Guns N' Roses and LCD Soundsystem, two of the most influential bands in recent decades, will both get back together for the Coachella music festival in April.
Coachella, which takes place over two consecutive weekends in the California desert, confirmed the long-rumored reunions as it announced its lineup late Monday.
The concerts are expected to mark the first time that the original lineup of Guns N' Roses -- including singer Axl Rose and guitarist Slash -- have performed together since July 1993 in Buenos Aires.
MUST READ: Slash is producing a slasher movie
The Los Angeles-based hard rockers confirmed the dates on their website with a video of a giant concert reminiscent of the band's heyday.
Rose is heard -- with a profanity added -- singing one of the most famous lines from the band's repertoire: "You know where you are? You're in the jungle, baby."
Guns N' Roses have kept playing in name in recent years but without Slash, who has long said it was too difficult to work with Rose.
The singer, who rarely gives interviews, had been scheduled to speak Tuesday on the late-night talk show of Jimmy Kimmel.
But Rose's name inexplicably disappeared Monday from Kimmel's list of guests on the show's website.
- Still historic debut -
With Rose's sweeping vocal range and raw anger coupled with Slash's intricate metal guitar, Guns N' Roses became an instant sensation.
"Appetite for Destruction" from 1987 remains the top-selling debut album by a group in the United States, where it has been certified as selling 18 million copies.
But Guns N' Roses have released just one album in the past two decades -- "Chinese Democracy," which came out in 2008 after persistent delays and without Slash.
LCD Soundsystem, a younger band from New York, was influential in developing the hard-edged electronica scene of the 2000s that brought a new alternative aura to dance music.
The band -- best known perhaps for the track "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House," a tongue-in-cheek homage to the prominent French electronic duo -- had broken up in 2011 with a concert at Madison Square Garden that was heralded with a live album and documentary.
LCD Soundsystem reunited in its own idiosyncratic way on December 24 when it suddenly released a track entitled "Christmas Will Break Your Heart," with the band writing on Facebook that it was a "depressing Christmas song" that had been on the back burner for the past eight years.
LCD Soundsystem will headline Coachella on the festival's two Fridays -- April 15 and April 22 -- with Guns N' Roses performing on the Saturday nights.
- More rising acts -
The Sunday headliner of the three-day festival -- whose lineups for the two weekends are generally identical -- will be Calvin Harris, one of the biggest names in dance music.
Other acts confirmed for Coachella include Ice Cube, a member of pioneering gangsta rappers N.W.A. in the late 1980s who -- until the release of a biopic last year on the group -- may have been better known to young festival goers as an actor.
Other Coachella 2016 notables include the often camera-shy Australian experimental artist Sia, English singer Ellie Goulding, psychedelic folk rocker Sufjan Stevens and electronic act Major Lazer, best known for the massive 2015 hit "Lean On."
Rising stars on the lineup include Halsey, a virtual unknown two years ago who is selling out arenas with introspective songs and the millennial generation anthem "New Americana," and rare Coachella country attraction Chris Stapleton, who worked for years behind the scenes at Nashville before winning acclaim for his solo debut.
Coachella, launched in 1999, has emerged as one of the world's most famous music events alongside Glastonbury in Britain amid a rapid rise of festivals in North America.
But while last year's festival quickly sold out, resale prices were comparatively modest as critics said the 2015 lineup lacked Coachella's usual headline-grabbing power. The 2015 headliners were Australian hard rock veterans AC/DC, garage rocker Jack White and chart-topping Toronto rapper Drake.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Jan 05 2016

Frontman Axl Rose on vocals - AFP PHOTO / Miguel ROJO ROJO

Sivasangari eyes new career-high in world rankings
After climbing to a career-best world number seven, national women's squash ace S. Sivasangari is determined to keep rising.

Outburst against Steven Sim: DAP will probe if there's a complaint - Loke
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke says the disciplinary committee has not received any reports related to the incident so far.

US judge will not block Elon Musk from firing federal workers, accessing data
The case raises questions about Musk's apparent unchecked authority as a top deputy to President Donald Trump.

Dozens of false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach
Rescue crews trying to save the majority of the large dolphins that survived the ordeal, according to authorities.

Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue
The AP, citing editorial standards, says it would continue to use the gulf's established name.

China to fly back 200 nationals rescued from Myanmar scam centres, Thai official says
This is part of a multinational effort to crack down on illegal online operations run from the region.

Somber Tiger Woods back in action in TGL loss to New York GC
Tiger Woods makes his first start since the death of his mother when he competed in a TGL match at Palm Beach Gardens.

Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot
A total of 34 people were charged, including several military officials.

Trump and Musk target tax enforcers, rocket scientists, bank regulators for job cuts
Concerns grow over transparency, oversight, and Musk's influence on government operations.

Police confirm drug intoxication caused death of three at New Year's Eve concert
According to police, another victim remains in hospital in stable condition but requires close monitoring.

How can Thailand and Malaysia unlock new trade opportunities together?
Umesh Pandey emphasised the importance of enhancing economic cooperation and removing trade barriers

Trump says he will introduce 25% tariffs on autos, pharmaceuticals and chips
Trump has long pointed to what he calls unfair treatment of US automotive exports in foreign markets.
![[COLUMNIST] Trump’s call and the Yalta legacy: Russia’s strategic patience in a multipolar world [COLUMNIST] Trump’s call and the Yalta legacy: Russia’s strategic patience in a multipolar world](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-10/51728873693_EMIR.jpg)
[COLUMNIST] Trump’s call and the Yalta legacy: Russia’s strategic patience in a multipolar world
The West's attempts to weaken Russia through sanctions, proxy wars, and diplomatic pressure have failed.

Lebanon says it will consider continuing Israeli presence as occupation
Officials and diplomats expected Israel to keep some troops on the Lebanese side of the border.

Indian exports face uncertainty over Trump's reciprocal tariffs
Here are key aspects of the impact of reciprocal tariffs on India.

249 South Korean teachers caught illegally selling exam questions to private academies
The South Korean public and private school teachers have been caught selling mock exam questions, earning around US$14.7 mln over six years.

Freed hostages bring signs of life from depths of Gaza tunnels
Marking 500 days of captivity, hostage families and supporters protested across Israel, demanding the release of captives in Gaza.

US, Russia forge ahead on peace talks, without Ukraine
High-level teams would discuss ending the conflict and restoring the countries' respective diplomatic missions separately.

Russia says NATO states can't enforce Ukraine peace, wants membership pledge scrapped
Sergei Lavrov says, he and Kremlin foreign policy adviser had underscored that NATO membership for Ukraine was unacceptable to Russia.

France does not want Asia to choose sides in global competition, ambassador to Singapore says
French ambassador to Singapore says each state in the region can defend its own interests against pressure from China or the US.