies in 1988, he was accused of being racist and homophobic, based on lyrics in "One in a Million."

After two people died while slam-dancing to GNR's "It's So Easy" during the Monsters of Rock concert, Rose became known for stopping shows to deal with unruly fans. At a concert in St. Louis in 1991, he dove into the crowd to retrieve a fan's video camera, which was banned. Back onstage, he denounced the security personnel and walked offstage. A riot ensued and caused $200,000 worth of damages, and Guns N' Roses was banned from the city. On the Use Your Illusion Tour, in support of the double album of the same name, Rose's ranting and raving from the stage became more frequent, as did walk-offs and riots. After their last Use Your Illusion performance, on July 17, 1993, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the band went dormant.

Guns N' Roses was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, but Rose did not attend. However, four years later, in March 2016, it was announced that GNR would be reuniting for a 21-city North American tour, with shows in Las Vegas, at Coachella and in Mexico City scheduled as a lead up to the highly anticipated event.

It turned out that fans were more than eager to see longtime band members Rose, Slash and McKagan reunite for the Not in This Lifetime... Tour. The tour sold 4.3 million tickets in 2017, pushing it into third place among the highest grossing tours since 1990, according to Billboard .

Rocky Personal Life

Rose's personal life has been as rocky as his professional one. In 1990 he married Erin Everly, who later claimed that Rose had shown up at her house, threatening to kill himself with a gun in his car if she wouldn't marry him. The marriage was annulled in early 1991.

That same year he began dating supermodel Stephanie Seymour. They got engaged in 1993 but broke up soon after. Rose sued Seymour, claiming she assaulted him, and Seymour counter-sued, saying he attacked her and she grabbed him in self-defense. The case dragged on, but Rose ultimately settled out of court. Everly was called to testify during the case and filed her own suit against Rose for assault and sexual battery. Rose settled this case out of court as well.

Early in his life, Rose was diagnosed as manic-depressive and prescribed lithium, which he has since refused to take. He says he believes in homeopathic medicine and past-life regression. Rose has stated that his past-life regression therapy helped him recover memories of being sexually abused by his biological father at age two.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Axl Rose
• Birth Year: 1962
• Birth date: February 6, 1962
• Birth State: Indiana
• Birth City: Lafayette
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Founder and lead singer of Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock.
• Astrological Sign: Aquarius

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Axl Rose Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/axl-rose
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: November 16, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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Axl Rose 101: Everything You Need to Know About Guns N’ Roses’ Leader

Axl Rose , Guns N' Roses singer: March 1985 - Present

Guns N' Roses Discography:   Live  ?!*@ Like A Suicide (1986); Appetite for Destruction (1987); G N' R Lies (1988); Use Your Illusion I & II (1991); "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993); Chinese Democracy (2008)

Non-Guns N' Roses Discography:  Rapidfire, Ready to Rumble ; Hollywood Rose, The Roots of Guns N' Roses.

Pre-Guns N' Roses: William Bailey was raised in a church family in Lafayette, Indiana alongside his childhood friend, Jeff Isbell. At age 17 he found out that his father was actually his stepfather. The news shook the teenager, who began getting in trouble with the local police.

At age 19, Bailey, now going by William Rose, hitchhiked to Los Angeles. He picked up a job as manager of the Tower Video on Sunset and started gigging with a band named Rapidfire. When that band didn't go anywhere, he reconnected with his buddy from Lafayette -- now going by the name Izzy Stradlin -- and the two formed the band AXL, which became the singer's new nickname (and later legal name).

AXL changed their name to Rose and then to Hollywood Rose. Eventually both Steven Adler and Slash would join Hollywood Rose, too. After that band split, Axl served a brief tour of duty in L.A. Guns before inevitably forming what has become his life's work, Guns N' Roses.

Post-Guns N' Roses: There isn't really an "after Guns" to Axl's story. He is the last man standing, the carrier of the torch, the owner of the name. After the Use Your Illusion tour, the original band began to disintegrate, and Axl stayed out of the limelight for several years. Then, in 1999, he resurfaced with a new lineup and a song called "Oh My God" on the soundtrack to  End of Days . But despite touring regularly under the Guns N' Roses name since 2001, attempts to record a new album proved difficult, as numerous personnel changes and Rose's perfectionism kept the band in the studio.  Finally, after more than 10 years of recording and an estimated $13 million spent, the long-awaited  Chinese Democracy was released in 2008.

Right Now: Guns N' Roses (and thus Axl) appears to be on another hiatus as a result of the twin departures of guitarists DJ Ashba and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal in the summer of 2015. Those moves prompted a slate of reunion rumors that persists. As for a new studio album, the follow-up to 2008's Chinese Democracy is allegedly near completion .

Guns N' Roses Reunions: Axl has made very few appearances outside of Guns N' Roses, but he did guest on Gilby Clarke 's '94 solo album, Pawnshop Guitars. He appeared with Slash on the track "Anxious Disease" on the Outpatient's '96 LP, Anxious Disease.  Both Izzy and Duff McKagan appear elsewhere on the album, too.

Rose did not appear with the band when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Onstage reunions between Axl and his former band mates have all occurred on the Guns N' Roses stage. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed has remained in the lineup since joining for Use Your Illusion. Izzy Stradlin has joined the band onstage frequently since 2006. In 2010, Duff joined Axl's new lineup on stage at London's O2 arena. Neither Slash nor Adler have performed live with Axl since leaving the band.

Report: Axl and Slash to Reunite for Guns N' Roses Tour

Every Guns N' Roses Song Ranked, Worst to Best

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Guns N’ Roses Adds Carrie Underwood, Alice in Chains, The Pretenders & More to 2023 Tour Dates

The country star has previously joined the rock band on stage.

By Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson

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Welcome to the jungle! Carrie Underwood is set to join rock band Guns N’ Roses for three shows on the North American leg of the group’s 2023 Global Tour. Alice in Chains, The Pretenders, The Warning and Dirty Honey are also joining the trek.

Guns N’ Roses Announce Dates For 2023 World Tour

The country star will open for the rockers during two shows in Canada (Aug. 5 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and Aug. 8 in Montreal, Quebec), followed by a show on Aug. 26 in Nashville at GEODIS Park.

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Underwood has long incorporated songs from Guns N’ Roses’ classic rock catalog — such as “Welcome to the Jungle” — into her own concert setlists, and welcomed lead singer Axl Rose as her surprise guest during her headlining set at the Stagecoach music festival in 2022 , where the two performed “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Paradise City.”

Later that year, Guns N’ Roses later welcomed Underwood to reprise those same songs during Guns N’ Roses’ London concert.

This marks the first time Guns N’ Roses has toured North America since their We’re F’N Back! Tour in 2021. The tour launches overseas on June 5 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and continues through Europe through July 22, wrapping in Athens, Greece. The band then continues on to North America, starting Aug. 5 for the Moncton, NB show at Medavie Blue Cross Stadium. The tour traverses several U.S. states and wraps on Oct. 16 at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Underwood previously told Jimmy Fallon about meeting Guns N’ Roses for the first time, during one of the band’s concerts in Las Vegas.

“I might have, like, hung out with Axl after the show a little bit!” she joked. “I do always say that it’s hard when you meet your heroes, because I do consider him to be somebody who taught me how to sing, because I loved how he could just do different things with his voice. I was like, ‘I don’t know! If I meet him, and he’s not everything I want him to be…’ But he was. It was great. He was super cool and nice, and we talked — we’re best friends.”

See her post announcing her dates on the Guns N’ Roses tour below:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood)

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Rock And Roll Legends Guns N’ Roses Announce 2023 World Tour

POWERHOUSE ROCK BAND TO HEADLINE STADIUMS, FESTIVALS, AND ARENAS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, EUROPE, AND NORTH AMERICA  

Presale tickets available starting wed feb 22 at 10 am local time; general on-sale begins fri feb. 24 at 10 am local time on gunsnroses.com  .

