1987 was one of the strongest years of rock music and this album right here is most certainly one of the main reasons why. Today, on the 21st of July, 2017, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the biggest rock statements. To commemorate its release, I think it’s only fair to dedicate a little publication, remembering some of the timeless highlights on it – songs that defined generations of rockers and fans…
In 1987, Guns N’ Roses blew up the music industry by exploding onto the national scene with their first and best album! In addition to being one of the best-selling albums of all time, “Appetite for Destruction” also happens to be the best-selling debut album in history of music! What a debut that was! Not only did it peaked at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 Chart, but it also reached top 10 positions in Australia, Canada, Norway and Sweden.
Needless to say, the album was an absolute turning point for the hard rock/metal genre and its direction. Ferocious rock anthems such as “Paradise City”, “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Nightrain” have been clogging the airwaves ever since the release of this rock tornado. Guns N’ Roses crafted something extremely dangerous, raw and quite nasty that actually brought nothing but fun and great time to the public. The sound is rough, the lyrics are vulgar and fierce but it’s the 80s we’re talking about – the ultimate time to be as outrageous as you want to and enjoy it to the max! The success of the album was somehow contributed to its hedonistic “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll” theme which greatly appealed to the mass. The band incorporated elements of punk rock, glam metal, hard rock and metal music to come up with this primal sound that reached the absolute level of breakthrough. I personally don’t think the band will ever reach such highs, such speed or such level of musicianship. Bottom line is, “Appetite for Destruction” is the record that proved that people can’t really escape from themselves but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
The album makes its clear statement right from the beginning. The first track, “Welcome to the Jungle” is a symbolic door through the brutal, nasty, drug-infested and dark world of L.A. The track sends us on a journey to the city’s most awful secrets. The story, told by Axl and his exceptional but rather ghostly howls, quickly brings out to the surface our deepest fears. This song has to be one of the most powerful intros in rock music! The MV is also a classic.
“Paradise City” is probably the single track they owe their success to. With an exceptional mixture of blues, punk and hard rock motives, the song is everything but your ordinary 80s rock tune. “Paradise City” captivates right from the beginning with its unique rhythm, escalating guitar riffs and Axl’s aggressive, quite forceful but energetic vocal delivery. The theme of the song is similar to that of “Welcome to the Jungle” – they knew how to convey a message using the proper tools and words!
This is my personal favorite song from the album and I’m particularly fond of the music video! Can we please go back and attend such concerts??
In the power ballad “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, Axl, Slash and company prove that they can be vulnerable and deliver something romantic and atmospheric with no efforts. This song perfectly demonstrates the outstanding guitar abilities of Slash and surprises us with a very catchy hard-rock beat and beautiful lyrics.
“Nightrain” is another song I would like to focus your attention at. Yet again, we are transferred to the sinful, alcohol and drug-fueled world of L.A. Axl’s vocal delivery, in combination with metallic hard rock guitar riffs give us a little bit of an AC/DC vibe.
“Think about You” is in my opinion a very underrated track. By including it in this publication, I only wish more people would realize and experience its true value. It’s a sweet love song that creates the perfect mood! The rhythm and the lyrics absolutely do it for me!
Last but not least, let’s remember “Rocket Queen” which seems to be everyone’s favorite track! I’m absolutely inlove with the riffs and the lyrics on this one…
THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.
Not many artists have refused to be inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. This “prestigious” institution has been acknowledging the careers of influential rockstars since the 80s and to many musicians, getting a nomination is the ultimate sign of success. I have previously expressed my strong opinions towards Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame and their “rock experts” who apparently know so much about rock ‘n’ roll that they inducted N.W.A and Green Day, but left Ronnie James Dio, Judas Priest and Def Leppard and many more out of the picture. That’s a whole other story, though.
Musicians, such as Axl Rose and Ozzy Osbourne have publicly declined their induction into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. The most famous public Rock hall of fame blast, however, comes from Sex Pistols. In 2006, they not only didn’t attend the ceremony, but frontman Johnny Rotten posted a very scathing note on their official website, saying that “Next to the Sex Pistols, rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain”.
