It was the punchline that defined a generation of rock fans. For over two decades, if you asked Axl Rose about a reunion with Slash, the answer was always the same. "Not in this lifetime."
He actually said it. It wasn't some misinterpreted rumor or a quote taken out of context by a thirsty tabloid reporter in 1994. Axl looked a TMZ cameraman in the eye in 2012 and killed the dreams of millions with those four words. Then, 2016 happened. The Guns N' Roses Not In This Lifetime tour didn't just break the internet; it broke the laws of rock and roll physics. People genuinely thought these guys would die before sharing a stage again.
Honestly, the skepticism was earned. This is a band that basically invented the concept of "volatile." You had the mid-90s exodus, the legal battles over the name, the Chinese Democracy delays that lasted fifteen years, and Axl’s penchant for starting shows three hours late—if he showed up at all. When the Coachella 2016 lineup dropped with GNR at the top, the collective gasp was audible. But it wasn't just a festival one-off. It turned into a three-year, globe-spanning behemoth that raked in over $580 million.
The Night The Impossible Became Reality
The warm-up gig at the Troubadour in West Hollywood was where it actually got real. April 1, 2016. Most people thought it was an April Fool's joke. It wasn't. Seeing Axl, Slash, and Duff McKagan standing in a line for the first time since Buenos Aires in 1993 felt like a glitch in the simulation.
The energy was frantic.
Axl broke his foot almost immediately. Seriously, the guy waited twenty years to play with Slash and then broke his metatarsal during the very first warm-up show. He ended up performing the early leg of the tour on a "throne" borrowed from Dave Grohl. It was a weirdly humble start for a band known for excess. It showed a version of Axl Rose we hadn't seen: the professional. He was on time. He was singing his heart out. He was, dare I say, happy?
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Why This Tour Shattered Expectations
Most "legacy" acts go through the motions. They hire session musicians to hide the fact that the lead guitarist can't hit the notes anymore, or they tune everything down three steps so the singer doesn't pop a lung. GNR didn't do that.
Slash was playing better than he did in 1992. That’s not hyperbole. If you watch the pro-shot footage from the Houston or London shows, his tone is crystalline. He stopped the hard partying years ago, and it shows in his fingers. Duff McKagan, the "Punk King of Rock," provided the literal and figurative backbone. He's the guy who kept the bridge built between the two camps.
The Setlist Was A Monster
They weren't playing ninety-minute Greatest Hits sets. They were playing three-hour marathons. You'd get the staples—"Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "November Rain"—but they also threw in deep cuts like "Coma" and "Double Talkin' Jive." They even played songs from Chinese Democracy. Hearing Slash play the solo on "Better" or "This I Love" was fascinating. It was a bridge between the era that tore them apart and the era that brought them back together.
The lineup was a mix. You had the "Big Three," plus longtime keyboardist Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus on rhythm guitar, Frank Ferrer on drums, and Melissa Reese on synths. Was it a "full" reunion? No. Steven Adler made a few guest appearances on drums, which was great for the fans, but Izzy Stradlin stayed away. Izzy’s absence was the one dark cloud. He famously tweeted (then deleted) that the band didn't want to "split the loot equally." Classic Izzy.
The Business of Being Guns N' Roses
Let's talk money, because you can't discuss the Guns N' Roses Not In This Lifetime tour without talking about the staggering numbers. By the time the tour wrapped in late 2019, it was the third highest-grossing tour in history.
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It beat out U2. It beat out The Rolling Stones.
The demand was bottomless. They played to over five million fans. What’s interesting is that they didn't have a new album to sell. This was pure nostalgia, fueled by the fact that the band actually behaved themselves. The "Axl is late" memes died a quick death. Shows were starting at 8:00 PM. It was bizarre. It was like your rebellious uncle suddenly started wearing ironed shirts and showing up to Thanksgiving on time.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Reunion"
The biggest misconception is that this was just a "paycheck" tour. While the paycheck was astronomical, there was a palpable shift in the band's chemistry. You could see Axl and Slash smiling at each other during "Rocket Queen." That wasn't scripted. After decades of lawsuits and public insults—Axl once called Slash a "cancer"—there was a genuine sense of healing.
It also proved that Guns N' Roses is arguably the last "Global" rock band. They didn't just sell out stadiums in New York and London. They sold out stadiums in Bogota, Kuala Lumpur, and Abu Dhabi. The brand is bulletproof.
The Legacy of the Tour
- Redefining the Axl Rose Persona: He went from the most hated man in rock to a respected elder statesman. His stint filling in for Brian Johnson in AC/DC during the middle of the GNR tour only solidified this.
- Slash’s Dominance: It reminded everyone why he’s the most iconic guitarist of the last 40 years.
- The Power of the Brand: It showed that "Guns N' Roses" as a concept is bigger than any single member, yet requires the core trio to feel authentic.
What Really Happened with the Missing Members?
Fans still argue about Matt Sorum and Izzy Stradlin. Matt Sorum, the Use Your Illusion era drummer, was reportedly not invited back, which he has been vocal about. Frank Ferrer has been the drummer since 2006, and Axl stuck by him. It’s a point of contention for some purists, but Ferrer brings a heavy, industrial swing that fits the modern GNR sound.
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Izzy is a different story. He's the soul of the band's songwriting. Without him, there’s a missing piece of the puzzle. But Izzy has always been a nomad. He left the band at their height in 1991 because he couldn't deal with the stadium life. Expecting him to sign up for a three-year stadium grind in 2016 was probably a bridge too far, regardless of the money.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Fan
If you missed the tour, or if you're looking to dive back into the GNR rabbit hole, there are a few things you should do to truly appreciate what happened during those three years.
First, go find the 2018 "Locked N' Loaded" box set of Appetite for Destruction. It gives you the context of where they started versus where they ended up. Second, watch the "Nitrain" (Not In This Lifetime) select videos on the band's official YouTube channel. They professionally mixed several performances, and the quality is stunning.
If you're a musician, pay attention to the gear. Slash moved to a refined version of his signature Marshall and Gibson setup that is basically the gold standard for rock tone. There are countless breakdown videos of his "Not In This Lifetime" pedalboard that are worth a watch if you're trying to chase that sound.
Lastly, understand that this tour changed the industry's view on reunions. It proved that if you wait long enough and keep the mystery alive, the payoff is exponentially higher. But it only works if you can deliver the goods. Guns N' Roses delivered. They played the long game, and they won.
Next Steps for GNR Enthusiasts:
- Check out Duff McKagan’s book It's So Easy (And Other Lies) to understand the internal dynamics that made the reunion possible.
- Listen to the 2021-2023 singles "Absurd," "Hard Skool," and "Perhaps." These are reworked Chinese Democracy era tracks that feature new recordings by Slash and Duff, giving us a hint of what a new album might actually sound like.
- Monitor the 2026 festival circuits; while the massive "Not In This Lifetime" branding is over, the band is now a functional, touring entity that shows no signs of stopping.
The "Not In This Lifetime" era proved that in rock and roll, never say never. It was a masterclass in brand management, musical proficiency, and the sheer power of letting go of old grudges. It wasn't just a tour; it was a three-year victory lap for a band that everyone had left for dead.