Guns N’ Roses performed the New York Dolls cover “Human Being” live for the first time ever during their show in Abu Dhabi on May 27. The song, originally featured on the band’s 1993 covers album, The Spaghetti Incident?, took on a new sound with Axl Rose singing entirely in his lower vocal range.
Fans reacted positively to the rendition. As one fan commented on Reddit: “I’ve been wanting them to play this for so long, I thought his current voice suits this song so good and damn he sounds great.”
Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has expressed his admiration for New York Dolls singer-guitarist Johnny Thunders, who was a significant influence. “His influence spans the generations and – think what you will of him – but his songwriting is emotive and powerful. Those songs are what it’s all about. His music has risen to the top and it’s totally timeless,” McKagan told Kerrang!
In addition to the cover debut, the band also brought back their own track, “Used to Love Her,” from their GN’R Lies album. This marked the first time the song had been played live in nearly seven years, with its last performance dating back to December 2018, according to Setlist.fm.
Fan-filmed footage of both performances from the Abu Dhabi show is available online. Guns N’ Roses is set to perform next on May 30 in Shekvetili, Georgia, as their 2025 world tour continues.
Guns N’ Roses Setlist From Abu Dhabi:
- “Welcome to the Jungle”
- “Bad Obsession”
- “It’s So Easy”
- “Live and Let Die” (Wings cover)
- “Mr. Brownstone”
- “Slither” (Velvet Revolver cover)
- “You Could Be Mine”
- “Chinese Democracy”
- “Estranged”
- “Yesterdays”
- “Absurd”
- “Double Talkin’ Jive” (With Slash guitar solo)
- “Perhaps”
- “Hard Skool”
- “Attitude” (Misfits cover) (Duff on lead vocals, Tour debut)
- “Reckless Life” (Tour debut)
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Bob Dylan cover)
- “My Michelle”
- “Rocket Queen” (With Slash guitar solo)
- “Patience”
- “Civil War”
- “Slash Guitar Solo”
- “Sweet Child o’ Mine”
- “Coma”
- “November Rain”
- “Wichita Lineman” (Jimmy Webb cover)
- “Don’t Cry”
- “Human Being” (New York Dolls cover) (Live debut)
- “The General” (Tour debut)
- “Used to Love Her” (Tour debut, first time since 2018)
- “Nightrain”
- “Paradise City”
Guns N’ Roses 2025 Tour Dates:
May (Middle East & Georgia):
- May 30 – Shekvetili, Georgia – Shekvetili Park (with Rival Sons)
June (Europe):
- June 2 – Istanbul, Turkey – Tüpraş Stadyumu (with Rival Sons)
- June 6 – Coimbra, Portugal – Estádio Cidade de Coimbra (with Rival Sons)
- June 9 – Barcelona, Spain – Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (with Rival Sons)
- June 12 – Florence, Italy – Ippodromo del Visarno (Firenze Rocks, with Rival Sons)
- June 15 – Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic – Park 360 (Rock for People, with Rival Sons)
- June 18 – Düsseldorf, Germany – Merkur Spiel-Arena (with Rival Sons)
- June 20 – Munich, Germany – Allianz Arena (with Rival Sons)
- June 23 – Birmingham, UK – Villa Park (with Rival Sons)
- June 26 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium (with Rival Sons)
- June 29 – Aarhus, Denmark – Eskelunden (with Public Enemy)
July (Europe):
- July 2 – Trondheim, Norway – Granåsen Ski Centre (with Public Enemy)
- July 4 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena (with Public Enemy)
- July 7 – Tampere, Finland – Ratina Stadium (with Public Enemy)
- July 10 – Kaunas, Lithuania – Darius and Girėnas Stadium (with Public Enemy)
- July 12 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy (with Public Enemy)
- July 15 – Budapest, Hungary – Ferenc Puskás Stadium (with Public Enemy)
- July 18 – Belgrade, Serbia – USCE Park (with Public Enemy)
- July 21 – Sofia, Bulgaria – Vasil Levski Stadium (with Public Enemy)
- July 24 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium (with Sex Pistols)
- July 28 – Luxembourg City, Luxembourg – Luxembourg Open Air (with Sex Pistols)
- July 31 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air
