Brian May signed my backstage pass; Slash wasn’t around
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 1, 1993
By Steve Newton
The first time I saw Guns N’ Roses perform, the band was opening for Iron Maiden at the Pacific Coliseum, shortly after the release of 1987’s Appetite for Destruction debut. This was several months before tunes like “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine” would become radio and video staples, and well before singer Axl Rose would claim his notorious reputation as a riot-inducing, show-canceling bad-ass.
But even at that stage I remember a ticked-off Rose threatening the nonchalant Coliseum crowd with a walk-off if it didn’t “make some fucking noise!”
With all the highly publicized problems that have dogged the band’s touring schedule in the last couple of years, it came as somewhat of a surprise that Tuesday’s (March 30) show at B.C. Place went off without a hitch. As far as I could tell, there was no riot. Rose didn’t assault anyone, and Slash didn’t fall off the stage trying to look through his hair.
All in all, it was just a very consistent and impressive performance by an explosive hard-rock band at the peak of its career.
“Do you people feel like screamin’ a little?” hollered Rose, after the opening tune, “Nightrain”, had dug its savage hooks into the 20,000-plus crowd. Sporting a pair of black bicycle shorts and the ever-popular Charles Manson tank top, the tattooed millionaire was a whirling dervish of rock energy, leaping about the stage and spinning around whenever he damn well felt like it.
But the real star of the show was guitarist Slash, whose skills never faltered, whether he was tearing out raunchy lead riffs, laying down bluesy lap-steel slide, toying with a talk-box, or tackling Spanish guitar.
Slash’s talent kept the show rolling on a high note—while Rose may be the visual focus of the band, Slash is undoubtedly its musical heart. Without him Guns N’ Roses would be nothing special, sorta like Van Halen without Eddie.
Thanks mostly to a poor sound mix, opening act the Brian May Band didn’t fare nearly as well as expected, but by tossing in the occasional tune by his old band Queen, guitarist May still managed to win over the masses by set’s end.
To hear the full audio of my interviews with Slash from 1994 and 1995–and my interview with Brian May from 1993 as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can also eavesdrop on over 350 of my one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1996
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Randy Bachman, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
…with hundreds more to come