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The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Nepo babies with huge rock legend dads pose for a photo – but can you guess what band their fathers are in?
A PAIR of nepo babies with rock legend fathers left fans overjoyed as they posed for a joint picture. The pals looked super stylish in a snap re-posted to Facebook showing them out at a party. 6 6 6 Mae McKagan, whose dad is Guns n' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, looked stylish in a semi-sheer ripped look top paired with silver chain necklaces. She styled her blonde hair poker straight and kept her make-up fresh, with nude lipstick and thick black eye make-up. The 25-year-old is also a fashion designer and has previously modelled for Kim Kardashian's clothing line Skims. Speaking about their father-daughter connection previously, Duff said: 'She doesn't talk a lot or brag a lot, she just does it – boom! "She makes her own stuff, for girls she knows – and who better to make stuff for than her generation? "It can't be some 40-year-old, right? That's f*****g old as s**t. Or me, at 55? F**k off, grandpa. "I couldn't be more proud. I'll shut up now." Mae was seen posing with London Hudson, who is lead guitarist Slash's son. He oozed cool vibes in a logo print top and a leather jacket, paired with dark necklaces. He left his raven locks flowing onto his shoulders in natural waves and flashed a peace sign to the camera. Guns N' Roses: Farewell to Frank Ferrer & a New Tour Era London, 22, is following in his dad's footsteps with a career in bands and music. On his Instagram page he revealed he is "available for remote recording." He recently told how he chose to play drums - rather than his father's favoured guitar - so as not to be compared to him. London said back in 2018: "Velvet Revolver, that was the most I toured with him…seeing that many people at those shows, it's kind of crazy how they all just worship. What is a Nepo Baby? A 'nepo baby' is a colloquial term used to describe individuals who have gained opportunities or success in their careers primarily due to familial connections or the influence of their well-known or wealthy parents, rather than solely through their own talent, skills, or efforts. The term 'nepo' is short for 'nepotism', which refers to favouritism granted to relatives or close friends, often in a professional context. Key Characteristics: Inherited advantage: Nepo babies often benefit from their family's established reputation, wealth, or industry connections. Access to networks: They typically have easier access to influential networks and resources within their chosen field. Public perception: The term can carry a negative connotation, implying that their success is not entirely merit-based. Industries Affected: Entertainment: Many actors, musicians, and other performers are often labeled as nepo babies if they have famous parents. Business: Individuals who inherit or are given significant roles in family-owned businesses. Politics: Politicians who follow in the footsteps of their parents or other relatives. Examples: Children of famous actors who become actors themselves. Heirs to business empires who assume executive roles. Offspring of political figures who enter public office. The concept of nepo babies is often debated, with some arguing that it undermines the notion of meritocracy. Meanwhile, others believe that it is natural for families to support and help each other succeed. "Joining them on the last GN'R tour and seeing all those people who still like him for much older stuff, GN'R was probably what clicked the most, going on that tour." He added to Appetite for Distortion publication: "It never really like hit me until this summer where I was like, I don't want to live in a shadow, when I started playing in a band. "That's the main reason I don't play guitar or stringed instruments. "Around 5th, 6th grade, and I played bass. I played bass for like a year then. I was just getting sick of it and just bored. I wanted to do something different. "I was Guitar Centre with my dad. And then I just started playing on the drum kit. I really liked it. "I got a drum teacher, and no one really stopped it at all. They just supported it." ALL CHANGE Earlier this year, Guns N Roses revealed a huge line up change. The American rockers, formed in Los Angeles in 1985, have undergone many shake-ups through the decades. This year, Frank Ferrer, 58, called time on his stint behind the drums with the Paradise City hitmakers. The Brooklyn-born musician's departure, confirmed on the band's official Instagram page, comes ahead of the band's huge new tour kicking off in May. Insisting there is no bad blood, the statement read: "Guns N' Roses announce the amicable exit of Frank Ferrer. "The band thanks Frank for his friendship, creativity and sturdy presence over the past 19 years, and wish him success in the next chapter of his musical journey." Guns N' Roses have weathered numerous line-up changes throughout the band's longstanding career. The most recent line-up includes vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, bassist Duff, guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank before his departure and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese. It added: "Frank first joined GNR during a show in June 2006 helping anchor the rhythm section during subsequent tours, including their recent outings featuring the reunited trio of Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan. "His last show with the band took place November 5, 2023 in Mexico. "Thank you, Frank. "For the friendship, creativity and sturdy presence over the last 19 years." 6 6 6
