Guns N’ Roses Reunion

Unless you’ve been living in a cave the past week, you’ve heard that a Guns N’ Roses reunion is set to happen at the Coachella music festival in April. Will they sound as exciting and raw as they did in their late 80s heyday? Probably not. But this is still the best rock and roll news to come out in ages and after the recent death of Scott Weiland, the rock world can really use some good news. Assuming Guns N’ Roses’ subsequent touring plans include Atlanta, I fully intend to pull on my leather pants (oh yeah, I own some), don one of my coolest t-shirts, and beg, borrow, steal my way into a good a seat. Besides wondering exactly who will be included in the reunion, we know about Axl, Slash, and Duff but what about Izzy? And who’s on drums, Steven or Matt? I’m also daydreaming about their set list. Hopefully it’s heavy on if not entirely made up of the 1987-1991 material, but what about a cover tune or two? Here’s my dream set list:

Welcome to the Jungle 

Obviously you open with "Welcome to the Jungle". Nothing else will do. This is the song that everyone identifies with the band and Axl’s opening screech lets everyone know right up front that Guns N’ Roses came to rock.

It’s So Easy

We started the show with the opening song from the band’s debut album; why not follow it with the second cut from the same disc? This song kicks ass and keeps the momentum at full speed.

Dust N’ Bones

If Izzy is involved, it’s time the band takes it down a notch and lets him sing one of the songs he wrote for Use Your Illusion I while Axl rests his vocal cords. This bluesy number provides a nice contrast to the opening tunes and gives their original rhythm guitarist his moment in the spotlight.

You Could Be Mine

For me, the second disc from the Use Your Illusion sessions hasn’t aged as well as the first one, but the lead single is still a good rocker and brings back fond memories of the Terminator 2 movie it was featured in.

Bad Obsession

Reminiscent of the Rolling Stones and another Stradlin penned tune, this isn’t one of Guns N’ Roses’ better known songs, but it’s one of my favorites from the Use Your Illusion I disc.

Paradise City

Another of the big hits from their debut album, this one seems custom-made for live performances. It’s loud, it’s fun, and it just wouldn’t be a Guns N’ Roses show without this 80s classic.

Live and Let Die

A cover of the Paul McCartney and Wings classic bond theme song, this Use Your Illusion I track was released as a single in 1991. Rarely do cover songs come close to matching the greatness of the original, but this one does and more.

Patience

One of the band’s slower numbers, they released this one on their G N’ R Lies EP in 1988 and it’s another great tune to slow down the tempo of the show and give the band a few minutes to catch their breath.

Nightrain

The third track from Appetite for Destruction is another dose of badassery. This one might tax Axl’s voice at this stage in his singing career, but the band could really do no wrong when they first arrived on the scene. If he can still pull this one off, I’d love to hear it.

Bad Apples

This is another song that sounds like the Stones might have done it if they’d launched in the 80s instead of the 60s. You can almost smell the whiskey and smoke while the band rolls through this one.

Mr. Brownstone

Yep, another track from Appetite for Destruction. Although not a hit like some of their better known songs, it’s a Guns N’ Roses staple that I’m sure they’ll play. It’s typically a crowd favorite and I’ll bet they can still knock it out of the park.

Don’t Cry

Raising your cigarette lighter might be a thing of the past, but it’s time to hold up that smart phone and wave it back and forth. This ballad was another of the band’s singles from Use Your Illusion I and allows Axl to show off his softer side before launching into more of their classic raunch.

Slither

Would Axl agree to sing a Velvet Revolver song in honor of the late Scott Weiland and the work of his bandmates, Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum? Probably not, but how cool would it be to hear his version of this great song?

Sweet Child O’ Mine 

No Guns N’ Roses show would be complete without "Sweet Child O’ Mine". Perhaps second only to "Welcome to the Jungle", this song epitomizes the band and what its fans love about it. A fantastic Slash riff, a great melody, and Axl’s voice at its very best.

November Rain

Another power ballad, this is one of the band’s longest songs and also one of their biggest hits. Given its strings arrangement, it’s probably not cheap to do live, but these guys are going to make money hand over fist on this tour. My bet is that they do it and do it well.

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

While this one isn’t quite as fantastic a cover as “Live and Let Die”, it’s still a fan favorite and sure to bring out the cell phone lights again. It’d be good way to finish before turning down the lights and letting the audience go nuts for an encore.

Used to Love Her

This controversial song from G N’ R Lies isn’t very PC, but then, neither is Guns N’ Roses. I’d love to hear them throw this acoustic tune into the set just to mix things up as their first encore.

The Show Must Go On

And here’s my left field pick. To my knowledge, Guns N’ Roses have never played this song, but given the song’s title, the fact that Axl has stated Freddy Mercury is one of his favorite singers, and that this song was originally released by Queen during the height of Guns N’ Roses fame (1991) how great a cover would this be to close out the show?