Axl Apologizes For 2002 Philly Cancellation

Attendees at Guns N’ Roses’ Feb. 27 concert at Philadelphia’s Electric Factory heard something out of the ordinary – an apology from Axl Rose regarding a 2002 GNR cancellation.

The show at the-then First Union Center, now known as Wells Fargo Center, ended with fans rioting and throwing chairs after hearing the band wouldn’t be taking the stage after opening acts CKY and Beastie Boys’ DJ Mix Master Mike. Police broke up the melee.

At the time, there were several media reports indicating different reasons for the cancellation, including that Rose was at his hotel room watching a basketball game.

However, Rose told the Electric Factory crowd a different story – he says he was sick, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

“My manager told me it was canceled and then didn’t,” Rose said, adding that promoter Clear Channel “wanted us to f** up, because they wanted to end the tour. ‘Cause they had some s** going on in Florida or something … I don’t know … a whole bunch of bull**. But I got really sick. It had nothing to do with fur coats and basketball games,” the paper quoted him as saying.

“So it’s good to be here. I want to apologize for my part of that. You know, so … I’m not saying I’m innocent.”