- Guns N’ Roses kicked off their 2026 world tour on March 28 at the Tecate Pa’l Norte festival in Monterrey, Mexico.
- The band performed “Nothin’” and “Atlas” live for the very first time in front of 100,000 people.
- These two tracks from the Chinese Democracy sessions are the final songs from that era, according to Slash.
- The tour stops in Paris on July 1 and 3, 2026 at the Accor Arena.
We keep a close eye on Guns N’ Roses at Woodbrass, and when the first fan videos started coming in from Monterrey on Saturday night, we looked at each other: Axl, Slash, and Duff had just played “Nothin’” live, just like that, with no warning.
Here’s a look back at a tour kickoff that sends a strong message: the Guns N’ Roses of 2026 are not here to make up the numbers. A breakdown of a 26-song setlist and two world premieres.
Monterrey: An Electrifying Kickoff
It was at Parque Fundidora, as part of the Tecate Pa’l Norte festival, that Guns kicked off their 2026 World Tour. In front of an estimated crowd of 100,000 people, the band delivered a 26-song set spanning four decades. The classic opening of “Welcome to the Jungle”, followed by “Mr. Brownstone”, set the tone.
But the real surprise came in the middle of the set. After “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” as a tribute to Black Sabbath, Axl Rose told the crowd that the next song had never been performed live before. Enter “Nothin’”, a melancholic ballad with shades of “November Rain” and “Don’t Cry”. Three songs later, “Atlas” (formerly “Atlas Shrugged”) made its live debut, in a more straightforward rock style.
The band had already played “Nothin’” at soundcheck before a show in Yokohama, Japan, in May 2025. Their most dedicated fans had therefore been waiting for this moment for almost a year, but no one knew whether the track would actually make the official setlist.
The Final Gems of the Chinese Democracy Era
“Nothin’” and “Atlas” did not come out of nowhere. Both songs date back to the famous Chinese Democracy recording sessions, the album released in 2008 after 15 years in the making. The tracks had existed as demos for years but had never been finalized.
It was in December 2025 that GN’R officially released these two singles to accompany the tour announcement. They join “Perhaps” and “The General”, released in 2023, in the series of tracks unearthed from Axl Rose’s vault since the classic lineup reunited in 2016.
And this time, it is over. Slash confirmed it in an interview: “Nothin’” and “Atlas” are the last songs from the Chinese Democracy era that the band plans to revisit. The guitarist described the exercise as an exciting challenge—reinterpreting songs written without him, putting his own stamp on them while respecting their original spirit.
If you want to discover the sonic world of Chinese Democracy before seeing Guns live, dive into the full album: it is an ambitious record, rich in arrangements and layers of guitars, far removed from the raw sound of Appetite for Destruction.
A Revamped Lineup for 2026
This Monterrey show also marked a first from another perspective: it was the first show without Frank Ferrer on drums, after he had been with the band for nearly twenty years before leaving in 2025. Isaac Carpenter is now behind the kit.
Another notable absence: keyboardist Melissa Reese, a member of the band since the Not in This Lifetime tour in 2016, announced the day before the show that she would not be taking part in this tour for personal reasons. The core remains intact with the trio of Axl Rose / Slash / Duff McKagan and Richard Fortus on second guitar.
What’s Next? New Material in the Works
The news fans will be happiest about: now that the Chinese Democracy chapter is closed, the band is considering writing 100% brand-new material. Slash confirmed that everyone is actively thinking about it, although he added that the tour remains the priority.
And what a tour! After Mexico, Guns follow up with nine dates in Brazil in April, then Florida in May, before a European tour in June and July. Good news for French fans: Paris will host two shows at the Accor Arena on July 1 and 3, 2026.
A New Chapter Begins
The live debut of “Nothin’” in Monterrey is much more than a setlist curiosity. It is a sign that Guns N’ Roses are turning the page on Chinese Democracy and looking ahead. With a renewed lineup, unreleased songs in the works, and a massive world tour, the band is proving that it remains one of rock’s most powerful live acts. See you this summer.
Sources
- Rolling Stone – See Guns N’ Roses Perform ‘Nothin’ for First Time at 2026 Tour Opener
- NME – Watch Guns N’ Roses play ‘Nothin’ and ‘Atlas’ for first time
- Ultimate Classic Rock – Slash Says Guns N’ Roses Have Released the Final ‘Chinese Democracy’ Songs
- RTBF – Guns N’ Roses unveils ‘Nothin’ and ‘Atlas’ live for the first time
