Easily one of the top 5 bands of the last 20 years, if not the best. To lump them in with '80s hair metal is to do them a disservice. Guns n' Roses is a hard rock band. Best known for the songs "November Rain" and "
Welcome To The Jungle," their first album Appetite For Destruction is the best selling debut of all time. The intro guitar riff for "Sweet Child o Mine" is
recognized as one of
the greatest ever. The band formed in LA in 1985, playing the Hollywood clubs before being signed. Their original lineup was:
W.Axl Rose - Vocals
Slash - Lead Guitar
Izzy Stradlin - Rhythm Guitar
Duff McKagan - Bass Guitar
Steven Adler - Drums
Adler was replaced by Matt Sorum from The Cult, and Gilby Clarke replaced Izzy when he left. Dizzy Reed was added for keyboard duty.
The band was effectively broken up by 1995 or possibly before, with most members pursuing other projects and Axl carrying on the Guns n' Roses name with a new cast of musicians. Slash, Duff, and Matt formed Velvet Revolver with Scott Weiland (ex STP).
It is music's great loss that the band collapsed under the weight of its member's egos, as many predicted that they could have been this generation's
Rolling Stones. Perhaps an unlikely Aerosmith-type reunion could still occur, but if not, Guns n' Roses' music will stand the test of time and serve as a testament to the brilliance they showed during their '87-'93 heydey.
Do yourself a favor and check out "
Rocket Queen," one of Guns n' Roses' lesser known gems. The style shift in
the guitar work toward the end of the song is
excellent and totally seamless...
