Recommendations of the Editorial team
The show goes on – but without Melissa Reese. On the eve of their March 28 opener, the band announced that their keyboardist would miss the tour “due to unforeseen personal reasons,” adding: “We hope that our fans will understand.”
The world tour begins on Saturday, March 28th in Mexico and ends on September 9th with a final concert in Atlanta. The band has not yet named a replacement for Reese; A request from ROLLING STONE to the band’s representatives initially went unanswered.
Reese first joined Guns N’ Roses as a live member in 2016 during the Reunion Tour. She was discovered by “Chinese Democracy” producer Caram Costanzo, who asked her: “What are you planning to do in the next few years?” The job stayed. Costanzo was looking for someone “with a truly unique skill set who is excellent at those skills” – and Reese fit the bill.
Reese on glass ceilings and big brothers
“All of these experiences ignited this fire in me,” Reese told Rolling Stone in 2020. “They made me learn things and do them better than anyone else – so I could be the woman who breaks the glass ceiling.”
“Guns is definitely still viewed as a man’s game, a guys’ club where there’s no room for a woman,” Reese said. “But you couldn’t ask for a better group of guys. That goes for the band itself and everyone we work with. They protect me. It goes way beyond just solidarity. We’re like a family, and they’re like my big brothers.”
With the announcement of their absence, Guns N’ Roses released a photo of the entire band, arm in arm on stage.
