Merck comments on Lisbon......

GUNS N' ROSES' manager, Merck Mercuriadis of Sanctuary Management, has commented on the band's appearance at the Rock In Rio festival on Saturday (May 27) in Lisbon, Portugal.

In an e-mail that was sent to Sp1at, Merck said, "Overall it was an amazing night and an amazing crowd but we had problems with the band's monitor desk blowing up and there were many times that they could not hear. Axl [Rose] had a muscle spasm probably caused by the slippery stage wings that slowed him down and gave him a lot of pain and he is working with a specialist in Milan to get through it. It was a really fun show and could have been worse all things considered and we're lucky we didn't cock it up any worse than we did."

Watch video clips of GUNS N' ROSES' performance at Rock In Rio:

"Paradise City" (video)
"Night Train" (video)
"Sweet Child O' Mine" (video)
"Better" (video)

As previously reported, GUNS N' ROSES look likely to return for more U.S. shows this autumn, possibly starting in September, according to a press release. Following the band's recent four-night stand in New York City, their first live shows since late 2002, singer Axl Rose said, "We've just finished our four shows in NY and had an amazing time. NY has always been special and it feels great to be doing this again particularly in front of so many friends. I am very excited about Europe and getting back over here in September."

The group, which features no original members from its classic lineup other than Axl, began a run of European festival shows on Thursday, May 25.

Axl Rose has been saying that the band's long-delayed new album, "Chinese Democracy", will be out later this year.

Blabbermouth....