Saturday, JANUARY 9, 1993 - Monday, JANUARY 11
LEAVING LA at around 10.30pm, the band and their 80-person entourage set off for Tokyo on a chartered MGM Grand Air jet. After just one brief refuelling stop in Seattle, the plane finally touches down at Narita Airport on the morning of January 11.
Most of the band members spent the day resting at the Tokyo Hilton before embarking on interviews with the Japanese media.
Tuesday, JANUARY 12
IN PREPARATION for the first of three dates at the Tokyo Dome, the band arrives at around 2pm for a soundcheck.
Before going on stage, Matt, Gilby and Dizzy meet with the local record company staff, who presents each of them with a platinum disc.
At around 6.40pm, the band kicks off their performance with 'Welcome To The Jungle'. At the close of the 18-song set, Axl Rose jumps down into the crowd to hand out individually wrapped red roses.
The band leaves at around 10pm, meeting up later at the Lexington Queen nightclub.
Thursday, JANUARY 14
THE BAND goes shopping in Kiddyland and Toy Park.
Second Tokyo show starts just before 7.30pm with 'Nightrain'. VIP guests include wrestlers Dr Death and Bam Bam Gordy. Axl dedicates 'Yesterdays' to his brother, and makes band biographer Del James to do somersaults in the pit for the benefit of the crowd! After the show, the band joins Ronnie Wood at his after-show party.
Friday, JANUARY 15
FINAL SHOW in Japan. Halfway through the 19-song set, the Japanese crew backstage is seen watching a live news report of an earthquake that causes the lights on stage to rock! During an extended version of 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door', Ronnie Wood joins the band on stage.
After the show, the band returns to the hotel where they stay up until 5.15am to catch a flight to Australia.
Saturday, JANUARY 30
THE BAND leaves by helicopter for the Eastern Creek Raceway outside Sydney. A meet 'n' greet has been arranged for 15 handicapped fans. One gives the band a hand-painted wooden splaque.
The show is delayed for 30 minutes by a faulty power generator. Two-and-a-half hours later, the band returns to Sydney by helicopter. It has been the largest musical event ever staged in Australia.
Sunday, JANUARY 31
THE BAND fly on to Melbourne. Slash, Duff, Dizzy and Gilby spend the evening at a local Rock club, were Rose Tattoo are headlining.
Monday, FEBRUARY 1
THE WHOLE entourage watches the US Superbowl on TV, with minimum bets of $10 riding on the outcome. In the afternoon a storm threatens the stage at the Calder Park Raceway stadium. The show goes ahead in torrential rain and, despite the weather breaks national attendance records.
Tuesday, FEBRUARY 2
DUFF AND Dizzy visit a spinal injuries hospital on the outskirts of Melbourne. They have been invited by sister of Kenny Maroney, who was involved in a near-fatal car accident at the end of '91. They stay for two hours. On the way home they stop for a McDonalds.
Wednesday, FEBRUARY 3
THE PARTY leaves Melbourne to fly to New Zealand. With the time difference, the band arrive at 5am and are just in time for last orders at the hotel bar!
Friday, FEBRUARY 5
DUFF'S BIRTHDAY. There was a party last night in a restaurant overlooking Auckland harbor for Duff, Axl and Del James as all their birthdays fall over the next few days. In the afternoon, Slash visits a dinosaur exhibition. In the evening he dines at a sushi restaurant Fukouka (because he loved the name!) before he and the other members go go-karting until 2.30am.
Saturday, FEBRUARY 6
AXL'S BIRTHDAY. It is also the final show on this leg of the tour, at the Mount Smart Stadium. 45,000 people are packed into the venue to see the three-act bill - which opens with a local band - Dead Flowers. The crew stop the Guns N' Roses show at the end of 'November Rain' to bring a massive birthday cake on stage for Axl. Everybody sings 'Happy Birthday'.
After the show the band assembles back at the hotel for celebratory drinks.
Sunday, FEBRUARY 7
IN THE early evening, after a day of shopping and packing, the crew, band and entourage leave Auckland for their journey back to Los Angeles. With the time zones, they arrive three hours before they left New Zealand!
