Critical
Guns N’ Roses perform a three-hour marathon concert in Bern
The American group played Wednesday July 5 in the capital. Thirty tracks sublimated by Slash on guitar but too often spoiled by unbearable intonation changes by Axl Rose on vocals.
Posted6 July 2023, 11:46
Axl Rose and Slash, the two figures of Guns N’Roses, were on stage on Wednesday July 5, 2023 in Bern.
Guilherme Neto
Slash was impeccable on guitar.
Guilherme Neto
The same can’t be said for Axl Rose on vocals, who constantly shifted from one key to another.
Guilherme Neto
Bassist Duff McKagan, another original member of Guns N’Roses, was also there.
Guilherme Neto
A stage and a stand have been set up on land opposite the Wankdorf stadium. Capacity: 30,000 people.
Guilherme Neto
The Guns N’Roses came in at seven.
Guilherme Neto
Keyboardist and percussionist Dizzy Reed.
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And Melissa Reese, also on keyboard.
Guilherme Neto
Richard Fortus on second guitar. Here with Slash. As well as Frank Ferrer on drums.
Guilherme Neto
Axl Rose and Slash.
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“November Rain”, the highlight of the concert.
Guilherme Neto
Nice moment with Slash and Richard Fortus seated and on acoustic guitar.
Guilherme Neto
Guns N’Roses surprisingly zapped ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’.
Guilherme Neto
In total, thirty titles and three hours of concert, Wednesday July 5 at Bernexpo.
Guilherme Neto
It’s not just Bruce Springsteen who does great concerts in Switzerland. If those who had the chance to see the Boss three weeks ago in Zurich were amazed by his three hours of show, the Guns N’ Roses achieved the same feat, Wednesday July 5 in Bern. And played thirty titles, two more. But numbers aren’t everything. Has the “greatest band in the world” – as announced by Chrissie Hynde who opened for him with his Pretenders – touring Europe with three of its original members, been able to bear the comparison?
It was at Bernexpo, on land just next to the Wankdorf stadium, that a stage and a stand for 6,000 people were set up. Capacity: 30,000 people and an evening close to full. The Guns, in 2023, is Axl Rose on vocals, Slash on guitar and Duff McKagan on bass. Average age: 60 years old. For the figures, we will also note that the famous player in the top hat changed his instrument eight times, and his accomplice at the microphone almost as many times changed his T-shirt.
Axl Rose is looking for her voice
That’s not the only thing that has changed: Axl Rose’s voice is far from the same as we remember. We would hold it less against him if he decided to choose how he wants to sing. In the same piece, he goes from a falsetto voice to a low voice. And when he tries to go high, his face is not far from turning scarlet (like on “Reckless Life”). Nevertheless, he has the peach. He can’t stand still, regularly runs to both ends of the stage, smiles, often approaches his colleagues and mentions “what a beautiful day” it is several times – and he will last three hours like that.
Musically, however, it’s impeccable. Slash is still the guitar hero that we have revered since the first records of Guns N ‘Roses. And the giant vertical screens are the perfect medium for the close-ups on his stick he lifts high – the same can’t be said for the gruesome 3D animations on the bottom one. The crowd goes wild for the first time after about thirty minutes on “Welcome To The Jungle”, when Slash puts on a show with one of his famous solos while Duff’s bass line gets repetitive to put it better. ahead. Note that a second guitarist, two keyboards and a drummer accompany the trio.
Chills on Slash’s solo on ‘November Rain’
After “Live And Let Die” massacred by Axl Rose, we enter halfway through the concert, it purrs, the queues in the toilets get longer and “TV Eye” by the Stooges sung by Duff does not help matters. It was not until “Civil War” dedicated to Ukraine that the show was relaunched, after two hours. This is followed by a new solo from our favorite guitarist and then the incredible “Sweet Child o’Mine”. The spectators in the gallery are standing. A piano is brought on stage for Axl Rose to perform “November Rain”. The rain falls on the screens and reflects in Slash’s sunglasses, which is on the podium. The end of the piece gives us shivers, the whole adolescent period, the booms and the first emotions reappear. Later, “Don’t Cry” is a little less effective. We are just waiting to vibrate on “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”.
Bad surprise: hitherto always played on tour, the cover of Bob Dylan released in 1991 will not come. The Americans end their marathon with an effective “Paradise City” and Axl Rose declares: “Thanks Switzerland, it was fun!” Showing a broad smile, Slash distributes his plectrums and gratifies us with a straight piece. It’s 10:10 p.m., just in time to catch the last train (!) for Lausanne before returning in a week to the same playground for the Muse concert on Wednesday July 12.
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