Possible opening bands

[Spirit]

So, if this stadium tour indeed happens, what are your best bets on opening bands?

Is it more likely to be a "bigger" band than normal due to the size of the venues, or do you think they figure GNR can draw full houses completely on their own?

[C0ma]

I wonder if the names Axl and Slash together have enough 'industry cred' to pull a band that could typically headline an amphitheater tour who would be willing to take a back seat to GnR just to be along for the ride.

I also wonder if the crossover nature of songs like Sweet Child, Patience, and Paradise City would attract a more 'mainstream' top 40 like act that would also put asses in seats. I feel like anyone that would buy a ticket to a B or C level rock act is already going to buy GnR comeback tickets... BUT could you pull another 20K if you get someone like Adam Levine and Maroon 5 (who will really never play a Stadium Tour) to open... his crowd will know SCOM and will open the classic band up to a whole new audience and generation.

Again I'm not saying Maroon 5, I'm just thinking would a band with a huge following who plays in a slightly different segment of the industry help make the tour a success and potentially get them more/different press at times.

With a few rare exceptions a Skid Row fan is probably already a GnR fan, and will already be there anyway. 60-70K tickets a night is going to be a tall order.

[jarmo]

I wonder if the names Axl and Slash together have enough 'industry cred' to pull a band that could typically headline an amphitheater tour who would be willing to take a back seat to GnR just to be along for the ride.

Probably, if it was one of those "changing opening acts" thing. I wouldn't be surprised if one of those bands did a few shows. Why not?




/jarmo

[damnthehaters]

I think the bands will be bigger names.  If your going big, go BIG. 

[The New Fiona Apple]

I can't see Skid Row being anything other than a 3rd string opener.

Much like 2006, I feel Guns will go for a more modern band (which will have to be bigger than Papa Roach was that year). I can see a more contemporary band like the Black Keys (who have plenty of cred with all age groups), Fallout Boy, Imagine Dragons, or even someone like Vampire Weekend. There has to be a hook, Axl and Slash are both savvy and I expect them to show that with their choice

[draguns]

Like I said in the previous thread, I would love to see Halestorm as  the opening act. They did cover Out Ta Get Me. Also Lizzy has played with Slash and Myles. I saw Halestorm at the Starland Ballroom  a few years ago. They were amazing!

[deadtotheworld]

Faith no more.... Anyone?  No?  Ok how about:
Van Halen
The Cult
Soundgarden
Alice in chains
A7X
Rage against the machine
Bodycount

[C0ma]

Like I said in the previous thread, I would love to see Halestorm as  the opening act. They did cover Out Ta Get Me. Also Lizzy has played with Slash and Myles. I saw Halestorm at the Starland Ballroom  a few years ago. They were amazing!

That's the issue though, what's Starland hold? 1500 people? I just think a 60K+ seat Stadium Tour is going to need a bigger opener than that. I like the Imagine Dragons idea from The New Fiona Apple, they are pop influenced rock band that would add people that wouldn't normally buy a GnR ticket which is what I think is going to be needed to sell their first Stadium Tour of the US in 23 years. Plus if Universal decides to release a larger retrospective Greatest Hits that also includes a new track or two, they 'diverse' audience could lead to greater radio play, streaming, and downloads which would lead to better things in the future...

[richbc]

How about no opening bands and a 3-hour GNR set? Please not more than one opener!!

[C0ma]

Faith no more.... Anyone?  No?  Ok how about:
Van Halen
The Cult
Soundgarden
Alice in chains
A7X
Rage against the machine
Bodycount

If this was an arena tour, sure... I just don't see any one of those adding many more tickets than what GnR would do themselves (the share similar audiences). Did you see DLR during the last tour, I would't want him and that circus in the same city as GnR never mind sharing a stage.

I feel like there are two separate questions at play... who do you want to see open? and who is the best business decision as an opener?

[COMAMOTIVE]

Possibly AX7 - good fit crowd wise...but in no way shape or form do I see Axl wanting the Maroon 5 crowd a part of this

Give me someone with some bite to them - preferably someone who is on the verge of exploding and respects all that is/was Gn'r

[pilferk]

How about no opening bands and a 3-hour GNR set? Please not more than one opener!!

