Slash Isn’t Sold on Guns N’ Roses Taking the Stage at the Vegas Sphere
via The-Art-of-Guitar / YouTube
Las Vegas’ The Sphere has become one of the most talked-about live music venues, known for its cutting-edge visuals and immersive concert experiences. Yet Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash expressed reservations about whether the venue suits the band’s high-energy, hard-rock performance during a recent appearance on Eddie Trunk’s Trunk Nation on SiriusXM.
“I’m real trepidatious about playing there,” Slash said. “It’s a great visual show. I think in almost every case for a band, it becomes a visual show as opposed to a rock and roll show.” He acknowledged the venue’s impressive capabilities but questioned whether it truly allows for a classic rock performance.
Talks with Fellow Rockers
Slash revealed that he had discussed The Sphere with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who is involved with the venue’s ongoing residencies. “My concern is that it’s not really rock and roll friendly, the way it’s set up,” he explained. “Conceptually, it’s fascinating, and there’s a lot of creative potential, but I don’t think it’s ideal for the kind of raw, live energy we bring.”
He did leave the door open for other heavy rock or metal acts. Speaking about Metallica, Slash noted, “You’d have to plan for half the show being visuals. It’s a different mindset, preparing for projections and immersive content alongside the music. That’s something we’d have to think through carefully, but maybe down the line it could work.”
Touring and New Music on the Horizon
While a Sphere residency isn’t currently planned, Guns N’ Roses are in the midst of a South American tour, with dates running through November 8 in Mexico City. No shows for 2026 have been announced.
Slash also shared updates on a new Guns N’ Roses album, emphasizing that the band’s creative process is rarely predictable. “There’s a ton of material, but the challenge is sitting down and really getting into it,” he said. “With Guns N’ Roses, you can’t force it — every time we try to plan too rigidly, it falls apart. It’ll happen on its own timeline, in its own way. When it’s ready, it’ll just come together.”
