In just under a weeks time, on May 12, Guns N’ Roses will begin a run of four nights at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, a run that reportedly sold out in three minutes.
The US dates are to be warm up shows for the group’s upcoming European tour that will begin at Juan Carlos Arena in Madrid on May 25, and will even include two German shows supporting the mighty Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang world tour in early July.
The New York shows will be the bands’ first American dates since the infamous aborted tour of 2002, but speculation is rife concerning just who will be taking the stage alongside one, W. Axl Rose. As most will be aware, the band has been through numerous lineup changes over the past decade leaving Rose as the sole remaining member of the band whose debut record, “Appetite For Destruction” went on to sell over 16 million copies and become the biggest selling rock debut of all time.
The rumor that the original lineup will be reforming for the upcoming tour has been gathering steam since rock photographer Ross Halfin posted the following on his official website on February 3 this year: “…the original lineup of Guns N’ Roses is supposed to play Download in June with metal chums, Metallica”. Halfin’s posting came a couple of days before the official Metallica announcement but has since been removed.
Speculation continued, however, as news begun to surface about trouble brewing within Velvet Revolver with Slash allegedly having left the band. The guitarist offered only a very brief statement on the matter claiming that, as far as he knew he was still in the band. Interestingly though, his band mates have remained relatively quiet. In the meantime, music sources are adamant that a full scale reunion of the classic GnR lineup (including Use Your Illusion era and current Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum behind the kit rather than original drummer Steven Adler) is happening.
Sorum, one of Rose’s most vocal critics in times past recently spoke of reconciliation with the eccentric singer on his website, news that was then followed on May 4 by a report that Axl was recently spotted having dinner with former guitarist Izzy Stradlin. Add to this the bizarre outbursts of Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland directed at Rose and we have, if nothing else, a very intriguing Rock N’ Roll soap opera.
One thing is for sure though, once the lights go down on the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on the night of May 12, we will know more. Stay Tuned.
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In just under a weeks time, on May 12, Guns N’ Roses will begin a run of four nights at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, a run that reportedly sold out in three minutes. 
