Guns N' Roses: The biggest moments of their career

We take a look at their rollercoaster career to date

Guns N' Roses

Author: Scarlett MartinPublished 1st Oct 2021
Last updated 25th Nov 2021

Since exploding onto the music scene in 1985, Guns N' Roses have become one of the best-selling rock bands of all time. From their rebellious antics both on and off stage to their catalogue of searing rock anthems, the Los Angeles icons have sold over 100 million records worldwide over the past 36 years.

Planet Rock takes a brief look back at some of their defining career moments so far...

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Guns N' Roses: A legendary career in pictures

1985: Career Beginnings

Guns N' Roses formed in the mid-'80s when Hollywood Rose frontman Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin merged with members of another band called L.A. Guns. The first line-up for the band consisted of Axl Rose, Rob Gardner, Izzy Stradlin, Tracii Guns and Ole Beich, but it wasn't to be the last.

After growing tensions amongst the ranks, Beich, Gardner and Guns left and were quickly replaced by guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler to form the 'classic lineup'. The band played their first show together just two days later.

1986: Guns N' Roses get signed

After playing the West Coast 'Hell Tour' in 1985 and gaining popularity in the Hollywood club scene, Guns N' Roses started to gain the attention of major record labels. In 1986, the band signed with Geffen Records and quickly released their four-track EP, 'Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide'.

1987: 'Appetite For Destruction' is released

Guns N' Roses achieved breakthrough success after the release of their landmark debut studio album 'Appetite For Destruction' in 1987. It was a major success and featured some of Guns N' Roses' most iconic hits 'Welcome To The Jungle' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. 'Appetite For Destruction' went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide - with 18 million copies being sold in America alone.

1988: Guns N' Roses reach number 1

A year after its release, 'Appetite for Destruction' and single 'Sweet Child O' Mine' both reach Number 1 in the US. After being the opening act for Aerosmith during their 'Permanent Vacation' tour, Guns N' Roses released their second album, 'G N' R Lies' which featured the single 'Patience'. The album reached Number 2 in US upon its release. In October 1989, Guns N' Roses were opening acts for The Rolling Stones and continued to grow their dedicated fan base.

1990: Steven Adler is fired from the band

Whilst playing at Farm Aid IV at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Guns N' Roses played their final show with drummer Steven Adler before firing him. Adler's drug addiction had started to take a toll on his playing, which was starting to cause increasing tensions within the band. He was later replaced by former Cult drummer Matt Sorum. Guns N' Roses also welcomed keyboardist Dizzy Reed to the band in 1990 as they started to record their 'Use Your Illusion' albums.

1991-1992: 'Use Your Illusions' albums are released

Instead of releasing a double album, which they felt would be too expensive for fans, Guns N' Roses released both 'Use Your Illusion I' and 'Use Your Illusion II' on 17th Sept 1991. Featuring singles like 'November Rain', 'Civil War' and 'Live And Let Die', both albums debuted at Number 2 and Number 1 respectively in the Billboard charts and have gone on to sell 30 million copies since.

Before the release of the albums, Guns N' Roses embarked on the infamous 'Use Your Illusion World Tour'. The 28-month long tour is considered 'the longest tour in rock history'. On 7th November 1991, it was announced that guitarist Izzy Stradlin had decided to leave the band. He was replaced shortly after by Gilby Clarke.

1993-1996: 'The Spaghetti Incident?' and Slash's Departure

After completing their mammoth world tour, Guns N' Roses released their fifth album 'The Spaghetti Incident?' in 1993. The album featured covers of older punk songs including The Stooges 'Raw Power' and The New York Dolls 'Human Being'. The album reached number 4 in the US and sold 190,000 copies during its first week. During a lawsuit against the band, Steven Adler's lawyer asked the members to "tell us about the spaghetti incident," which the band found so amusing that they used it as the title of their album.

On October 31st 1996, after months of speculation, Axl Rose announced that guitarist Slash was no longer with Guns N' Roses. Slash focused his attention onto his side-project, Slash's Snakepit and released, 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere' in February 1995. Guitarist Gilby Clarke also left the band in 1995 when his contract wasn't renewed.

1997-1999: More line-up changes

In 1997, Guns N' Roses parted ways with long-time members Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan. After recruiting new members, original member Axl Rose was now joined by keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman, guitarist Robin Finck, drummer Josh Freese, guitarist Paul "Huge" Tobias and bass player Tommy Stinson. The new lineup released 'Oh My God' in 1999, which was the first new Guns N' Roses material in five years.

Meanwhile, Slash reformed his band Slash's Snakepit in 1999, after the band split up in 1996. Joined by Rod Jackson on vocals, Ryan Roxie on rhythm guitar, Johnny Griparic on bass, and Matt Laug on drums, the band released their second album, 'Ain't Life Grand' a year later.

2000-2002: Guns N' Roses return to the stage

By 2000, Guns N' Roses had already started working on their sixth album, 'Chinese Democracy'. Eight years after the band's last live show, the band performed two shows in Las Vegas and one at the Rock in Rio Festival in January 2001. The success of these shows saw the band play two further Vegas shows which former member Slash tried to attend. Unfortunately, he was allegedly denied entry.

