Lies and Destruction – 11/07/25 @ Kirwan Tavern

Lies and Destruction, Townsville’s favourite Guns N’ Roses tribute band, returned to the city after last year’s raucous gig at the Dalrymple Hotel. From the moment they hit the stage, it was clear this was a full-blown rock ‘n’ roll time machine. Dressed in peak GnR regalia, the crew looked like they’d been plucked straight from the Sunset Strip circa 1987. Sunglasses indoors? Check. Bandanas? Check. Leather pants tighter than your budget after Christmas? Double check. 

The band tore through two blistering sets packed with hits from across the Guns N’ Roses back catalogue. The first set was a punchy mix of early classics—“Welcome to the Jungle,” “It’s So Easy,” “Mr. Brownstone”—each delivered with the kind of swagger that would make Slash raise an eyebrow and maybe even nod approvingly. After a quick costume change (because rock stars need outfit variety), the second set brought the big guns including “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Paradise City,”  and “November Rain”.

Frontman Rusty deserves a standing ovation—or at least a cold beer—for his uncanny channeling of Axl Rose’s signature banshee wail. Whether he was serpentine-dancing across the stage or belting out high notes that could shatter glass (and possibly a few egos), Rusty was the real deal. The rest of the band was just as tight—guitar solos were face-melting, the drums thundered like a tropical storm, and the rhythm section held it all together like duct tape on a tour van. But what really made the night special was the crowd participation. Townsville locals came ready to party, and the singalongs were loud enough to register on the Richter scale.

One particularly unforgettable moment came during “Rocket Queen,” when a woman from the crowd was invited on stage to recreate the infamous moaning sounds from the original track. She gave it her all—equal parts hilarious and heroic—and the crowd responded with a mix of laughter, cheers, and possibly a few blushes. It was the kind of moment that reminds you why live music is so gloriously unpredictable.

Lies and Destruction didn’t just play the songs—they embodied the chaos, charisma, and sheer volume of Guns N’ Roses in their prime. It was loud, it was loose, and it was absolutely legendary.