Guns N' Roses promoter says he kept angry frontman in O2

MUSIC PROMOTERS MCD said it prevented Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose from leaving Dublin’s O2 venue on Wednesday night after he stormed off the stage.

Rose left the stage 22 minutes into the gig when plastic cups of liquid were thrown at his band. Rose had earlier frustrated the capacity crowd at the O2 by turning up late.

A statement from MCD yesterday apologised for the delay in the start time, but pointed out that the full set was eventually played. The band was supposed to be on stage at 9.45pm, but ended up going on stage at 10.26pm despite “every effort being made by the promoters” to ensure the band took to the stage on time.

MCD’s Denis Desmond came out on stage to plead with some sections of the audience to stop throwing items and promised to have the band back on stage shortly. He also stopped Rose leaving the venue, MCD said.

“The artist was prevented from leaving the venue by the promoter and following backstage discussions, Guns N’ Roses went back on stage at 23.20 and performed their full set until 00.53,” MCD added.

“While the artist has a long history for being late on stage – Slane 1992 crowd waiting two hours and last weekend’s UK Reading festival – no artist should be subjected to missiles and unknown substances being thrown at them.

“However, despite this the band went back on stage after people stopped throwing items, performing their full set of songs.”

Rose stopped the band during the intro to the second song Welcome to the Junglewhen a plastic cup containing what MCD described as an "unknown substance" was thrown on stage.

“Here’s the deal, one more bottle, we go home,” he told the crowd. “We want to stay. If you don’t want to have fun just let us know. We’ll be on our way.”

Rose made good his promise after another cup was thrown as guitarist Richard Fortus was about to start a solo. The singer took his band off stage to a cacophony of boos and whistles at the end of the fourth song Mr Brownstone.

The crowd was told there were “technical difficulties” before Mr Desmond came on stage and asked the crowd for patience.

“We’re trying hard to get Axl to come back on stage,” he said. “I’m trying hard to get Axl to come back on stage. I’d ask you please to refrain from throwing items at him. I promise a great show, but you have to calm. I’m sorry about that.”

After a short interval, the lights came on and thousands of fans left the arena. The band appeared back on stage at 11.20pm to complete their set. Rose said to the crowd: “Let’s try this again.”

The band played until 12.52am, by which stage more fans had left.

The statement issued by MCD made no mention of refunds for those fans who left the concert early in the mistaken belief that it was over.

Wednesday night’s concert is the latest in a long line of issues involving Rose, who has a reputation as one of rock music’s most unpredictable stars, with a penchant for turning up late and storming off stage.

The European leg of the band’s “Chinese Democracy” tour is turning into a disaster. The power was cut on the band’s performance at Reading after they went on stage an hour late. Their set was also cut short at Leeds, where they were 35 minutes late. Rose is the only continuing member of the original band.