New Billboard Article About Possible Tour (01/14/16)

[Billsfan]

Original Billboard article:

http://www.billboard...per-show-payday

Guns N' Roses Eyeing $3 Million Per Show Payday on Potential Tour

1/14/2016 by Ray Waddel

Fans were overjoyed when Billboard broke the news that a reunited Guns N’ Roses -- with original members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan on board -- will headline the Coachella Music & Arts Festival on April 16 and April 23 and follow with a major stadium tour. Given Rose’s tumultuous history of egregiously late or canceled performances, this reunion tour is more fraught with risk than most, but GNR's reputation as a top-shelf touring act in terms of both business and performances -- and their relative reliability in recent years -- has promoters eager to be involved.

Although the singer has been touring semiregularly with different musicians under the Guns N' Roses name, the Coachella shows are expected to be the first time the Rose-Slash-McKagan trio will perform together since July 17, 1993, in Buenos Aires -- “expected” because sources tell Billboard that GNR is scheduled to be one of the first acts to play the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, set to open April 6. Beyond that, the reunited band -- the full lineup and the status of the other two founding members, guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler, remain unclear -- is also negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. For the tour, GNR is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show (the Coachella payday is likely significantly higher), with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.

In an era when most top artists tour regularly, promoters love reunions. The Police revival of 2007 and 2008 remains the gold standard, taking in $362 million from 151 concerts around the world. Of course, GNR is more combustible than the British trio, and the financial prospects of a tour are far less certain.

When a band, or a specific lineup of a band, has been absent from the marketplace for some time, fans can turn to YouTube to at least get a taste of past magic or madness. That’s where “history can haunt you,” as one promoter puts it. And while the classic GNR lineup was a ferocious live act, the band needs to convince fans they’re up to doing it again. As one promoter puts it, “It’s incumbent on the artist to convey the message to the fan base, ‘We’re back, we’re taking this seriously, we’re in shape, I can sing these songs, and we’re going to create the magic we once had.’ ” This does not sound like something Rose would do (a Jan. 5 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was cancelled), and artists are rarely contractually obligated to promote a tour. “As the promoter, you’ve got what you’re buying,” the promoter tells Billboard. “You just hope they take it as seriously as you do.”

Unlike most successful reunion tours, a Rose-led incarnation of GNR has been in the marketplace since 2001. In 2012, band agent Ken Fermaglich (who declined to comment for this story) negotiated a well-received residency at The Joint in Las Vegas to mark the 25th anniversary of GNR’s landmark debut, Appetite for Destruction, and since then GNR has been fairly active at large clubs, arenas and festivals -- to generally positive response -- on a global basis. A review of a March, 2012, show at the Wiltern in Los Angeles in The Hollywood Reporter stated that Rose “sang the bejesus out of all the hits,” adding that he “was an entertainer so charming, you’d never know he had the reputation of an asshole.”

Indeed, it’s GNR’s reputation as a great live act that promoters bidding to produce a 2016 tour on GNR hope fans remember -- and that GNR can deliver. While the band's first album, Appetite for Destruction moved 18 million copies (the biggest-selling debut in U.S. history) and GNR has sold 44.5 million albums total in the U.S., according to the RIAA, the band’s unpredictable live shows, especially with its founding members, played a huge role in the band's surge to superstardom.

Yet the prospects of a classic GNR tour are decidedly mixed. “It might very well be a home run,” says Washington, D.C.-based indie promoter Seth Hurwitz. “It might very well be that it’s not. I prefer not to take part in these kind of all-or-nothing bets myself.”

But veteran manager Doc McGhee, who handled GNR from 2010 to 2012, maintains, “If it’s done right, it should do amazing [business]. If they have their shit together and go out there to kill, I think everybody comes to see them. If not, they’ll have a tough time selling it.”

Furthermore, McGhee does not believe the Rose-led GNR of the past decade, or various touring outfits by other members, have diluted the brand. He points to bands like Aerosmith and Fleetwood Mac, which toured with less-than-complete lineups and then went on to do much bigger business when certain members returned. "Led Zeppelin was bigger than when [Jimmy] Page and [Robert] Plant went out together," McGhee notes. "The sum is bigger than the parts."

Phoenix promoter Danny Zelisko adds, "I think that if they play the right halls with ticket prices not too crazy, they will do awesome. There is definitely demand for this band with Slash and Axl reunited."