Guns N’ Roses return to the road on a massive 2023 World Tour produced by Live Nation , headlining stadiums, festivals, and arenas throughout the summer and fall. The powerhouse rock band launch this jaunt on June 5 in Tel Aviv, Israel at Park Hayarkon and will continue across Europe through July 22, wrapping in Athens, Greece. The band will continue onto North America, starting on Saturday, August 5 in Moncton, NB at Medavie Blue Cross Stadium, and will visit historic venues across the country such as Fenway Park in Boston, MA on August 21 and Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL on August 24. The tour concludes in Vancouver, BC at BC Place on Monday, October 16.  

Check out the full confirmed itinerary below.  

Tickets will be available starting with the band’s Nightrain Presale, beginning Wednesday February 22 at 10am local time. The general on-sale for all dates will start beginning Friday, February 24 at 10 AM local time on gunsnroses.com . Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, VIP bar access throughout the show, invitation to the pre-show Paradise City Lounge, limited edition Guns N’ Roses VIP merchandise & more. To enter the lottery for a chance to win two VIP packages, including hotel accommodation, to the Guns N’Roses event, simply sign up for the newsletter at Casinobonusesnow.com . Please use the subject line “Guns N’Roses” when signing up. For a comprehensive list of inclusions, kindly reach out to the website directly.

This will be the first time the group have toured North America since the monumental We’re F’N Back! Tour in 2021—which also steamrolled stadiums coast-to-coast including their first headliner at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Meanwhile, their now-legendary Not In This Lifetime… Tour (2016-2019) stands out as the “third-highest grossing tour of all time . ”  

Expanding their influence across culture, Guns N’ Roses also notably just sponsored Erik Jones and the No. 43 in the Daytona 500 . His race team, Legacy Motor Club is co-owned by NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson who shared his excitement on Twitter. 

In other big news, the cinematic music video for “November Rain” has surpassed 2 billion views , elevating it to rarified air as “one of the most-viewed rock videos of all-time.” Last year, they dropped the Use Your Illusion I & II Super Deluxe Edition Box Set . It is available HERE . The 4LP vinyl has already sold out. 

Guns N’ Roses will be unveiling more news and surprises soon. Get ready! 

2023 GLOBAL TOUR DATES  

Mon Jun 05 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Park Hayarkon 

Fri Jun 09 – Madrid, Spain – Civitas Metropolitan Stadium 

Mon Jun 12 – Vigo, Spain – Estadio Abanca Balaídos 

Thu Jun 15 – Dessel, Belgium – Grasspop Metal Meeting 

Sat Jun 17 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell 

Wed Jun 21 – Oslo, Norway – Tons of Rock 

Tue Jun 27 – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park 

Fri Jun 30 – London, UK – BST Hyde Park 

Mon Jul 03 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsch Bank Park 

Wed Jul 05 – Bern, Switzerland – BERNEXPO 

Sat Jul 08 – Rome, Italy – Circo Massimo 

Tue Jul 11 – Landgraaf, Netherlands – Megaland 

Thu Jul 13 – Paris, France – La Defense 

Sun Jul 16 – Bucharest, Romania – National Arena 

Wed Jul 19 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskás Arena 

Sat Jul 22 – Athens, Greece – Olympic Stadium 

Sat Aug 05 – Moncton, NB – Medavie Blue Cross Stadium 

Tue Aug 08 – Montreal, QC – Parc Jean Drapeau 

Fri Aug 11 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium 

Tue Aug 15 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium 

Mon Aug 21 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park 

Thu Aug 24 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field 

Sat Aug 26 – Nashville, TN – GEODIS Park 

Tue Aug 29 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center 

Fri Sep 01 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center 

Sun Sep 03 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre 

Wed Sep 06 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena 

Sat Sep 09 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium 

Tue Sep 12 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena 

Fri Sep 15 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live 

Wed Sep 20 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum 

Sat Sep 23 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium 

Tue Sep 26 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome 

Thu Sep 28 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park 

Sun Oct 01 – San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium 

Sun Oct 08 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival 

Wed Oct 11 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field 

Mon Oct 16 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place 

ABOUT GUNS N’ ROSES:  

Guns N’ Roses endure as the most dynamic, dangerous, and definitive American rock band in history to this day. Embedded in popular culture, their landmark diamond-selling 1987 opus, Appetite For Destruction , stands out as “the best-selling U.S. debut album ever” and “the 11 th best-selling U.S. album of all time, ” while their Not In This Lifetime… Tour (2016-2019) ranked as the “fourth-highest grossing concert tour of all time . ” During 1991, Guns N’ Roses shook the world with the one-two punch of the 7x-platinum Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II , clinching the top two spots of the Billboard 200 upon arrival. With total sales of 100 million units thus far, their catalog also consists of G N’ R Lies (5x-platinum), The Spaghetti Incident? (platinum), Greatest Hits (5x-platinum), and Chinese Democracy (platinum). Not to mention, they are one of the most-streamed rock bands in the world with an average of 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Following the reunion of the century, they headlined Coachella and sold 5 million-plus tickets on the Not In This Lifetime… Tour . However, Guns N’ Roses never stop with more touring on the horizon in 2023 and other surprises—the “Nightrain” keeps rolling at full speed.   

Guns N’ Roses are Axl Rose (vocals, piano), Duff McKagan (bass), Slash (lead guitar), Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboard).   

About Live Nation Entertainment  

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com . 

For more information, contact:  

Guns N’ Roses  

Carleen Donovan:  [email protected]    

Franny Lail: [email protected]    

Live Nation Concerts   

Monique Sowinski: [email protected]    

Nadine Peña: [email protected]    

Valeska Thomas: [email protected]    

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Guns N’ Roses Announce Huge 2023 World Tour

Back to prove there's no such thing as too much of a good thing, Guns N' Roses have just announced a huge 2023 world tour.

It's been seven years since Slash and Duff McKagan simultaneously rejoined the group and Guns N' Roses remain one of the biggest (and one of the most lucrative ) concert draws in the world with Axl Rose , Dizzy Reed , Richard Fortus , Frank Ferrer and Melissa Reese rounding out the lineup.

See all of the upcoming tour dates further down the page. Tickets go on sale on Feb. 24 at 10AM local time here  and look for presale tickets to be made available starting Feb. 22 at 10AM local time.

This year has already been quite notable for GN'R and Rose, especially when it comes to the  Use Your Illusion   I  hit song "November Rain." At Lisa Marie Presley 's memorial service, Rose performed a vocal and piano rendition of the track and, three weeks later, the "November Rain" YouTube video surpassed two billion views , becoming the first '90s rock song to achieve that milestone.

Guns N' Roses 2023 World Tour Dates

June 05 – Tel Aviv, Israel @ Park Hayarkon June 09 – Madrid, Spain @ Civitas Metropolitan Stadium June 12 – Vigo, Spain @ Estadio Abanca Balaídos June 15 – Dessel, Belgium @ Grasspop Metal Meeting June 17 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Copenhell June 21 – Oslo, Norway @ Tons of Rock June 27 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Bellahouston Park June 30 – London, U.K. @ BST Hyde Park July 03 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Deutsch Bank Park July 05 – Bern, Switzerland @ BERNEXPO July 08 – Rome, Italy @ Circo Massimo July 11 – Landgraaf, Netherlands @ Megaland July 13 – Paris, France @ La Defense July 16 – Bucharest, Romania @ National Arena July 19 – Budapest, Hungary @ Puskás Arena July 22 – Athens, Greece @ Olympic Stadium Aug. 05 – Moncton, New Brunswick @ Medavie Blue Cross Stadium Aug. 08 – Montreal, Quebec @ Parc Jean Drapeau Aug. 11 – Hershey, Pa. @ Hersheypark Stadium Aug. 15 – East Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium Aug. 21 – Boston, Mass. @ Fenway Park Aug. 24 – Chicago, Ill. @ Wrigley Field Aug. 26 – Nashville, Tenn. @ GEODIS Park Aug. 29 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Spectrum Center Sept. 01 – Saratoga Springs, N.Y. @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sept. 03 – Toronto, Ontario @ Rogers Centre Sept. 06 – Lexington, Ky. @ Rupp Arena Sept. 09 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Busch Stadium Sept. 12 – Knoxville, Tenn. @ Thompson-Boling Arena Sept. 15 – Hollywood, Fla. @ Hard Rock Live Sept. 20 – Biloxi, Miss. Mississippi @ Coast Coliseum Sept. 23 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Kauffman Stadium Sept. 26 – San Antonio, Texas @ Alamodome Sept. 28 – Houston, Texas @ Minute Maid Park Oct. 01 – San Diego, Calif. @ Snapdragon Stadium Oct. 08 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Aftershock Festival Oct. 11 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Chase Field Oct. 16 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ BC Place

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Guns N’ Roses announce massive 2023 world tour

Slash and co will visit the Middle East, Europe and North America over a sprawling 38-date schedule, which is set to kick off in June

Guns N’ Roses have announced they’ll be hitting the road later this year for a mammoth world tour that will span five months.

