They’re A Menacing Bunch
Fans rarely know what they’ll get from a Guns N’ Roses concert. A legendary performance? A walkout? A riot? Sometimes, all three. One fan even got the added bonus of Axl Rose himself jumping off the stage and pummeling him. There’s a good reason why Guns N’ Roses received the moniker “the most dangerous band in the world”. It seems that a little danger may just be the thing that unites this band to each other and to their fanatical fans.
It all started when Tracii Guns introduced Izzy Stradlin to Chris Weber. They joined up with Axl Rose and created the band Hollywood Rose. Even though it was Weber’s father who funded their demo album, Rose heartlessly fired Weber and signed on Slash. After a few more changes, Guns N’ Roses became a band on June 4, 1985.
But this was not their first choice of a name.
2. They Had Some Crazy Names
One of the names the band considered using was “Heads of Amazon”, a name that was downright baffling. The other, quite a bit more shocking name, was simply “AIDS”. In the end, they decided to mix together two names from the members, Tracii Guns and Axl Rose.
Soon this name would lack any sense whatsoever.
3. They Lost One Of The OG
In 1985, the band lost Tracii Guns, so half of their name didn’t make sense anymore. It’s open to speculation whether they even considered using just “Roses” for the name. But this doesn’t sound at all like a heavy metal band. In the end, the band kept both names, and the rest is history.
Eventually, they had to decide who Guns N’ Roses would actually be.
4. Two Rehearsals, Then Showtime
There were a few changes, but eventually they formed the final lineup and it was Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Slash, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler. But the guys had to work fast. They had time for just two rehearsals, and then they would have their first show. Just two days after this debut show, they would leave on tour.
It was a mad dash, and problems seemed inevitable.
5. Their First Tour Went Off the Rails
The first tour of Guns N’ Roses was on the West Coast of the US. But they had terrible luck. Somewhere along the road, not one but both of their vans broke down. The guys had to abandon the vans and try hitchhiking to the gig. Sadly, they could only bring their guitars with them.
They survived this disorganized tour and were ready to hit the LA clubs.
6. They Received Two Offers
After making a name for themselves in LA clubs, the guys faced a big decision. They had an offer from the British record label Chrysalis, but the label wanted to change their image. Geffen Records was offering less money, but they’d let them control the band themselves. Geffen was also willing to give them $75,000 as an advance.
They chose Geffen and headed toward stardom.
7. The Art Was Too Much
In 1987, the band released Appetite for Destruction, and there was an immediate problem. The art on the cover featured a scantily clad woman, and it looked like a nearby robot had just ravaged her. They explained that the image represented how we were destroying the environment. When some retailers refused to sell it, they moved the controversial image inside the album.
Next, it was time to see what the critics felt about the music.
8. Critics Weren’t Impressed
Once critics got past the album cover, they took aim at the music itself. Metal Hammer’s Davis Ling summed it up by saying he thought it was inferior to better bands like Aerosmith and AC/DC. This certainly wasn't the response that the guys in the band were hoping for.
But they weren’t ready to give up just yet.
9. It Was A Slow Burn
Geffen Records manager Al Coury had to persuade MTV to play the video for “Welcome to the Jungle” once per night for three nights in a row. Even though the video played at 4 AM, it became the top requested song. It took a year, but the album actually made it to the top spot on the Billboard 200. By 2018, it had sold 18 million records in the US alone.
Next, it was time to hit the big screen.
10. Slash Took Aim in a Dirty Harry Movie
At the end of the 1990s, Clint Eastwood was working on the final installment of his Dirty Harry series of movies. Guns N’ Roses got the call to use their song “Welcome to the Jungle” in the film. They also got the chance to appear in cameos. Slash even got to fire a harpoon for his part in the movie.
But what the guys really wanted to do was perform live on stage.
11. Marriage, Broken Hands, and Missed Shows
During the 16-month tour for their debut album, there was a string of disruptions. Duff McKagan decided to get married, so he missed some tour dates. Steven Adler also missed shows because he broke his hand in a fight. The funny thing was that he hadn't hurt his hand punching someone in the face. He’d missed the person and hit a streetlight. Ouch.
But Adler wasn’t through causing problems for the band.
12. He Was In Rehab
When it came time for the guys to appear on the American Music Awards, it was Adler again who had problems. He had checked himself into rehab and couldn’t perform. To replace him, Don Henley of the Eagles stepped in for the drumming duties. Sure, these were some pretty major issues, but this tour put the band on the map.
