50 Fun Facts About Guns N' Roses

The band formed in 1985 from members of which two Los Angeles groups?

The name combined the two; rejected alternatives included 'Heads of Amazon' and, astonishingly, 'AIDS'.

Which five musicians made up the 'classic' Guns N' Roses line-up?

The line-up was finalised on June 4, 1985 and played its first show two days later.

What was the name of the disastrous 1985 road trip on which both of the band's vans broke down?

They hitchhiked with only their guitars; McKagan called it a defining moment for the group.

Which label signed Guns N' Roses in March 1986, offering full creative control and a $75,000 advance?

They turned down more money from Chrysalis, which wanted to change their image.

What was Guns N' Roses' 1986 EP, marketed as a concert recording but actually studio demos with crowd noise?

Only 10,000 vinyl copies were pressed on Geffen's Uzi Suicide imprint.

Who produced Appetite for Destruction?

KISS's Paul Stanley was rejected after suggesting changes to Adler's drum kit; Rose insisted on recording his vocals one line at a time.

On what date was Appetite for Destruction released?

It struggled for nearly a year until MTV started airing 'Welcome to the Jungle'.

Why was Appetite for Destruction's original cover art replaced?

Robert Williams's painting gave way to a cross bearing skull caricatures of the five members.

Which label founder personally persuaded MTV to air the 'Welcome to the Jungle' video?

MTV played it once at 4 a.m. on a Sunday, and viewer demand exploded.

'Welcome to the Jungle' was partly inspired by a homeless man's shout at Axl Rose in which city?

'You know where you are? You're in the jungle, baby; you're gonna die!' The song was written in Seattle.

Which 1988 Clint Eastwood film featured 'Welcome to the Jungle'?

It was the fifth Dirty Harry movie.

'Sweet Child o' Mine' began as a poem Axl Rose wrote for which girlfriend?

It became the band's only Billboard Hot 100 number one, and Slash admitted he 'hated that song with a huge passion'.

How did the famous 'Sweet Child o' Mine' riff come about?

Izzy asked him to play it again, added chords, and the band built the song around it in Sunset Strip jam.

How many Guns N' Roses songs have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100?

'Sweet Child o' Mine' is the lone chart-topper; 'November Rain' peaked at number three.

Appetite for Destruction holds what US sales record?

It has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Which song on G N' R Lies drew lasting controversy for its lyrics?

ACT UP later demanded the band be dropped from the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert because of it.

Which drummer replaced Steven Adler in 1990?

Adler was fired over his heroin and cocaine use after struggling through the 'Civil War' sessions.

How did the two Use Your Illusion albums debut on the Billboard 200 in 1991?

Released the same day, they sold a combined 35 million copies worldwide.

Which Guns N' Roses song appeared in Terminator 2: Judgment Day?

It was one of the Illusion-era singles alongside 'Don't Cry' and 'November Rain'.

Which musician joined the band on piano for 'November Rain' at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards?

The video won that year's VMA for best cinematography and was MTV's most requested clip.

At 8 minutes 57 seconds, what US chart record did 'November Rain' set in 1992?

It peaked at number three, a record later broken by longer songs; the video was inspired by Del James's short story 'Without You'.

Which short story by Del James inspired the 'November Rain' video?

The clips for 'Don't Cry', 'November Rain' and 'Estranged' form an unofficial trilogy.

What triggered the July 1991 riot at the Riverport Amphitheater near St. Louis?

He said 'thanks to the lame-ass security, I'm going home!'; a judge later ruled he hadn't directly incited the riot.

Which founding member quit on November 7, 1991, after a near-repeat of the St. Louis incident?

He cited Rose's behaviour, mismanagement of the band and difficulty being around Slash.

Which band co-headlined the 1992 stadium tour with Guns N' Roses that ended in a riot in Montreal?

James Hetfield was burned by pyrotechnics, Metallica cut their set short, and GN'R's late, shortened set sparked the riot.

