Entertainment

Guns N' Roses to reunite for Coachella music festival

It's official: Guns N' Roses is reuniting as one of the headline acts for the 2016 Coachella music and arts festival. The popular, annual, live-music extravaganza in the California desert has unveiled its bill for the upcoming edition, with the 80s and early 90s-era band among the prominent performers on the roster.

Axl Rose and Slash haven't shared a stage for 20 years

Axl Rose is seen performing in Bangalore, India in 2012. He will reunite with his former bandmates at the 2016 Coachella music festival. (Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press)

It's official: Guns N'Ā Roses is reuniting as one of the headline acts for the 2016 Coachella music and arts festival.

The popular, annual, live-music extravaganza in the California desert has unveiled its bill for the upcoming edition, with theĀ mid-80s,Ā early 90s-era band among the prominent performers listed.

The gigs will mark the first time singer Axl Rose and guitarist Slash have shared the stage since the early 1990s.Ā 

Rose, who abruptly cancelled an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, had teased fans last weekendĀ by refusing to confirm reunion rumours. However, he posted his confirmation via Twitter.

Guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan confirmed by posting the same image of the Guns N'Ā Roses logo.

Falling out

The band topped the charts in theĀ 1980s, including with 1987'sĀ bestsellingĀ albumĀ Appetite for DestructionĀ and a string ofĀ hits such asĀ Sweet Child O' Mine,Ā Welcome to the Jungle,Ā Paradise City,Ā Don't CryĀ andĀ November Rain.

However, the band's classic lineupĀ ā€” includingĀ Slash, McKagan, guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler ā€” all left the group in the 1990s due to disagreements with bandleader Rose, who continued with new members.

Slash,Ā McKaganĀ and later GnR drummer Matt SorumĀ eventually teamed up with other musicians to form the rock troupeĀ Velvet Revolver.

Guns N' Roses members, from left, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, Slash and Steven Adler, pose after their performance during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in April 2012. (Tony Dejak/Associated Press)

When Guns N' Roses wasĀ inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, Rose declined the honour, and refusedĀ to join his former mates onstage to perform,Ā claiming he wasn't "wanted or respected."

However, in 2014, he appeared to soften his stance somewhat, taking the stage with McKaganĀ at a Los Angeles awards show.

Fellow headliners for the next Coachella, which takes place in Indio, Calif. over two weekends in April, include recently reunited rock bandĀ LCD Soundsystem and hit DJ Calvin Harris.

Ellie Goulding, Ice Cube, A$AP Rocky, Sia and Major Lazer are also set to take the stage, with Canadian performers to include Grimes and BadBadNotGood.

The 2016 CoachellaĀ festival takes place April 15-17 and 22-24.