You could say they got a little too big.
13. They Took The Spotlight From Aerosmith
The tour for Appetite for Destruction saw Guns N’ Roses opening for big acts like the Cult, Aerosmith and Mötley Crūe. The tour went on for 16 months, and the band’s popularity continued to soar. By the end of the tour, Aerosmith’s manager said that Guns N’ Roses was “bigger than we were”.
But that wasn’t just his opinion. It was about to become very common knowledge.
14. They Made The Cover
During the tour, Rolling Stone magazine approached Aerosmith about doing a story on them. Aerosmith was happy to oblige the magazine, but the result was not at all what they expected. When they went to see what the magazine had written about them, they were in for a shock. It wasn’t Aerosmith on the cover, but Guns N’ Roses.
The guys were getting big, and their confidence even bigger.
15. They Were Offensive
For their second album, Guns N’ Roses wasn't afraid to offend. In some lyrics, Rose used strong language against Black people, and he said it was because he’d been the victim of an attempted robbery. He went on to explain that his slur against gay people was because he’d had negative experiences with them as well.
More shocking than the lyrics was Rose’s behavior on stage.
16. The Authorities Detained Rose
While the guys were doing a show in Atlanta, Rose went out of control. He went at a few security guards, and soon the authorities showed up to deal with the situation. Officers detained Rose backstage, but the show had to go on. The easy remedy was to have a roadie continue on in Rose’s absence.
It came out later that Rose had an easy way to avoid all this trouble.
17. They Offered Him A Second Chance
As it turned out, Rose could have easily avoided all this trouble. He later told an audience that the officers who were taking him to the station said that Rose could go back to the concert if he just apologized to the security guards he attacked. Rose’s response was a four letter “no”.
But it wasn’t just the security guards who were in danger at a Guns N’ Roses show.
18. It Got Wild
When the guys played in New York City, the fans at the shows began to turn frighteningly volatile. In England, things were even worse. At the Monsters of Rock show, two audience members tragically lost their lives as an unruly crowd took slam-dancing to a new level. Some thought that it was the guys’ casual attitude to recreational drug use that was fueling the fire.
They had to do something and do it fast.
19. The Band Got A Label
In 1989, as the band was opening for the Rolling Stones, Rose got serious with his bandmates. He said that the members had to stop their drug use, and if they didn’t, it would be the end of touring. But Rose’s strong words came a little too late. The guys had already received a label: “the most dangerous band in the world”.
Sometimes even flirting got them into trouble.
20. He Flirted With The Wrong Woman
At the 1989 MTV Awards, guitarist Izzy Stradlin was innocently flirting with a woman. The thing was, this woman was the girlfriend of Vince Neil, who was the vocalist for Mötley Crūe. When Neil found out, he found Stradlin and issued a swift punishment: a well-connected punch.
But there were some much more serious problems this band had to deal with.
21. He Was Too High To Play
In 1990, it was time to go back to the studio, but there were problems almost immediately. Steven Adler was so high during recording that they had to do almost 30 takes. Adler was trying to get clean, but his opiate blockers were making playing difficult. The band manager came up with a contract that would have Adler paying $2000 every time he showed up high.
According to Adler, these contracts had some hidden clauses.
22. They Tried To Trick Him
Adler alleges that these multi-page and complicated contracts had secret clauses in them that he unwittingly signed for. He said that the contract he signed was actually one that kicked him out of the band, and his payment would be a measly $2000. According to the contract, Adler would also lose any claim to royalties and credits for writing. When Adler realized what he’d signed, he lawyered up and got those things back.
An angry Adler was gone, and they needed a replacement.
23. He Behaved Like A Child
The band eventually decided on Matt Sorum of the Cult to replace Adler. But there were more changes coming. In 1991, Rose was through with their manager, Alan Niven. But the other members of the band were not with him on this. To get his way, Rose refused to do any work on the album they were in the middle of working on until Niven was gone.
The band was becoming a spectacular organizational disaster. But they were still insanely popular.
24. They Set A Record For Touring
With a new bandmate added, Dizzy Reed, Guns N’ Roses was ready to go on tour with their album Use Your Illusion. This tour would be a behemoth. They signed up for 28 months, 27 countries, and 192 shows. This gruelling schedule made this the “longest tour in rock and roll history”.
With all this time on the road, there was bound to be controversy.
