AC/DC stage gear has been spotted on stage at Ford Field in Detroit, where Guns N’ Roses are kicking off their ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour tonight. While it could be Axl Rose using gear from his other band, AC/DC guitarist Angus Young did perform as a guest with GNR at Coachella in April.
Expect Guns N’ Roses to hit the stage between 9:45-10 p.m., says production manager Dale “Opie” Skjerseth, who spoke to members of the media at Ford Field on Wednesday.
That’s despite Axl Rose’s history of on stage tardiness, which has long been part of his mystique. In Las Vegas, where the group played two shows in April, GNR hit the stage just before midnight on the first night and around 10:30 p.m. the second night.
Skjerseth said Rose is up and moving after breaking his left foot at GNR’s first performance back at Los Angeles’ Troubadour on April 1 and is ready to go for Thursday’s concert.
The group members — including Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagen — arrived in Detroit at various times over the last several days, and performed a three and a half hour soundcheck on Tuesday night at Ford Field. The group will perform another soundcheck Wednesday night.
“They’ve been rehearsing every song they know,” said Skjerseth, who said the concert will likely be between two-and-a-half to nearly three hours. “They’re ready to do anything.”
Expect upwards of 25 songs in the setlist, pulling mainly from the group’s “Appetite for Destruction” and “Use Your Illusion” albums.
The early shows featured flashy pyrotechnics and dancing go-go girls but minimal stage banter, according to reports.
“Every bell and whistle you can think of with Guns N’ Roses will be here,” Skjerseth said.
Guns N’ Roses’ stage was erected at Ford Field after the tear down of Beyoncé’s stage following her June 14 concert at the Detroit Lions’ home. A crew of 125 people loaded out 20 production trucks and 16 steel trucks over three 12 hour shifts, and will break down the stage and production in less than 24 hours following Thursday’s concert.
The ability to rehearse at the venue is one of the reasons Ford Field was chosen as the tour’s kickoff, Skjerseth said.