I completely support and understand why these rockstars chose to distance themselves from such unnecessary media exposure and “experts” whose votes mean absolutely nothing to anyone. I actually wish more rockstars would realize the incompetence of the people who run the show down there and would refuse to be part of the sham. Actually, a lot of famous bands such as Def Leppard and Motley Crue have already expressed their views on Rock Hall of Fame by saying that if they get invited for an induction, they would just decline.
These are the letters of the above-mentioned musicians who I think made the right choice and gave the Rock Hall of Fame what they truly deserve – a “Hell No!”
Sex Pistols’s Letter
Ozzy Osbourne’s Letter:
“Just take our name off the list. Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless, because it’s not voted on by the fans. It’s voted on by the supposed elite for the industry and the media, who’ve never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is irrelevant to me. Let’s face it, Black Sabbath has never been media darlings. We’re a people’s band and that suits us just fine.”
Despite what he wrote, Ozzy ended up joining the hall of fame, in respect to his band mates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, at the 2006 ceremony.
Axl Rose’s Letter:
To: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Guns N’ Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern,
When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N’ Roses were to be inducted it’d be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.
Since then we’ve listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N’ Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists’ comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.
Under the circumstances I feel we’ve been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N’ Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in “our” induction (that for the record are decisions I don’t agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things… no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn’t appear to be somewhere I’m actually wanted or respected.
For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It’s their show not mine.
That said, I won’t be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N’ Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of “Guns N’ Roses”.
This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp’s perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I’m sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I’ll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don’t intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we’ve actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” scenario all the way around.
In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the ‘Appetite’ or ‘Illusion’ lineups, I’ve publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing’s changed.
The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of “for the fans” or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and DJ Ashba. Izzy came out with us a few times back in ’06 and I invited him to join us at our LA Forum show last year. Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in ’06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned. Duff joined us in 2010 and again in ’11 along with his band, Loaded, opening in Seattle and Vancouver. For me, with the exception of Izzy or Duff joining us on stage if they were so inclined somewhere in the future for a song or two, that’s enough.
There’s a seemingly endless amount of revisionism and fantasies out there for the sake of self-promotion and business opportunities masking the actual realities. Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn’t room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion.
Maybe if it were you it’d be different. Maybe you’d do it for this reason or that. Peace, whatever. I love our band now. We’re there for each other when the going gets rough. We love our fans and work to give them every ounce of energy and heart we can.
So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn’t owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another’s, or in this case several others’, expense. But hey if ya gotta then maybe we can get the “no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he doesn’t care about the fans” crap out of the way as quickly as we can and let’s move on. No one’s taking the ball and going home. Don’t get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we’ve endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types. Not to imply anything in this particular circumstance, but from my perspective in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball’s never been in our court. In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or as ironic as it may seem, I’d like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns’ induction. More importantly I’d like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we’ve had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N’ Roses music.
I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. Cheers~
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Everyone knows that Axl Rose is the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll diva. Since the phenomenal debut of Guns N’ Roses with the blockbuster“Appetite for Destruction”, Axl has done his fair share of diva-moments such as being very fashionably late, leaving the venue, scolding and offending the public, getting into fights with fans (especially those wearing Slash T-Shirts) and so on.
This video presents a lovely compilation of unforgettable onstage moments. It’s quite entertaining and definitely worth watching. Honestly, I think some of what he does or says seems quite reasonable. I mean, what kind of a person goes to a concert and throws bottles at the stage!?
Based on the success of the previous publication, I decided to prepare a part 2 of “10 Classic Rock Songs about Missing Someone” playlist. Apparently, the theme of missing someone special in your life and experiencing those emotions through songs is one of the most popular and preferred themes among listeners. I do hope the second set of songs I’ve gathered give you what you are looking for. Listen, enjoy and don’t be sad – life is full of hope and the time for holding someone you love once again or meeting a new love, might come sooner than you think…
Shed a tear ’cause I’m missin’ you I’m still alright to smile Girl, I think about you every day now Was a time when I wasn’t sure But you set my mind at ease There is no doubt You’re in my heart now
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
I must be strong And carry on ‘Cause I know I don’t belong Here in heaven Would you hold my hand If I saw you in heaven? Would you help me stand If I saw you in heaven?
