*Incheon, South Korea — 2025 Hard rock giants Guns N’ Roses kicked off their highly anticipated 2025 world tour on Thursday night with a thunderous show at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, South Korea. The event marked not only the beginning of another global trek for the legendary band but also the live debut of drummer Isaac Carpenter, who officially joined the lineup in March, replacing longtime drummer Frank Ferrer.
The night was electric, drawing tens of thousands of fans eager to see the band’s first performance of the year. While Guns N’ Roses is no stranger to world tours, this one carried an added sense of excitement and curiosity. After nearly two decades with the band, Ferrer — the longest-serving drummer in Guns N’ Roses history — stepped away earlier this year, opening the door for Carpenter, whose resume includes stints with AWOLNATION, Duff McKagan’s Loaded, and more.
Carpenter’s addition to the lineup injected fresh energy into the band’s sound without straying from the hard-hitting, muscular rhythms that fans have come to expect. From the explosive opening number “It’s So Easy” to epic renditions of “November Rain” and “Paradise City,” Carpenter proved himself more than capable of handling the legacy — and pressure — that comes with being part of one of rock’s most iconic groups.
Following the show, the band spoke candidly about the transition and the beginning of this new chapter.
“There’s always a mix of excitement and nerves when you start a new tour,” guitarist Slash said backstage. “But this one had a different kind of energy. Isaac came in with a lot of respect for the music and a real hunger to contribute. He fit in with the band from day one.”
Axl Rose, whose commanding vocals still reverberate with the same raw power that defined Guns N’ Roses in the late ‘80s, echoed those sentiments. “It’s not easy stepping into this kind of situation,” he said. “Frank was with us for so long and played a huge role in what we did, but Isaac came in with the right spirit. Tonight, it all just clicked.”
Isaac Carpenter described the experience as “surreal and humbling.”
“To be part of a band that shaped rock history and continues to do it on this scale is incredible,” he said. “There’s this deep respect I have for the material and the fans, and I just want to bring everything I’ve got to every show.”
The Incheon setlist served as a reminder of the band’s unmatched catalog, spanning decades and generations of fans. Highlights included faithful renditions of early 
The 2025 world tour is expected to span over 40 cities, covering Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. For a band that was once infamous for chaos and unpredictability, Guns N’ Roses has evolved into a road-tested, high-powered machine, capable of filling stadiums and delivering consistent performances night after night.
Still, they haven’t lost their edge — or their connection to the fans. Thursday night’s show was marked by spontaneous moments, including Slash venturing out into the crowd during an extended guitar solo and Axl pausing between songs to thank fans in Korean, drawing huge cheers from the local audience.
For longtime followers of the band, the presence of Carpenter doesn’t signal a departure from what makes Guns N’ Roses great, but rather a reinvigoration of the spirit that’s always driven them — a relentless commitment to live rock and roll.
As the tour rolls on, the big question remains: will fans finally get a new studio album? Rumors have circulated for years about the band working on new material, and with the current momentum and revamped lineup, the possibility feels more real than ever
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