Alice in Chains and Guns N’ Roses are two of the most iconic rock bands to emerge from the late 1980s/early 1990s. Both bands were pioneers of the grunge and hard rock movements respectively and achieved massive mainstream success. Their distinct sounds and high-energy live shows made them must-see acts for any rock music fan.
In 2023, there has been rumors circulating that Alice in Chains may join Guns N’ Roses on part of their ongoing tour. As two of the biggest bands from their era, fans would love to see them share a stage. Having them tour together would truly be a historic moment in rock.
Alice in Chains Background
Alice in Chains first formed in Seattle in 1987. Their original lineup consisted of Layne Staley (vocals), Jerry Cantrell (guitar), Sean Kinney (drums), and Mike Starr (bass). They were one of the first grunge bands to gain major label recognition after signing with Columbia Records in 1989.
Their debut album “Facelift” was released in 1990 and included the hits “Man in the Box” and “We Die Young.” The album went double platinum and helped establish the grunge sound on the mainstream rock landscape.
The band reached even greater heights with the release of their 1992 album “Dirt.” Powered by singles like “Would?” and “Rooster,” the album displayed a much darker sound. During this time, Staley was battling an intense heroin addiction that influenced the album’s themes. “Dirt” went quadruple platinum and cementing Alice in Chains as one of the biggest rock acts in the world.
Tragedy struck Alice in Chains when lead singer Layne Staley died from a drug overdose in 2002. The band went on hiatus for over a decade before eventually reforming in 2005 with new vocalist William DuVall. Since reuniting, Alice in Chains has released three albums and toured consistently. They remain an influential force in rock and are still able to headline major festivals and arenas.
Guns N’ Roses Background
Guns N’ Roses exploded onto the Los Angeles rock scene in the mid-1980s. Their initial lineup featured Axl Rose (vocals), Slash (guitar), Izzy Stradlin (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Steven Adler (drums). Their dirty, dangerous sound and outlandish behavior made them the most notorious band in rock music at the time.
After constant touring, the band released their major label debut “Appetite for Destruction” in 1987. Powered by singles such as “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” the album became a worldwide phenomenon. It remains the best-selling debut album of all time in the United States.
The band’s success continued with the release of the twin albums “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” in 1991. Debuting at #1 and #2 respectively, the albums cemented Guns N’ Roses as the biggest rock band in the world. However, personal issues began tearing the band apart. Drug abuse and infighting caused the musicians to start leaving Guns N’ Roses throughout the 1990s.
Lead singer Axl Rose soldiered on with new lineups of Guns N’ Roses, but they struggled to recapture their past success. The original lineup wouldn’t reunite and tour together again until 2016. Since reuniting, they have been consistently touring worldwide to die-hard fans eager to see the classic lineup back together.
Possibility of a Joint Tour
With both bands currently touring extensively on their own, is it possible they could join forces for an epic co-headlining tour? There are a few factors that make it a plausible scenario:
- Both bands are still immensely popular concert draws and could fill stadiums together
- A joint tour would be a major nostalgic event for rock fans who grew up with their music
- The bands have toured together once before back in 1992
- Promoters would be eager to organize a massive tour featuring two iconic bands
On the flip side, there are also a few hurdles that could prevent an Alice in Chains/Guns N’ Roses tour from happening:
- Both bands make enough money touring solo, they may not want to split profits
- The bands have very different sounds that may not blend well on the same stage
- Guns N’ Roses are notorious for being inconsistent and temperamental performers
- Scheduling dozens of stadium shows with two huge productions would be difficult to coordinate
Prior History of Touring Together
While it would be the first time in decades, Alice in Chains and Guns N’ Roses actually have shared the stage before. Back in 1992, Alice in Chains opened for Guns N’ Roses on a selection of tour dates. They were both supporting their hit albums “Dirt” and “Use Your Illusion” at this point.
