For the first time in last 23 years, “Guns N’ Roses” fronted by Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan, occupied a Detroit stage, as the reunited band played an electric, on Thursday night at Ford Field. It was that kind of night which had a rock magic pumping through the veins of the packed stadium, a high energy of 2 and half hours show.

Showing up promptly as scheduled, just before 9:45 p.m., GNR hit the ground running with a potent “Appetite for Destruction” twofer, serving up “It’s So Easy” and “Mr. Brownstone” as Ford Field filled with the glow of cell phone cameras. Slash and McKagan, who were absent all those years as Rose carried the Guns N’ Roses franchise, seemed game for “Chinese Democracy,” one of the three selections from the Rose. But this was an evening for romping in the band’s vintage repertoire, and by the time the set arrived at “Rocket Queen” and “You Could Be Mine,” the years had melted away.

Fortus, making periodic forays up front to join GNR’s big three, was part of a solid supporting cast that included drummer Frank Ferrer along with keyboardists Dizzy Reed and newcomer Melissa Reese.

But for most of Thursday night, it was as if Axl, Slash and Duff had stepped right off a tour bus from 1993.

By Prakriti Neogi