I doubt it’s mostly the same people seeing them over and over again. They ain’t the Grateful Dead!
I think most bands that have been around over a decade and continue to tour have the same people seeing them over and over again. Do you think 20 somethings are discovering GNR or Suede or The Rolling Stones and seeing them en masse?
I think there is a big universe of people interested in seeing them once. Most reunions are like that….
Kind of like “Gee I would like to cross them off my list…”
The Rolling Stones have a larger hardcore following of Julian’s America people (am surprised you haven’t crossed paths?) that whenever the Stones tour get on jets and follow them… Lots of Europeans…But it’s still a very small percentage of their fans at US shows who , yes, I think are mainly people who “…want to see them once before they die.”
Nobody wants to see Suede or Kula Shaker. Nobody.
But I could be wrong on everything… still even if GNR has the same fans going over and over again I have the feeling they would love to hear songs from appetite, lies , and UYI every couple of years than new songs…I would! I mean when you see a legacy band live every few years does it really matter if they repeat the classics? I can compare this to new order… I would always rather hear blue Monday than a new song… if they have a new album three songs from it Max! I mean they have recorded at least five of my favorite albums ever so the hits are fine…now I don’t mind a few deep cuts… I think it’s the same with GNR