Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus has opened up about the band’s unconventional approach to live performances.
Speaking ahead of the band’s headline set at Download Festival 2026, Fortus revealed that the group does not rely on a fixed setlist. He added that frontman Axl Rose makes all song decisions in real time during the show.
When asked what the setlist was looking like, Fortus was candid about the band’s spontaneous approach.
“We don’t have setlists. So we never know what we’re gonna do,” Fortus said.
He went on to explain the one constant fans can expect before the night takes an unpredictable turn.
“We know that we’re going to start with ‘Welcome to the Jungle.’ And after that who knows?” he continued. “Axl would just call it. It keeps our techs on their toes, that’s for sure. [Laughs]”
The comments highlight the unique dynamic within one of rock’s most iconic bands. Even the musicians themselves head into each show without a clear roadmap of what’s to come.
That spontaneity was on full display at Donington Park, where the band delivered a performance that underlined just how seriously they take the live experience. It also showed how much trust the rest of the group places in Rose’s instincts on stage.
Guns N’ Roses headlined the Saturday night slot at Download Festival 2026 on the Apex Stage. Their set ran from 7:35 PM to 10:55 PM, stretching well over three hours. It was one of the longest headline slots of the entire festival weekend, reflecting the band’s reputation for exhaustive, high-energy live shows.
The Donington Park appearance was part of a wider Download Festival 2026 lineup that also featured Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park as headliners. Guns N’ Roses were confirmed as Saturday’s closing act, cementing their status as one of the most in-demand live rock acts in the world.
The band’s ability to sustain a three-hour set without a fixed plan speaks to the level of musicianship and chemistry within the current lineup. With Axl Rose calling songs on the fly, every member — including the crew — must remain locked in and ready to pivot at a moment’s notice.
For fans in attendance, that unpredictability is part of the appeal. No two Guns N’ Roses shows are ever quite the same, and the Download Festival 2026 performance was no exception — a sprawling, unscripted night that only a band of their caliber could pull off.
Source: Gear4music
