'Happy you stopped by'

Guns N’ Roses rocks sold-out crowd of 60,000 in Tel Aviv

Three-hour concert in Israel follows Abu Dhabi show, on second leg of hard rock band’s Europe and North American tour

By Jessica Steinberg 6 June 2023, 5:17 am Edit

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Axl Rose and Slash of Guns N' Roses perform a sold-out show in Tel Aviv, June 5, 2023. (YouTube screengrab; used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)
Axl Rose and Slash of Guns N' Roses perform a sold-out show in Tel Aviv, June 5, 2023. (YouTube screengrab; used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

Legendary hard rock band Guns N’ Roses took the stage Monday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000 at Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park.

It’s been six years since the band’s last performance in Israel and their fourth show in the country over the past 20 years. The group first appeared in Israel in 1993, then 2012 and 2017, followed by Monday’s performance

Police closed several roads in Tel Aviv due to congestion ahead of the concert in Yarkon Park.

The Tel Aviv concert was Guns N’ Roses second show of their We’re F’N’ Back! tour in 2023, following Sunday night’s performance in Abu Dhabi.

The three-hour Tel Aviv performance opened at 7:40 p.m. Monday night, and it was only after the third song (“Chinese Democracy”) that lead singer Axl Rose, 61, chatted a bit with the crowd.

“We wanted to have a little gathering,” said the longtime lead singer, who along with Duff McKagan, 59, bassist, and Slash, 57, legendary British-American lead guitarist, make up the band currently. “We’re happy you stopped by.”

With that, Rose swung into the rest of the 26-song setlist which included Guns N’ Roses favorites such as “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Live and Let Die,” “Hard Skool,” “You Could Be Mine,” “Sweet Child O Mine,” “November Rain,” “Knocking on Heaven’s Door,” “Night Train” and “Paradise City.”

The song “Civil War” was dedicated to victims of the war in Ukraine.

Fans on social media commented that the band’s 2023 setlist for the new global tour was the freshest in years.

They also remarked on the band’s outstanding energy, including several guitar solos from Slash and Rose playing the piano for a seven-minute version of 1992 top hit “November Rain.”

The band will head to Europe for 15 gigs and are set to return to North America in August before wrapping things up in October in Vancouver.

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