The original GNR’s most successful tour was the Use Your Illusion trek of 1991-1993. The 106 shows reported to Billboard Boxscore grossed an average of $601,435 per date -- more than robust from tickets priced mostly at $20-$25 -- with average attendance of 23,333 per night. It was also the most notorious, as fans rioted in Montreal after Rose stormed offstage. The story was similar in 2002, when Rose failed to show up for a date in Vancouver and a riot ensued; the tour was ultimately cancelled by promoter Clear Channel Entertainment (now Live Nation) after a second Rose-no-show-induced riot in Philadelphia.

Even with this history of gross unpredictability (although Rose has definitely tightened up his act in recent years) and transcendent performances, sources say both AEG Live and Live Nation have their hats firmly in the ring to produce a 2016 GNR stadium tour. The financial risks for stadium shows are huge, even with proven draws. Production costs run roughly $1.6 million -- plus talent costs and an average tax of five to seven percent. With those expenses, it could take a box-office gross of about $4.8 million just to break even, and with an acceptable promoter profit of $300,000-400,000, the gross would have to hit $5.1-5.2 million before the band would get into overage (meaning enough tickets have been sold for the band to receive a percentage of the gross). Stadiums provide the capacity to put 8,000-9,000 tickets at the P1 price point of about $250, providing the artist can sell at that level; one promoter interviewed by Billboard estimates a ticket scale ranging from $250 - $59. To come out in the black on these estimated expenses would require a $100 average ticket price on 50,000 fans, or a $90 average ticket price on 60,000 tickets sold.

If a show does get into overage it could add another $200,000 or so the band’s estimated $3 million payday. A GNR reunion would likely spur huge merchandising sales -- as much as $20 per head -- generating another $750,000 to $1 million, with the lion’s share also going to the band.

The potential for a huge financial windfall exists, but much hinges on the Coachella performances. After 22 years, will the reunited band gell? Will they adhere to Coachella’s midnight curfew? In the case of Guns N’ Roses, their reputation is both a blessing and a curse.

“They were a dangerous rock band -- you never knew what was gonna happen,” says a promoter who worked with GNR back in the day. “A certain amount of that is great in rock n’ roll, but there’s a fine line between being dangerous and being a dick.”

A version of this article originally appeared in the Jan. 23 issue of Billboard.

Blabbermouth article referencing the above article:

According to Billboard.com, the reunited GUNS N' ROSES — featuring singer Axl Rose alongside guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan — will be one of the first acts to play the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, set to open April 6. The band is also negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. For the tour, GN'R is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show, with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.

Meanwhile, The Pulse Of Radio reports that the instrumental members of GUNS N' ROSES — including Slash, McKagan and more recent drummer Frank Ferrer — are rehearsing for the upcoming reunion shows without Rose. The frontman has yet to join the group in the rehearsal studio and it's not clear at the moment which other members are also present, if any.

Slash told The Pulse Of Radio a while back how his relationship with Axl disintegrated during the final years of the classic GUNS lineup. "His sort of m.o., as far as the band was concerned, over time got so exaggerated in the rock star sense or whatever and he became such a dictator and this and that and the other, that it was impossible for me to work with him, because I'm not the kind of person that takes orders, you know," he said.

Ahead of April's headlining slot at the Coachella Music And Arts Festival, GUNS N' ROSES is rumored to be planning a secret show in the Los Angeles area next month as a warm-up.

Although neither Slash nor Duff McKagan played on the 2008 GUNS album "Chinese Democracy", songs from that set are reportedly being rehearsed and will be performed.

Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/reunited-guns-n-roses-to-play-new-t-mobile-arena-in-las-vegas/#5MyudSuKShCLmGqU.99

Was this already posted? If so feel free to lock up or move but just wanted to make sure this was seen.. Billboard and blabbermouth both reported this so, seems legit.

I do find it interesting seeing the numbers as far as the band being fined for being late so.. Axl better be on time or close to it.

Edited January 14, 2016 by RussTCB

[RussTCB]

Added the original Billboard article and re-opened this topic.

[RussTCB]

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6843087/guns-n-roses-reunion-stadium-tour-per-show-payday

Guns N' Roses Eyeing $3 Million Per Show Payday on Potential Tour

1/14/2016 by Ray Waddel

Fans were overjoyed when Billboard broke the news that a reunited Guns N’ Roses -- with original members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan on board -- will headline the Coachella Music & Arts Festival on April 16 and April 23 and follow with a major stadium tour. Given Rose’s tumultuous history of egregiously late or canceled performances, this reunion tour is more fraught with risk than most, but GNR's reputation as a top-shelf touring act in terms of both business and performances -- and their relative reliability in recent years -- has promoters eager to be involved.

