There were no surprise guests for Guns N’ Roses’ Weekend 2 performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and none were needed.
The band seemed intent on proving it’s ready to embark on a summer tour with reunited members Axl Rose, Slash (Saul Hudson) and Duff McKagan, who adorned his bass with a purple Prince symbol in tribute to the artist’s death last week.
The hard rock outfit performed for more than two hours in a focused set that looked and sounded arena ready. Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC dropped in with the band for Weekend 1, but there were no shouts for “Angus” on Saturday night. Slash had the guitar pyrotechnics covered.
Advertisement
So how did it all come together? This was a reunion that few expected to happen and many thought would break apart in band drama before the group got out of the rehearsal studio.
One of the keys was Paul Tollett, the president and chief executive of Goldenvoice, who started Coachella in 1999. He launched his career as a rock promoter in Los Angeles in the 1980s, and one of the up-and-coming bands he promoted was Guns N’ Roses.
In an interview a few hours before Guns N’ Roses took the stage Saturday, Tollett said he didn’t want to be seen as taking credit for the group’s return. But when pressed on how came together, he replied, “I went to them.”
Advertisement
Axl Rose, left, and Slash, together for the Guns N’ Roses reunion at Coachella.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
“But I’ve been trying for a while,” he quickly added. “Those types of things, it can’t be one person. It’s got to be a lot of people and different reasons it’s happening.”
Speaking from a shaded picnic table outside the trailer he calls home during Coachella, Tollett offered some insights into the art of reuniting fractious ensembles.
Advertisement
“When I go for something that’s not together, I never lead with the money, because it offends those artists,” he said. “It can turn them off and the communication stops. Not because of the number, it’s just because commerce is the first discussion.”
Talks with Guns N’ Roses began about two years ago, he said. At some point along the way, he sent the group a vintage flyer of a 1986 performance he promoted for the band, shortly before it hit the big time.
“These bands were getting bigger faster than Goldenvoice was, so we couldn’t hold on to them,” he said. “Back then, a band would go platinum in a matter of months. It takes a company years to build up the skills, the money, the clout, the venues... there’s a lot to it. So when they hit it we had to cede them to other promoters. We just weren’t ready.”
1/67
Ice Cube performs during the second weekend of the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. He will headline the Hard Summer festival this year, along with Major Lazer.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
2/67
A mask of presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders was held above the crowd during the performance of rap duo Run the Jewels, during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
3/67
Ice Cube and Dr. Dre after reuniting N.W.A during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
4/67
Ice Cube is joined by Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella, from left, as N.W.A reunites at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
5/67
Killer Mike, left and El-P, who form the rap duo Run the Jewels, perform.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
6/67
Killer Mike, left and El-P, of Run the Jewels, perform during Weekend 2.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
7/67
Fashion on the polo field as the sun sets during the second weekend of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
8/67
Musicians Diplo, Jillionaire, Walshy Fire of Major Lazer and special guest MØ perform onstage.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images )
9/67
DJ Baauer spins a set.
(Michael Tullberg / Getty Images)
10/67
Singer-songwriter Alessia Cara performs onstage.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images )
11/67
Frontman Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros performs onstage.
(Mike Windle / Getty Images )
12/67
Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge performs onstage with DJ Baauer.
(Michael Tullberg / Getty Images )
13/67
Kim Schifino, left, and Matt Johnson of Matt and Kim perform onstage.
(Mike Windle / Getty Images )
14/67
Pete Yorn performs onstage.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images )
15/67
DJ Tukutz of Epik High performs onstage.
