Guns N’ Roses are never really too far from the headlines. Over the decades since the American hard rock band formed in the 1980s, they’ve bounced between smash-hit albums, controversies, and hyping up the next colossus of a tour. At one point, the response to the band getting back together was “not in this lifetime” – which ended up being the title of their record-obliterating tour – and now, they co-headline major new events like Power Trip with other rock and metal legends.

Now, following a few little winks and nudges to the potential of another run for Guns N’ Roses, it seems that new music has been confirmed by one of its original members. Duff McKagan, speaking about his release schedule across all projects, not-so-subtly suggested that completely new music is on the way from him, Axl Rose, and Slash. Better still, the suggestion is that fans won’t have to wait long for the grand reveal.

In an interview with Pełna Kulturka, the Guns N’ Roses bassist was discussing his upcoming releases and his new tour accompanying his 2023-released studio album Lighthouse. According to the translation of the interview by Blabber Mouth, McKagan said that he’s got some new songs set for release in a couple of weeks (as of late September) and a new record that’s sorted in terms of songs.

However, the release of the completed record is uncertain for now because, he says, there’s “more Guns stuff to come here,” adding that the release of the new Guns N’ Roses music will likely be “sooner than later.” This was brought up to explain that McKagan didn’t want his new record to clash with the Guns N’ Roses release and that the plan is to wait on the Guns stuff and then stagger his works out afterward.

It’s not just McKagan who’s been dropping breadcrumbs for GNR fans, either. Back in June of this year, Slash was hinting at more to come. In a discussion with Loudwire Nights’ Chuck Armstrong, the top hat-donning axeman said that the rest of 2024 would be on a new record with the Conspirators. Then, “2025 is all about Guns N’ Roses.” Further, he said that he reckons there’ll be a small tour at some point in the summer of 2025.

Axl Rose has also been making headlines for his musical works of late, but not in a way that hints at new GNR tracks. Instead, music news outlets lost their minds at the release of Axl featuring as a guest singer on the new version of UFO’s Love to Love from Michael Schenker. On the album My Years with UFO, you’ll also spot Slash pop up to join in on the action.

It doesn’t matter if you know about the friction that resulted in Slash splitting from the band in Buenos Aires, the battles waged by egos in the makings of the two Illusion albums, or exactly how many members have filtered in and out of the line-up over the decades, as you undoubtedly have heard many of Guns N’ Roses’ greatest hits. Their tracks are legendary, the name is instantly recognizable and people still flock to them where they can.

One prime example of this can be seen in the gaming industry, amongst others. On the platform ranked as one of the best sites with real money casino games, the Guns N’ Roses game from NetEnt remains a big hitter. Naturally, it features all the band members and in-theme features that kick up the experience like you’ve got front-row seats. However, one of the game’s biggest selling points is its in-game setlist.

Legendary tracks like Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O’ Mine, Paradise City, November Rain, and Chinese Democracy shuffle through as the reels spin. It just so happens that these often rank in the top lists made by fans and critics. Naturally, you can also look to the records set by their most recent tour and the repeat appearances of their tracks in the charts.

Over the past decade, there have been several comeback tours, but of them all, it’s estimated that the Not in This Lifetime…Tour tops them all. From 2016, it put on 175 performances across 159 venues, putting it well ahead of the next-closest – Justin Bieber’s 2022 Justice World Tour. From there, just look to how GNR remained ever-present in the charts in 2024. At one point, the band featured on at least five charts, with the Greatest Hits being the most popular of their works.

Guns N’ Roses are relentlessly popular, and should new music and even a tour arrive in 2025, they’re all but guaranteed to scale the charts even further and sell tickets in an instant.

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