Although the singer has been touring semiregularly with different musicians under the Guns N' Roses name, the Coachella shows are expected to be the first time the Rose-Slash-McKagan trio will perform together since July 17, 1993, in Buenos Aires -- “expected” because sources tell Billboard that GNR is scheduled to be one of the first acts to play the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, set to open April 6. Beyond that, the reunited band -- the full lineup and the status of the other two founding members, guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler, remain unclear -- is also negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. For the tour, GNR is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show (the Coachella payday is likely significantly higher), with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.

In an era when most top artists tour regularly, promoters love reunions. The Police revival of 2007 and 2008 remains the gold standard, taking in $362 million from 151 concerts around the world. Of course, GNR is more combustible than the British trio, and the financial prospects of a tour are far less certain.

When a band, or a specific lineup of a band, has been absent from the marketplace for some time, fans can turn to YouTube to at least get a taste of past magic or madness. That’s where “history can haunt you,” as one promoter puts it. And while the classic GNR lineup was a ferocious live act, the band needs to convince fans they’re up to doing it again. As one promoter puts it, “It’s incumbent on the artist to convey the message to the fan base, ‘We’re back, we’re taking this seriously, we’re in shape, I can sing these songs, and we’re going to create the magic we once had.’ ” This does not sound like something Rose would do (a Jan. 5 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was cancelled), and artists are rarely contractually obligated to promote a tour. “As the promoter, you’ve got what you’re buying,” the promoter tells Billboard. “You just hope they take it as seriously as you do.”

Unlike most successful reunion tours, a Rose-led incarnation of GNR has been in the marketplace since 2001. In 2012, band agent Ken Fermaglich (who declined to comment for this story) negotiated a well-received residency at The Joint in Las Vegas to mark the 25th anniversary of GNR’s landmark debut, Appetite for Destruction, and since then GNR has been fairly active at large clubs, arenas and festivals -- to generally positive response -- on a global basis. A review of a March, 2012, show at the Wiltern in Los Angeles in The Hollywood Reporter stated that Rose “sang the bejesus out of all the hits,” adding that he “was an entertainer so charming, you’d never know he had the reputation of an asshole.”

Indeed, it’s GNR’s reputation as a great live act that promoters bidding to produce a 2016 tour on GNR hope fans remember -- and that GNR can deliver. While the band's first album, Appetite for Destruction moved 18 million copies (the biggest-selling debut in U.S. history) and GNR has sold 44.5 million albums total in the U.S., according to the RIAA, the band’s unpredictable live shows, especially with its founding members, played a huge role in the band's surge to superstardom.

Yet the prospects of a classic GNR tour are decidedly mixed. “It might very well be a home run,” says Washington, D.C.-based indie promoter Seth Hurwitz. “It might very well be that it’s not. I prefer not to take part in these kind of all-or-nothing bets myself.”

But veteran manager Doc McGhee, who handled GNR from 2010 to 2012, maintains, “If it’s done right, it should do amazing [business]. If they have their shit together and go out there to kill, I think everybody comes to see them. If not, they’ll have a tough time selling it.”

Furthermore, McGhee does not believe the Rose-led GNR of the past decade, or various touring outfits by other members, have diluted the brand. He points to bands like Aerosmith and Fleetwood Mac, which toured with less-than-complete lineups and then went on to do much bigger business when certain members returned. "Led Zeppelin was bigger than when [Jimmy] Page and [Robert] Plant went out together," McGhee notes. "The sum is bigger than the parts."

Phoenix promoter Danny Zelisko adds, "I think that if they play the right halls with ticket prices not too crazy, they will do awesome. There is definitely demand for this band with Slash and Axl reunited."

The original GNR’s most successful tour was the Use Your Illusion trek of 1991-1993. The 106 shows reported to Billboard Boxscore grossed an average of $601,435 per date -- more than robust from tickets priced mostly at $20-$25 -- with average attendance of 23,333 per night. It was also the most notorious, as fans rioted in Montreal after Rose stormed offstage. The story was similar in 2002, when Rose failed to show up for a date in Vancouver and a riot ensued; the tour was ultimately cancelled by promoter Clear Channel Entertainment (now Live Nation) after a second Rose-no-show-induced riot in Philadelphia.

Even with this history of gross unpredictability (although Rose has definitely tightened up his act in recent years) and transcendent performances, sources say both AEG Live and Live Nation have their hats firmly in the ring to produce a 2016 GNR stadium tour. The financial risks for stadium shows are huge, even with proven draws. Production costs run roughly $1.6 million -- plus talent costs and an average tax of five to seven percent. With those expenses, it could take a box-office gross of about $4.8 million just to break even, and with an acceptable promoter profit of $300,000-400,000, the gross would have to hit $5.1-5.2 million before the band would get into overage (meaning enough tickets have been sold for the band to receive a percentage of the gross). Stadiums provide the capacity to put 8,000-9,000 tickets at the P1 price point of about $250, providing the artist can sell at that level; one promoter interviewed by Billboard estimates a ticket scale ranging from $250 - $59. To come out in the black on these estimated expenses would require a $100 average ticket price on 50,000 fans, or a $90 average ticket price on 60,000 tickets sold.

