Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Democracy 3D Live

Filmed at Las Vegas's Hard Rock Casino in 2012, this 25-track Guns N' Roses concert features singer Axl Rose as the sole remaining original member, although he's tapped some talented musicians to fill in for Slash and the rest of the gang. Rose's love-it-or-hate-it high-pitched wail hasn't changed much since the band debuted with 1987's Appetite for Destruction, but three guitarists (DJ Ashba, Richard Fortus, and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal) and two keyboard players (Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman) seem like overkill for a glam-metal band. On the plus side, Rose allows his band mates to shine, notably Fortus, Reed, and bass player Tommy Stinson of the recently-revitalized Replacements, who all assume the front man role for a song or two (Frank Ferrer rounds out the lineup on drums). Alongside hits like “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child O' Mine,” and “Paradise City,” the band plays several covers—a signature move since the release of the two-volume Use Your Illusion—but while the Who's “The Seeker” works well, Rose's grunge-metal scatting on Bob Dylan's “Knockin' on Heaven's Door” does not. The multi-level stage setup includes risers, video screens, pyrotechnics, and scantily clad dancers, which seems tacky but also appropriate for the Sunset Strip outfit and their chosen venue. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and stereo on Blu-ray (along with a 3D option), extras include bonus interviews. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)