What fans need to know

The legendary Guns N’ Roses kick off Birmingham’s summer of rock and metal on Monday night with an open-air gig at Villa Park.

The Los Angeles band are stopping in the city on their latest tour Because What You Want and What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things.

Axl Rose and bandmates Slash, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Melissa Reese, Richard Fortus and Isaac Carpenter last played in the UK in 2023 when they headlined Glastonbury.

The show comes less than two weeks before the highly-anticipated last ever gig by Black Sabbath at Villa Park on 5 July.

For guitarist Slash – real name Saul Hudson – the night will mark a return to the Midlands.

In what is surely one of Stoke-on-Trent’s best facts, the musician was raised in Blurton until the age of six.

The band began their latest tour last month in South Korea and will perform at venues across Europe and Latin America.

From the set list to travel, here are some of things fans coming to Birmingham need to know.

Aston is used to thousands of people descending on its small railway station most weeks, so transport chiefs are usually ahead of the game in terms of planning.

Transport for West Midlands has confirmed additional rail services will run to and from Witton railway station – nearest the stadium – with the final train departing to Rugeley Trent Valley at 23:32 BST.

Extra services will also run to and from Aston, with the last train leaving at 23:52 towards Birmingham city centre.

Trams between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will operate as normal, however, Witton Lane and Trinity Road will be closed from 13:00.

Aston Villa are also offering a shuttle bus from Dudley Street, Birmingham, to Villa Park between15:30 and 19:30, with return journeys running from 22:00 until midnight.

Further guidance is available on the Transport for West Midlands website.

The most avid fans who have purchased a VIP or Gold Circle ticket will be able to enter the stadium from 16:00 BST before the main gates open 30 minutes later.

No doubt hardcore supporters will have started congregating around the stadium long before then.

The support act will get under way at 17:30 BST with the headliners expected to take to the stage any time from 18:45 BST, according to Aston Villa’s website.

They are expected to rock out with the crowd until 22:15 BST.

An official setlist for the tour has not been released, however, according to Ticketmaster, the Czech Republic gig on Sunday saw the show open with Welcome to the Jungle.

Music fans with an Appetite for Destruction can expect to hear some of their most well-known tracks including Mr Brownstone, Sweet Child O’ Mine and Paradise City.

Fellow American rockers, Rival Sons, will open the show.

The group from California are playing a total of 10 nights during the European part of the Roses’ tour, including their second and final date at Wembley Stadium on Thursday.

Public Enemy will join the band across Europe from 29 June until 21 July, before Sex Pistols make two appearances on 24 July in Vienna and 28 July in Luxembourg.

There is still a chance to join in with the action depending on what fans are willing to spend.

Some die-hard supporters have paid more than £1,300 to secure a spot in the stadium’s Gold Circle, while the majority of rockers will enjoy the action for a less eye-watering fee of about £70 with some tickets still available.