Typically, for a stadium show, you'd get 2 support slots. Sometimes 3.

[CheapJon]

Ghost!

[pilferk]

Like I said in the previous thread, I would love to see Halestorm as  the opening act. They did cover Out Ta Get Me. Also Lizzy has played with Slash and Myles. I saw Halestorm at the Starland Ballroom  a few years ago. They were amazing!

That's the issue though, what's Starland hold? 1500 people? I just think a 60K+ seat Stadium Tour is going to need a bigger opener than that. I like the Imagine Dragons idea from The New Fiona Apple, they are pop influenced rock band that would add people that wouldn't normally buy a GnR ticket which is what I think is going to be needed to sell their first Stadium Tour of the US in 23 years. Plus if Universal decides to release a larger retrospective Greatest Hits that also includes a new track or two, they 'diverse' audience could lead to greater radio play, streaming, and downloads which would lead to better things in the future...

Halestorm would be a good fit in the 1st support slot. They are good with the crowd.

I mentioned a bunch of other possibles for the 2nd (main) support slot in the other thread. Afi, my chemical romance, disturbed, paramore, muse, avenged sevenfold, panic at the disco....theres a bunch more that would fit, too.

[deadtotheworld]

Coma - Van Halen was always a circus with DLR - that was the beauty of it... Full on party time band, if you miss the point thats your problem haha besides, outside of hardcore fans, GnR has been more like a touring circus the last 10 years to a lot of people and top it off with a residency in vegas, pole dancing girls and flying piano... to accuse VH being a circus as a diss is quite amusing but then seriously mentioning Maroon 5, you have to be having a laugh!  

[pilferk]

Possibly AX7 - good fit crowd wise...but in no way shape or form do I see Axl wanting the Maroon 5 crowd a part of this

Give me someone with some bite to them - preferably someone who is on the verge of exploding and respects all that is/was Gn'r

In rock?

The pickings are slim, in terms of acts like that (the last bit, on the verge), that would actually draw at a stadium show.  If we were back in the 90s....the cup would runneth over.

[pilferk]

Coma - Van Halen was always a circus with DLR - that was the beauty of it... Full on party time band, if you miss the point thats your problem haha besides, outside of hardcore fans, GnR has been more like a touring circus the last 10 years to a lot of people and top it off with a residency in vegas, pole dancing girls and flying piano... to accuse VH being a circus as a diss is quite amusing but then seriously mentioning Maroon 5, you have to be having a laugh!  

I think vh gets left off the list because of the previous crap with Azoff and the tour that wasn't.  Maybe not, but.....thats my gut instinct.

[deadtotheworld]

Im thinking it will be in the same template as guns, metallica, faith no more tour - with like a decent opener and a double header with guns going on last. I could actually imagine foo fighters doing it, i know their was animosity in the past but if dave grohl can possibly get any more publicity for himself he will whore himself out regardless of if his band is a bigger draw than gnr in recent years.

[Spirit]

Van Halen couldn't open for Guns though right?

If anything it would've been as co-headliners.

[draguns]

Like I said in the previous thread, I would love to see Halestorm as  the opening act. They did cover Out Ta Get Me. Also Lizzy has played with Slash and Myles. I saw Halestorm at the Starland Ballroom  a few years ago. They were amazing!

That's the issue though, what's Starland hold? 1500 people? I just think a 60K+ seat Stadium Tour is going to need a bigger opener than that. I like the Imagine Dragons idea from The New Fiona Apple, they are pop influenced rock band that would add people that wouldn't normally buy a GnR ticket which is what I think is going to be needed to sell their first Stadium Tour of the US in 23 years. Plus if Universal decides to release a larger retrospective Greatest Hits that also includes a new track or two, they 'diverse' audience could lead to greater radio play, streaming, and downloads which would lead to better things in the future...

I saw them around 2010/2011/2012. It was the earlier part of this decade.  Since then, they have played in Rock in Rio and Central Park.