"Guitar Pickups Melted at Guns N' Roses' Scorching Saudi Arabia Concert"
In the scorching heat of the Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Guns N' Roses delivered an electrifying performance with an unanticipated twist. Guitarist Richard Fortus experienced something truly extraordinary, as the intense heat caused the wax in his pickups to melt during the concert on May 25, 2025.
Fortus took to social media to share photographs of his damaged electric guitar post-show, revealing a bizarre, gooey substance leaking from the pickup mounts. The substance, reminiscent of a disturbing scene from the Alien franchise, was far from what Fortus expected to encounter.
While the melting wax may seem insignificant to some, it was an unprecedented occurrence for a musician of Fortus' caliber. The concert, which took place at 10 PM, aimed to provide a cooler setting for a three-hour riff fest after temperatures peaked at 113°F (42.8°C) during the day. However, the evening temperatures remained relentless, ultimately affecting Fortus' equipment.
Guns N' Roses had earlier performed in Japan, where they paid tribute to the late John Sykes by delivering a thunderous Thin Lizzy cover. Despite the unusual event in Saudi Arabia, the band continued their globe-trotting tour, eventually moving on to Europe ahead of a show in Georgia on May 30. There, more comfortable temperatures of around 73°F (23°C) awaited Fortus' Gretsch guitar.
Fortus, a veteran musician who has been with Guns N' Roses since 2002, favors a Gretsch guitar over other options due to its striking contrast to his bandmates' favorite Les Pauls. His two signature Gretsch models, a white Bigsby-equipped G6636T and a black V-Stoptail-styled G6636, are designed with the specific requirements of GNR live shows in mind.
Originally drawn to Gretsch guitars at the age of 16, Fortus cited his admiration for Billy Duffy and AC/DC as influences that steered him towards the unique tone the instrument provided. In an interview, he emphasized that returning to Gretsch was a natural choice following the reunion of Slash and Duff McKagan in the band.
Thankfully for Fortus' Gretsch, the band has moved past the sweltering Saudi Arabia leg of their tour, with more temperate climates ahead. Here's to hoping that future performances will be more guitar-friendly.
- Richard Fortus, who prefers Gretsch guitars over other options due to their unique tone, found an unexpected issue with his electric guitar during the Guns N' Roses' concert in the Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- The intense heat caused the wax in Fortus' pickups to melt, resulting in a disturbing, gooey substance leaking from the pickup mounts, reminiscent of a scene from the Alien franchise.
- While Fortus' Gretsch guitar was designed with the specific requirements of Guns N' Roses live shows in mind, the unanticipated occurrence in Saudi Arabia was far from what Fortus expected to encounter.
- Despite this unusual event, Guns N' Roses continued their globe-trotting tour, moving on to Europe ahead of a show in Georgia on May 30, where temperatures were expected to be around 73°F (23°C), offering morefriendly conditions for Fortus' Gretsch guitar.
- Fortus, a veteran musician who has been with Guns N' Roses since 2002, was drawn to Gretsch guitars at the age of 16 by his admiration for Billy Duffy and AC/DC, appreciating their distinctive tone that set them apart from other musicians' favorite Les Pauls.
