Guns N’ Roses
Formation and early years
Guns N’ Roses formed in Los Angeles in 1985, born from the merger of two bands (Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns). The classic lineup featured Axl Rose (vocals), Slash (lead guitar), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Steven Adler (drums). The band emerged from the Hollywood Sunset Strip scene, living in hardship and excess in an apartment nicknamed “The Hell House”.
Appetite for Destruction
The debut album, Appetite for Destruction (1987), struggled initially before MTV aired the video for “Welcome to the Jungle”. It became the best-selling debut album of all time with over 30 million copies sold. Songs like “Welcome to the Jungle”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (whose riff was born from a warm-up exercise by Slash), and “Paradise City” became essential rock anthems.
The EP GN’R Lies (1988) features “Patience”, revealing a softer acoustic side of the band.
Turbulence and reunion
The double albums Use Your Illusion I & II (1991), released on the same day, confirmed their status as one of the biggest rock bands in the world with epic tracks like “November Rain” and “Estranged”. However, internal tensions, addictions, and Axl Rose’s unpredictable behavior fragmented the band. Slash, Duff, and Izzy left successively during the 1990s.
The reunion tour Not in This Lifetime began in 2016 with Axl, Slash, and Duff back together, generating over $580 million, making it one of the highest-grossing tours of all time. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
Iconic guitars
Slash is famously associated with the Gibson Les Paul Standard, especially a 1959 model replicated as a signature series. His image – top hat, black curls, Les Paul – is one of the most recognizable in rock. Izzy Stradlin played Gibson ES-175 and Fender Telecaster models.
See the guitar ESP Traditional Telecaster by Gilby Clarke