Set to kick off at the Park Hayarkon in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 5, the tour will see Slash and co then make their way through Europe over the course of 15 dates, visiting Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, the UK, Germany, Italy and more.

The European leg of the tour will conclude on July 22 with a performance at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece.

After a few weeks break, GN'R will then get to work on a North American leg of the tour, which will commence on August 5 at the Medavie Blue Cross Stadium in Moncton, Canada. The band will then play shows at Boston’s Fenway Park, Lexington, Kentucky's Rupp Arena, Biloxi’s Mississippi Coast Coliseum and more, before wrapping things up at Vancouver, Canada's BC Place on October 16.

The 2023 world tour will be Guns N’ Roses’ first time on the road since the band’s We’re F’N Back! tour, which concluded last summer.

General sale for all tickets will take place this Friday (February 24) over on the band’s official website.

A post shared by Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) A photo posted by on

Whether the band will perform any new material on the upcoming tour remains to be seen, but it’s been just over a year since Slash confirmed Guns N’ Roses would be releasing a new album , and a year since the band released the four-track EP, Hard Skool .

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If such a record does arrive this year, it will be the band’s first full-length since Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined the fold back in 2016. The current GN'R roster sees Slash and McKagan line up alongside Axl Rose, Richard Fortus and Frank Ferrer.

The band’s 2021 tour contained a handful of notable highlights, including a show-stopping rendition of Paradise City for which the band called upon the six-string services of their support artist, Wolfgang Van Halen .

For tickets and a full list of tour dates, head over to Guns N’ Roses’ website .

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Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World , Guitarist and Total Guitar . He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.

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Guns N' Roses will be joined by Carrie Underwood and more on tour

The band's 2023 World Tour is set to kick off this June.

Guns N' Roses is heading out on their 2023 World Tour next week and they've lined up a star-studded group of artists to join them on their North American leg.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers recently announced the support acts joining them on the tour, which include The Pretenders, Alice in Chains, The Warning, Dirty Honey and country star Carrie Underwood on select dates.

MORE: Carrie Underwood, Axl Rose perform 'Welcome to the Jungle'

The World Tour is set to kick off June 1 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and hits North America on Aug. 8 at Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick.

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The first U.S. show takes place Aug. 11 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The North American leg of the band's 2023 World Tour just got bigger, with two additional shows on Aug. 18 in Pittsburgh and Oct. 14 in Seattle.

The general sale for Pittsburgh tickets is happening Friday, June 2, at 10 a.m. local time, with Seattle tickets going on sale Friday, June 9, at 10 a.m. local time.

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A complete list of dates and openers can be found at gunsnroses.com.

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Guns N’ Roses Announce Support For 2023 World Tour

Carrie Underwood, The Pretenders, Alice In Chains, The Warning, and Dirty Honey will be joining the legendary rock band

Ahead of the kick off of the international dates of their 2023 Global Tour, Guns N’ Roses today announce the artists that will support the tour’s North American leg: Superstar Carrie Underwood , The Pretenders , Alice In Chains, The Warning , and Dirty Honey. In addition, the band will be adding new shows: one in Pittsburgh, PA at PNC Park on Friday, August 18 and another in Seattle, WA at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, October 14.

Guns N’ Roses return to the road on a massive 2023 World Tour produced by Live Nation, headlining stadiums, festivals, and arenas throughout the summer and fall. The powerhouse rock band launch this jaunt next week on June 5 in Tel Aviv, Israel at Park Hayarkon and will continue across Europe through July 22, wrapping in Athens, Greece. The band will continue onto North America, starting on Saturday, August 5 in Moncton, NB at Medavie Blue Cross Stadium, and will visit historic venues across the country such as Fenway Park in Boston, MA on August 21 and Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL on August 24. The tour concludes in Vancouver, BC at BC Place on Monday, October 16.

Tickets for the new Pittsburgh date will be available starting with the band’s presale today at 10 AM local time, with the general on-sale starting Friday, June 2 at 10 AM local time; tickets to the new Seattle date will be available starting Friday, June 9 at 10 AM local time, all on gunsnroses.com . Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, VIP bar access throughout the show, invitation to the pre-show Paradise City Lounge, limited edition Guns N’ Roses VIP merchandise & more. For more information, visit vipnation.com .

This will be the first time the group have toured North America since the monumental We’re F’N Back! Tour in 2021—which also steamrolled stadiums coast-to-coast including their first headliner at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Meanwhile, their now-legendary Not In This Lifetime… Tour (2016-2019) stands out as the “third-highest grossing tour of all time . ”

Expanding their influence across culture, Guns N’ Roses also notably just sponsored Erik Jones and the No. 43 in the Daytona 500 . His race team, Legacy Motor Club is co-owned by NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson who shared his excitement on Twitter.

2023 GLOBAL TOUR DATES

INTERNATIONAL DATES

Mon Jun 05 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Park Hayarkon

Fri Jun 09 – Madrid, Spain – Civitas Metropolitan Stadium

Mon Jun 12 – Vigo, Spain – Estadio Abanca Balaídos

Thu Jun 15 – Dessel, Belgium – Grasspop Metal Meeting

Sat Jun 17 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell

Wed Jun 21 – Oslo, Norway – Tons of Rock

Tue Jun 27 – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park

Fri Jun 30 – London, UK – BST Hyde Park

Mon Jul 03 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsch Bank Park

Wed Jul 05 – Bern, Switzerland – BERNEXPO

Sat Jul 08 – Rome, Italy – Circo Massimo

Tue Jul 11 – Landgraaf, Netherlands – Megaland

Thu Jul 13 – Paris, France – La Defense

Sun Jul 16 – Bucharest, Romania – National Arena

Wed Jul 19 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskás Arena

Sat Jul 22 – Athens, Greece – Olympic Stadium

NORTH AMERICAN DATES

^ Newly Added Date | *Not A Live Nation Date

Sat Aug 05 – Moncton, NB – Medavie Blue Cross Stadium with Carrie Underwood

Tue Aug 08 – Montreal, QC – Parc Jean Drapeau with Carrie Underwood

Fri Aug 11 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium with The Pretenders

Tue Aug 15 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium with The Pretenders

Fri Aug 18 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park with The Pretenders^

Mon Aug 21 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park with The Pretenders

Thu Aug 24 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field with The Pretenders

Sat Aug 26 – Nashville, TN – GEODIS Park with Carrie Underwood

Tue Aug 29 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center with Dirty Honey

Fri Sep 01 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center with Dirty Honey

Sun Sep 03 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre with The Pretenders

Wed Sep 06 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena with Dirty Honey

Sat Sep 09 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium with The Pretenders

Tue Sep 12 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena with The Warning

Fri Sep 15 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live with The Warning*

Sun Sep 17 – Atlanta, GA – Midtown Music Festival*

Wed Sep 20 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum with Dirty Honey

Sat Sep 23 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium with Alice in Chains

Tue Sep 26 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome with Alice in Chains

Thu Sep 28 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park with Alice in Chains

Sun Oct 01 – San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium with Alice in Chains

