As Guns'n'Roses ready themselves to play two massive gigs in Wellington and Auckland this week, Axl Rose has revealed one of the band's big traditions is over.
A woman at the band's Adelaide concert was horrifically injured when the lead singer tossed his microphone into the crowd at the close of song 'Paradise City'.
Rebecca Howe was left with two black eyes and a busted-up nose after the incident at Adelaide Oval when the mic hit her square in the face.
"I was in Diamond Standing, so it wasn't even right at the front, and it was the very last song, 'Paradise City'," Howe told The Adelaide Advertiser.
"He took a bow and then he launched the microphone out to the crowd … and then bang, right on the bridge of my nose."
The mic was caught by another audience member, but Howe was left in a state of shock.
"My mind went, 'Oh my God, my face is caved in'," she said.
"What if it was a couple of inches to the right or left? I could have lost an eye … what if it hit me in the mouth and I broke my teeth?" she said.
"If my head was turned and it hit me in the temple, it could have killed me."
Rose addressed the incident ahead of the band's Wellington and Auckland dates, saying it was time for a change.
"It's come to my attention that a fan may have been hurt at our show in Adelaide, Australia possibly being hit by the microphone at the end of the show when I traditionally toss the mic to the fans. If true obviously we don't want anyone getting hurt or to somehow in any way hurt anyone at any of our shows anywhere," he said on social media.
"Having tossed the mic at the end of our show for over 30 years we always felt it was a known part of the very end of our performance that fans wanted and were aware of to have an opportunity to catch the mic.
"Regardless in the interest of public safety from now on we'll refrain from tossing the mic or anything to fans during or at our performances."
