Guns N’ Roses, The Last Internationale – Olympic Stadium, 22/7/2023

For many it was one of the most anticipated events of the summer. For most it was the ultimate concert of the year. But for everyone without exception, it was something that could not be missed as the most dangerous band on the planet would return to Greece, the band that changed the music map back in the 80’s and forced critics and fans to rethink their perspective on what hard rock means! Guns N’ Roses came to our country in the midst of an unprecedented heatwave giving an almost literal meaning to…Welcome To The Jungle and we were there from early on to welcome them after many, many years of waiting.

The concert was opened at 7:30 by The Last Internationale, a band from New York who did a great job as they were excellent on stage and their songs were well-based on an alternative, modern rock which nevertheless clearly showed its roots in the 70s. All the members were excellent on stage but I think that the show was stolen by the singer Delila Paz who even played bass and did crowd surfing at the end, winning the applause of the crowd who slowly filled the Olympic Stadium.

With the timetable having been pushed back half an hour – due to the heatwave – Guns took to the stage at 9:00 exactly with the first notes of “It’s So Easy” vibrating the Olympic Stadium causing a delirium of excitement in the crowd. Axl doesn’t stop running around the stage, Duff stands proudly to his right while at the same time making you wonder how the hell he remains the same and unchanged after so many decades while to Axl’s left all eyes naturally fall on one of the last guitar heroes, one of the most iconic figures of the whole rock history, the man with the trademark hat…Slash! To be honest, guys…Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese were flawlessa and awesome but 99.9% of the audience had their eyes glued to the…Holy Trinity! For 3 hours the Guns played…just about everything! The iconic “Appetite…” and “Illusions” were more than represented, we heard covers of Stooges (“T.V. Eye” with Duff on the mic), UK Subs (“Down In The Farm”), of course Wings and Bob Dylan (“Live and Let Die”, “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”…which after so many years have been mutated into…Guns songs) etc.

Much had been said about Axl’s voice before the concert started. He did great and for three hours he didn’t stop moving and being all in all a superb frontman. Now if you were expecting to hear the songs as he sang them 35 years ago, I have absolutely nothing to comment on. Also, I was left with a positive impression when I saw him at the end of each song bowing to the crowd while in between thanking us for the reaction and feedback to their songs. A transformed man, for sure! Slash was sweating from the first five minutes and was playing his guitar…like there was no tomorrow. Talk about boundless energy and an incredible level of performance. Finally, Duff was for me personally the MVP of the night with perfect stage presence, impeccable backing vocals and staccato bass that showed up in every song.

Highlights: a) everything that was heard from “Appetite”…although it’s unbelievable that the crowd didn’t sing along to “Mr. Brownstone”, b) the perfect performance of “Pretty Tied Up” and “You Could Be Mine”, c) the unique versions of “November Rain” and “Civil War” (with Ukraine once again being the focus of the video wall and Axl’s…t’shirt).

Some problems with Axl’s microphone (sometimes the volume would drop and sometimes it would rise at various points) was not enough to dampen both the band and the mood of the crowd. Also, in three hours of playing it is understandable that some loose and weak live moments would be evident but this was negligible.

Guns more than compensated the 50.000 people -if I have calculated correctly…don’t hold on to that number, though- who were at the Olympic Stadium and proved in the most obvious way that they are living legends of a genre that refuses to die…and will not die! You know where you are, baby…?

PS1: Many congratulations to the promoters for the very careful -at all levels- work. They had a difficult task and did a great job.

PS2: What I wouldn’t give to see Izzy on stage again with Guns N’ Roses…

Sakis Nikas