What was the 1993 album 'The Spaghetti Incident?' made up of?

It debuted at number four and was the last album with Slash and McKagan until 2016.

Which Rolling Stones cover, released in December 1994, was the classic-era band's last recording?

It appeared in Interview with the Vampire; tension over the session helped push Slash out in October 1996.

How did Axl Rose inform the world of Slash's departure in 1996?

Slash replied that the two had 'not been capable of seeing eye to eye on Guns N' Roses for some time'.

Which avant-garde guitarist, known for wearing a KFC bucket on his head, joined in 2000?

Brian Carroll replaced Robin Finck, who went back to Nine Inch Nails; he left in 2004, and Bumblefoot replaced him in 2006.

Chinese Democracy reportedly cost about how much to make, a record for a rock album?

After years of delays it finally debuted at number three in November 2008.

Which soft-drink company promised everyone in America a free can if Chinese Democracy came out in 2008?

The offer pointedly excluded former guitarists Slash and Buckethead.

Which retailer bought 1.3M copies of Chinese Democracy up front, agreeing not to return unsold stock?

The album was released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria a day before the rest of the world.

In what year was Guns N' Roses inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Axl Rose refused to attend or be inducted, and the crowd chanted against him; Myles Kennedy sang with the reunited others.

Which singer fronted the reunited former members at the 2012 Hall of Fame ceremony in Axl's absence?

They played 'Mr. Brownstone', 'Sweet Child o' Mine' and 'Paradise City'.

The 2016 tour's name, Not in This Lifetime..., quoted whom?

The tour grossed $563.3 million, then second only to U2's 360° Tour.

Which festival hosted the first reunion shows with Slash and Duff in April 2016?

AC/DC's Angus Young joined them on stage; Rose was about to tour as AC/DC's stand-in singer.

How much had the Not in This Lifetime... Tour grossed by its end in December 2018?

That made it the second-highest-grossing tour ever at the time.

What was the band's first new material since 2008, released in August 2021?

Both it and 'Hard Skool' were reworked songs from the Chinese Democracy sessions.

In which Indiana city was Axl Rose born?

Born William Bruce Rose Jr., he has been the band's only constant member.

What is Slash's real name?

Born in London and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, he got the nickname from actor Seymour Cassel.

Who gave Slash his nickname when he was a child?

His parents both worked in entertainment; he moved to Los Angeles from England at six.

Which Finnish band was a heavy influence on Guns N' Roses' image and sound?

Their singer Michael Monroe has collaborated with Rose several times.

At which Los Angeles club did Guns N' Roses play their debut show on March 26, 1985?

Two days earlier, three songs from their first rehearsal with Duff McKagan aired during their first radio interview.

How many vinyl copies of the 1986 EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide were pressed on Geffen's Uzi Suicide imprint?

It included covers of Rose Tattoo's Nice Boys and Aerosmith's Mama Kin plus two originals.

What was the band's first single, released only in the UK in June 1987?

It reached number 84 on the UK Singles Chart; the band played its first shows outside the US at London's Marquee Club that month.

Which Eagles member played drums for the band at the 1989 American Music Awards while Steven Adler was in rehab?

Adler was briefly fired over drug use but reinstated after pledging to stay clean.

Which guitarist replaced Izzy Stradlin in 1991, credited by Slash with saving the band?

Clarke reportedly re-recorded all of Stradlin's parts on The Spaghetti Incident? and was gone by 1995.

The Spaghetti Incident? ends with a hidden cover of a song by which notorious figure?

Look at Your Game, Girl was originally by the cult leader.

Which former Replacements bassist joined Guns N' Roses in 1998, replacing Duff McKagan?

He was recommended by drummer Josh Freese, who had himself replaced Matt Sorum in 1997.

Which video won the band the 1992 MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography?

It became the most requested video on MTV; the Illusion-era clips were among the most expensive ever made.