- Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash has voiced strong doubts about the band ever performing at the Las Vegas Sphere.
- He believes the venue is not “rock and roll friendly” and prioritizes visuals over the authentic concert experience.
- This stance comes despite successful residencies by legendary acts like U2, Phish, and Dead & Company.
- Slash fears the immersive technology would turn a rock performance into a “visual show,” detracting from the music itself.
Guns N’ Roses Rejects the Sphere Experience
Don’t hold your breath for a Guns N’ Roses residency at the Las Vegas Sphere. In a recent interview, legendary guitarist Slash effectively shut down any speculation, arguing that the groundbreaking venue is fundamentally unsuitable for a “proper rock and roll show.” His comments have sent a clear message to fans and the industry: not every major act is sold on the Sphere’s high-tech allure.
Not “Rock and Roll Friendly”
Speaking on Trunk Nation, Slash explained his reservations about the state-of-the-art venue. While acknowledging the incredible conceptual and visual possibilities, he feels the environment is at odds with the raw energy of a rock concert.
“It’s not really sort of rock and roll friendly, the way that it’s set up,” Slash stated. “I don’t think it would be the right environment for a proper rock and roll show.”
His primary concern is that the Sphere’s main attraction—its massive 15,000-square-meter LED screen and immersive sound system—would overshadow the band. “I think that in almost every case for a band, it becomes a visual show as opposed to seeing a rock and roll show,” he added, expressing a trepidation shared by some rock purists.
A Venue for Spectacle, Not Grit?
Since opening in 2023 with a widely acclaimed 40-show residency by U2, the Sphere has become a must-see Las Vegas destination. It has hosted a diverse lineup of top-tier artists, including Phish, Dead & Company, and even the Backstreet Boys, all of whom have utilized its 164,000 speakers and stunning visuals to create unique spectacles.
However, Slash’s comments highlight a growing debate about whether the venue’s focus on overwhelming visual and auditory stimulation is a good fit for all genres. For a band like Guns N’ Roses, known for its gritty, unpredictable, and powerful stage presence, the fear is that the technology would sanitize or distract from the core performance. While he admits that most of what he’s seen of the venue “looks amazing,” the guitarist is firm in his belief that the performance, not the production, should be the main event for a true rock show.
The Future of Rock in High-Tech Arenas
As the Sphere continues to book major acts, with No Doubt being the latest to announce a residency, Slash’s skepticism raises important questions about the future of live rock music. Will more rock legends follow his lead and opt for more traditional arenas, or will they find new ways to adapt their raw energy to these technologically advanced environments? For now, Guns N’ Roses fans will have to catch them in a setting that Slash feels is more authentic to their roots.