Key Highlights
- Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash expresses doubt about the band taking up residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere venue.
- The unique setup of the Sphere is not considered “rock and roll friendly” by Slash.
- No Doubt recently announced a residency for the venue, but Guns N’ Roses see it differently.
- The Sphere has hosted various bands since its opening in 2023, including U2, Phish, Dead & Company, Kenny Chesney, and the Backstreet Boys.
Guns N’ Roses: The Band of Rock and Roll’s Concerns
Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash has voiced his opinion on the possibility of the band taking up residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere venue. During an interview with Trunk Nation, Slash expressed skepticism about the suitability of the venue for a rock and roll show.
Slash’s Concerns
“It’s not really sort of rock and roll friendly, the way that it’s set up,” Slash explained, adding, “So it’s just one of those things where it seems like a really cool thing and conceptually there’s probably a lot of cool things that you could do, but I don’t think it would be the right environment for a proper rock and roll show.”
According to Slash, while the venue offers incredible audio and visual technology, these features may overshadow the rock and roll experience he is accustomed to. “I’m real trepidatious about playing there, because it’s a great visual show,” he said. “I think that in almost every case for a band, it becomes a visual show as opposed to seeing a rock and roll show.”
Background on the Sphere Venue
The Las Vegas Sphere opened its doors in 2023 with a bang, hosting an initial residency by U2. Since then, the venue has welcomed other notable acts such as Phish, Dead & Company, country star Kenny Chesney, and boyband the Backstreet Boys. Known for its advanced technology, the venue features 15,000 square meters of LED screens and 164,000 speakers.
While some artists have embraced the venue’s unique offerings, Guns N’ Roses seem more skeptical. “It looks amazing,” Slash admitted, “But it’s not really the right environment for a proper rock and roll show.”
The Future of Rock and Roll Venues
The discussion around the Sphere venue highlights the evolving landscape of music venues in the entertainment industry. While technology has advanced significantly, some traditional rock bands like Guns N’ Roses may still prefer more conventional settings.
Other musicians have also weighed in on their potential residencies at the venue. Brian May of Queen stated that his band is “having conversations” about a possible residency, while Robert Trujillo from Metallica expressed interest but with some reservations.
No Doubt recently announced their own residency for 2026, signaling continued interest in the venue.
The Sphere’s unique setup and advanced technology continue to attract various artists, but it seems not all are as enthusiastic about the concept as others. As the debate continues, fans will be watching closely to see which acts decide to take up residencies at this groundbreaking venue.
