Guns N Roses: 'We don't disrespect our fans'

Axl Rose responds to Rock In Rio accusations

Chris Swindells - 13 October 2011

The publicist for the band, who played the festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on October 2, gave an official statement to metal news site Blabbermouth.net about the reports:

"Guns n' Roses would like to set the record straight on Rock In Rio. The festival's inadequate production and the downpour of rain delayed the event. Anyone who was there knows that System Of A Down did not leave the stage until close to 1:15 in the morning. System's extensive stage production did not finish coming offstage until 1:45 a.m. GN'R's production was up and ready to go at 2:15 a.m. Axl [Rose] got to the venue before 1 a.m. and he came ready to go onstage. The inadequate cover of the Rock In Rio stage caused a further delay when the soundboard went down due to water damage and was replaced as quick as possible. GN'R walked onstage at 2:40 a.m. and played for two-and-a-half hours in the pouring rain. GN'R would never seek to intentionally disrespect anyone, especially their fans."

This official statement came a day after Rock In Rio festival organizer Roberto Medina told Globo.com's Extra that Axl Rose's behavior at this year's event exhibited a "lack of commitment" and "respect for the public."

Guns n' Roses have a checkered history of performance time keeping, having once before been two hours late for a Rock In Rio show back in 2001. The band were also late for their performance at Reading Festival 2010 when organisers were forced to pull the plug on their set early, later they would claim the organiser had a personal grudge against them. In the same year the band were fined £72,000 for coming on late and breaking the strict curfew at the o2 Arena, London.

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