2010.08.16 - Billboard/NME - Axl Rose's Twitter Account Hacked, Tour Still On

Axl Rose's Twitter Account Hacked, Tour Still On

By Andre Paine, London

If you believed Axl Rose’s Twitter account last night, the Guns N' Roses frontman had unilaterally canceled the band's upcoming European tour.

The message posted on Sunday evening (Aug. 15) stated: "All upcoming Guns N' Roses dates are officially cancelled. Please contact your place of purchase for any refunds."

It always seemed likely to be a hoax: Rose is not active on Twitter and this is the first post in three months. Rose's other messages were posted via iPhone and this latest tweet was via mobile web. It was also curious that it had the British spelling of "cancelled."

Nevertheless, it proved disruptive as GNR's tour partners in the U.K. and Europe had to investigate the announcement. Ticket holders who saw early media reports of the supposed cancellation will doubtless be seeking refunds.

The band is due to headline Reading and Leeds Festivals, organized by Live Nation's Festival Republic operation, on Aug. 27 and Aug. 29 respectively.

"Festival Republic are informed by GN'R management that Guns N' Roses have NOT canceled their performances at Reading & Leeds and that Axl Rose's Twitter account was hacked into and all claims of dates being cancelled are unfounded," said a Festival Republic statement today (Aug. 16).

There are a further 24 European dates including a London O2 Arena show on Oct. 13, for which AEG Live is the promoter.

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NME, same date:
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Guns N' Roses not cancelling Reading And Leeds Festivals and other UK gigs

Spokesperson for festival tells NME the singer's Twitter account was hacked

Guns N' Roses are not cancelling their forthcoming dates, a spokesperson for the Reading And Leeds Festivals has told NME.

The dates, including the headlining slots at next week's (August 27-29) event, were thrown into doubt by a message from Axl Rose's Twitter account, which claimed all future shows were cancelled.

However, the spokesperson for the festivals explained that they had it confirmed from the band that Rose's account had been hacked and that next week's slots at the Reading And Leeds Festivals are set to go ahead as planned.

“Festival Republic are informed by GN’R management that Guns N’ Roses have not cancelled their performances at Reading and Leeds," the event's promoters explained in a statement. "Axl Rose’s twitter account was hacked into and all claims of dates being cancelled are unfounded.”

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