Scorpions – Lonely Nights
Since you’re gone There is an empty space Since you’re gone The world is not the same I go back to the places we’ve been It feels like you’re still there I live all those moments again Wishing you were here
Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick, And think of you Caught up in circles confusion – Is nothing new Flashback – warm nights – Almost left behind Suitcases of memories, Time after…
Bon Jovi – Always
It’s been raining since you left me Now I’m drowning in the flood You see I’ve always been a fighter But without you I give up
Now I can’t sing a love song Like the way it’s meant to be Well, I guess I’m not that good anymore But, baby, that’s just me…
Bryan Adams – When You’re Gone
I’ve been wandering around the house all night wondering what the hell to do I’m trying to concentrate but all i can think of is you well the phone don’t ring cuz my friends ain’t home I’m tired of being all alone got the TV on cuz the radio’s playing songs that remind me of you…
Carole King – So Far Away
So far away Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore It would be so fine to see your face at my door Doesn’t help to know you’re just time away Long ago I reached for you and there you stood Holding you again could only do me good Oh, how I wish I could But you’re so far away…
Journey – Wheel in the Sky
Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin’ I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin’ I’ve been trying to make it home Got to make it before too long I can’t take this very much longer I’m stranded in the sleet and rain Don’t think I’m ever gonna make it home again The mornin’ sun is risin’ It’s kissing the day
The Byrds – Here Without You
Daytime just makes me feel lonely At night I can only dream about you Girl you’re on my mind nearly all of the time It’s so hard being here without you Words in my head keep repeating things that you said Wen I was with you And I wonder is it true do you feel the same way too It’s so hard being here without you, being here without you…
+Bonus Track:
Tenacious D – Dude, I Totally Miss You
Dude, i totally miss you The things we did together Where have you gone? Totally miss the honesty And special times, and honestly I totally miss the fu**ed up thing ya do…
Axl Rose appeared on camera for the first time with his new AC/DC bandmates. Prior to their concert in Lisbon, the band released a video, inviting people to see the show and expressing their enthusiasm and excitement about it.
“Lisbon, here we come,” says Young. “We’re really excited to be here in Portugal. We’re here to give you a great rock show, so we hope to see you all there.”
“Absolutely,” adds Rose. “We’re very excited to be there.”
Update: Angus, Cliff and Axl on Brian Johnson’s departure.
In a recent interview with BBC 6 Music, Axl also revealed: “I’m not here in any way out of any disrespect to Brian. I can’t take anything away from his singing at all. He’s a great singer, and it’s really challenging to sing it. I’m just trying to do it justice for the fans,” says Axl.
After endless years, full of hope and anticipation, the long awaited reunion of Guns N’ Roses is finally a fact! Fans were more than thrilled to welcome the legends back on stage and experience true rock ‘n’ roll alongside their favorite band from the 80s. Furthermore, we just got the news that Axl Rose is joining AC/DC as their frontman so definitely, this year a lot of interesting and exciting things are happening for the members of Guns N’ Roses and their fans, of course. In the spirit of these awesome events, I decided to prepare a publication, focusing on Guns N’ Roses’ greatest album from the 80s – “Appetite for Destruction”. Some might disagree, however to me personally this is also their most impressive record among all and probably the main reason why they reached such a phenomenal success and became the ultimate fan-favorites. The album is a true masterpiece – no second opinion about it. I believe it’s also one of those albums you just HAVE to have regardless whether you are a fan of the band or not. “Appetite for Destruction” is an absolute era-defining album and if you love classic rock music and you don’t have it yet – just go and buy it right now! Let’s talk more about the album!