25. Rose Leapt Into the Crowd
In Maryland Heights, Missouri, Rose noticed that a fan was videotaping the concert. Rose repeatedly asked security to remove the camera but then found it impossible to wait for them to do their duty. An angry Rose jumped into the audience. But he didn’t just remove the guy’s camera. He roughed him up as well. Rose then stormed off the stage and refused to continue.
The atmosphere in the audience was approaching dangerous levels.
26. A Camera Sparked a Riot
Seeing their hero storm off the stage sent the audience into “riot mode”. The concert abruptly descended into chaos, and dozens became injured. Band members also reported that fans had pelted them with bottles. The authorities were soon there, and they had one thing on their minds. They wanted to take Rose in.
But they were going to have to catch him first.
27. He Paid The Price
When the officers looked for Rose, they couldn’t find him. Lucky for Rose, the next leg of the tour took the band overseas and out of the jurisdiction of the officers. It took a year, but they did eventually charge Rose for what happened in Missouri. They fined him $50,000 and two years’ probation.
This next rowdy concert cost the band a member.
28. They Lost One
When a riot almost broke out at a show in Germany, guitarist Izzy Stradlin had had enough. He announced that he was quitting the band. Stradlin was now clean and was having trouble being around his bandmates who were still using. He also cited Rose’s behavior and band mismanagement as reasons.
The band suddenly faced a race against the clock. They had to find a replacement or cancel their upcoming shows.
29. He Replaced Himself
The guys quickly picked up LA guitarist Gilby Clarke to replace Stradlin. A short time after starting with the band, Clarke crashed his motorcycle and broke his arm. Now the guys needed a replacement for the replacement. Ironically, it was Stradlin himself who filled the gap that he’d recently created.
And speaking of motorcycles…
30. The Terminator Was A Fan
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a favorite amongst lovers of that franchise. “You Could be Mine” by Guns N’ Roses appears in this film. Director James Cameron obviously had a sense of humor. When T-800 pulls out his weapon, it’s in a secret hiding spot: a box of roses. See what he did there?
But not everyone was a fan.
31. An Invitation Sparked Outrage
Back in 1988, Rose’s anti-gay lyrics on “One in a Million” offended many people. He didn’t help matters when, in his defense, said he was just in favor of straight people. So, in 1992, when Guns N’ Roses got an invite to perform at a tribute concert for Freddie Mercury, things seemed out of whack.
When ACTUP got involved, it became heated.
32. They Had An Unexpected Ally
ACTUP started in 1987 in response to the AIDS crisis, and they had an opinion about Guns N’ Roses. The feeling was that this band had no business performing at a Freddie Mercury Tribute Show. Queen guitarist Brian May stood up for the band. He thought that their presence at the tribute was evidence that Rose and the guys were not anti-gay and let them play.
May was obviously a fan, but Rose had no shortage of enemies.
33. Rose Clashed With Cobain
At the 1992 MTV Music Awards, Rose happened to walk by Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, and their baby. Cobain and Love, apparently joking, called out to Rose that he should be the godfather of their child. Rose obviously didn’t think it was funny and replied, “You better keep your wife shut, or I'm gonna take you to the pavement."
Rose was not afraid to make enemies. Not even with a stadium full of fans.
34. Montreal Exploded Into Chaos
Guns N’ Roses was playing with Metallica in Montreal when a pyrotechnic accident left Metallica’s James Hetfield with second-degree burns. Guns N’ Roses quickly took to the stage but also had to stop early for technical reasons and Rose’s sore throat. The scene quickly turned ugly, and in the end, among the injured were three officers and 10 audience members.
The band’s next problem would be with each other.
35. They Didn’t Work Well With Others
In 1994, the band was working on a new album and suddenly tossed out what they had created. They reportedly scrapped the material because they could no longer work together. Tensions were already running high when the band got an offer. They wanted them to do a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” for an up and coming movie.
The collaboration was a recipe for disaster.
36. They Were Utterly Bankrupt
Doing a cover of a Rolling Stone hit song was already stressful. The fact that it was for the movie Interview with the Vampire, which starred big names like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, upped the ante. The stress led Rose to make Slash repeatedly record his part until it was exactly like Keith Richards’ version. After all that hard work, one critic called the song “utterly bankrupt”.
Rose’s behavior was going from bad to worse.
37. He Added His Friend
Rose’s behavior had always been an issue with the band, but now he was pushing his bandmates to the breaking point. Slash said that Rose had surprised the guys by announcing that they had a new member in the band. This was Rose’s friend from childhood, Paul “Huge” Tobias. There had been absolutely no consultation with the other guys about Tobias’ entry into the band.
