Guns N’ Roses Open 2026 North American Tour in Raleigh on Slash’s Birthday

Guns N’ Roses opened the North American leg of their 2026 World Tour on Thursday night, July 23rd, at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. The band ran through a 29-song set that landed on guitarist Slash’s 61st birthday, turning the concert into an impromptu celebration in front of a packed stadium.

Partway through the night, Axl Rose led fans in singing “Happy Birthday” to Slash, a moment that took the guitarist by surprise. Visibly caught off guard by the stadium-wide serenade, Slash reacted by covering his mouth as thousands of voices sang his name back to him.

• Location and date: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina, Thursday, July 23rd
• Set length: 29 songs, opening with “Welcome to the Jungle” and closing with “Paradise City”
• Milestone: Slash turned 61 on the night of the show
• Support acts: Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Pierce the Veil, and The Barbarians of California
• Tour trajectory: North American leg runs through a September 19th date in Atlanta

How Guns N’ Roses and Slash Marked the Birthday Online

Guns N’ Roses shared a highlight-reel video on Instagram honoring the guitarist, captioning the post, “Join us in wishing the iconic, the one N’ only, Slash a very happy birthday.” Slash responded to the outpouring of birthday messages with his own post, writing, “Thank you everybody for all the kind bday wishes, you guys are fn wonderful, cheers!” and pairing the message with a comedic video rather than a personal tribute.

Guns N’ Roses Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in Raleigh

The Raleigh set also carried a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, arriving one day after the first anniversary of his death. Guns N’ Roses performed Black Sabbath’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” while images of Osbourne played across the venue’s video screens.

What Songs Did Guns N’ Roses Play in Raleigh?

Eight tracks from the band’s debut album, Appetite for Destruction, made the cut, including “Mr. Brownstone” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” The night also featured a run of cover songs: Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” Wings’ “Live and Let Die,” The Damned’s “New Rose,” Velvet Revolver’s “Slither,” and Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman.” Public Enemy opened the show with a 10-song set spanning “Shut ‘Em Down,” “911 Is a Joke,” “Bring the Noise,” and “Fight the Power.”

Guns N’ Roses Raleigh Setlist

1. Welcome to the Jungle
2. Bad Obsession
3. Mr. Brownstone
4. It’s So Easy
5. Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
6. Hard Skool
7. Chinese Democracy
8. Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
9. Yesterdays
10. Think About You
11. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath cover)
12. Estranged
13. Double Talkin’ Jive
14. Don’t Cry
15. You Could Be Mine
16. Nothin’
17. Rocket Queen
18. Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
19. New Rose (The Damned cover)
20. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
21. Happy Birthday to You (For Slash)
22. Civil War
23. Atlas
24. The General
25. Slash Guitar Solo
26. Sweet Child o’ Mine
27. November Rain
28. Nightrain
29. Paradise City

Guns N’ Roses 2026 North American Tour

• July 23: Raleigh, North Carolina, Carter-Finley Stadium (tour opener)
• September 19: Atlanta, Georgia

More Info

• Axl Rose Surprises Slash With a Birthday Serenade at Guns N’ Roses Tour Kickoff | American Songwriter
• Guns N’ Roses Kick Off North American Tour On Slashs Birthday In Raleigh | JamBase
• Guns N Roses Kick Off 2026 North American Tour with 29-Song Set: Photos, Video + Setlist | Consequence
• Guns N Roses kick off North American tour in Raleigh: Heres their setlist in full | Far Out Magazine