Guns N' Roses celebrated with massive 'Appetite For Destruction: Locked N' Loaded Edition'

Wow, the ultimate tribute to Guns N' Roses' groundbreaking debut LP. To check out my concert review of the band when they headlined at Dodger Stadium in 2016; here is link... 

GUNS N’ ROSES CELEBRATED WITH MASSIVE 
APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION: LOCKED N’ LOADED EDITION BOX SET COMING JUNE 29, 2018

Their Debut Album’s Legacy Affirmed With Expansive 
Five-Disc, Seven-LP, Seven 7-inch Box Set & A Bombardment of Collectables

Plus Additional Formats 

All Available June 29

GNR set to embark on Massive European Tour this summer

Los Angeles – May 4, 2018 – On June 29, Geffen/UMe celebrates one of rock’s most important bands, Guns N’ Roses, with the release of Appetite For Destruction: Locked N’ Loaded Edition box set. Commemorating the band’s highly influential album debut Appetite For Destruction, this lavish box set is the ultimate GnFnR fan’s dream fulfilled. 

Appetite will also be released in concurrent multiple configurations, Appetite For Destruction will be made available in a 4CD/1Blu-ray Audio Super Deluxe Edition with a 96 page book featuring unreleased photos from Axl Rose’s personal archive, a 2CD Deluxe Edition, 2LP 180-gram heavyweight vinyl edition, 1 CD remaster, and digital download/streaming equivalents.

Following the group’s 1985 formation, Guns N’ Roses injected unbridled attitude into the burgeoning Los Angeles rock scene. They went on to captivate the entire world with the July 21, 1987 release of Appetite For Destruction, which remains the best-selling U.S. debut album ever, moving over 30 million copies globally. Appetite features such indelible   tracks such as the No. 1 single “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Nightrain,” and “Paradise City.” 

Housed in a custom 12x12x12-inch solid-wood box that’s wrapped in faux-leather and sports embossed, instantly identifiable artwork with a hand-sculpted and hand-painted 3D cross on its front doors, the Appetite For Destruction: Locked N’ Loaded Edition is clearly the one true GN’R Holy Grail. The box encapsulates all content being offered to fans and more, including the Super Deluxe Edition, as well as first-time benchmarks of the album itself being newly remastered from the original stereo analog tapes, 12 remastered tracks compiled from of-era EPs and B-sides, 25 unreleased demos from a 1986 Sound City recording session, and a pair of unreleased tracks from recording sessions by Appetite’s producer Mike Clink: “Shadow Of Your Love” recorded December 1986, one month before the album sessions, as a trial recording session which resulted in Clink getting the producer gig; and “Move To The City (1988 Acoustic Version)” which was from the GN’R Lies sessions.

Additional highlights of the unreleased audio include the first two work-in-progress recording attempts of the 1991 epic masterpiece “November Rain” which was originally penned as the ballad for Appetite, covers of songs like Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” Aerosmith’s “Mama Kin,” two distinctly different recordings of the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (one electric, one acoustic) and two never finished tracks/jams “The Plague” and “New Work Tune.”

On the vinyl front, the original Appetite For Destruction album has been broadened to 2LPs for the first time, including expanded gatefold jacket art and a limited-edition foil printed plastic slipcase. The music itself is being presented on three sides only for maximum audio fidelity, with the fourth side featuring a vinyl Hologroove Hologram of the band’s iconic logo. Seven 7-inch singles are also included: the five original singles from the album, plus one for “Patience” and a new song, the aforementioned“Shadow Of Your Love.” All of the bonus tracks appearing on 12-inch vinyl will only be available in the Locked N’ Loaded Edition box including a reissue of the band’s first EP Live ?!@ Like A Suicide.

The Blu-ray Audio disc contains the 12 tracks from the original album as newly mixed in glorious 96kHz 24-bit 5.1 surround sound from the original multi-tracks by legendary producer Elliot Scheiner (Steely Dan, Eagles), plus 5 bonus tracks mixed in 5.1 surround sound by both Scheiner and Frank Filipetti (Billy Joel, Elton John). Additionally, the Blu-ray includes four iconic GN’R music videos that have been newly sync’d to both remastered stereo audio and new 5.1 surround sound mixes, plus a brand-new video for “It’s So Easy” that was shot in 1989 by the band but was never completely finished — until now in 4K HD from 16mm film transfers.

