Getty Images

The Guns N’ Roses / Mammoth WVH tour kicked off on July 31st at Hershey, Pennsylvania’s Hersheypark Stadium, with Ultimate Classic Rock posting that Guns played a career-spanning 21-song setlist featuring Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan from the band’s classic lineup. Among the highlights from the performance was McKagan saluting Iggy Pop & The Stooges with Guns’ first ever live take on “I Wanna Be A Dog.”

Mammoth WVH more than held their own with a meaty 10-song set featuring most of the band’s debut LP, and as expected, featured no Van Halen music, In addition to Wolfgang Van Halen on guitar and vocals, Mammoth WVH’s touring lineup features guitarist Frank Sidoris, drummer Garrett Whitlock, and bassist Ronnie Ficarro on bass.

In addition to their opening dates for Guns his summer and fall, Mammoth WVH has rolled out nearly a dozen clubs, theaters, and outdoor festivals in Washington, Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Florida.

Over 35 years after co-founding Guns’ N’ Roses, Duff McKagan, a seasoned vet from his years in both Guns and Velvet Revolver, shared his ultimate advice for bands with us: “If I have any sort of advice, I would say, if you’re a band, don’t stop getting in the room and hashing stuff out yourselves. Especially if you get success. Try to keep it simple and get in a room and work out your differences.”

When we last caught up with him, we asked Wolfgang how he’s processing his new solo career in light of losing his father, the legendary Eddie Van Halen, back in October: “It’s a giant cacophony of many different emotions kind of swirling, given the situation, obviously. But the response to ‘Distance’ is something that I never could have seen. Insane. ‘Cant believe it. It’s weird. Y’know, I’ve been doing this since I was 15, but in a way it is, it’s brand new and I feel like a baby again (laughs) in this, ’cause I’ve never done this before. It’s so many firsts and a lot of discomforts and anxiety, but also — I’m really excited. Especially given the response to ‘Distance,’ I’m exited for everyone to hear the rest of the music.”

Mammoth WVH opening night setlist – July 31st, 2021:

“Don’t Back Down”
“You’ll Be The One”
“Mammoth”
“Mr. Ed”
“Resolve”
“Think it Over”
“You’re To Blame”
“Stone”
“Distance”
“Epiphany”

Guns N’ Roses – opening night setlist – July 31st, 2021:

“It’s So Easy”
“Mr. Brownstone”
“Chinese Democracy”
“Rumble/Welcome To The Jungle”
“Double Talkin’ Jive”
“Slither”
“Better”
“Estranged”
“Live And Let Die”
“You’re Crazy”
“Rocket Queen”
“You Could Be Mine”
“I Wanna Be Your Dog”
“Civil War”
“Dead Horse”
– Guitar Solo –
“Sweet Child O’ Mine”
“November Rain”
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”
“Nightrain”
“Paradise City”