A true Guns n Roses experience!

Guns N Roses Experience: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Guns N Roses Experience, Guests: Crooked Shapes
The Factory Live 29/03/2025

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UK Guns n Roses tribute band bringing Paradise City to Worthing at The Factory Live! A strong GnR performance, we got the GnR tunes, we got the GnR attitude and we had a blast with The Guns N’ Roses Experience!

About The Guns N Roses Experience

THE GUNS N’ ROSES EXPERIENCE (GnRE) are a professional International touring act and that bring the 80’s version of Guns to life with a full on high octane show as seen by thousands back in the day of the classic Line up. THE GUNS ‘N ROSES EXPERIENCE (GnRE) have a great singer (Sidd) able to deliver the same unique vocal style and stage show replicating closely with classic Axl Rose. Their “Slash” is superb, and he had the hat and glasses to match, and boy can he play guitar! Each member of the group’s attention to detail was something else! They have clearly spent many hours watching the various members of Guns n Roses (GnR).

Guns N Roses Experience: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Guns N Roses Experience were dressed tonight to look like GNR in their heyday and the set seemed to have been built ‘Appetite For Destruction’ (who hasn’t got that album tucked away somewhere?), ‘Lies’ and ‘Use Your Illusion’ capturing the essence and power of GnR when they were truly untouchable and one of the biggest bands on the planet.

Attention to detail

Each member of the group’s attention to detail was something else! They have clearly meticulously studied the various members of GNR and were faultless.

When, about 9pm, the band pile on stage to the opening riffs of It’s So Easy (a usual start for the original Guns concerts), the atmosphere warmed up immediately and as I recall, this song was just as ferocious as it was in the 80’s as “Axl” screams along. I have to say that the pace did not slow down for a minute as they launch into another classic Mr. Brownstone. The Experience had gone hard early on with those as we rolled with Nighttrain and then the massive rock song/cover Live and let Die. Now watching the Guns N Roses Experience shred and scream across the stage, the levels of onstage energy is insane and the sold out Factory crowd? Well we just lapped it up! Now nothing gets a crowd going more than fifth song tonight as “Slash” opens up Welcome To The Jungle.

Covers!

The original GnR were brilliant at doing covers and made Live and Let Die, Knockin’ On Heavens Door and Mamma Kin their own. They treated those songs with great respect and, as we witnessed tonight, so did The Guns N Roses Experience!

The Set

Standout tracks for me from the GnRE set at The Factory tonight included Nighttrain, Welcome To The Jungle, Live and Let Die, Civil War, You Could Be Mine, Sweet Child Of Mine and set closer Paradise City.

The performance was so good I can happily confirm that it is as a close to the real thing as you’re going to get these days. The band were note perfect throughout the set.

A Video: Live and Let Die

Tonight The Guns N’ Roses experience have covered it all during a 90 minute set and done a damn good job doing so. Not only does Sidd move around the stage and talk like the real Axl, but his vocal range is incredibly close. The guys look like have come to party and they are having a great time, and as far as the talent on stage goes, these musicians have hit the nail on the head. These guys are on it and in your face from start to finish, now, that’s just the way a Guns n Roses show should be.

Guns N Roses Experience: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Always a topic for discussion surrounds the validity of a tribute act. I have seen a few and they can actually be an absolute blast. We know that these guys are not the real outfit but when they are this good you won’t get the personal experience of watching a group on stage who looks, acts and sounds exactly like your favourite artist or band, standing just a few feet away for less than the price of a couple of pints, well ok maybe three.

Both November Rain and Patience with the “Axl” whistle were in the main set, along with My Michelle, Rocket Queen and more! A huge well done to The Factory Live choir for their efforts in joining in with Knocking On Heavens Door, superb stuff. I think everyone joined in with GnRE for that one!

A Guns N Roses Experience set as fiery as tonight has been can really only end one way of course! Paradise City blasts out into the crowd and The Factory just erupts with everyone singing/shouting/screaming “Take Me Home” It’s the perfect culmination of a top night of live music.

Guns N Roses Experience: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

THE GUNS N ROSES EXPERIENCE

The Guns N Roses Experience performed a hot and sweaty close to 2 hour set with all the essentials covered and so much more.

Guns N Roses Experience: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

With a true Guns N’ Roses sound and stage performance, The Guns N’ Roses Experience meticulously recreated every visual detail and with the vocals, musical riffs, bass lines and drum patterns to capture that reckless spirit of the original Guns N’ Roses legendary high octane fuelled live performance. Well played!

https://www.gnre.co.uk/

Crooked Shapes

Crooked Shapes: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Guests and opening the proceedings tonight were Crooked Shapes. I have to admit a new outfit for me. The band made up of vocals/guitar, bass and drums and together with lots of hair. They are an Alternative Rock from Reading.

Crooked Shapes: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Hailing from Reading UK, Crooked Shapes are an alternative melodic hard rock group that fire up the senses with no-nonsense sonics that are sure to go down a storm with rock fans.

Crooked Shapes pack in some melodic vocals and harmonies, with hard hitting in your face guitars, bass, and drums. Put it all together and you have a powerhouse called Crooked Shapes. They are unique and exciting.

Crooked Shapes: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

These guys certainly don’t lack confidence! They literally bounded onto the stage and hit it at full tilt. There are clearly some gig goers in the crowd who know their material.

All of the songs are strong and the choruses are a standout perspective of both their sound and style. It is a key element as they build that dynamic sound. The band’s stage presence is pretty darned good, some top rock poses and much hair flicking!

Crooked Shapes: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

All three members strike a great balance, letting the talent shine through, their energy is at times a bit wild but always infectious.

With a growing and varied catalogue of material, the set for me has a fresh and exciting vibe. The band clearly has fun on stage throughout, feeding off the large audience’s energy. Their sound stays pretty heavy yet it is all skilfully well-balanced, featuring a mash-up of crashing metal riffs, powerful bass and drums. You can dance to these guys, shake your hair or head bang it up in a mosh pit.

Crooked Shapes: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Some of the tracks from that catalogue included set opener Where Are You?, Can’t Win For Losing, Rent Free and also a new track to be released on 11 April 2025 “A cheery little number” called Misery. They have released one album with a second on its way with a new EP.

A difficult opening slot for any band but these guys did it they took audience engagement to the next level. And to prove this, for the final number, Blank Eyes, George Twydell makes his way straight to the front of the stage with a camera to film the crowd, whilst singing, playing his guitar to play out his last riffs.

Crooked Shapes: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

More than meets the eye? You bet! You can count me as a fan.

https://www.crookedshapes.com/

And Finally…

Huge thanks to The Guns n Roses Experience and Crooked Shapes.

Thanks to the team from Black Rabbit Productions keep up top date with these guys! BRINGING LIVE MUSIC TO BRIGHTON & SUSSEX.

Safe to say we all had a great time at The Factory Live. All the staff were very helpful and welcoming as they always are. This is a great venue for music, comedy or Blues on a Sunday afternoon! Nicely done guys! Experience The Factory Live! A 285 capacity live music venue situated in the heart of Worthing on the South Coast. They recently announced they were awarded Live Music Venue of the year in West Sussex 2024/2025. Congratulations from Scene Sussex, well deserved. I have had many great times there, and look forward to more visits.

Words and photos by Ian Bourn.

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