Exclusive collectibles inside the box include a dozen 12x12-inch lithos of new illustrations visualizing each Appetite track, 5 custom buttons with various band logos, 5 custom hand-sculpted metal-cast band skull face rings, 5 custom hand-sculpted metal-cast band skull face lapel pins, a replica of the band’s first stage banner from the ‘85/’86 club days, a bandana, a 2-inch collector’s coin with unique imagery stamped on both sides, 2 24x36-inch wall posters, a 12x24-inch Robert Williams painting litho, 5 never-before-seen band lithos, 6 replica gig flyers, 3 replicas of classic show ticket stubs, two temporary tattoo sheetsfeaturing life-size tattoos of the band members’ tats, 6 iron-on stitched patches, 5 metal-stamped guitar picks of the band skull faces with stamped signatures on the back, a turntable mat, a microfiber vinyl cleaning cloth, a 7-inch large-hole custom adapter, and finally, a 32gb metal-cast USB stick with 192kHz/24-bit, 96kHz/24-bit, and 44.1kHz/16-bit uncompressed audio files of all of the tracks included on the 4 CDs.

The band’s ongoing success of the ‘Not In This Lifetime’ worldwide tour now become the 4th spot on the list of the most successful tours in music history on its first two years with no sign of slowing down. The next leg of the highly successful and anticipated World Tour continues in Europe in June & July 2018 and from what we hear, onto the fall.

NOT IN THIS LIFETIME…Europe: Summer 2018

June 03            Berlin, DE                         Olympiastadion

June 06            Odense, DK                      Dyreskuepladsen

June 09            Donnington Park, GB       Download Festival

June 12            Gelsenkirchen, DE           Veltins Arena

June 15            Firenze, IT                        Firenze Rocks

June18             Paris, France                    Download Festival

June 21            Dessel, BE                       Graspop Metal Meeting

June 24            Mannheim, DE                 Maimarktgelande

June 26            Bordeaux, FR                   Matmut Stadium

June 29            Madrid, ES                       Download Festival

July 01             Barcelona, ES                  Estadio Olympico

July 04             Nijmegen, NL                   Goffertpark

July 07             Leipzig, DE                       Festwiese

July 09             Chorzow, PL                     Stadion Slaski

July 13             Moscow, RU                     Otkritie Arena

July 16             Tallinn, EE                        Tallinn Song Festival Grounds

July 19             Oslo, NO                           Valle Hovin

July 21             Gothenburg, SE                Ullevi Stadium

July 24             Reykjavik, IS                     Laugardalsvollur

                

Preorder the Guns N’ Roses Appetite For Destruction: Locked N’ Loaded Edition box set here 

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Guns N' Roses and Cult rock Dodger Stadium

gUNS N' rOSES, FROM LEFT, Duff McKagan, Slash and Axl rose. Photo: KATARINA BENZOVA

Review: Guns N' Roses knocks it out of the park at Dodger Stadium

Guns N' Roses, The Cult

Where: Dodger Stadium

When: Thursday, August 18

Axl Rose on August 18, 2016.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

One of the world's best selling hard rock bands of all time, it's no wonder that Guns N' Roses was able to mostly fill Dodger Stadium on Thursday night (the band is also set to perform at the baseball stadium on Friday, Aug. 19). Performing for just under three hours, original members Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan backed by a capable quartet of other tattooed players delivered a dream set throughout the aptly-pegged "Not in this lifetime..." themed concert stop.

From the time the band took the stage and opened with "It's So Easy," fans cheered the returning heavyweights. While the "reunited" lineup of GnR performed a warm up show at the Troubadour (where Axl broke his foot) and subsequently performed both weekends at Coachella in April, this night easily outdistanced the band's performance this writer caught at the second weekend of Coachellafest. Not only did Axl look fit and run about all night while hitting all the high notes, the ensemble was locked in and delivered nuanced performances of two dozen or so tracks including all their hits.

