AXL ROSE Says Fans 'Deserved Better' Than What They Got From This Past Weekend's Shows

GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose has commented on the band's appearances this past weekend at the U.K.'s Leeds and Reading festivals, the latter of which was cut short by the festival organizers due to curfew issues. In a message on Twitlonger.com, a related Twitter site where one can post messages longer than 140 characters, Rose wrote, "Don't know what it is with us or these last two shows. Takes the fun out it for everyone — fans, band and crew alike, but whatever.

"So you know, we allegedly had a deal in place pre-show with the city at least at Leeds to do a bit longer performance that was either miscommunication, someone wasn't informed, changed their mind, didn't care or was a con. Regardless, the nonsense just seems so unnecessary but without real management or industry presence is unfortunately beyond our control. We hope the fans feel they got at least what they could from us under the circumstances as for us all things considered that's the main thing. The rest is filler.

"Anyway, enough rambling. Peace, thanks for understanding and what we did manage to get done out there was a blast! The crowds and fans were amazing!! And in our opinion (not that apparently it means much) you deserved better!! Thanks again!!"

Professionally filmed video footage of the Reading performance (courtesy of the BBC) can be viewed below.

GUNS N' ROSES reportedly started its Reading festival performance at 10:30 p.m. — more than an hour later than scheduled — and was given an extra half hour to play, until roughly midnight.

In a statement to BBC News, the Reading festival organizers said, "GUNS N' ROSES wanted to 'extend' the new agreed curfew but were prevented from doing so in order to comply with the entertainment licence issued by Reading Council."

GUNS N' ROSES played the final song of its set, "Paradise City", with no guitars and the crowd shouting along despite the lack of sound with Axl Rose singing through a megaphone, according to BBC News.

Although GUNS N' ROSES guitarist D.J. Ashba subsequently aplogized for the band hitting the stage "a little late," he accused the organizers of the festival of having "a personal grudge" with GUNS N' ROSES stemming from eight years ago when the band last played the Leeds festival.

Ashba's GN'R bandmate Richard Fortus (guitar) echoed D.J.'s sentiments, writing on his Twitter profile, "I don't think there is another band out right now that has the balls to do what we did last night. Axl insists on doing things his way and not playing by the fucking rules. You can love him or hate him for it, but the fact of the matter is.... he's the real fucking deal. skin, blood and soul. Deal with it or not, but it won't ever change."