![]() ![]() On July 21, 1987, the band released their debut LP, Appetite For Destruction, which made Guns N’ Roses a household name within 18 months and went on to sell over 18 million copies in the United States alone. Mike Clink finally said the right things, and band found their match. As the months passed, however, numerous possible producers flunked interviews by suggesting GNR become “more metal” to match the trends of the day. Geffen Records A&R executive Tom Zutaut would win the race to sign the hot new band to a recording contract in March of 1986. They could also deliver their goods live, and it didn’t take long for the music industry to take notice. But Guns N’ Roses turned out to be world-beating songwriters, with Axl’s split personality spawning lyrics to flagrantly evil anthems like “It’s So Easy” and “Welcome to the Jungle” on one day before yielding deeply emotional love songs like “Sweet Child of Mine” and signature ballad “Patience” on the next. They’d frequently make ends meet through activities that were far from legal, and their tastes for drugs, alcohol, and all-hours were unparalleled in the LA rock scene, so run-ins with the law were frequent. The band would quickly forge their bonds and their identity by renting a storage space in Hollywood and converting it into a rehearsal space, party spot, and living quarters by building a loft out of stolen plywood. It also didn’t hurt that Guns N’ Roses were a gang of model-thin, good-looking bad boys who really were bad, which made them perfect for magazines, posters and bedroom walls. On top of that, it was all fronted by Axl, a volatile bandleader with wide musical tastes, an unmistakable voice, and unpredictably violent mood swings. While Slash and Steven were your classic ’80s California hard rock and heavy metal dudes, Izzy and Duff were much angrier punk rockers whose attitude and raw, unpolished approach would immediately and permanently set the band’s songs and performances apart. The chemistry between these five musicians would become the stuff of legend. Then came LA natives and Hollywood high school buddies, guitarist “ Slash” (aka Saul Hudson) and Steven Adler (aka Michael Coletti). First in was Izzy’s new neighbor on bass, a recent Seattle arrival named Michael “Duff” McKagan. The band formed in Los Angeles in March 1985 when two members of Hollywood Rose, guitarist Izzy Stradlin and singer Axl Rose (aka Jeff Isbell and William Rose, two childhood friends from Indiana) teamed up with three members of LA Guns, who would all be replaced within three months by the members who’d comprise the “classic” lineup of Guns N’ Roses. ![]() Guns N’ Roses would be one of the last figurehead bands to emerge from the decade, and their rise to the top remains an utterly chaotic tale of music industry excess that never happen again. The 1980s will always be one of the wildest and most successful decades in the history of the music industry, fueled by the introduction of MTV and the onset of the CD. On this day, however, none of these shows-nor any others-would hold a candle to the one by Guns N’ Roses, who played the fourth of four consecutive sold-out hometown gigs at the 17,000-capacity Los Angeles Forum and sealed their entrance into the club of the biggest and best rock bands of all time with a volcanic marathon of a show that ran close to four nonstop hours. And out in Seattle, two young bands named Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog would scorch a young crowd at the now-defunct, all-ages dive, RKCNDY. The first Lollapalooza tour held forth in Chicago that day, and its stacked lineup included Jane’s Addiction, Fishbone, Nine Inch Nails, Living Colour, and Ice-T, along with several others. ![]() Phish fans will immediately recognize the date as that of the legendary “ Amy’s Farm” show in Auburn, Maine, a free 3-set event that was the band’s first “larger” festival gig. Saturday, August 3rd, 1991 was a pretty good day for live gigs. GUNS N’ ROSES – LOS ANGELES FORUM – AUGUST 3, 1991
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