A close look at the proceedings going on throughout the night revealed little interaction or obvious camaraderie among Rose and Slash, but it would be hard to argue with the overall power of the band's performance. There was a 20+ year span between the departure of Slash and his rejoining the band earlier this year, but musically the two locked in as if they had never parted. 

After performing "Mr. Brownstone," Rose looked out at the crowd and said: "Los Angeles, my neighborhood. What a beautiful day in the neighborhood." That was about as far from the rock music, bright lights, video images and pyrotechnics that things veered.

The night was all about the big show and highlights came often. A driving "Welcome to the Jungle" found GnR rocking as video images of futuristic skyscrapers raced by behind the band. Slash's distinctive, technically precise, flashy and affecting guitar work was a highlight of that song (and many others this night). Not long later, a cover of Paul McCartney and Wings' "Live and Let Die" incorporated strobe lights, and images of firearms and the sound of gunfire into the song's attack.

Slash, left and Axl Rose on August 18.
Photo: KATARINA BENZOVA

But the night's best performances came during the second half of the show, beginning with a potent take on "Civil War," with the song's recorded segment from the film "Cool Hand Luke," acoustic intro and hard-charging rock section questioning the costs of war executed with power. "Sweet Child O'Mine" is among the band's best songs, and afforded yet another chance to see where GnR's music frequently has outdistanced the majority of its hard rock contemporaries. The song's powerful melody, as well as Slash's brilliant guitar work, had everyone temporarily forget about their smart phones and actually pay attention to the group's performance.

GnR's encore was a home run befitting the Dodger Stadium site, including performances of the folk rock original "Patience," a fiery take of the Who's "The Seeker" and GnR's own epic rocker "Paradise City" sending the faithful home with a bombastic finale.

Although the Cult hails from the other side of the Pond, the group provided plenty of good reasons to celebrate their performance on the big stage. Armed with material from a great new album (2016's "Hidden City"), the Cult's singer Ian Astbury and guitar great Billy Duffy led the troupe through a fast-moving set featuring '80s rock favorites ("Wild Flower," "Lil' Devil," "She Sells Sanctuary" and set-ending "Love Removal Machine") and new material ("Deeply Ordered Chaos"). Good news for local audiences is the Cult will perform at Jack's 11th Show at Irvine Meadows on Sept. 23.

Coachella update: AC/DC guitarist Angus Young joins Guns N' Roses on stage

Whew! Lots of news and notes out of Coachella going into the final day of Weekend #1 of the annual festival.

None of that news is bigger than just as a media release from the official camps representing AC/DC and Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose. It is now official that Rose will be replacing long-time AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson at a number of upcoming tour dates. And last night (Saturday, April 16), AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young joined GNR on stage at Coachellafest to perform a couple of solid rockers (including a strong version of "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Riff Raff"). Below I've posted some fan footage of last night's performance of "Whole Lotta Rosie" captured in Indio, CA, followed by the official media release detailing what is happening.



Here is the official media release I received late yesterday:

AC/DC'S ROCK OR BUST WORLD TOUR RESUMES WITH AXL ROSE ON VOCALS   "AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures.  As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian's decision to stop touring and save his hearing.  We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment."   AC/DC will resume their Rock Or Bust World Tour with Axl Rose joining on vocals.   The European stadium tour dates begin on May 7 in Lisbon, Portugal and run through June 12 in Aarhus, Denmark as previously announced (see below for full itinerary).  Following this European run of dates with AC/DC, Axl Rose will head out on his Guns N' Roses, 'Not In This Lifetime' Summer Stadium Tour.   The 10 postponed U.S shows will be rescheduled and announced imminently, also with Axl Rose.

AC/DC European tour dates May 7 Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Maritimo De Alges May 10 Seville, Spain Estadio De La Cartuja May 13 Marseille, France Stade Velodrome May 16 Werchter, Belgium Werchter Site May 19 Vienna, Austria Erns-Happel Stadium May 22 Prague, Czech Republic     Letnany Airport May 26 Hamburg, Germany Volksparkstadion May 29 Berne, Switzerland Stade De Suisse June 1 Leipzig, Germany Red Bull Arena June 4 London, England The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park June 9  Manchester, England Etihad Stadium June 12 Aarhus, Denmark       Ceres Park