Forbes
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Guns N' Roses Tour The World — And Storm The Charts Again
Several Guns N' Roses albums return to the charts in the U.K. following the band touring the nation, ... More as Greatest Hits and Appetite for Destruction surge. INDIO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses perform onstage during the Power Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club on October 06, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo byfor Power Trip) It's been 15 years since Guns N' Roses released its last album, Chinese Democracy, which had been in the works for 15 years by the time it dropped. That full-length cost millions to produce, was delayed multiple times, and underperformed commercially. There is a good chance that the hard rock group may never produce another complete project again after that flop. While new music is not expected from Guns N' Roses anytime soon, the band still plays live. The group is currently traveling around the world on the Because What You Want and What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things Tour — yes, that is the actual name of the concert trek — which began in May and is set to end in November. The rockers are currently in Europe, where they recently performed several dates in the United Kingdom. Whenever a major act arrives in that country, fans typically begin buying and streaming the act's catalog in large numbers. This week, several Guns N' Roses albums return to the charts as a result of the expected uptick in consumption. Two Guns N' Roses Albums Return to the Charts Two Guns N' Roses albums live on the U.K. charts at the moment, and both manage to reappear on at least one list. The biggest gainer between the two is the band's Greatest Hits compilation. The project, which gathers together many of the tunes that made Guns N' Roses so famous in the first place, breaks back onto the Official Rock and Metal Albums, Official Albums and Official Album Downloads charts, coming in at Nos. 38, 77, and 87, respectively. The project also surges more than 20 spaces on the Official Album Streaming ranking, where last week it barely held on at No. 95. Now, it lands at No. 72. Appetite for Destruction Becomes a Bestseller Again Appetite for Destruction, which is easily the most famous Guns N' Roses traditional full-length, finds its way back to the Official Album Downloads tally, joining the group's Greatest Hits. The bestseller returns at No. 61, while at the same time jumping five spaces to No. 21 on the Official Rock and Metal Albums chart. Three Guns N' Roses Singles Climb A trio of Guns N' Roses smashes live on the Official Rock and Metal Singles chart, but none of them need to return, as they were all present on the list last frame — though they do manage to climb. "Sweet Child O' Mine" pushes to No. 4, while "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City" are only a few spaces apart from one another as they settle in at Nos. 21 and 27, respectively.
The National
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
From Dubai's underground to opening for Guns N' Roses: How Naser Mestarihi realised his rock dream
Many people go through life wondering what they would really like to do. Not Naser Mestarihi. He always dreamt of making rock music. He reached a milestone with his band Winterburn when performing as the opening act at the Guns N' Roses concert in Bahrain last month. The band played three gigs in the Gulf, following Bahrain with shows in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. 'Kind of surreal,' is how Mestarihi describes the experience of opening for one of his favourite bands. 'I still can't wrap my head around it.' Born and brought up in Doha to a Jordanian father and Pakistani mother, the rocker's curiosity in music was initially piqued when he heard The Beatles. But his obsession began when he listened to Guns N' Roses for the first time. 'It's a funny story,' Mestarihi tells The National. 'My uncle worked for a Danish company and one weekend he borrowed a colleague's car, which contained a copy of the album Appetite for Destruction. I was a curious kid, about eight years old, and swiped the cassette. 'I didn't get the whole album because the tape I used to copy it was too short, but what I heard was enough to blow my mind.' It was a sliding doors moment for Mestarihi. ' Appetite for Destruction was the record that made me want to be a musician' he says. Guns N' Roses founding member and guitarist Duff McKagan was in Bahrain on May 20 and went backstage to speak to Winterburn before they took to the stage. 'We talked about everything from ancient civilizations and the weather to their travels around the Middle East,' recalls Mestarihi. 'Duff wished us well and gave me a hug. It meant a lot. I went on stage totally energised thinking 'I'm gonna tear it up just for that guy.'' After the concert, Mestarihi ran into McKagan again. 'He was full of praise – said he loved the band and that he was really rooting for us after our chat.' Mestarihi believes he moved with his family to Dubai at just the right time for his passion to grow. The city was about to host Desert Rock in 2004. The first metal and rock series of concerts in the country featured the likes of Slayer, Sepultura, Machine Head, Mastodon and In Flames. 'Moving to Dubai was cool because there was a real rock crowd – a community,' says Mestarihi. But music venues at the time were less supportive. 