Fri Oct 06 – Indio, CA – Power Trip Festival*

Sun Oct 08 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival*

Wed Oct 11 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field with Alice in Chains

Sat Oct 14 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena^ (support act TBD)

Mon Oct 16 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place with Alice in Chains

ABOUT GUNS N’ ROSES:

Guns N’ Roses endure as the most dynamic, dangerous, and definitive American rock band in history to this day. Embedded in popular culture, their landmark diamond-selling 1987 opus, Appetite For Destruction , stands out as “the best-selling U.S. debut album ever” and “the 11 th best-selling U.S. album of all time, ” while their Not In This Lifetime… Tour (2016-2019) ranked as the “fourth-highest grossing concert tour of all time . ” During 1991, Guns N’ Roses shook the world with the one-two punch of the 7x-platinum Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II , clinching the top two spots of the Billboard 200 upon arrival. With total sales of 100 million units thus far, their catalog also consists of G N’ R Lies (5x-platinum), The Spaghetti Incident? (platinum), Greatest Hits (5x-platinum), and Chinese Democracy (platinum). Not to mention, they are one of the most-streamed rock bands in the world with an average of 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Following the reunion of the century, they headlined Coachella and sold 5 million-plus tickets on the Not In This Lifetime… Tour . However, Guns N’ Roses never stop with more touring on the horizon in 2023 and other surprises—the “Nightrain” keeps rolling at full speed.

Guns N’ Roses are Axl Rose (vocals, piano), Duff McKagan (bass), Slash (lead guitar), Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboard).

ABOUT CARRIE UNDERWOOD:

Carrie Underwood is a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, film, and as a New York Times bestselling author and successful entrepreneur. She has sold more than 85 million records worldwide, recorded 28 #1 singles (14 of which she co-wrote), is the most-awarded female country artist for singles in RIAA history, and has seven albums that are certified Multi-Platinum or Platinum by the RIAA, with over 72 million total RIAA certifications to date, all while continuing to sell out arena tours across North America and the UK. All 10 of her albums (including nine studio albums and her 2014 Greatest Hits: Decade #1) – three of which she co-produced – have debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart for all genres, beginning with her first album, Some Hearts, which was released in 2005. She has won over 100 major awards including 8 GRAMMY® Awards, 16 ACM Awards including three for Entertainer of the Year (the first female in history to win twice and the only female ever to win three times), 25 CMT Music Awards (holding the record for the most award wins ever for the show), 7 CMA Awards, and 17 American Music Awards. She ended last year as Billboard’s Top Country Female 2022 and was honored as The Country Star of 2022, her 10th win from the fan-voted People’s Choice Awards. She has been a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2008 and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. She has also built a successful business portfolio inspired by her passion for health and wellness. She founded and created the fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, and her first book, FIND YOUR PATH was an instant New York Times bestseller. She launched her fitness app, fit52, in 2020, and expanded her lifestyle portfolio with an equity partnership with BODYARMOR Sports Drink in 2021. Carrie has starred in the show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football for 10 consecutive seasons. She was the first artist to perform at the new Resorts World Theatre, where her ongoing REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency, began with sold-out runs in December 2021 and throughout Spring 2022, and will resume in June. Her album, Denim & Rhinestones, which she co-produced, is out now, and she recently completed her 43-city U.S. arena tour, THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR. Carrie’s exclusive year-round SiriusXM channel, CARRIE’S COUNTRY, will launch in June.

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Guns N'Roses at Glastonbury 2023: Everything you need to know

23 June 2023, 14:28 | Updated: 23 June 2023, 16:31

The LA rockers play a headline set at Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage on Saturday 24th June - here's everything we know about their show so far.

Listen to this article

Guns N' Roses are preparing to play a headline show at Glastonbury Festival this weekend.

The legendary rockers will take to the stage on Saturday 24th June, but what time will they start, what can we expect and how can you watch it at home?

Plus, who's in the current line-up of GNR, have they played the festival before and what can we expect from the setlist?

Find out the answer to these questions and more below...

READ MORE: Guns N'Roses announce more names for BST Hyde Park gig

Glastonbury - Emily Eavis opens gates for 2023 festival

What time do Guns N' Roses start at Glastonbury?

Guns N' Roses will play a headline set at Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage on Saturday 24th June from 9.30pm to 11:45pm.

Have Guns N' Roses played Glastonbury before?

GNR's Glastonbury set will mark their band's first ever appearance at the festival. Speaking about the news. Emily Eavis said: "They’ll be brilliant and provide something totally different to the rest of the headliners."

When the news of their set was announced on 3rd March, the band said: "Glastonbury, let's F'N' go!"

Glastonbury, let's F'N' go! 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/j3hzMwmJpl — Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) March 3, 2023

Where can I watch Guns N' Roses Glastonbury set?

As the main headliners, Guns N' Roses will be available to watch live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on 24th June at from 10pm - 2pm BST. However, we've know from previous years, there can be delays, so keep an eye on their TV guide for up to date details.

What will Guns N' Roses play at Glastonbury Festival?

It's not certain what the band will play at their headline set, but going from their recent dates, we can be sure to hear around 30 songs and classics such as Welcome To The Jungle, Paradise City, Sweet Child O' Mine and November Rain, plus there may be some special guests.

Take a look at their recent setlist in Abu Dhabi on 1st June for an idea of what to expect:

• It's So Easy
• Bad Obsession (from Use Your Illusion 1, and the first time live since February 1993)
• Chinese Democracy
• Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
• Pretty Tied Up (from Use Your Illusion II and the first time live since Aoril 1992)
• Welcome To The Jungle
• Mr. Brownstone
• Double Talkin' Jive
• Reckless Life
• You Could Be Mine
• Down on the Farm (UK Subs cover from the Spaghetti Incident? album and the first time live since December 2006 )
• Rocket Queen
• T.V. Eye (The Stooges cover with Duff McKagan on vocals)
• Anything Goes (from Appetite For Destruction and the first time live since August 1988)
• Civil War (with Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Chile in the outro)
• This I Love (from Chines Democracy and first time live since November 2018)
• Live And Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings cover)
• Estranged followed by Slash's guitar solo!
• Sweet Child O' Mine
• November Rain
• Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb/Glenn Campbell cover)
• Street Of Dreams
• Nice Boys (Rose Tattoo cover and first time live since November 2017)
• Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover)
• Don't Cry
• My Michelle (from Appetite For Destruction and first tme since November 2017)
• Paradise City

Who's in the current Guns N' Roses line-up?

The current line-up of Guns N' Roses consists of frontman Axl Rose , guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan , kyebordist keybordist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus , drummer Frank Ferrerr and keybordist Melissa Reese.

How old is Axl Rose?

Axl Rose was born on 6th February 1962 and at the time of writing this article is 61 years old.

What is Axl Rose's real name?

The Guns N' Roses frontman was born William Bruce Rose Jr. and (after his mother changed his name to William Bruce Bailey after marriage) he started going by the name Axl after his band of the same name. He then legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose just before singing a contract with Geffen Records in 1986.

READ MORE: Why does Slash from Guns N' Roses always wear a hat?

How old is Slash and where is he from?

Slash was born on 23rd July 1965 and at the time of this article is 57 years old. Slash, who was born in Hampstead, London, and raised in Blurton in Stoke-on-Trent until he was six years old and moved to L.A. His mother Ola J. Hudson, was an African American fashion designer who worked with stars such as David Bowie , Janis Joplin and Ringo Star r. His father Anthony Hudson, is an English artist who created album artworks.

What is Slash's real name and why is he called Slash?

Slash was born Saul Hudson in 1965 and was named after Romanian-American cartoonist Saul Steinberg. He was given the nickname Slash as a child by American actor Seymour Cassel, who would see him zipping around backstage.

Are Guns N' Roses playing more UK dates this year?

GNR are currently on their world tour. They will play a rescheduled date at Glasgow's Bellahouston Park on 27th June before heading to London's Hyde Park for BST on Friday 30th June.

Visit gunsnroses.com/tour for their full tour dates.

