Guns N' Roses
American hard rock band renowned for explosive performances and multi-platinum albums that defined late 1980s rock.
Formed in Los Angeles in 1985, Guns N' Roses rose to fame with their debut album 'Appetite for Destruction' (1987), selling over 30 million copies worldwide. The classic lineup featured Axl Rose (vocals), Slash (lead guitar), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Steven Adler (drums). Internal conflicts, substance abuse, and lineup changes plagued the band throughout the 1990s. After a 15-year hiatus, key members reunited in 2016 for the record-breaking 'Not in This Lifetime...' Tour. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
- Early performances were notoriously chaotic, with riots and arrests occurring during their 1991 Riverport Stadium show after Axl Rose jumped into the crowd.
- Original drummer Steven Adler was fired in 1990 due to severe heroin addiction, later suffering a stroke linked to drug use.
- The recording of 'Chinese Democracy' (2008) spanned 14 years, cost $14 million, and involved over 30 musicians, becoming one of rock's most expensive albums despite mixed reviews.
- Axl Rose legally owns the band name after buying rights from former members; he continued Guns N' Roses with entirely new musicians from 1996-2015.
- Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined in 2016 after a 20-year absence, mending their feud with Axl Rose through secret meetings facilitated by producer Rick Rubin.