If a show does get into overage it could add another $200,000 or so the band’s estimated $3 million payday. A GNR reunion would likely spur huge merchandising sales -- as much as $20 per head -- generating another $750,000 to $1 million, with the lion’s share also going to the band.

The potential for a huge financial windfall exists, but much hinges on the Coachella performances. After 22 years, will the reunited band gell? Will they adhere to Coachella’s midnight curfew? In the case of Guns N’ Roses, their reputation is both a blessing and a curse.

“They were a dangerous rock band -- you never knew what was gonna happen,” says a promoter who worked with GNR back in the day. “A certain amount of that is great in rock n’ roll, but there’s a fine line between being dangerous and being a dick.”

A version of this article originally appeared in the Jan. 23 issue of Billboard.

[Subtle Signs]

Wouldn't Coachella be paying more to have the exclusive rights for the first shows? I can see them playing this new Arena in Vegas but not until after the Coachella shows.

[RussTCB]

Wouldn't Coachella be paying more to have the exclusive rights for the first shows? I can see them playing this new Arena in Vegas but not until after the Coachella shows.

The new Vegas arena only has a couple acts scheduled for April, but they've got a ton of openings from May on:

http://www.arenalasvegas.com/events/las-vegas-arena.aspx

Maybe GN'R will be booked there in May or after. I totally agree that Coachella wouldn't want them playing full shows elsewhere prior.

[Russel Nash]

"Will they adhere to Coachella’s midnight curfew?"

Great read.

[ZoSoRose]

Fuck. Yes.

Might do a Vegas show

Sounds like, we are getting ChiDem songs. Interesting, doesnt necessarily bother me

[RussTCB]

"Will they adhere to Coachella’s midnight curfew?"

Great read.

The Billboard article actually has some great passages that many of us have been discussing such as:

"Even with this history of gross unpredictability (although Rose has definitely tightened up his act in recent years) and transcendent performances, sources say both AEG Live and Live Nation have their hats firmly in the ring to produce a 2016 GNR stadium tour. The financial risks for stadium shows are huge, even with proven draws. Production costs run roughly $1.6 million -- plus talent costs and an average tax of five to seven percent. With those expenses, it could take a box-office gross of about $4.8 million just to break even, and with an acceptable promoter profit of $300,000-400,000, the gross would have to hit $5.1-5.2 million before the band would get into overage (meaning enough tickets have been sold for the band to receive a percentage of the gross). Stadiums provide the capacity to put 8,000-9,000 tickets at the P1 price point of about $250, providing the artist can sell at that level; one promoter interviewed by Billboard estimates a ticket scale ranging from $250 - $59. To come out in the black on these estimated expenses would require a $100 average ticket price on 50,000 fans, or a $90 average ticket price on 60,000 tickets sold. "

Fuck. Yes.

Might do a Vegas show

Sounds like, we are getting ChiDem songs. Interesting, doesnt necessarily bother me

I'm already going back to Vegas in May for vacation, so if GN'R could schedule a show around then I'd be most appreciative.

[Apollo]

Now that was a great well balanced article. Thanks for sharing.

[Billsfan]

Wouldn't Coachella be paying more to have the exclusive rights for the first shows? I can see them playing this new Arena in Vegas but not until after the Coachella shows.

I wondered the same thing too. The article seemed to hint before coachella(or at least gave that vibe), but it just said they'd be one of the first acts to play. Could be right after coachella or right before. Either way I think it's awesome because it seems like dates are being agreed upon and it gives me hope that we could hear the official tour announcement with the official dates before the end of the month.. Fingers crossed.

Above all, I'm just hoping for official clarification of the band soon

[Subtle Signs]

Wouldn't Coachella be paying more to have the exclusive rights for the first shows? I can see them playing this new Arena in Vegas but not until after the Coachella shows.

I wondered the same thing too. The article seemed to hint before coachella(or at least gave that vibe), but it just said they'd be one of the first acts to play. Could be right after coachella or right before. Either way I think it's awesome because it seems like dates are being agreed upon and it gives me hope that we could hear the official tour announcement with the official dates before the end of the month.. Fingers crossed.

