2016.07.12 - Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

By Anthony Mendicino / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As if reuniting Axl Rose’s classic blistering voice, Slash’s cascading guitar anthems and Duff McKagan’s hard-charging melodies weren’t enough, Guns N’ Roses will be accompanied by a large stage show tonight at Heinz Field.

The not-so-holy trinity of hard rock debauchery will be back in Pittsburgh together for the first time since the early 1990s on the “Not in This Lifetime” reunion tour.

The group will be supported by a stage show pieced together by the band’s production manager Dale (Opie) Skjerseth.

They don’t need frills or thrills, it's them,” Mr. Skjerseth said. “That’s what people want to see, Guns N’ Roses.”

Mr. Skjerseth and his crew began working with the band in January to prepare for the tour.

“They’re professional, they know what they want, and we were all on cue with it. And we all stand by it together,” he said.

Mr. Skjerseth also worked with the band on its 1992-93 “Use Your Illusion” tour, which was the last tour to come through Pittsburgh with Rose, Slash and Mr. McKagan in tow. He mentioned that everyone, band included, has grown up since.

“We’ve all grown in time, we know what really needs to be done,” he said. “We’ve all done our things, had our fun, but back then was then, and this is now, and we are hitting it hard.”

Back then, they were the hottest ticket on the planet, living in a party house on top of the music world. But youthful indulgence has given way to practiced maturity.

“They’re professional. They don’t have to be picky because they’ve done it all with me at the beginning, so everything they’ve asked for is there,” Mr. Skjerseth said.

Guns N’ Roses, which formed in LA in 1985, debuted in 1987 with “Appetite for Destruction,” introducing classics such as “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and reviving hard rock in the era of synth-pop. “Appetite” went on to sell 18 million copies in the U.S. (30 million worldwide) and became the biggest-selling debut album of all time. The group first appeared in Pittsburgh as the opening act for Aerosmith in 1988.

Tonight’s show will be the first in Pittsburgh since the band — performing without Slash — played the Civic Arena in 1998.

While the band has matured and evolved during the interim, some things have stayed the same.

Rose can still hit the high notes, Slash still shreds the Les Paul, and Mr. McKagan continues to be the steady subliminal engine of the band. This isn’t the Guns N’ Roses that wreaked havoc on the Sunset Strip in the ’80s, but make no mistake, they’re still ready to welcome you to the jungle.