Guns N Roses

Band Members- 2006:
Axl Rose- Vocals
Dizzy Reed- Keyboard
Robin Finck- Guitar
Tommy Stinson- Bass
Brian Mantia- Drums
Richard Fortus- Guitar

Guns 'N' Roses are an American hard rock band. The band's 1987 major label debut, ‘Appetite For Destruction’ gained them worldwide popularity while their 1991 second major effort, the simultaneous releases of ‘Use Your Illusion 1’ and ‘Use Your Illusion 2’, and subsequent tour cemented the band's place as an influential member of Rock And Roll History. Guns 'N' Roses helped usher in a new era in the hard rock genre. Glam Metal dominated  the airwaves in the late 1980s, but the band's style of music and onstage behaviour created a new movement within the music industry, as they offered a grittier, more traditionalist take on rock music, winning over many fans who admired their apparent authenticity. The band obtained success during the period of 1987-1993, but the personalities of different band members, coupled with their heavy drug abuse, hindered the group's ability to work together. Axl Rose is the only original member in the current lineup.

The band's biggest hit album was ‘Appetite For Destruction’ a 15 times platinum record having sold 18 million records; it is widely regarded as a rock ‘n’ roll masterpiece. The album spawned the singles ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, ‘Paradise City’ and the massive smash hit ‘Sweet Child ‘O Mine’. It also made heroes of original members Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler and Duff McKagan and Axl Rose. Slash and McKagan have since gone on to form Velvet Revolver with ex Stone Temple Pilots front man Scott Weiland. Guns ‘N’ Roses followed ‘Appetite’ up with a double album going by the name of ‘Use Your Illusion’. Released in 1991 it did not match the success of ‘Appetite For Destruction’ it still sold 10 million copies over the two discs.

The Guns ‘N’ Roses that exists in 2006 is a much different beast to the one coming out of Los Angeles in 1985. Axl Rose is the only original member with the other members changing regularly. Rose has a reputation of a diva of the highest order with gigs regularly pulled and ‘The Chinese Democracy’ having its date constantly pushed back.  The release date for the album is pencilled in for autumn 2006. What Guns ‘N Roses have become is in danger of ruining the reputation the band carved for themselves however it is important to remember that without them the current map of alternative music could have been very different indeed.

Discography

1987- Appetite For Destruction
1988- G ‘N’ R Lies
1991- Use Your Illusion 1
1992- Use You Illusion 2
1993- The Spaghetti Incident
1999- Live Era; ’87-‘93
2004- Greatest Hits
2006? - Chinese Democracy