Above all, I'm just hoping for official clarification of the band soon

Yeah,it definitely hinted that Vegas was a possibility before Coachella . I think the first time we see them take the stage will be at Coachella on April 16th. I don't think they will even do a warm up show either since that would take away from the specialness of Coachella as well.

[Asia]

Well, Coachella doesn't own them. They'll do what they want. I don't believe for a second that they would sign anything that would dictate them what to do and what not to do in the next 3 months.

[Nick85]

God I hope this gets announced soon.

[Subtle Signs]

Well, Coachella doesn't own them. They'll do what they want. I don't believe for a second that they would sign anything that would dictate them what to do and what not to do in the next 3 months.

As far as playing shows before the Festival, I think they do "own them" Coachella is paying a reduliclous price for the bragging rights as it were of the first "real" GNR show in 23 years. Why would they let them play in Vegas or anywhere else for that matter before Coachella? Don't forget,Coachella is known for impossible reunions and maybe next year they can get The Smiths or Oasis. Coachella didn't need GNR. This festival would've sold out right away if the Village People were headlining one night.

[OTHAFA]

I don't see any big arena shows before Coachella, but I could definitely see a "last minute" show at the Roxy or Wiltern or something like that.

[RussTCB]

I don't see any big arena shows before Coachella, but I could definitely see a "last minute" show at the Roxy or Wiltern or something like that.

Same here. At this point, I'm just hoping for some small warm up shows. I'd really like them to show up on TV for an interview or something before then though.

[Asia]

Well, Coachella doesn't own them. They'll do what they want. I don't believe for a second that they would sign anything that would dictate them what to do and what not to do in the next 3 months.

As far as playing shows before the Festival, I think they do "own them" Coachella is paying a reduliclous price for the bragging rights as it were of the first "real" GNR show in 23 years. Why would they let them play in Vegas or anywhere else for that matter before Coachella? Don't forget,Coachella is known for impossible reunions and maybe next year they can get The Smiths or Oasis. Coachella didn't need GNR. This festival would've sold out right away if the Village People were headlining one night.

Well, I also don't think they needed Coachella. I'm sure there were several others eager to take them. I just don't believe they signed anything like that. Time will tell but I definitely think we will see them before Coachella... well some lucky bastards will but we will probably see that on YT in some awful quality

[Randy Jesus]

That would be great.

[Ak1nney]

There usually are clauses that prevent bands from playing within so many miles and days before festivals so that they don't take away from the draw. That being said, I can definitely see that Guns could negotiate a secret warmup gig at a theater a month or so prior to Coachella. It'd be a no cameras/recording devices sort of gig, but I don't see Coachella denying the band a chance to warm up and be in top form for their festival. Especially if it isn't massively promoted. The word of mouth from it happening and being fucking amazing would be a huge promotion for their performance at Coachella. Of course, some videos and audio will leak, so that's good for us. I would expect it though. Possibly at a place like the fillmore or el rey.

[Asia]

Yeah, I hope we'll get a decent leak though I'm sure this time the no camera policy will be stricter than ever... Thank God for the cell phones...

[ZoSoRose]

How is this only at 2 pages?

[GNRfan2008]

Well, Coachella doesn't own them. They'll do what they want. I don't believe for a second that they would sign anything that would dictate them what to do and what not to do in the next 3 months.

As far as playing shows before the Festival, I think they do "own them" Coachella is paying a reduliclous price for the bragging rights as it were of the first "real" GNR show in 23 years. Why would they let them play in Vegas or anywhere else for that matter before Coachella? Don't forget,Coachella is known for impossible reunions and maybe next year they can get The Smiths or Oasis. Coachella didn't need GNR. This festival would've sold out right away if the Village People were headlining one night.

Well, I also don't think they needed Coachella. I'm sure there were several others eager to take them. I just don't believe they signed anything like that. Time will tell but I definitely think we will see them before Coachella... well some lucky bastards will but we will probably see that on YT in some awful quality

They didn't need Coachella, but they sure as hell are happy to get that $14m check. No other festival would pay that kind of money.

[RussTCB]

How is this only at 2 pages?

Now idea. I thought the Billboard article alone was pretty damn interesting.

The Blabbermouth article seems to tack on some fantasy, but the Billboard facts were quite a good read to me.

[alfierose]

How is this only at 2 pages?

Now idea. I thought the Billboard article alone was pretty damn interesting.

The Blabbermouth article seems to tack on some fantasy, but the Billboard facts were quite a good read to me.

Very interesting breakdown of potential costs and revenue. To say a lot is riding on this would be an understatement!

[Liquor & Whores]

Slash and Duff defined as orginal members

Adler - defined as founding member

stopped reading this "journalism" at that point...