Guns N’Roses proved why they’re still one of rock’s most essential touring acts by kicking off their 2026 North American tour with a stunning 29-song performance at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina on July 23rd. Opening with“Welcome to the Jungle”and closing with“Paradise City,”the setlist showcased the band’s incredible depth, pulling eight tracks from their legendary 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction while also diving into covers from Bob Dylan, Wings, Black Sabbath, The Damned, and Jimmy Webb. The performance felt less like a typical arena show and more like a masterclass in rock history, with Axl Rose and Slash commanding the stage with the energy and precision that made them icons in the first place.
Thursday night carried profound emotional weight beyond the music itself. The show fell on guitarist Slash’s 61st birthday, and the audience erupted in celebration as the band acknowledged one of rock’s greatest musicians. More poignantly, Guns N’Roses performed Black Sabbath’s“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, with the metal legend’s image projected on video screens throughout the stadium. This tribute came just one day after the one-year anniversary of Osbourne’s passing, creating a moment that resonated deeply with longtime fans and highlighted the band’s respect for the artists and influences that shaped their legacy.
The 2026 North American tour continues through mid-September with an impressive rotating lineup of support acts including Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Pierce the Veil, and The Barbarians of California. If you caught opening night and experienced that incredible energy, or if you’re thinking about grabbing tickets for an upcoming date, we’d love to know what moment stuck with you most. Did you have a favorite song from the setlist, or was there a particular cover that stood out?
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Local Lawton
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