Rock n’ Roll is a musical genre that emerged in the United States in the late 1940s and became wildly popular in the 1950s. It had its roots in American musical styles such as country, blues, and R&B and quickly spread to the rest of the world, becoming the most popular musical genre for years afterward.
From Chuck Berry‘s fast-paced guitar work to Elvis Presley’s iconic voice and the haunting sounds of Black Sabbath, rock music has produced some of the most iconic and beloved musicians. Decades later, the Rock n Roll “river” already had its “ affluents,” such as psychedelia, heavy metal, progressive rock, punk rock, new wave, and many other musical genres.
But, in 1985, one such band came together and would release one of the most seminal rock ‘n roll albums. Of course, we are talking about Guns N’ Roses. Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy, Duff, and Steven made up the original lineup. The American rock band released their first studio album, Appetite for Destruction, in 1987, two years after the band was formed. Today, the album is highly acclaimed and seen as one of the greatest albums ever.
Today, they aren’t as popular as in the 1980s and 90s. But they are still active and have been featured in films, video games, and television shows, and various members have even had cameo roles here and there. So iconic is the band that there is even a slot game. The Guns N’ Roses slot game is among the best-known games at online casinos, highly rated by players and professional reviewers.
Early Years and Rise to Fame
The success of the band begs the question: how did Guns N’ Roses form, and what propelled them to global superstar status? The story is actually quite fascinating. Guns N’ Roses is, to put it in simple terms, a product of a merger. Izzy Stradlin and Axl Rose were members of a band named Hollywood Rose, while Tracii Guns had his own ground, named the L.A. Guns. The two bands came together and formed Guns N’ Roses. However, a series of disputes led to changes in the lineup, which brought the iconic crew together.
After two years of recording and performing, the band would get their big break. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, is a supersonic exclamation of what rock in the 1980s was all about. Fast, loud, obnoxious, in-your-face, and counter-culture, the album perfectly captures the decade and still excites many to this day. This album also put the GnR on the same level as other hard rock bands like AC/DC, Kiss, Aerosmith, and Van Halen.
Songs extracted from the album, like “Welcome to the Jungle,” which still gets radio play quite often, or “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” are both classics of the hard rock genre. They really never fit well in the category of heavy metal, for sure. But this kind of music elevated them as one of the most popular bands of the late 80s and early 90s. However, turmoil was just around the corner.
Global Success and Band Breakups
In 1990, the band’s original drummer, Dizzy, was fired and replaced by Matt Sorum. Many fans also heard rumors that Slash and Axl Rose were not too fond of each other, which worried them. However, many of those worries were brought to rest when Use Your Illusion I was released.
The album was one of the most anticipated in rock history, and rumors permeated that half-a-million copies were sold within 2 hours of its release. In terms of sales, many compared it to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which remains one of the biggest hits to this day. The album featured some incredible songs, which still get radio play to this day, including “November Rain,” “Coma,” and “Live and Let Die,” a cover of the classic rock song by Paul McCartney and the Wings.
The follow-up, aptly titled, Use Your Illusion II was another hit, though admittedly, not as well-received as its predecessor. Still, the biggest complaint anyone could give was that it wasn’t as good as the original Use Your Illusion album. It is still widely regarded as a great rock album. It also led into the Use Your Illusion tour, which is still regarded as one of the greatest tours in music history.
Unfortunately, following the release of Use Your Illusion II, the band would not do well. Sporadic activity, lineup changes, and in-fighting led to a huge gap in album releases. Of course, the band’s final album, Chinese Democracy, did poorly and was bad reviews from critics and the general public.
The promoter Live Nation has revealed that Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan will be touring with Guns N’ Roses in 2025. “Guns N’ Roses will be back on the road on a major tour of Europe and the Middle East in 2025, performing in stadiums and festivals throughout the summer.” So, if you’re a fan, don’t miss the chance to experience one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time live!
