Guns N’ Roses have roared back to the global stage with the kickoff of their 2025 world tour, unleashing a thunderous set in Incheon, South Korea, on May 1. The show, held at the electrifying Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, marked the start of a new era for the legendary rock band—now rolling forward with fresh energy and a few big surprises.
The concert opened with a twist that thrilled longtime fans: instead of easing in, GN’R hit the gas from the very first moment, lighting up the night with one of their most iconic anthems. From there, it was a relentless storm of hard rock that spanned every era of their legacy.
One of the night’s biggest talking points was the arrival of drummer Isaac Carpenter behind the kit. Previously known for his work with Duff McKagan’s solo projects and Loaded, Carpenter officially steps into the role left vacant earlier this year when longtime drummer Frank Ferrer exited the lineup. His fierce and steady playing added a fresh punch to the band’s already volcanic sound.
The band’s 22-song set was a full-force journey through their catalogue, heavy on hits but peppered with deep cuts and fan-favorite rarities. From the gritty rawness of their Appetite for Destruction days to the epic storytelling of Use Your Illusion, the performance was a rollercoaster of intensity, nostalgia, and sheer rock bravado. They even threw in a newer track from their post-reunion output, keeping the spirit of evolution alive.
Beyond the music, the stage production was a spectacle in itself. Towering visuals, blazing lights, and a crowd that refused to sit still helped elevate the night into something more than just a concert—it was a full-on rock celebration.
The 2025 tour, with the tongue-in-cheek title “Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things,” is set to cover a huge swath of Europe and the Middle East over the next three months. Along the way, the band will be joined by genre-bending pioneers Public Enemy, high-energy rockers Rival Sons, and a freshly reassembled lineup of the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter.
The grand finale is scheduled to explode at Wacken Open Air in Germany on July 31—a fittingly massive closing chapter for a tour that’s already turning heads.
This isn’t just another trip down memory lane. Guns N’ Roses have shown they’re still evolving, still wild, and still capable of delivering a show that shakes the ground beneath your feet.