(Michael Tullberg / Getty Images )
16/67
Dave Quackenbush of The Vandals performs onstage.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for Coachella)
17/67
Frontman Nathaniel Rateliff performs with his band The Night Sweats.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images )
18/67
Lars Frederiksen, from left, Branden Steineckert and Matt Freeman of Rancid perform onstage.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
19/67
Ice Cube on stage at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
20/67
Ice Cube and Dr. Dre together during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
21/67
Ice Cube and Dr. Dre hug after reuniting N.W.A at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
22/67
La Grande Wheel as the sun begins to set on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
23/67
With “Tower of Twelve Stories,” by artist Jimenez Lai at left, the sun sets on the polo field as CHVRCHES finishes its set during Weekend 2 of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
24/67
A sign language interpreter, left, during Ice Cube’s performance.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
25/67
A sign language interpreter during Ice Cube’s performance during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
26/67
Fashion on the polo field during Weekend 2.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
27/67
Gary Clark Jr. performs on the Coachella Stage on Saurday at the Coachella Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
28/67
Gary Clark Jr. performs on the Coachella Stage during the second weekend of the Coachella Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
29/67
A festivalgoer dances while waiting to be sprayed inside the Do Lab during the second weekend at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
30/67
Kenyan artist Ngene Maura continues working on his yet-untitled piece inside the Do Lab.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
31/67
Dancers cool off in the Do Lab on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
32/67
The scene inside the Sahara tent while DJ Mustard performs on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
33/67
Inside the Sahara tent April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
34/67
A man wearing wings walks through the crowd on April 22, the opening day of Weekend 2 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
35/67
Art installation “Katrina Chairs,” by Cuban artist Alexandre Arrechea, as night falls on April 22, the opening day of Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
36/67
Brisk afternoon winds made hat wearing an adventure on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
37/67
Dancers cool off in the Do Lab on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
38/67
Dancers cool off in the Do Lab on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
39/67
A festive umbrella offers a bit of shade on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 22.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
40/67
Dancers cool off in the Do Lab at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
41/67
Dancers cool off in the Do Lab at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
42/67
Rapper Joey Badass performs April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
43/67
Security sprays the audience with cooling mist before the start of Joey Badass’s show April 22 on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
44/67
Dancers cool off in the Do Lab at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
45/67
Model and artist Chris De King walks the grounds on Friday, the opening day of Weekend 2 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
46/67
Megan Elischer, from west Los Angeles, a member of the Go-Go Hoop Dance Stars in L.A., dances to the sounds of LCD Soundsystem with her LED-lit hoop, on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
47/67
A man passes through the crowd wearing a pink wig and a tutu on opening day of Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
48/67
A music fan pauses on the polo field as the sun begins to set on opening day of Weekend 2 at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
49/67
Gallant performs during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, on April 22, 2016.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
50/67
Coachella revelers sit inside the art installation “Portals” by Phillip K. Smith III as night falls on opening day of Weekend 2 of the music and arts festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
51/67
A crowd gathers during the Snakehips show on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
52/67
Festival-goers rest inside the Mojave tent before the start of the Snakehips show at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
53/67
An art installation “Portals” by Phillip K. Smith III is seen as night falls on opening day of Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
54/67
Friends, from left, Rio Wilkinson of Australia, Marie Bjoentegaard of Norway and Lindsay Gilbert of Australia dance during the performance of Joe Badass at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
55/67
Debbie Savigny, 64, left, from Cool, and her friend since third grade Julie Hamilton, 65, from Bloomington, bring their walkers with seats to better enjoy the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Hamilton, who says she has worked at 10 Coachella events, said she finally decided to enjoy one as a fan and looked forward to seeing Sia.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
56/67
Alejandro Murcia, left and Wanda Quintero, both from Colombia, at their first Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
57/67
People stopped to take pictures at a tribute to Prince.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
58/67
Rapper ASAP Rocky performs from the middle of the crowd during weekend two of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
59/67
Gallant performs during weekend two of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
60/67
Rapper ASAP Rocky performs from the middle of the crowd during weekend two of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
61/67
A memorial to Prince is seen during the first day of Weekend 2 at the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio.
(Matt Cowan / Getty Images for Coachella)
62/67
A tribute to Prince is seen at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 22, 2016.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
63/67
Joey Bada$$ pays tribute to Prince during the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images for Coachella)
64/67
Joey Badass performs a Prince tribute onstage during Coachella Valley on April 22, 2016.
(Matt Cowan / Getty Images for Coachella)
65/67
AJ Whitaker, from Los Angeles, attending her first Coachella, poses in front of “Besame Mucho,” by R & R Studios.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
66/67
A sign language interpreter, left, during Ice Cube’s performance.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
67/67
Ice Cube, from left, is joined by Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Flash forward three decades, and Goldenvoice is now running the biggest-grossing music festival in the U.S. Slash did a guest appearance with Motorhead at Coachella in 2014, he said, and got a taste of Coachella’s festival atmosphere. Seeds were being planted.
“I never pushed hard, but put it out there,” he said. “It just started picking up steam.”
After the announcement late last year, skeptics abounded. Tollett said he was inundated with calls asking if the band would really show up.
Advertisement
It didn’t help when Rose broke his foot during a surprise warm-up show April 1 at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Tollett said he still wasn’t worried; after all, Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine broke her foot during Weekend 1 of Coachella last year. She was back on stage Weekend 2.
The show did go on, with Rose performing on a “throne” borrowed from Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. In the end, Tollett said he could hardly believe it himself as he watched the band from the sidelines Weekend 1.
John Corrigan is the deputy environment, health and science editor for the Los Angeles Times. He joined The Times after editing stints at the Wall Street Journal in Washington, D.C., and Beijing, where he spearheaded an award-winning series on China’s surveillance state. He previously held senior editing positions on the business and entertainment desks of the L.A. Times and was project editor for “The Wal-Mart Effect,” winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting.
