Slash Doubts Guns N’ Roses Will Play Las Vegas Sphere: “Not Really Rock and Roll Friendly”

Slash shares his thoughts on Guns N’ Roses hitting the Las Vegas Sphere, calling it “not really rock and roll friendly.”

Why Slash Is Wary of the Las Vegas Sphere for Guns N’ Roses

If you’re a die-hard Guns N’ Roses fan like me, you've probably wondered if Axl, Slash, and the gang might ever grace the dazzling Las Vegas Sphere stage. That futuristic, state-of-the-art venue, opened in 2023, has been shaking up the live music scene with its mind-blowing visuals and immersive experiences.

Slash, the legendary guitarist, recently shared his thoughts during a chat on Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM radio show. While he praised the venue's impressive visuals, he expressed serious reservations about whether Guns N’ Roses could pull off the kind of raw, electrifying rock show they're known for at the Sphere.

“Everything that I’ve seen, or most everything that I’ve seen of it, looks amazing. I’m real trepidatious about playing there, because…it’s a great visual show. I think that in almost every case for a band, it becomes a visual show as opposed to seeing a rock and roll show. So there’s that.”
— Slash

The Sphere has already hosted some massive names like U2, Phish, Eagles, and even the Backstreet Boys — a lineup as diverse as it gets. A new Sphere is also set to open in Abu Dhabi soon, showing that this ultra-modern venue concept is here to stay. But Slash is hesitant to jump on board.

The Rock and Roll Challenge of the Sphere

After chatting with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who has performed at the Las Vegas Sphere, Slash voiced concerns about the venue’s suitability for a rock concert.

“[My concern] is that it’s not really sort of rock and roll friendly, the way that it’s set up. 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.”
— Slash

From Slash’s perspective, the Sphere demands a shift in performance style: it’s less about raw energy and more about an audiovisual spectacle. Imagine half of the show’s focus being on projections and immersive content displayed on the venue’s massive screens wrapping the audience.

Interestingly, Slash could see a band like Metallica adapting to this new format. He explained that Metallica might thrive because they can prepare mentally for a show where the “projection” or the visuals become an equal part of the performance.

“And so that is something that’s gonna be the main focus of your show and the main focus of what everybody’s gonna be looking at. And so you have to sort of get to that mindset and I think that’s hard for us to go that far into it. But we’ll see. Maybe down the road.”
— Slash

No Doubt’s Upcoming Residency Proves the Sphere’s Versatility

While Slash is skeptical about Guns N’ Roses jumping into this visual-heavy venue, others are embracing the Sphere with open arms. No Doubt recently announced their 2026 residency at the Las Vegas Sphere — their first string of shows in 14 years.

Gwen Stefani and the band will perform six nights next year, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of their iconic album Tragic Kingdom. Songs like “Just A Girl” and “Don’t Speak” have become timeless hits, and the Sphere’s unique setup offers a fresh canvas to reimagine these classics visually.

Stefani shared her excitement, saying:

“The opportunity to create a show at Sphere excites me in a new way. The venue is unique and modern and it opens up a whole new visual palette for us to be creative. Doing it with No Doubt feels like going back in time to relive our history, while also creating something new in a way we never could have imagined.”

Tickets are set to be a hot commodity, so if you’re itching to witness this spectacular residency, keep an eye out!

What’s Next for Guns N’ Roses? New Music and More?

Aside from the Vegas Sphere talk, Slash recently teased new Guns N’ Roses music — a promise that sets many hearts racing. The band’s last full album was 2008’s long-awaited Chinese Democracy, while the last record featuring Slash and Duff McKagan was the 1993 covers album The Spaghetti Incident?

Slash hinted at a wealth of material ready to be explored but also admitted the band struggles with planning.

“There’s so much material at this point – it’s a matter of having the discipline to sit down and fucking get into it. But the thing with Guns is, in my experience, you can never plan ahead. You can never sit down and go, ‘We’re going to take this time, and we’re going to do this.’ Every time we’ve done that, it falls apart.”
— Slash

If you’re hoping for a new album or a big tour announcement, keep your ears perked. It sounds like something might be brewing — just not on a schedule!

A New Era of Venues: Rock’s Visual Frontier?

The Las Vegas Sphere symbolizes the future of live shows — where technology and music collide in ways we’ve never seen before. But for bands like Guns N’ Roses, whose magic lies in raw, unfiltered rock and roll, this venue might feel more like a high-tech art installation than a gritty concert.

Still, it’s fascinating to watch how different artists approach this new playground. Whether it’s Metallica embracing the visuals or No Doubt blending nostalgia with innovation, the Sphere is reshaping what live music can mean in the 21st century.

FAQ

• What is the Las Vegas Sphere?
  It’s a cutting-edge entertainment venue in Las Vegas, known for its immersive visuals and massive LED screens that wrap the audience in a 360-degree experience.
• Has Guns N’ Roses performed at the Sphere?
  No, Slash has expressed doubts about the band playing there due to the venue’s visual-heavy setup not being “rock and roll friendly.”
• Who else has performed at the Las Vegas Sphere?
  Notable acts include U2, Phish, Eagles, and the Backstreet Boys. No Doubt will have a residency there in 2026.
• Why is Slash hesitant about playing at the Sphere?
  He feels the venue emphasizes visual spectacle over the raw live rock energy, which might not suit Guns N’ Roses' style.
• Is new Guns N’ Roses music coming?
  Slash recently hinted that there’s plenty of material and that the band is thinking about it, but no official release date has been announced.

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