Happy Friday Metalheads!! Today we take a trip back to 1987 to the debut album by Guns N’ Roses called “Appetite for Destruction” that put them on the map and has become one of the best selling albums of all time.
“Appetite for Destruction” was recorded in a relatively short period of time and cost approximately $370,000. Producer Mike Clink (who had produced several Triumph albums) spliced together the best takes for the songs and spent long hours with the band laying down vocal and guitar tracks. Many of the songs were written while the band was on tour on the L.A. club circuit and they documented many of their personal experiences in their lives including their demons (Mr. Brownstone) and songs about friends of the band (Rocket Queen, My Michelle).
The album’s original album cover which was based on Robert Williams painting “Appetite for Destruction”, depicted a robotic rapist about to be punished by a metal avenger, was banned by many record stores forcing the label to replace it with an image depicting a cross and skulls of the five band members (designed by Billy White Jr. which was initially going to be used for a tattoo), each skull representing one member of the band. The original art was put inside on the album sleeve. To date the album has reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the track, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” also reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track listing for “Appetite for Destruction” is as follows:
1) Welcome to the Jungle
2) It’s So Easy
3) Nightrain
4) Out ta Get Me
5) Mr. Brownstone
6) Paradise City
7) My Michelle
8) Think About You
9) Sweet Child O’ Mine
10) You’re Crazy
11) Anything Goes
12) Rocket Queen
Guns N’ Roses became unstoppable for awhile until problems between the band members forced lineup changes and caused them to take a hiatus in 1994. The classic Guns N’ Roses lineup was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, although Axl was not invited to participate in the ceremony. While Axl toured with different incarnations of the band over the years, recently many of the original members have reunited for some shows with the exception of original drummer Steve Adler and guitarist Izzy Stradlin. Their “Not In This Lifetime Tour” is scheduled to start this fall in the US with the lineup of: Axl Rose – vocals, Slash – guitar, Duff McKagan – bass, Richard Fortus – guitar, Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese – keyboards and Frank Ferrer – drums.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS BELOW FROM THE ICONIC ALBUM:
SWEET CHILD O’ MINE
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
IT’S SO EASY
PARADISE CITY
The Metal Wire 