Axl Rose was severely ill with the flu and struggled through a Guns N' Roses performance in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The band had been treating their fans to marathon 3-hour-long sets on their current Not In This Lifetime Tour, but with Rose sick the band was forced to cut the set short to just sixteen songs for an hour-and-a-half set. Even so, Guns N' Roses was able to squeeze in many of the classics fans would be expecting to hear kicking the set off with "It's So Easy" and also working in "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "November Rain." "They've got me on IV's and a bunch of injections because I got sick today," Rose stated at the start of the show. "I've been throwing up the last five hours and instead of canceling we're going to do the best show we can for you."
After the show lead guitarist Slash tweeted "Abu Dhabi, you guys were fucking great tonight! Axl was severely ill. But you all were hugely supportive. Thanks for that. We'll see you again next time! Cheers!"
Bassist Duff McKagen also tweeted "Thank you Abu Dhabi! Axl Rose pulled a damn miracle... The man was beyond ill, and pulled off something I've never seen in my 40 years of playing . You all pulled him though. Til next time!
One day after the show Rose took to Twitter again to thank the fans and his bandmates for their support after his illness forced the abbreviated show in the United Arab Emirates. Then before Guns N' Roses November 29 concert in South Africa, Rose wrote, "Felt lame explainin' myself earlier on at the gig, but didn't know how things would play out n' we really wanted to do our best for the fans. Was a great crowd, awesome venue, cool stage, with a gentle breeze in the desert! Thanks again n' hope anyone's not too disappointed, and we look forward to seeing everyone again!"
The Abu Dhabi gig closed out the Asian leg of the Not In This Lifetime Tour, which has lasted for nearly three years now. According to The National, the gig was the 157th night of a 31-month jaunt, which went around the world twice, played to five million people, and is on track to becoming the second highest grossing tour of all time--overtaking even The Rolling Stones. Only U2 have grossed more on a Tour then Guns N' Roses projected earnings of 600 million. Guns N' Roses will play their last show of 2018 on December 8, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In a final Tweet sent out by Axl Rose, "Wanna thank all the fans, the band and everyone for their concern and well wishes! In Johannesburg with plenty of time to be ready for the show! This flu or whatever is a wild ride! Comes in waves. Your ok til your not!"
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