Guns N’ Roses cut off at Reading Festival

Who didn’t see this coming?

Guns N’ Roses set at the Reading Festival last night was cut short when the band started an hour later than scheduled.

The NME reports Festival organizer Melvin Benn commented: "After failing to take to the stage at the scheduled 9.30pm (BST) time, the performance started at 10.30pm and the band were given permission by the festival to play 30 minutes extra to its scheduled 11.30pm finish until midnight."

He added: "Guns N' Roses wanted to 'extend' the new agreed curfew past midnight but were prevented from doing so in order to comply with the entertainment licence issued by Reading Borough Council."

As I mentioned on Wednesday (“Can anyone tame Axl Rose?”), festival organizer Melvin Benn told the BBC , “I've had a very heavy warning from the local councils. There is a curfew - it's a very strict curfew. Unfortunately, if the band chose not to take to the stage on time, there's really nothing I can do. I won't be allowed to break the curfew.”

Stage power was cut as GNR returned for their encore; Axl Rose used a megaphone to speak to the crowd, “We had problems with these promoters last time we played Leeds so, unfortunately, due to tonight, we will not be at Leeds, although we will try and play a bit more now." The band tried to get “Paradise City” started – the crowd was even singing along – but, without power, only drums could be heard if you were close to the stage (p.a. and amplifiers had been cut).

Guns N' Roses – Axl Rose statement following curfew enforcement
Reading Festival – August 27, 2010



Following the event, GNR guitarist D.J. Ashba tried to spin things, clearly unable to grasp the cause and effect of the band's late start. “Apparently the promoter has had a personal grudge with GN'R stemming from 8 years ago, if this was the case why book the band?,” he posted to Twitter (Twitlonger, actually). “He knows our show. Let me guess... To take our fans money and then not allow us to give them a show that they payed for. This was clearly not a curfew thing because after cutting our power like a selfish money grubbing prick, he allowed music blasting through out the venue till the early morning. For us this was all about the fans, the show and the music. For the promoter it was all about the money and not about the fans or the music. The promoter was already being a cocky f$#k in the press before we arrived, so yes we went on a little late, and for this we apologize. However, our fans payed to see a show, and that's why we showed up, too give them just that. Sad that this promoter's music festival has little too do with the fans or the love for music. Last night was insane! They pulled the power, but failed to kill the connection as 90,000 people sang Paradise City. Much love to you all!!!”

Despite Rose’s threat to pull out of their appearance at tomorrow’s Leeds Festival, NME reports that festival organizers expect the band to play, as scheduled.

Guns N’ Roses - Paradise City - Appetite for Destruction

Guns N’ Roses - Paradise City (1987)