Melissa Reese to Sit Out 2026 Guns N’ Roses Tour

Keyboardist and backing vocalist Melissa Reese will not be joining Guns N' Roses on the band’s upcoming 2026 world tour. The group confirmed that Reese will sit out the tour due to “unforeseen personal reasons.” The band did not provide additional details but asked fans to respect her privacy as the tour moves forward.

Reese joined Guns N’ Roses in 2016 during the band’s massive reunion run, becoming the second keyboardist in the lineup alongside Dizzy Reed. She made her debut during the historic Not in This Lifetime… Tour, which reunited core members of the band and became one of the highest-grossing tours in rock history.

During live performances, Reese handles keyboards, synthesizers, electronic programming, and backing vocals. Her contributions helped expand the band’s concert sound, adding modern electronic textures to classic songs from the group’s catalog.

Before joining Guns N’ Roses, Reese built a career as a composer, producer, and electronic musician. She frequently collaborated with former Guns N’ Roses drummer Bryan 'Brain' Mantia, who ultimately recommended her to the band when they were assembling their touring lineup ahead of the 2016 reunion shows.

In addition to her live performances, Reese also appeared on several newer recordings from the band, including the singles “Absurd” and “Hard Skool,” both released in 2021.

Despite her absence, the band’s upcoming tour is expected to proceed as scheduled. Guns N’ Roses have remained highly active in recent years, continuing to perform worldwide while periodically releasing new music.

It is currently unclear whether Reese’s absence from the 2026 tour will be temporary or if she will rejoin the band for future performances. Fans across social media have expressed support for the musician and hope to see her return to the stage with the group once circumstances allow.

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