By all accounts, the 1992 shows were a big success. The grunge upstarts Alice in Chains won over the Guns N’ Roses fans with their high energy performance. Having both bands play together showed how the rock genre was expanding in new directions.
In a 1992 interview, Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell discussed the Guns N’ Roses tour:
“It was a cool experience because we got to watch those guys do an hour-and-a-half or two-hour set every night. That was inspiring to see the power those guys had on an audience and how good they were as players.”
Axl Rose and the other members of Guns N’ Roses were also complimentary towards their tour mates. Rose stated:
“Alice in Chains are an example of why we’re proud to take them out and have them play with us because they’re a great band and they’ve written really cool songs.”
The positive experience over 30 years ago bodes well if the bands were to link up again in 2023. They clearly have mutual respect for one another.
Setlist Possibilities if They Toured Together
If Alice and Chains and Guns N’ Roses did hit the road together, fans would be clamoring to hear songs from both band’s classic catalogs. Here are some of the likely setlist options they could pull from:
Potential Alice in Chains Setlist
- “Man in the Box”
- “Would?”
- “Rooster”
- “Down in a Hole”
- “Heaven Beside You”
Potential Guns N’ Roses Setlist
- “Welcome to the Jungle”
- “Sweet Child o’ Mine”
- “Paradise City”
- “November Rain”
- “Patience”
A show featuring this collection of iconic songs back to back would truly be special. Both bands have so many hits to lean on that they could rotate setlists and never repeat the same show twice. It would keep fans on their toes if they went to multiple concerts on the tour.
How Much Could a Joint Tour Earn?
If Alice in Chains and Guns N’ Roses tour together, the financial windfall would be massive. Both bands still sell out arenas and stadiums on their own. But the combination of the two could make this one of the highest grossing rock tours of all time.
To estimate the possible revenue, we can look at recent tours by each band:
- Guns N’ Roses “Not in This Lifetime Tour” (2016-2019): $580 million
- Alice in Chains 2019 Tour: $30 million (approx. 30 dates)
If they played a similar size tour with 40 stadium dates, total revenue could surpass $600 million. With multiple concerts at each stop, the total gross could approach close to $1 billion! Both bands would handsomely profit from a tour this large.
Projected Setlist for Joint Tour
To visualize what a potential joint setlist could look like, here is a projection of the two bands alternating headline and support spots:
Artist | Song |
---|---|
Guns N’ Roses | “Welcome to the Jungle” |
Alice in Chains | “Them Bones” |
Guns N’ Roses | “It’s So Easy” |
Alice in Chains | “Man in the Box” |
Guns N’ Roses | “Mr. Brownstone” |
Alice in Chains | “Angry Chair” |
Guns N’ Roses | “Sweet Child O’ Mine” |
Alice in Chains | “Down in a Hole” |
Guns N’ Roses | “Civil War” |
Alice in Chains | “Heaven Beside You” |
Guns N’ Roses | “November Rain” |
Alice in Chains | “Would?” |
Guns N’ Roses | “Patience” |
Alice in Chains | “Rooster” |
This type of setlist would allow both bands to showcase their biggest hits while also going deeper into beloved album cuts. It would be an epic musical journey for fans, bringing together two legends of rock.
Conclusion
While nothing official has been announced, there is a compelling case for Alice in Chains and Guns N’ Roses to tour together in 2023. Both groups are still immensely popular on the live circuit and a joint run could be the most in-demand reunion in recent rock history.
If they recreate the magic of 1992, it would be a dream come true for millions of fans. Hearing Layne Staley and Axl Rose’s vocals back to back would showcase the very best of rock from the early 90s. Financial projections also support that a co-headlining tour makes sense, with potential revenues over $1 billion if they play stadiums worldwide.
While a lot of pieces would need to fall into place, Alice in Chains and Guns N’ Roses touring together in 2023 is very plausible. All we can do is hope these two legends find their way to the stage together once again. It would undoubtedly be one of the most legendary rock tours of all time.