May 15, 2006 11:29

Guns N' Roses make live return

The band rock New York

Guns N' Roses made their live comeback in New York on Friday night (May 12) treating fans to material from their long-awaited new album ‘Chinese Democracy’.

Singer Axl Rose – the only remaining member from the original line-up - led the band through their first gig in three years in front of the sold-out 3,300 audience at the city’s Hammerstein Ballroom.

The set featured nine of the 12 tracks from the group’s 1987 debut album ‘Appetite For Destruction’ including ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, ‘Paradise City’ and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ alongside other fan favourites such as ‘You Could Be Mine’, ‘Live And Let Die’, ‘November Rain’ and ‘Patience’.

It was the first of four sold-out nights at the venue which were set to continue last night (May 14), tonight (May 15) and Wednesday (17).

Repeatedly thanking the crowd and shaking their hands, Rose also ran through songs set to appear on ‘Chinese Democracy’ – the LP which has been over ten years in the making – including ‘Madagascar’, ‘IRS’, ‘The Blues’, ‘T.W.A.T.’, ‘Better’ and ‘Chinese Democracy’.

According to Reuters, commenting on the delay surrounding the release of the LP, Rose told fans: “You can hold your breath a lot longer than David Blaine. I want to thank you for that."

The singer was joined by former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach for a version of ‘My Michelle’.

The new Guns N' Roses line-up was completed by keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Robert Finck (ex-Nine Inch Nails), former Primus drummer Brian Mantia, guitarist Richard Fortus, keyboardist Chris Pittman and bassist Tommy Stinson from The Replacements.

Guitarist Ron Thal, from the band Bumblefoot, joined GNR last week as a replacement for former member Buckethead.