Appetite for Destruction
Released:July 21, 1987 Recorded:March–April 1987 Genre:Hard Rock, Rock, Heavy Metal, Glam Metal Length:53:51 Label:Geffen Producer(s):Mike Clink Singles: “It’s So Easy”, “Welcome To The Jungle”, “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, “Break It Up”, “Paradise City”, “Nighttrain” Personnel:Axl Rose – lead vocals, backing vocals, synthesizer; Slash – lead guitar; Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, co-lead guitar; Duff “Rose” McKagan – bass guitar, backing vocals; Steven Adler – drums;
TRACKLIST:
1. Welcome To The Jungle 2. It’s So Easy 3. Nightrain 4. Out Ta Get Me 5. Mr. Brownstone 6. Paradise City 7. My Michelle 8. Think About You 9. Sweet Child O’ Mine 10. You’re Crazy 11. Anything Goes 12. Rocket Queen
Overview:
In 1987, Guns N’ Roses blew up the music industry by exploding onto the national scene with their first and best album! In addition to being one of the best-selling albums of all time, “Appetite for Destruction” also happens to be the best-selling debut album in history of music! What a debut that was! Not only did it peaked at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 Chart, but it also reached top 10 positions in Australia, Canada, Norway and Sweden.
Needless to say, the album was an absolute turning point for the hard rock/metal genre and its direction. Ferocious rock anthems such as “Paradise City”, “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Nightrain” have been clogging the airwaves ever since the release of this rock tornado. Guns N’ Roses crafted something extremely dangerous, raw and quite nasty that actually brought nothing but fun and great time to the public. The sound is rough, the lyrics are vulgar and fierce but it’s the 80s we’re talking about – the ultimate time to be as outrageous as you want to and enjoy it to the max! The success of the album was somehow contributed to its hedonistic “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll” theme which greatly appealed to the mass. The band incorporated elements of punk rock, glam metal, hard rock and metal music to come up with this primal sound that reached the absolute level of breakthrough. I personally don’t think the band will ever reach such highs, such speed or such level of musicianship. Bottom line is, “Appetite for Destruction” is the record that proved that people can’t really escape from themselves but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
The album makes its clear statement right from the beginning. The first track, “Welcome to the Jungle” is a symbolic door through the brutal, nasty, drug-infested and dark world of L.A. The track sends us on a journey to the city’s most awful secrets. The story, told by Axl and his exceptional but rather ghostly howls, quickly brings out to the surface our deepest fears.
Personally, I think this song has one of the most powerful intros in rock music! The MV is also a classic.
Welcome to the jungle It gets worse here everyday Ya learn ta live like an animal In the jungle where we play If you got a hunger for what you see You’ll take it eventually You can have anything you want But you better not take it from me….
“Paradise City” is probably the single track they owe their success to. With an exceptional mixture of blues, punk and hard rock motives, the song is everything but your ordinary 80s rock tune. “Paradise City” captivates right from the beginning with its unique rhythm, escalating guitar riffs and Axl’s aggressive, quite forceful but energetic vocal delivery. The theme of the song is similar to that of “Welcome to the Jungle” – they knew how to convey a message using the proper tools and words!
This is my personal favorite song from the album and I’m particularly fond of the music video! Can we please go back and attend such concerts??
Strapped in the chair of the city’s gas chamber Why I’m here I can’t quite remember The surgeon general says it’s hazardous to breathe I’d have another cigarette, but I can’t see Tell me who you’re gonna believe
Take me down To the paradise city Where the grass is green And the girls are pretty Take me home…
In the power ballad “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, Axl, Slash and company prove that they can be vulnerable and deliver something romantic and atmospheric with no efforts. This song perfectly demonstrates the outstanding guitar abilities of Slash and surprises us with a very catchy hard-rock beat and beautiful lyrics.
She’s got a smile that it seems to me Reminds me of childhood memories Where everything Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face She takes me away to that special place And if I stared too long I’d probably break down and cry
Sweet child o’ mine…
“Nightrain” is another song I would like to focus your attention at. Yet again, we are transferred to the sinful, alcohol and drug-fuelled world of L.A. Axl’s vocal delivery, in combination with metallic hard rock guitar riffs give us a little bit of an AC/DC vibe.