Rose was adding to the band and then started subtracting.
38. Gilby Clarke Got the Boot
Next, Rose decided that someone had to leave the band. Again, without talking to the other members, Rose fired Gilby Clarke. Rose had given Clarke a hint about what was happening when he casually said ”Enjoy your last show,” at the end of the Use Your Illusion Tour.
Rose would turn on the other members of the band.
39. He Forced Them To Sign
According to Slash, during the Use Your Illusion Tour, there was a moment where Rose refused to go on stage. He said he would only perform under one condition. He had a contract ready, and the other members had to sign it. This contract gave Rose full rights to the name of the band.
Rose has denied that any of this story is true, but what he did next makes you wonder.
40. They Started Falling Apart
In 1995, Rose departed from the band and, with his contract in his hand, used the band’s name for a new project. When critics accused him of pilfering the name, Rose insisted he was trying to salvage the band. In 1996, Slash also left the band, saying it was the tension between Rose and himself that did him in.
41. He Was A No Show
Since Rose owned the name of the band, he started recording with a new lineup and only himself as one of the original members. In November 2002, they had a gig in Vancouver, and when Rose didn’t show up it seemed like he was up to his old tricks again. But the truth was, it wasn't his fault at all. His plane had mechanical issues.
But this fact wouldn’t stop a riot.
42. It Was Like Old Times
Fans didn’t care that Rose had a good reason for not making it to the show. Like the fans that came before them, they started a riot. They broke glass doors and threw rocks and bottles around. The officers sent to deal with the issue didn’t hold back and left fans bruised, bloodied, and pepper-sprayed.
Less than a month later, it would all happen again.
43. Philadelphia Fans Turned On Rose
Another stop on this tour was in Philadelphia. The fans had waited for 90 minutes after the opening act finished and were angry. When the announcement came over the speakers that they were canceling the show due to health issues, fans went wild. Again, they threw bottles but this time they had a chant: “Axl sucks”. The tour promoter canceled the remaining shows.
Things were also a mess in the recording studio.
44. He Went Way Over Budget
Rose and his new bandmates were working on an album called Chinese Democracy. It was dragging on for years and hemorrhaging money. The New York Times said Rose had spent $13 million on the album. Geffen Records was not happy and decided to release a Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits album.
And they did it without the band’s permission.
45. A Lawsuit Brought Them Together
Geffen Records’ Greatest Hits album served to bring some of the old members of the band together. Rose, Slash, and McKagan sued Geffen because the company released this album without their permission. They lost in court, and the album ended up going triple platinum.
Rose played the judge at this next crazy incident.
46. He Fired The Opening Act
At a 2006 concert, Rose asked the audience what they thought of the opening act. Clearly, Rose had already made his judgment of the band. He told the crowd he would never go on stage with them again and then promptly fired them from the tour the very next day.
Meanwhile, Chinese Democracy was still not close to completion.
47. They Broke The Internet
The release of the album Chinese Democracy was becoming a joke. In March, 2008, Dr Pepper said they would give one of their drinks to every person in the country if the album came out before the end of the year. Rose rose to the occasion and got the album out in time. When every thirsty person in the country got online to get their free soda, Dr Pepper’s website crashed.
People wanted their Dr Pepper, they also wanted a reunion.
48. He Said A Reunion Would Never Happen
In 2009, Rose told Billboard magazine that there was “no chance that he would ever agree with a reunion with Slash”. In 2016, that's exactly what happened. Both Slash and McKagan joined the band for the Not in This Lifetime… Tour. The tour grossed more than $560 million, giving it the number two spot in the highest grossing concert tours list.
But there is one song that Slash would not be looking forward to playing.
49. He Hated Their Most Famous Song
One of the bands’ top songs has always been ”Sweet Child O’ Mine”. And fans always make a big deal about Slash’s guitar at the beginning. Slash later confessed that he hated the song because this famous riff is just some string-skipping exercises he was doing, and Rose insisted they include it in the song.
But there’s something else embarrassing about this iconic song.
50. They Couldn’t Find An Ending
Because “Sweet Child O’ Mine” got off to a strange start with Slash’s string skipping exercise, no one really knew where to take the song from there. If you listen closely, the last part of the song consists of the repeated line, “Where do we go now?” Apparently, they really didn't know where to go with the song.
You could even see this line as a reference to the future of Guns N’ Roses. Who knows where they will go from here? We only know it will be somewhere a little dangerous.
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