Guns N' Roses
Biography
Guns N' Roses, an American hard rock band, was formed in Los Angeles in 1985. The classic lineup, which signed with Geffen Records in 1986, included vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. The band's name is a combination of the names of two earlier bands, Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns. After some initial lineup changes, the classic quintet played their first show together in June 1985.
Breakthrough and Global Success
The band's debut album, Appetite for Destruction, was released in 1987. While not an immediate success, it eventually climbed the charts in 1988 after the music videos for "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child o' Mine," and "Paradise City" received significant airplay on MTV. The album went on to become the best-selling debut album of all time in the United States and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. "Sweet Child o' Mine" became the band's only single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Following their debut, they released G N' R Lies in 1988, which also achieved commercial success.
The Illusion Years and Lineup Changes
In 1990, drummer Steven Adler was fired from the band due to his struggles with drug addiction and was replaced by Matt Sorum. The band also added keyboardist Dizzy Reed. In 1991, Guns N' Roses released the highly anticipated double albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II. These albums showcased a more diverse and complex musical style and debuted at number two and number one on the Billboard charts, respectively. Shortly after the albums' release, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin abruptly left the band and was replaced by Gilby Clarke. The extensive "Use Your Illusion Tour" that followed is one of the longest in rock history. In 1993, the band released "The Spaghetti Incident?", an album of cover songs.
Hiatus, New Lineups, and Chinese Democracy
Following the "Use Your Illusion Tour," the band went on a lengthy hiatus. Slash officially left the band in 1996, followed by Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan in 1997. Axl Rose continued to work on new music with a revolving lineup of musicians. After years of anticipation and numerous delays, the album Chinese Democracy was finally released in 2008. The album featured a new lineup and a more industrial and electronic rock sound. It was the first album of original Guns N' Roses material since 1991.
Reunion and Recent Years
In 2016, classic members Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined the band for the "Not in This Lifetime..." tour. The tour was a massive success, becoming one of the highest-grossing tours of all time. The reunited lineup, which also includes longtime members Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, and Dizzy Reed, as well as newer member Melissa Reese, has toured extensively worldwide. In 2025, it was announced that Isaac Carpenter would be replacing Frank Ferrer as the drummer.