GN’R Reunion Tour Was Originally Just Going to Be a Couple Shows
When Guns N’ Roses shocked the world by reuniting in 2016, fans were ecstatic. The “Not in This Lifetime…” tour brought Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan back together after more than two decades of tension and separation. But what many fans don’t know is that the blockbuster reunion was never intended to be a full-fledged tour — it started off as just a couple of shows.
According to multiple interviews with band members and people close to the situation, the original plan was to test the waters with just a few high-profile performances, including appearances at Coachella and a couple of warm-up gigs. No one, not even the band, knew if the chemistry would still be there — or if it would implode like it had in the past.
But something clicked. The energy was electric, the crowds were massive, and the demand was overwhelming. What began as a tentative step toward reconciliation turned into one of the highest-grossing tours of all time, spanning several years and hundreds of shows across the globe.
Slash later admitted in interviews that none of them expected it to go as far as it did. “It just kind of snowballed,” he said. “The vibe was good, the fans were into it, and we thought, why not keep going?”
The “Not in This Lifetime…” tour became more than just a nostalgic reunion — it marked a new era for GN’R. With over \$580 million in revenue, it proved that the band still had the power to dominate stages worldwide. What was supposed to be a few nights of music became a multi-year triumph, reminding fans everywhere that sometimes, rock and roll really is forever.
