Watch Guns N’ Roses Dust Off Rare ‘Use Your Illusion’ Track for First Live Performance in 35 Years

Guns N’ Roses surprised fans on Saturday night when they performed the Use Your Illusion I deep cut “Bad Apples” for the first time in 35 years during their appearance at Monsters of Rock Brazil. The rare performance quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the festival, held in São Paulo.

The band delivered the song as part of a set packed with classics and unexpected choices, giving longtime listeners a chance to hear a track that had largely disappeared from their live shows. Footage of the performance has since circulated online, drawing strong reactions from fans who never expected to hear the song played again.

A Rare Return to the Stage

The Monsters of Rock performance marked only the third time Guns N’ Roses have ever played “Bad Apples” live. Before this year, the last performance took place on May 11, 1991, at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre. That concert was one of three warm-up shows ahead of the band’s massive Use Your Illusion Tour.

The song first appeared onstage earlier that same year during Rock in Rio 1991, making its return in Brazil a fitting moment for its comeback. Known for its loose groove and blues-influenced style, the track remains a deep cut that many casual fans may not recognize, adding to the surprise when the opening notes began.

Highlights From the 2026 Tour

The Monsters of Rock show served as the third stop on Guns N’ Roses’ 2026 world tour, which launched the previous weekend at the Tecate Pa’l Norte festival in Monterrey, Mexico. Each performance so far has featured changes to the setlist, with the band rotating songs and introducing unexpected selections.

During the São Paulo concert, the group also debuted “Rocket Queen” on the tour along with a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Junior’s Eyes.” The band first performed that cover at Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning event the previous summer. Another Use Your Illusion I track, “Dead Horse,” was included as well, a song that has appeared only occasionally in their live sets over the past seven years.

New Songs and Tour Plans

At Tecate Pa’l Norte, Guns N’ Roses introduced fans to their newest material by playing “Atlas” and “Nothin’” live for the first time following their release in December. The performances marked an important step in blending newer songs with the group’s classic catalog during the ongoing tour.

The band has also continued performances without second keyboardist Melissa Reese, who will be sitting out the 2026 run “due to unforeseen personal reasons.” Despite the lineup change, the group has maintained a full sound onstage as the tour moves forward.

Guns N’ Roses’ 2026 world tour is scheduled to travel across Latin America, North America, Europe, Australasia, and Singapore, with dates currently planned through December. The shows will feature a wide range of opening acts, including the Black Crowes, Public Enemy, Pierce the Veil, Ice Cube, and the Barbarians of California, reflecting the band’s mix of rock, hip-hop, and alternative influences throughout the tour schedule.