Time Is Running Out For Axl Rose And Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses have always been the divas of rock 'n' roll and this past weekend was no exception. Headlining Reading/Leeds festival is an achievement for any band, regardless of their legacy. So why act like prima donnas and expect the entire festival to change just for you?

The debacle started on Friday when they where scheduled to headline Reading Festival. A huge crowd gathered yet nothing happened on stage for an hour. There's wasting time to increase anticipation, but what on Earth was the need to sit backstage for an hour? These people paid good
money to come to Reading, but spent an hour standing in the mud waiting for a band to do their job.

They eventually came on stage and played a number of hits. However, Rose never apologised for arriving late, did he think it was OK? Did he know what time he was meant to start? Instead of apologising to fans he demanded an apology from the Reading Festival organisers. What for? It was the band who went on late. The band were even granted an extra half hour but this wasn't good enough for them and staged a 'sit in' onstage performing 'Paradise City'. This is slightly rock and roll, but the crowd would probably be happier if they got the full hour worth of Guns that they missed.

On Sunday the band were to play Leeds Festival and you'd have thought The Axl Rose Experience would have learnt their lesson. Alas they came onstage over half an hour late and still put in a below par performance. Axl was out of breath for most of the set and when he was singing it was just screeches. Definitely not what any paying crowd wants to close three days of music.

Of course, this fiasco with Reading/Leeds isn't Axl's fault – or at least that's what he claims. Apparently the band had a deal with the organisers to play a longer set and finish at midnight. OK Axl, you didn't get to play for the last half hour – but why turn up an hour late? If you wanted to play for longer you'd get on stage as early as physically possible to play all of your hits and satisfy the audience. Not spend half the time messing around with costume changes and generally desecrating your own history.

In reality, as much as Axl wants to rant about it on Twitter he is in the wrong. It was he who went on late at both festivals which is why their set was cut short. If they're ever asked to play a UK festival again, let's hope that Axl buys a watch in the meantime.

MORE: Guns N' Roses Fans Angry Over Late Arrival At Reading Festival 2010