Biography
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Years Active
1985 – present (40 years)
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Founded In
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
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Members
- Axl Rose (1985 – present)
- Bryan "Brain" Mantia (2001 – 2006)
- Buckethead (2000 – 2004)
- Chris Pitman (1998 – 2016)
- DJ Ashba (2009 – 2015)
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1985 from members of L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. After signing with Geffen Records in 1986, the group’s classic lineup consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler.
The band developed a following in Los Angeles before releasing its debut album, "Appetite for Destruction" (1987). The album initially gained limited attention until the success of the music video for "Welcome to the Jungle." "Appetite for Destruction" went on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling debut album in the United States, and produced successful singles including "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child o’ Mine." The follow-up album, "G N' R Lies" (1988), combined new acoustic material with earlier recordings. It reached number two on the Billboard 200, sold around ten million copies worldwide, and featured the hit "Patience" along with the controversial track "One in a Million." In 1990, Matt Sorum replaced Adler, and keyboardist Dizzy Reed joined the group.
The band released two albums simultaneously in 1991: "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II." They debuted at number two and number one on the Billboard 200 and sold a combined total of approximately 35 million copies worldwide. These albums produced singles such as "You Could Be Mine," "Don't Cry," and "November Rain," noted for high-budget music videos. After completing the Use Your Illusion Tour (1991–1993), Guns N' Roses released the punk covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993).
During the mid-1990s and early 2000s, the band experienced extensive lineup changes. By 1998, Rose and Reed remained as the only members from the Use Your Illusion era. New members, including Robin Finck, Buckethead, Tommy Stinson, Brain, and Chris Pitman, worked on the long-delayed album "Chinese Democracy" (2008). Production costs for the album were widely reported as high, and it became one of the most expensive rock albums made. Geffen released the compilation "Greatest Hits" in 2004, which remained on the Billboard 200 for an extended period. The current lineup includes Rose, Slash, McKagan, Richard Fortus, Isaac Carpenter, Reed, and Melissa Reese.
Guns N' Roses has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and is considered one of the best-selling musical acts. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2016, Slash and McKagan rejoined the band for the Not in This Lifetime… Tour, which became one of the highest-grossing concert tours. Guns N' Roses is known for energetic performances, media controversies, and a musical style that blends elements of punk, blues, and metal, contributing to a shift in late-1980s rock away from glam rock.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_N%27_Roses
Studio albums
Appetite for Destruction (1987)
G N' R Lies (1988)
Use Your Illusion I (1991)
Use Your Illusion II (1991)
"The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993)
Chinese Democracy (2008)
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