READ MORE: Guns N' Roses announce huge world tour for 2023

Traffic builds as Glastonbury gets underway

READ MORE: Guns N' Roses' Slash reveals his guitar heroes

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Guns N’ Roses Announce 2023 World Tour

Guns N’ Roses  will take their destructive appetites around the globe this summer and fall on a world tour. The monthslong stretch of stadium, arena, and festival dates will carry the classic rockers through the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

The outfit consisting of original members Axl Rose ,  Slash , and  Duff McKagan , who reunited in 2016, will begin their tour in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 5th. Guns N’ Roses will then tour Europe and the U.K. before wrapping the international leg on June 22nd in Athens, Greece.

Arriving stateside, the L.A. natives will play iconic stadiums around the U.S. including  Fenway Park  (8/21) and  Wrigley Field  (8/24). Along the way, GnR will headline  Aftershock Festival  in Sacramento, CA (10/8) before the tour wraps in Vancouver on October 16th.

The band’s Nightrain Pre-Sale begins on Wednesday, February 22nd at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets to the Guns N’ Roses 2023 world tour go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 24th at 10 a.m. local time. For a full description of VIP packages and amenities visit  Live Nation . See below for a full list of tour dates.

This 2023 outing will mark the band’s first trek through North America since the We’re F’N Back! Tour  in 2021. Prior to that, the group’s monumental 2016–2019 Not In This Lifetime… Tour  featuring the original lineup together for the first time in nearly 25 years made history as the third-highest-grossing tour of all time.

More recently, the band has cemented its legacy by passing 2 billion views on YouTube for “November Rain”, which now sits as one of the most-viewed rock videos of all time. Then last Sunday, Guns N’ Roses expanded their reach by sponsoring Erik Jones  and his No. 43 car in the  Daytona 500 .

Welcome to the NASCAR jungle @gunsnroses ! pic.twitter.com/t11rD7Zv7g — LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LegacyMotorclub) February 14, 2023

2023 GLOBAL TOUR DATES

Mon Jun 05 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Park Hayarkon

Fri Jun 09 – Madrid, Spain – Civitas Metropolitan Stadium

Mon Jun 12 – Vigo, Spain – Estadio Abanca Balaídos

Thu Jun 15 – Dessel, Belgium – Grasspop Metal Meeting

Sat Jun 17 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell

Wed Jun 21 – Oslo, Norway – Tons of Rock

Tue Jun 27 – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park

Fri Jun 30 – London, UK – BST Hyde Park

Mon Jul 03 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsch Bank Park

Wed Jul 05 – Bern, Switzerland – BERNEXPO

Sat Jul 08 – Rome, Italy – Circo Massimo

Tue Jul 11 – Landgraaf, Netherlands – Megaland

Thu Jul 13 – Paris, France – La Defense

Sun Jul 16 – Bucharest, Romania – National Arena

Wed Jul 19 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskás Arena

Sat Jul 22 – Athens, Greece – Olympic Stadium

Sat Aug 05 – Moncton, NB – Medavie Blue Cross Stadium

Tue Aug 08 – Montreal, QC – Parc Jean Drapeau

Fri Aug 11 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

Tue Aug 15 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

Mon Aug 21 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park

Thu Aug 24 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field

Sat Aug 26 – Nashville, TN – GEODIS Park

Tue Aug 29 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

Fri Sep 01 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Sun Sep 03 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre

Wed Sep 06 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena

Sat Sep 09 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium

Tue Sep 12 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena

Fri Sep 15 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

Wed Sep 20 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum

Sat Sep 23 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium

Tue Sep 26 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome

Thu Sep 28 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park

Sun Oct 01 – San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium

Sun Oct 08 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival

Wed Oct 11 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field

Mon Oct 16 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place

Guns N’ Roses Finally Debut ‘The General’ After 16 Years of Fan Anticipation

• By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

Guns N’ Roses played the penultimate show of their 2023 tour at L.A.’s Hollywood Bowl on Thursday night, and they used the occasion to debut “The General.” “This could be very interesting,” Rose told the crowd. “If there’s ever a better place to fall on your face, I think this fuckin’ counts.” Check out a fan-shot video.

The following year, Bach told Rolling Stone that he was told by Rose that “The General” is a sequel to “Estranged.” “He’s like the George Lucas of rock,” Bach said. “I know for a fact it’s not him saying, ‘Let’s wait and work on [ Chinese Democracy ] some more. He has a whole new business team. Irving Azoff is in control, along with Andy Gould. They are trying to figure out the best way to put the music out.”

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There hasn’t been a new Guns N’ Roses record since Chinese Democracy , but the reunited version of the band has released new recordings of “Absurd,” “Hard Skool,” and “Perhaps” over the past couple of years. All three songs date back to the Chinese Democracy sessions. A 7″ vinyl of “Perhaps” is slated to come out December 8 with “The General” on the flip side.

Guns N’ Roses wrap up their 2023 tour at the Hell and Heaven Fest in Toluca, Mexico, on November 5. They’re topping a bill that also includes Muse, Slipknot, and Billy Idol. GN’R have been on the road steadily since reuniting with Slash and Duff in 2016. They have yet to announce any 2024 plans, but they’ll need to work around Slash’s schedule. He’ll be on the road with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators from January through late April.

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Guns N' Roses Announce 2023 Tour Across North America, Europe and Israel — See the Dates!

The rockers last hit North America in 2021

Guns N' Roses is hitting the road!

The rockers will embark on a lengthy tour in June that will see them play nearly 40 dates across stadiums, arenas and festivals around the world.

The band — which includes Axl Rose , 61, Duff McKagan , 59, and Slash , 57 — will kick things off in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 5 before heading to Europe for 15 concerts.

On Aug. 5, the "November Rain" rockers will head back to North America for 22 more dates before wrapping in Vancouver on Oct. 16. The band last hit North America in 2021, on its We're F'N Back! Tour.

For longtime fans, the end of each show will look a bit different, as Rose announced in December that he will no longer throw his microphone into the crowd after a fan claimed the move injured her.

"It's come to my attention that a fan may have been hurt at r show in Adelaide Australia possibly being hit by the microphone at the end of the show when I traditionally toss the mic to the fans," he wrote on Twitter.

RELATED VIDEO: Axl Rose, Alanis Morissette and More Deliver Emotional Performances at Lisa Marie Presley's Memorial

He continued: "Having tossed the mic at the end of r show for over 30 years we always felt it was a known part of the very end of r performance that fans wanted and were aware of to have an opportunity to catch the mic. Regardless in the interest of public safety from now on we'll refrain from tossing the mic or anything to the fans during or at r performance."

Rose recently celebrated his birthday with a heartfelt Twitter message to fans that thanked them for their longtime support.

"I'm very fortunate n' privileged to have such great friends, fans n' people in my life!!" he wrote. "I'm extremely grateful for ALL the people I n' Guns n' Roses r privileged to play for n' all those we meet, know n' work with around the world!! I mean that sincerely from the bottom of my heart n' don't take anyone n' their love, friendship n' support along with any of our success for granted!!"

Presale tickets for the tour will be available on Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time, while the general on-sale begins Friday at 10 a.m. local time at gunsnroses.com .

See Guns N' Roses' upcoming tour dates below.