'Promoters didn't want to book rock music. One said it was too rock and roll for his venue.' For years, Mestarihi struggled to realise the plans he had for his band. Even though he was able to become the first Arab musician endorsed by Gibson guitars, he struggled to find collaborators. In 2021, after other band members 'bailed on him' due to the pandemic, Mestarihi finished the album Ivory Towers by playing every instrument. 'That's been the story for most of my career: producing, funding and tracking everything on my own. I took inspiration from artists like Lenny Kravitz and Prince – playing multiple instruments, managing the whole process. 'It's been a journey, full of obstacles,' Mestarihi adds. 'But I've always pushed through. I just don't give up. I keep going no matter what.' While playing for Guns N' Roses was a life highlight, Mestarihi's some former band members weren't happy to see him reach those heights without him. 'Not everyone was thrilled though – I could tell,' adds Mestarihi. The musician moved to Saudi Arabia with his family last year and says it's an ideal place to a grow a rock music fan base. 'Saudis have been very receptive,' he says. 'They appreciate original music. I've seen bands performing their own material and it's impressive. There's a real sense of culture.' Mestarihi took a year off out of respect for the people suffering in Gaza, but feels reinvigorated. The Guns N' Roses endorsement is just what he needs to finish what he hopes will be his rock masterpiece. 'When I moved to Saudi Arabia last year, a lot of people thought I was done with music,' Mestarihi says. 'I went through a personal crisis. But what no one saw was that I was quietly working away, recording music and writing songs. We now have 17 songs for two upcoming albums. It's going to be incredible.'
The National
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Review: Guns N' Roses play Human Being live for first time in tribute to Axl Rose's late idol
There are only two acts I can remember who came on stage precisely at the advertised 8pm start time – Selena Gomez and Guns N' Roses. That the latter was once one of the most notoriously tardy bands in the history of rock n' roll is not lost on me. But that's a testament to what Guns N' Roses have become in 2025. Their misbehaviour may be the stuff of legend, and feuds may have kept the core members – Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan – apart for more than two decades, but it's been about 10 years since they made amends. This is not a victory lap or a quick cash grab – this is a band built to last for decades to come. And it makes sense that they would follow in the footsteps of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Elton John and Paul McCartney and potentially play into their eighties. This has always been a band built on those influences – which made them an anachronism even when they debuted in 1985. At that time, their power as a unit was so mighty that they nearly single-handedly pushed mainstream hard rock back to the 70s – the decade when classic rock came to its own – for better and for worse. And now, with each core member either in or approaching their sixties, they're one of the few bands keeping classic rock alive in 2025. Not all the band's 70s heroes are still on stage, of course. In February, the music world lost David Johansen, the front man of the proto-punk pioneers New York Dolls. Johansen's famed on-stage swagger was one of the key influences on Rose, which he has been vocal about since GNR's early days. Most famously, the band paid tribute to the Dolls on their 1993 album The Spaghetti Incident?, covering their 1974 deep cut, Human Being. But for decades, the band never played their New York Dolls cover live. That made it particularly moving when Guns N' Roses played Human Being live on stage in Abu Dhabi for the first time in their history. Rose noted the debut with a smile, along with a tribute to his late hero. It's rare the band has looked this happy and healthy. Rose no longer sports the long hair and bandana, and looks and sounds noticeably better than he did when the band reformed in 2016, which allows him and his cohorts to breeze through a more than three-hour show at Etihad Arena – hitting all the right notes. Slash, on the other hand, remains ageless – his style has never changed, nor has his immaculate and virtuoso playing style. And most importantly, their camaraderie is palpable, with no signs of discord between them. The band, accompanied by their capable new drummer Isaac Carpenter, who joined the band in March, toured through all their beloved hits, starting with Welcome to the Jungle and ending with Paradise City, as they often do. Sweet Child o' Mine, and their covers of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door and Wings' Live and Let Die were joyously performed. They even reached for some deep cuts, performing Attitude and Reckless Life for the first time on their current tour, and Used To Love Her for the first time since 2018. While the energy of the crowd may not have matched their 2017 show at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena, which had 30,000 thrilled fans comes to see the reunited line-up for the first time – that is to be expected. This is the band's fifth time in the UAE, after all – and second time in Etihad Arena so far this decade. But their return is welcome, nonetheless, and marks perhaps their best performance yet. If this is the Guns N' Roses we're going to get for the next few decades, the UAE will welcome them back gladly each time.