After parting ways with Finch and Freese in 2000, Guns N' Roses welcomed drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia and guitarist Brian "Buckethead" Carroll. Two years later, rhythm guitarist Paul Tobias left the band and was quickly replaced by Richard Fortus. In 2002, former- Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, along with vocalist Scott Weiland and guitarist Dave Kushner, formed the rock supergroup Velvet Revolver.

2002-2003: Guns N' Roses go on a hiatus

Guns N' Roses headlined several festivals throughout Europe and Asia in 2002, such as Pukkelpop, Summer Sonic Festival and Reading & Leeds Festivals. At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, the band closed the event in an unannounced performance where they played hits 'Welcome to the Jungle', 'Madagascar', and 'Paradise City'.

The band kicked off their 'Chinese Democracy' world tour in 2002 to promote their upcoming sixth album of the same name, with a show in Hong Kong. The album wouldn't be released for another six years. The North American leg of the tour was notoriously cancelled after Axl Rose failed to show up to perform.

The band decided to go on a hiatus in 2003 until May 2004 when they were scheduled to play at Rock in Rio Lisboa. Unfortunately this was cancelled when Buckethead left the band a few months before.

2004-2006: Continuing the 'Chinese Democracy World Tour

Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal went on to replace Buckethead and made his debut with Guns N' Roses in May 2006 - the band's first live show in over three years. Guns N' Roses then went on to continue the Northern America leg of their 'Chinese Democracy' world tour. However, later that year, the band decided to cut the tour short to work on the post-production for their long-awaited album.

Meanwhile, Velvet Revolver released their debut album, 'Contraband' in 2004 which debuted at Number 1 in the US.

2007-2008: 'Chinese Democracy' is released

'Chinese Democracy', the band's long-awaited sixth studio album, was finally released in November 2008. This was the band's first album since 1993's 'The Spaghetti Incident?' and cost an estimated $14 million to make. The album featured singles 'Chinese Democracy' which was first performed in 2001, 'Shacklers Revenge', 'Madagascar', 'Better', 'Streets Of Dreams' and 'Prostitute'.

The album debuted at Number 3 on the Billboard 200 Chart and continues to be one of the most expensive rock albums to ever be produced. After Bryan "Brain" Mantia left Guns N' Roses in 2006, drummer Frank Ferrer joined the band in 2007.

2009-2011: Worlds Tours

In March 2009, guitarist Finck left Guns N' Roses for a second time to rejoin his former band Nine Inch Nails. Sixx:A.M.'s DJ Ashba took his place as the band embarked on their 'Chinese Democracy' World Tour 2009/2010. Guns N' Roses were joined onstage by former bass player Duff McKagan during the European leg of the tour - the first time they had played together for 17 years. Guns N' Roses continued to tour throughout 2010/2011, which included headline shows at Reading and Leeds Festival in 2010 and Rock in Rio 4 in 2011.

2012: Rock and Hall Of Fame Induction and Up Close And Personal Tour

In 2012, the classic line-up of Guns N' Roses were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Beastie Boys and Faces. Former members, Slash, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, Steven Adler and Matt Sorum all attended the ceremony but frontman Axl Rose chose not to attend. The group performed classics such as 'Mr. Brownstone', 'Sweet Child O' Mine', and 'Paradise City' with the help of Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy in Rose's absence.

In 2012, Guns N' Roses would embark on their 'Up Close And Personal' Tour, which saw the band perform in more intimate venues. Later that year, they also started a residency in Las Vegas entitled 'Appetite for Democracy', which celebrated both the 25th anniversary of the band's debut album, 'Appetite for Destruction' and the fourth anniversary of the album 'Chinese Democracy'.

2015-2018: Reunion with Slash and Duff McKagan

After saying goodbye to DJ Ashba, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and Tommy Stinson, Guns N' Roses reunited with former members Slash and Duff McKagan, who had not performed with the band since 1993, for a headline set at Coachella Music Festival.

In 2016, Guns N' Roses, along with Slash and Duff McKagan, went on their 'Not In This Lifetime' World Tour, where Axl Rose famously fell off a monitor and broke his foot and was forced to sit in a throne for select dates. Keyboardist Melissa Reese joined the band that year after long-time member Christ Pitman decided to quit. Guns N' Roses continued on their world tour throughout 2017/2018, including headline shows at Reading and Leeds Festival and two epic shows at London Stadium.

2019-2020: Guns N' Roses 2020 tour

The 'Not In this Lifetime...' Tour ended in November 2019, two years after it started. The line up of the band also didn't change during this time and consisted of Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese. Not ones to sit back and relax for too long, the band embarked on their 'Guns N' Roses 2020' Tour and played their first show in Mexico in March 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the band were forced to reschedule all remaining dates to 2021.

2021

Guns N' Roses announced that they will be continuing their postponed tour next year, in 2022, with New Zealand and Australia set to be the first places the band visit first before heading to Europe.

Slash also hinted at the end of 2020 that a new Guns N' Roses album could be on the horizon in 2021, their first since 2008's 'Chinese Democracy'. But as of yet no set release dates have been announced.

In early 2021, "GNR: The First 50 Gigs" a new podcast, video and web series will be launched by long-time friend of the band Marc Canter. The series promises to provide 'a first-hand account of the origin story of GN'R, their rise on the Sunset Strip and the making of 'Appetite For Destruction'.