Mon June 05 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Park Hayarkon

Fri June 09 – Madrid, Spain – Civitas Metropolitan Stadium

Mon June 12 – Vigo, Spain – Estadio Abanca Balaídos

Thu June 15 – Dessel, Belgium – Grasspop Metal Meeting

Sat June 17 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell

Wed June 21 – Oslo, Norway – Tons of Rock

Tue June 27 – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park

Fri June 30 – London, UK – BST Hyde Park

Mon July 03 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsch Bank Park

Wed July 05 – Bern, Switzerland – BERNEXPO

Sat July 08 – Rome, Italy – Circo Massimo

Tue July 11 – Landgraaf, Netherlands – Megaland

Thu July 13 – Paris, France – La Defense

Sun July 16 – Bucharest, Romania – National Arena

Wed July 19 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskás Arena

Sat July 22 – Athens, Greece – Olympic Stadium

Sat Aug. 05 – Moncton, NB – Medavie Blue Cross Stadium

Tue Aug. 08 – Montreal, QC – Parc Jean Drapeau

Fri Aug. 11 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

Tue Aug. 15 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

Mon Aug. 21 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park

Thu Aug. 24 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field

Sat Aug. 26 – Nashville, TN – GEODIS Park

Tue Aug. 29 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

Fri Sep. 01 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Sun Sep. 03 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre

Wed Sep. 06 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena

Sat Sep. 09 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium

Tue Sep. 12 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena

Fri Sep. 15 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

Wed Sep. 20 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum

Sat Sep. 23 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium

Tue Sep. 26 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome

Thu Sep. 28 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park

Sun Oct. 01 – San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium

Sun Oct. 08 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival

Wed Oct. 11 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field

Mon Oct. 16 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place

Related Articles

Axl Rose Then and Now: How Guns N' Roses singer has evolved over the years

Axl rose's signature voice is instantly recognizable but his looks have changed.

William Bruce Bailey was born in Lafayette, Indiana on February 6, 1962. Bailey discovered rock music when he heard Led Zeppelin's 'D'yer Mak'er' and would never be the same. Bailey eventually changed his name to "W. Axl Rose" and has been regarded as one of the most illustrious, gifted, and unpredictable frontmen in the history of music biz. Although the artist's appearance has changed significantly over the last few years, Guns N' Roses would have left a far lesser legacy today if not for Rose's five-octave vocal range, diverse vocal styles, and powerful attitude. Explore the slideshow below to view pictures of the legendary rockstar taken over the years.

Axl Rose from 1983 - 1984

After years of fronting various bands, the future star reunited with Lafayette friend Izzy Stradlin. The pair undertook several lineup adjustments to get together a working band, after deciding to pursue music seriously. The final line-up included Duff McKagan, Saul "Slash" Hudson, and Steven Adler.

Axl Rose in 1985

When Guns N' Roses returned to Los Angeles in June 1985, it was evident that Rose was now the band's leader. Tracii Guns, one of the founding members of Guns N' Roses, was out of the picture, replaced by guitarist Slash.

Axl Rose in 1987

Rose was 25 years old while promoting an upcoming tour of Japan in 1987. It took the band at least seven months to eventually take off, and 'Appetite for Destruction' hadn't even broken into the top 50 albums sold yet.

Axl Rose in 1990

According to the Los Angeles Times , Rose was arrested in October 1990 for an alleged assault with a lethal weapon after hitting his neighbor in the head with an empty wine bottle. Sheriff's detectives reported that Axl Rose was having an argument with the woman when he is said to have grabbed a bottle of wine from the woman, spilled its contents, and hit her on the head.

Axl Rose in 1992

Rose was detained in 1992 due to his involvement in the Riverport Riot. Rose was found guilty of assault and property damage. He received two years of probation and a $50,000 fine.

Axl Rose in 1998

In 1998, Rose was taken into custody at Phoenix, Arizona's Sky Harbor Airport for allegedly threatening airport security who was going through his bags. He was accused of engaging in disorderly conduct that came with a misdemeanor charge.

Axl Rose in 2002

Guns N’ Roses failed to perform at a December 2002 show at what is now the Wells Fargo Center, and Rose explained that he canceled the event due to illness.

Axl Rose in 2006

Four years after disappearing from public view, Rose was back on the scene with the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. The same year, in December 2006, Rose allegedly kicked a security guard in the head, while the band was performing at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, California, according to TMZ , and resulted in a lawsuit.

Axl Rose in 2011

The frontman of Guns N' Roses, Rose was “humbled, (and) blown away” by the support he had received from the public and media regarding his choice to turn down the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and skip the ceremony n 2011.

Axl Rose in 2016

2016 will be remembered by historians as a year when chaos ruled and the cosmos broke down. AC/DC and Axl Rose performed together on stage at a 2016 Vienna, Austria concert. Rose is still one of the most recognizable metal singers of all time, even though he isn't as young as he once was.

Axl Rose in 2019

For the 2019 leg of their 'Not in This Lifetime' tour, Guns N' Roses were back on the road. 'Rock the Rock' was the band's first new song since the release of their sixth studio album 'Chinese Democracy', way back in November 2008. The band underwent a significant transformation after Rose and founding members, Slash and Duff McKagan, got back together in 2016 for a multi-year, international tour.

Axl Rose in 2023

Axl Rose and Slash have been able to stay united for the past seven years. On February 21, 2023, Guns N' Roses announced a massive world tour for 2023. During the run, the seasoned hard rockers would play festivals, stadiums, and arenas all across the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

Guns N' Roses Reveal List Of Special Tour Openers, Add New Dates

By Logan DeLoye

May 31, 2023

Guns N' Roses have just announced the names of the special guests that will be joining them on their 2023 world tour, and you're not going to want to miss this! According to The Rock Revival , Guns N' Roses will be joined by Alice in Chains , The Pretenders , Dirty Honey , The Warning, and country queen Carrie Underwood among other notable acts .

The Pretenders will open for the "You Could Be Mine" standouts in Madrid, Spain, Vigo, Spain, Glasgow, UK, Frankfurt, Germany, Bern, Switzerland, Rome, Italy, Landgraaf, Netherlands, Hershey, Pennsylvania, East Rutherford, New Jersey, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, and Toronto, Ontario. Alice in Chains will open for Guns N' Roses in Kansas City, Missouri, San Antonio, Texas, Houston, Texas, San Diego, California, Sacramento, California, Phoenix, Arizona, and Vancouver, British Columbia. A few other acts opening for the band include Generation Sex, Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons , and The Last Internationale .

As if announcing a full list of impressive openers wasn't enough, the "Welcome to the Jungle" artists just added a handful of dates to their tour schedule . The newly added tour dates include stops in Seattle, Washington, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Indio, California for Power Trip, and Atlanta, Georgia for Music Midtown.

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The Cautionary Tale Of Guns N’ Roses

Posted: May 6, 2024 | Last updated: May 6, 2024

1. It Starts

Guns N’ Roses first formed in March 1985 in Los Angeles. The band’s original lineup consisted of Axl Rose on vocals, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, lead guitarist Tracii Guns, bassist Ole Beich, and Rob Gardner on drums.

2. Ego Game

Before forming the band, Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin were members of a band called Hollywood Rose. In 1984, Stradlin was roommates with Tracii Guns, who was a member of the band L.A. Guns. The two groups came together, and the abandoned bands’ names were used to create the fusion band Guns N’ Roses. Though to be fair, given the fact that they named their bands after themselves even then, we’re not surprised that their heads would later grow a bit inflated with success.

3. You’re Called What?!

Before they settled on a name, the members of Guns N’ Roses seriously considered the names "Heads of Amazon” and (rather shockingly) "AIDS". Luckily, better sense prevailed.

4. Your Fifteen Minutes Are Up

Original bassist Ole Beich lasted barely a month with the band. After their first ever show in March 1985, Beich was fired. He was replaced by Duff McKagan, who we can safely say lasted a bit longer than Beich!

5. Dropping Like Flies

The spring of 1985 continued to be a turbulent time for this new band when they lost lead guitarist Tracii Guns and drummer Rob Gardner. While this effectively meant the departure of those members who’d been part of the band LA Guns, the band didn’t drop the “Guns” from its name. Presumably, they figured that “Roses” as a hard rock band would have been a hard sell!

6. In All but Name

On the 4th of June 1985, the band officially recruited drummer Steven Adler and lead guitarist Slash. Interestingly, both men had been in Hollywood Rose with Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin. This really just seems like an unofficial Hollywood Rose reunion!

7. A Neat Little Profit

To date, Guns N’ Roses has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. 45 million of those records were sold in the US alone.

