2016.03.31 - Vanyaland - Guns N’ Roses Tour To Expand Beyond America, The Cult To Open Select Dates

Exclusive: Guns N’ Roses tour to expand beyond America, the Cult to open select dates

By Michael Christopher

This morning Vanyaland sat down with Billy Duffy of The Cult for an interview ahead of their show Tuesday night at the Citi Shubert Theatre in Boston (look for it on Monday), and when we asked him his opinion on the Guns N” Roses’ ongoing reunion saga, Duffy dropped a bit of news — The Cult will be touring with Axl, Slash, and Duff in the coming months.

And while Duffy didn’t elaborate, he did say the dates wouldn’t be taking place in America.

“I believe we will be playing with them at a couple of shows that are not in the United States — I think I can say that — I believe,” Duffy said. “I just found out.”

It’s the first time someone has gone on record confirming Guns will be playing shows beyond the American cities which they announced last week that will take place this summer, and the handful of warm-up dates around their Coachella appearances. Chances are, the gigs will take place either in Mexico or South America, the latter of which has always been an incredibly strong region for GNR.

In related news, speculation is high that there will be a secret Guns show tomorrow night somewhere in their hometown of Los Angeles. Blabbermouth reported on the rumor last night, and the article was retweeted by the Whisky a Go-Go. The legendary West Hollywood nightclub also recently added an event by Guns N’ Roses tribute band Hollywood Roses — set to take place tomorrow evening.

Fans desperately looking for a shred of evidence about the reunion have also been poring over an image tweeted by Guns of three sets of Ahead drumsticks, the brand of which former drummer Matt Sorum used during the Use Your Illusion tour, but said he doesn’t any longer. Most recent GNR stick-man Frank Ferrer indicated in the comments section of the image on the outfit’s official Instagram page that it’s a brand he doesn’t use either, saying he uses Vater. Signs obviously point to original drummer Steven Adler being back in the fold to some degree, bolstered by the last-minute cancellation of his show set to take place tomorrow night at …the Whisky a Go-Go.

https://vanyaland.com/2016/03/31/guns-and-roses-tour-expand-beyond-north-america-with-the-cult/

The full interview with Billy Duffy was published a few days later, on April 4:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[...]

I want to get your opinion on the whole Guns N’ Roses reunion. You’re good friends with [bassist] Duff [McKagan] As many people know, you took them out on their first arena tour in 1987, and they repaid you by stealing your drummer [Matt Sorum] a few years later.

[Laughs] Well, back in that day they did what they had to do and who’s to say I wouldn’t have done the same if I was in their position — you know? There seriously weren’t any hard feelings because at that point me and Ian weren’t really in a good place, so holding onto Matt Sorum out of spite… because Matt was very conflicted. I sat with him and he was like, “I don’t really want to leave, but you and Ian aren’t really getting along and there’s no plans for the Cult and [Guns N’ Roses] are asking me to play their last album sold about five thousand billion copies.” I said, “Do it mate. You’ll kick yourself if you don’t take this opportunity. The Cult will survive. The Cult is built upon the foundation of Astbury/Duffy, and we’ll survive mate, so go ahead and have at it. I would.” And it became what it became.

I’m supportive of anything that makes rock not be a sideshow and slightly ironic, comedic, “Hey let’s all have an ’80s hair metal party and dress up in spandex. Isn’t that fun? And let’s tweet it to our friends.” I mean that side of things, because there was some hilarious stuff going on at the time, but I also think in amongst that there’s always been genuine rock and roll played from the heart by people who mean it, and I would say Guns N’ Roses clearly fit in that bracket. We’re all still buddies, and I believe that we’ll be playing with them at a couple of shows that are not in the United States — I think I can say that I believe. I just found out. So there’s definitely a lot of friendship between the two bands after all the years.

[...]

https://vanyaland.com/2016/04/04/617-cults-billy-duffy-talks-guns-n-roses-reunion-benefits-drinking-water-whats-wrong-manchester-citys-football-club/