Guns N' Roses to reunite for Coachella music festival
Axl Rose and Slash haven't shared a stage for 20 years
It's official: Guns N' Roses is reuniting as one of the headline acts for the 2016 Coachella music and arts festival.
The popular, annual, live-music extravaganza in the California desert has unveiled its bill for the upcoming edition, with the mid-80s, early 90s-era band among the prominent performers listed.
The gigs will mark the first time singer Axl Rose and guitarist Slash have shared the stage since the early 1990s.
Rose, who abruptly cancelled an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, had teased fans last weekend by refusing to confirm reunion rumours. However, he posted his confirmation via Twitter.
Ok,ok... 🙄It's "confirmed!" Guns N' Roses is Headlining Coachella 2016!! 🍾🎉📰🌋🎯🎤🎛📡😎 See Everyone There!! ❤️😎
—@axlroseGuitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan confirmed by posting the same image of the Guns N' Roses logo.
Falling out
The band topped the charts in the 1980s, including with 1987's bestselling album Appetite for Destruction and a string of hits such as Sweet Child O' Mine, Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, Don't Cry and November Rain.
However, the band's classic lineup — including Slash, McKagan, guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler — all left the group in the 1990s due to disagreements with bandleader Rose, who continued with new members.
Slash, McKagan and later GnR drummer Matt Sorum eventually teamed up with other musicians to form the rock troupe Velvet Revolver.
When Guns N' Roses was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, Rose declined the honour, and refused to join his former mates onstage to perform, claiming he wasn't "wanted or respected."
However, in 2014, he appeared to soften his stance somewhat, taking the stage with McKagan at a Los Angeles awards show.
<a href="https://t.co/Qyf466FqWa">pic.twitter.com/Qyf466FqWa</a>
—@coachellaFellow headliners for the next Coachella, which takes place in Indio, Calif. over two weekends in April, include recently reunited rock band LCD Soundsystem and hit DJ Calvin Harris.
Ellie Goulding, Ice Cube, A$AP Rocky, Sia and Major Lazer are also set to take the stage, with Canadian performers to include Grimes and BadBadNotGood.
The 2016 Coachella festival takes place April 15-17 and 22-24.