8. Calling it the “Charlie Brown Tour” Was A nO

Despite confirming their lineup, Guns N’ Roses faced disaster when they toured the west coast in June 1985. The tour was poorly organized and on one occasion, the band’s two vans broke down on the road to Seattle, their final destination. They were forced to abandon their equipment to hitchhike. Small wonder they later dubbed it the “Hell Tour".

9. Things Could Only Get Better!

Despite all the setbacks which took place on the Tour,” Guns N’ Roses reportedly emerged very optimistic from this experience. According to Duff McKagan, they figured that if they could push through all that, they stood to go the distance as a band.

10. Would You Say They’re Bad to the Bone?

Early on in their career, the band gained a reputation for their wild lifestyle and outrageous behavior (to the point where former hard-partiers and labelmates Aerosmith had to avoid spending time with them if they wanted to stay clean!). Guns N’ Roses even became known as “the most dangerous band in the world".

11. An Album to Outspend All Albums

Guns N’ Roses are responsible for the most expensive rock album that’s ever been produced. At a whopping $14 million, Chinese Democracy has become the stuff of legends (more on that later, however).

12. Less Money for More Independence

By 1986, Guns N’ Roses began to draw offers from record labels. During this time, Geffen Records offered them a contract with $75,000 in advance money attached. The band accepted after turning down an offer from Chrysalis Records which had been worth twice that much. Unlike Geffen, however, Chrysalis had insisted on changing the band’s image and their musical style. To be honest, we can’t imagine anyone thinking they could just tell a bunch of hard-rockers in their prime what they could and could not do.

13. Dangerous Indeed

In August 1988, Guns N’ Roses took part in the Monsters of Rock Festival held in Castle Donington, England. While the band performed, the crowd began slam-dancing with such force that two people taking part were fatally crushed!

14. Brits First

In 1987, Guns N’ Roses released their first singles. Despite being an American band, their first single was released in the UK. “It’s so Easy” was released there on the 15th of June 1987, but not anywhere else. In fact, the first US single that Guns N' Roses released was “Welcome to the Jungle” in October.

15. Who Was Awake to See It?

Despite the fact that Guns N’ Roses had picked a song as dynamic as “Welcome to the Jungle,” and had made a great music video to match, the single went largely unnoticed for the better part of a year! It wasn’t until the founder and head of Geffen Records, David Geffen himself, persuaded MTV to play the song that the music video got a spot. And even then, the video was only played on Sunday at 4 AM! Amazingly, rock and metal fans still managed to notice it, and it wasn't long before the song was a hit.

16. No, Not the Marvel Character!

“Welcome to the Jungle” ended up being featured in The Dead Pool , a 1988 film which was one of several starring Clint Eastwood as the hard-nosed cop “Dirty” Harry Calahan. Guns N’ Roses even had cameo appearances in the film!

17. Climbing the Ladder

With the success of Appetite for Destruction , Guns N’ Roses went on a 16-month international tour. They opened for bands such as The Cult, Iron Maiden, and Aerosmith, and their popularity increased exponentially along the way. In the case of Aerosmith, they were approached by Rolling Stone for a story, but to their astonishment and fury, their opening act was the one who made the magazine’s cover!

18. Out with Old, In with New

In 1990, drummer Steven Adler struggled to perform thanks to his drug addictions. When the band recorded “Civil War,” Adler’s faulty drumming meant that they did nearly thirty takes of the song! He was fired from the band that same year and was replaced by Matt Sorum.

19. The Consummate Keyboardist

Guns N’ Roses also added keyboardist Dizzy Reed to their roster in 1990. He has continued to play and tour with the band ever since.

20. No Illusions About Our Success!

Guns N’ Roses greatly expanded their musical range in 1991 with the release of their double album Use Your Illusion I  and II . Reaching #1 and #2 on the US charts, the albums were praised for their ambition, “incorporating elements of blues, classical music, heavy metal, punk rock, and classic rock and roll” into their hard-rock style.

21. What a Hassle

Despite the success of the Use Your Illusion double album (boasting songs like “November Rain” and “Civil War”), the band struggled to get those albums made. The replacement of drummers brought on a new style which left the band divided (Izzy Stradlin labeled their new sound as “weird”). Additionally, the production of those albums was delayed by strife in the band. At one point, the sound mixing was scrapped completely and begun again from scratch!

22. Great Song for a Great Album

Guns N’ Roses only had one song reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. That honor goes to “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” which was so popular that it was a key factor in their debut album, Appetite for Destruction , also reaching #1 on the Billboard 200.

23. Hard-Rock Globetrotters

Before Use Your Illusion parts I and II were released, Guns N’ Roses embarked on an ambitious world tour to go along with them. The band went to twenty-seven different countries across twenty-eight months! Small wonder that it’s been called the “longest tour in rock history".

24. Where Do We Go Now?

During the mid-to-late 1990s, Guns N’ Roses didn’t do much in regards to recording new albums. Each member of the band has given different reasons for why this was the case, such as internal squabbling, other musical projects taking precedence, and the departure of lead guitarist Slash in 1996.

25. Made Up on the Spot

Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” has always been the jewel in their crown. Total Guitar magazine named its introductory guitar riff as the greatest of all time. The irony is that Slash, who played the riff, hated the song! The riff was originally just meant to be a string skipping exercise. Despite his original intentions, however, Axl Rose heard him and thought it sounded amazing. He provided lyrics and insisted that they use the riff for a new song. “Sweet Child o’ Mine” was made up so fast, in fact, that nobody had a good idea on how to continue it after the first few minutes. This is why the band spends the last third of the song asking, “Where do we go now?” The question wasn’t rhetorical!

26. Inspiration from Agitation

According to Axl Rose, the inspiration for “Welcome to the Jungle” was a homeless man who accosted him and his friend when they first arrived in New York City off the bus. The man screamed “You know where you are? You’re in the jungle, baby! You’re gonna die!” We hope that Guns N’ Roses later tried to find the man and buy him lunch in gratitude.

27. Trouble Ahead

With the departure of Slash, other band members left, only to be promptly replaced by Axl Rose, who assumed a dictatorial command. Rose purchased the full rights to the band’s name in 1997. Of course, this is Rose’s story, and it’s been disputed in the past by other members of the band. We may never know the full truth of what happened behind the scenes.

28. Let Them In, Quick!

In 2012, Guns N’ Roses’ classic lineup (Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Slash, Matt Sorum, Steven Adler, and Izzy Stradlin) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It also happened to be the first year that they were eligible.

29. Still Waiting!

As early as 1999, Axl Rose was talking about the release of Guns N’ Roses' new album, Chinese Democracy . However, the album was continually delayed for years. In between internal bickering amongst band members and producers, the album was re-recorded many times and pushed further back. Too many lawsuits to describe also didn’t help matters. Finally, after a disastrous promotion attempt by Dr. Pepper and continued delays, the album was streamed on Myspace and released on the 23rd of November 2008. It was Guns N’ Roses’ first album since 1993.

30. From Low to High Again

By the 2010s, Guns N’ Roses’ reputation for delaying or even abruptly canceling their concerts was at an all-time low. However, in 2016, classic band members Slash and Duff McKagan reunited with the band at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. They went on to perform the Not in This Lifetime tour, which grossed over $480 million. That makes it the fourth highest grossing concert tour of all time!

31. RIP Freddie

Guns N’ Roses was one of many bands who performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (Mercury had just succumbed to AIDS at the time). Because of the band’s controversial reputation, especially given the scandal around “One in a Million,” there were several protests made to keep them away. These efforts were unsuccessful, however, and for once, the band performed without any issues in honor of the fallen rocker (it’s worth noting that Guns N’ Roses always had great respect for Mercury and the rest of Queen, naming them as an inspiration for their musical style).

32. Accessory?

On the 2nd of July 1991, just outside of St. Louis, Axl Rose once again lost his temper with disastrous results (a recurring trend for him onstage). Noticing a fan filming the show, Rose demanded that security remove the camera. When his demands weren’t met, Rose took matters into his own hands and went at the fan. Rose was pulled away, whereupon he walked off, ending the show abruptly. This caused the huge crowd to riot, leading to dozens of injuries. Rose narrowly avoided charges.