The National
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Timeframe: Guns N' Roses and their 15-year connection with the UAE
Guns N' Roses' Abu Dhabi concert this month is a continuation of their 15-year love affair with the UAE. They are one of the few major rock acts to have performed consistently in the country and across the Gulf during that period. Fans in the UAE have seen the band at various stages of their career: from the time it was essentially a solo vehicle for Axl Rose, backed by hired hands, to the reunion of the classic line-up, including guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan. The band continues to sell out arenas around the world. Their visits to the UAE have mirrored Abu Dhabi's own evolution as a live events destination, from their shows at Etihad Park, the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix and their sold-out concerts at Etihad Arena. Each of these packed shows not only reaffirmed the UAE's place on the band's touring map, but also laid the groundwork for other hard rock acts. These have included everyone from Metallica to upcoming gigs by Limp Bizkit and Smashing Pumpkins, who are making their first visit to the city. Their impact would have been hard to predict when Guns N' Roses first came to Abu Dhabi in 2010. With Rose the only remaining member from the classic line-up, it was difficult to muster much enthusiasm beyond the novelty of the group's first UAE performance. Yet the show turned out to be a triumph of will for Rose, who delivered a two-hour-plus set featuring 23 songs – including hits and defiant cuts from their 2008 album Chinese Democracy. Former keyboardist Dizzy Reed remembered the band's first Abu Dhabi visit as memorable for what happened offstage. 'It was trippy,' he told The National in 2013. 'We saw Emirates Palace and the world's most expensive Christmas tree. We also caught a soccer game and went to this yacht club – it was pretty amazing.' With the novelty of a first appearance gone, Guns N' Roses' return to Etihad Park three years later – with the same line-up – was a no-frills affair in the best way, featuring a set list that stretched to nearly 30 songs. According to The National's review, Rose was on scintillating form. 'No lip-synching from this guy – a physical performer, he ran himself breathless at times – yet Rose hit the right notes all the time, every time, proving he can still snarl, scream and roar,' wrote The National's Ellen Fortini. 'The band was gelled, tight, and put on a memorable show. Every bit of it came across as genuine, even Rose himself, who laughed, smiled, danced, strutted and spun his way through the set with a few well-timed and good-natured microphone stand tosses.' Perhaps as a reward for staying the course, Rose returned to the UAE in 2017 with the reformed classic line-up, delivering a sold-out performance in front of nearly 30,000 people at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena. The return of Slash and McKagan brought a renewed energy and added potency to what was a thrilling show. 'Do the three reassembled key players like each other? Does it even matter? Bands have been built on money and ego for as long as recorded music has existed. Do they have the same cultural zeitgeist – the same whiff of danger and ability to shock – that they did 25 years ago? Of course not,' read The National's review of the show. 'But Slash and Duff's return has comfortably upgraded the group's legacy from a touring tribute circus outfit to long-reigning rock 'n' roll heroes. And on the basis of this euphoric, knockout juggernaut of a show, there's no rock band of the past three decades who can rival the might of Guns N' Roses.' After cementing the reformation's staying power with a follow-up show at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix a year later, the band went one better by choosing the UAE capital as the opening stop of their 2023 world tour. This time, they dug deep into their catalogue, performing Bad Obsession and Pretty Tied Up for the first time in 30 years, and featuring McKagan on lead vocals for the first time for their cover of T.V. Eye by The Stooges. With no new music reportedly on the horizon, Guns N' Roses' return to the UAE may seem minor, but their enduring relationship with the region reflects a band comfortable to dig deep into their catalogue, and a fan base embracing them in whatever form they take.
