Guns N' Roses 'on form' for UK return

Axl Rose kept onstage chat to a minimum at London's O2

Guns N' Roses have played their first gig in the UK since their divisive, late-running slots at this summer's Reading and Leeds festival.

Axl Rose, the only original member still present, led his band through a two-hour 40-minute set at London's O2 arena, finishing after midnight.

Fans said the show was an improvement on the band's festival dates.

"After Reading it was a saviour," said fan Jerry Cottel. "I thought Axl Rose was back on form tonight."

He added: "Axl made up for it a little bit. At least he managed to finish with Paradise City instead of talking through a megaphone as he did at Reading."

The band finished after the last underground train to central London had left, but the venue laid on extra transport to get fans home.

Fans who stayed the course appeared united in their praise.

Charlie Hope, from Bayswater, said: "It was astounding energy from all of them. It was really true to the original versions.

"We were hoping for a Reading-style story, but it turned out he was very good."

"War" with promoters

In August, the band attempted to play through their extended curfews at the festivals which led to lead singer Axl Rose declaring "war" on the promoters as he left the stage.

Guns N' Roses fan Jerry Cottel said Axl Rose 'was back on form'

Festival organiser Melvin Benn replied by saying he would book the band again but "wasn't sure they'd play for me".

A few days later the band walked off stage during a gig in Dublin after being hit by plastic bottles thrown by the crowd.

On this, the first night of the UK tour, the band played a set heavily reliant on their most recent album Chinese Democracy along with hits like November Rain, Mr Brownstone, Welcome To The Jungle, Paradise City and Sweet Child O' Mine.

They also performed covers of Bob Dylan's Knocking On Heavens Door and Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall.

Rose kept any on-stage chat to a minimum, but politely warned the crowd not to throw bottles.

The tour continues tonight (14 October) with a second night at London's O2 arena.