33. Another One Bites the Dust

After Rose’s behavior didn’t improve following the St. Louis incident, Izzy Stradlin quit the band. He had finally gotten clean and found it too much to be around his fellow bandmates. He was replaced by Gilby Clarke, who would play with Guns N’ Roses for three years. Slash would later say that Clarke "saved" the band.

34. Foreshadowing for Chinese Democracy?

Incredibly, one of Guns N’ Roses’ classic songs, “November Rain,” took nearly ten years to reach us! Released on Use Your Illusion I in 1991, Axl Rose was working on the song as early as 1983, according to Tracii Guns.

35. Over a Song?

One alleged reason for Slash and Gilby Clarke’s departures from Guns N’ Roses was the rift which deepened while the band was recording a cover of “Sympathy for the Devil” as part of the Interview with a Vampire soundtrack. Allegedly, Axl Rose infuriated Slash by insisting he continually re-record his part until it was a virtual copy of Keith Richards’ version. Clarke, meanwhile, claimed that nobody asked him to work on the song with them, and he took that as a sign that he was on his way out the door.

36. We’ll Be Back

Guns N’ Roses’ song “You Could be Mine” appears famously in James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day (the movie that all Terminator fans remember and weep for as being the high-water mark of a long-decrepit series). The movie makes an interesting pun on the band’s name in one scene where the T-800 pulls out a firearm from its hiding place: a box of roses. Well played, James.

37. Try Not to Imagine That

Most rock fans are familiar with the iconic album cover for Guns N’ Roses’ first album Appetite for Destruction . However, this wasn’t their original plan. The cover chosen was only done to replace the original design, which “depicted a surrealist scene in which a dagger-toothed monster vengefully attacks a... robot". Frankly, we don’t think the world is ready for that kind of imagery even now!”

38. Was it an Improvement?

In 1987, Guns N’ Roses held a concert in Atlanta. During the show, Axl Rose got himself in trouble when he jumped a security guard backstage. Rose was held by authorities despite the fact that he was in the middle of the show. One of the band's roadies had to go onstage and sing in Rose’s place!

39. Light ‘Em Up!

As successful as Guns N’ Roses became, they were hardly doing well before the band kicked off. In fact, Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin went to extreme measures to make a buck. They both signed up as guinea pigs for a UCLA study which required them to smoke cigs. To be fair, they were probably going to do that anyway, so might as well get paid for it!

In 1993, Guns N’ Roses released The Spaghetti Incident ?, which was an album comprised of punk and hard-rock songs. However, it also contained a hidden cover of the song “Look at Your Game, Girl” which was originally written by none other than Charles Manson. Yes, that Charles Manson. Given Manson’s offenses and imprisonment, various groups were outraged that Manson would be getting money from Guns N’ Roses fans (which was nothing to sneeze at, given how popular the band was). The band apologized for their “naïve and innocent black humor” and promised to donate all their performance royalties of that song to various sources such as the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau and a relative of one of the victims of Manson’s followers.

41. This is Why People Don’t Like You, Dude

In 1988, Guns N’ Roses released the single “One in a Million,” which was based on Axl Rose’s less-than-pleasant experience coming to Los Angeles for the first time. However, the song provoked a huge controversy due to Rose's use of anti-gay language and the N-word in the song. For his part, Rose did an interview with Rolling Stone to address the controversy. He embarked on a rant which began with him resenting the idea he can be told what to say or not say. He then claimed that the N-word “doesn’t necessarily mean black” before pointing out that rap group N.W.A. used it all the time and no one got angry at them. Finally, presumably, because nobody was looking him in the eye by that point, Rose called out Bobcat Goldthwait for insisting that the band used the N-word just for the sake of controversy. It’s safe to say that “One in a Million” isn’t hailed as a Guns N’ Roses classic.

42. No Hard Feelings

Surprisingly, despite the controversies of “One in a Million” and Axl Rose’s embarrassing “defense,” N.W.A. didn’t seem to have any ill will towards Guns N’ Roses over the issue. These two bands were actually very friendly with each other and considered collaborating on an album at one point. While this never materialized, N.W.A. member Eazy-E recorded a demo for a possible collaboration. Unfortunately, everyone involved decided not to move forward with it, but Slash did contribute his guitar skills to Eazy-E’s song “Luv 4 Dem Gangsta’s,” which appeared on the soundtrack for Beverly Hills Cop III .

Sources : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Beyoncé could blow away other artists for top-grossing tour

By Elizabeth Napolitano

May 12, 2023 / 12:23 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have blown past music industry records before, picking up dozens of Grammy awards and smashing streaming numbers . So, it shouldn't be any surprise that both pop stars are also on track to break another record — the highest-grossing concerts of all-time.  

Beyoncé could rake in more than $2 billion from her "Renaissance" world tour, which kicked off this week and includes 57 shows, projections show. Taylor Swift, who is also touring this year, could similarly surpass the billion-dollar mark. The country-pop singer's 20-city nationwide "Eras" tour, with 52 shows, is expected to gross a whopping $1.6 billion, Forbes reported. 

The projections are based on "the most optimistic assumptions of the number of fans buying tickets" and assume an average ticket price of $700, the publication said.  

But, while the pop queens' earnings could far exceed those of their peers, they're not the only ones raking in concert cash. 

Billboard Boxscore, a report that tracks live entertainment receipts, shows the top five highest-earning music tours of all-time have earned a staggering $635.6 million on average. 

Here is a list of the top five highest-grossing concert tours of all time, according to Billboard Boxscore. The list has been edited to exclude tours, such as Elton John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour," that are currently ongoing or that had repeated runs.

1. Ed Sheeran "The ÷ (Divide) Tour" (2017-19)

Based off Sheeran's third album, The Divide Tour grossed $776 million over the course of 258 shows attended by 8.9 million people. 

2. U2 "360° Tour" (2009-11)

The seven-leg world tour promoting the Irish band's 12th album grossed $736 million for 110 shows attended by 7.3 million concertgoers. 

3. Guns N' Roses "Not in This Lifetime Tour" (2016-19)

The hard-rock band's most recent tour raked in $584 million for 158 shows across the world, with 5.4 million people turning out to see them perform. 

4. The Rolling Stones "A Bigger Bang Tour" (2005-07)

The iconic rock band's tour grossed $558 million for 147 shows that brought out 3.5 million fans. The tour —one of the last before the passing of founding member, Charlie Watts — held the top spot, before being  outgrossed  by U2's "360° Tour."

5. Coldplay "A Head Full of Dreams Tour" (2016-17)

The British rock band's five-continent tour to promote its seventh album pulled in $524 million in gross revenue over 115 shows attended by 5.4 million concertgoers. 

See the full list here .

• Taylor Swift
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Elizabeth Napolitano is a freelance reporter at CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and technology news. She also writes for CoinDesk. Before joining CBS, she interned at NBC News' BizTech Unit and worked on The Associated Press' web scraping team.

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Online florist Urban Stems has unveiled a last-minute Mother’s Day bouquet inspired by the hit Amazon MGM Studios rom-com, “ The Idea of You. “

“ The Solène ” is a lush and lavish bouquet inspired by Anne Hathaway’s character in the film, a 40-year-old single mom who falls for the 24-year-old lead singer of a boy band (played by Nicholas Galitzine). A mixture of roses, anemone, lilies, delphinium, thistle and trachellium, Urban Stems says the arrangement pays tribute to Solène’s “artistic soul and untamed heart.”

Urban Stems The Solène

“Each petal resonates with her youthful spirit and artistic flair, while the delicate balance of hues honors her deep love for her daughter, Izzy, and the new, unexpected romance that takes her by surprise,” reads the accompanying product description .

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Based on  Robinne Lee’s novel  of the same name, “ The Idea of You ” premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 2 and quickly became a fan favorite, with both critics and viewers praising the performances of Hathaway and Galitzine. You can watch “The Idea of You” streaming free now on Amazon.com .

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