Review
Review
Guns N’ Roses deliver an epic three-hour headline set on their Download return
From deafening crowd singalongs and blistering guitar solos, Guns N' Roses delivered a headline set that healed old wounds and reminded everyone why they remain rock royalty
There aren’t many bands who can pull of a 3-hour-plus festival headline set, but when you have as many hits safely tucked away in your pockets as Guns N’ Roses do – you can almost make it look like a walk in the park.
Of course, no matter how many undeniable rock classics they have in their arsenal, there were plenty of doubters ahead of Axl Rose and co.’s return to Download Festival. After the band rocked up late to their 2006 headliner, punters have been joking all weekend about how much of this year’s allotted time will actually be utilised. But when the intro video rolls ten minutes early, it seems it’s finally time for redemption.
Of course, you’re immediately onto a winner when you can open with a generation-spanning mega-hit like ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, and that’s precisely how GN’R kick off their return to Download Festival’s main stage. With beers launched into the air, and hilariously inaccurate air guitars donned, from there the party is in motion.
It’s the sharpest they’ve sounded in years, from the propulsive one-two punch of ‘Mr. Brownstone’ and ‘You Could Be Mine’ to a cover of ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ that has everyone nodding their heads in approval. Slash holds things down with plenty of nail-biting solos whilst Axl cycles through various outfit changes, and after Duff McKagan takes the lead for a cover of Sex Pistols’ ‘Black Leather’ and voice boxes are tested with a rousing rendition of the band’s iconic version of ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’, it’s time for things to ramp up a gear.
Fully settling into their groove for the final act of the evening, it’s hard to believe that the crowd can get any louder than they do during ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, but they somehow manage it for the gorgeously epic ‘November Rain’. Friends drape their arms around each others shoulders, swaying from side to side, reminding us of the magic of live music, and that feeling bleeds straight into the hyped-up run-through of ‘Nightrain’ that follows.
Healing any rift that might’ve existed after their infamous set two decades ago, Guns N’ Roses’ return to the Apex Stage brings with it a hearty dose of everything this festival holds dear. Uniting rock fans of all ages with deafening singalongs, jaws dropping at the wicked displays of musicianship, things draw to a close perfectly with ‘Paradise City’, ensuring some very sore throats when campers emerge from their tents for the festival’s final day.
Proving they’ve still got what it takes to deliver musical moments that can bring people from all walks of life together, encouraging them to forget about everything except what’s happening in front of them, tonight Download Festival belongs to Guns N’ Roses. Welcome back.
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