The Poster Memorabilia blog

Guns N' Roses Still Have a Different Aura

Overtime shifts, a VIP ticket, and one unpromised moment with three rock icons.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

After all these years, Guns N' Roses still have that rockstar aura. I remember going to their 2016 Not in This Lifetime… reunion tour, and meeting them in person. And I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that those icons—Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan—are still as charismatic as ever.

The group hadn't performed with each other since the 1990s, so when I discovered that all three of them would reunite on stage for the tour, I just had to be there. I even worked overtime a lot, even when it wasn't necessary, so I could earn more to get VIP tickets. I've been a fan of Guns N' Roses since the 90s, and I wasn't gonna miss this chance to see them in person.

My best friend, who actually got me into the band, initially thought it was enough to just get tickets. But then I discovered the VIP packages on offer, which came with a spot up front, a backstage tour, and even an on-stage photo op from where the band would be playing hours later. Without a second thought, I immediately bought those premium tickets and started preparing myself mentally for that once-in-a-lifetime night.

I'm not gonna disclose how much I spent, only that I needed to get that overtime pay to make up for it. As hard as those times were, however, I have no regrets. Working for a couple more hours for three weeks straight was a small price to pay for a night that close to my favorite rock band.

✦ ✦ ✦

When the night finally came, I instantly knew all that hard work was worth it. From the moment they stepped on stage and performed their famous hits, I knew I picked the right band to follow for all these years. Their musicality and energy were still there, almost as if they never separated for decades. All at once, I was transported back to my teenage years, listening to their CDs in my room in my parents' house.

The concert alone was already worth the astronomically high price, but the night wasn't done with me yet. Since I danced and screamed all night, I rushed to the bathroom to freshen up. I changed my top to a band tee I just bought at the venue, wiped away all my sweat, fixed up my makeup, and combed my hair. If there was even a chance of crossing paths with my favorite rockstars, I wasn't about to look an absolute mess!

On the way back, I spotted a cool poster from the merch table and decided to buy it, just in case. I initially planned on getting my shirt signed if a chance ever came, but I figured a concert poster would be more fitting.

“I swear my heart stopped a couple of times when I finally saw them up close and personal.”

And then my luck came in. Nobody promised us VIPs anything beyond the tour and the photo op, but as the night wound down, the three of them came within reach of us, and a handful of lucky fans got a quick moment. I swear my heart stopped a couple of times when I finally saw them up close and personal. It wasn't just that I was meeting my favorite band, but I was also pleasantly surprised at how nice they were. And when I asked them to sign my poster, they happily obliged with a smile.

They just had a different aura. A mix of their rockstar appeal with an approachability that only comes from years of experience. I felt that they were and still are larger-than-life, but I also saw how happy they were to see us fans. Almost as if they were grateful that we actually went there. Little did they know that I was 1000x more grateful that they did this reunion tour in the first place.

That night with Guns N' Roses remains one of the best moments of my life. I never got to see them again on their many subsequent tours since I got busier with work and family, but at least I still have the signed poster to remind me of that magical experience.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

Guaranteed authentic for life • 90-day returns, any reason