“Think about You” is in my opinion a very underrated track. By including it in this publication, I only wish more people would realize and experience its true value. It’s a sweet love song that creates the perfect mood! The rhythm and the lyrics absolutely do it for me!
There wasn’t much in this heart of mine There was a little left and babe you found it It’s funny how I never felt so high It’s a feelin’ that I know I know I’ll never forget Ooh it was the best thing I can remember Ooh and the love we shared- is lovin’ that’ll last forever
I think about you Honey all the time my heart says yes….
Many people will agree with me when I say that “Appetite for Destruction” is one of the best metal albums of the 80s! As good as Axl Rose’s shrilling voice is, the effect of the album wouldn’t have been so strong if it weren’t for the exceptional guitar skills of Slash and Izzy. The brutal and nasty world, Guns N’ Roses invite us in with this album can’t but fascinate you. I am truly happy we were blessed with this masterpiece and I wish they kept on with their winning streak. Unfortunately, after the phenomenal success of the record, the band couldn’t top themselves and till today, “Appetite for Destruction” remains their greatest work and in my opinion, the reason why they were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Nevertheless, some people consider it as the “record of the 80” and as such, we should appreciate it! Now go listen to the other crazy tracks!
AC/DC’S ROCK OR BUST WORLD TOUR RESUMES WITH AXL ROSE ON VOCALS
AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures. As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian’s decision to stop touring and save his hearing. We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment. AC/DC will resume their Rock Or Bust World Tour with Axl Rose joining on vocals. The European stadium tour dates begin on May 7 in Lisbon, Portugal and run through June 12 in Aarhus, Denmark as previously announced (see below for full itinerary). Following this European run of dates with AC/DC, Axl Rose will head out on his Guns N Roses, Not In This Lifetime Summer Stadium Tour. The 10 postponed U.S shows will be rescheduled and announced imminently, also with Axl Rose.
AC/DC European tour dates:
May 7 Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Maritimo De Alges
May 10 Seville, Spain Estadio De La Cartuja
May 13 Marseille, France Stade Velodrome
May 16 Werchter, Belgium Werchter Site
May 19 Vienna, Austria Erns-Happel Stadium
May 22 Prague, Czech Republic Letnany Airport
May 26 Hamburg, Germany Volksparkstadion
May 29 Berne, Switzerland Stade De Suisse
June 1 Leipzig, Germany Red Bull Arena
June 4 London, England The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
There were tons of rumors and numerous speculations on whether or not Axl Rose will be chosen as AC/DC’s new lead singer for the rest of their 2016 tour. The speculations ended today, when AC/DC made an official statement on their website, as well as Facebook page. As announced, Axl Rose will in fact be filling in for Brian Johnson on their “Roc or Bust” tour. The European tour dates kick off on May 7 in Lisabon, Portugal and will run through June 12 in Aarhus, Denmark. The U.S. summer dates that were postponed will be rescheduled with Axl Rose as frontman. After completing his engagements with AC / DC, Axl will be focusing on the reunion of his own band – Guns N’ Roses for their ‘Not In This Lifetime’ summer North American tour.
The statement was made and now everything is official and in order. However, I wanted to ask you guys what do you really think about it? Are you supporting AC/DC’s decision to replace Brian Johnson with Axl Rose or you think it’s a big mistake? Well, I wanted to share my own opinion regarding the situation ….
First of all, I would like to say that I’m a huge fan of AC/DC and even though I won’t be attending their European tour, I am (will be) keeping close track on what it happening during the concerts. The health issues of Brian Johnson came as a huge shock to most fans, including myself, because it’s so difficult to imagine the band without him – they simply go together and that’s it. Now, all of a sudden, the complete image and legacy of the band were threatened and fans became so concerned with its future. Then, all of a sudden, we get these paparazzi photos of Axl, leaving a rehearsing studio with AC/DC and everyone was like….What? No, that cannot be true!!! The majority of fans were just rejecting any possibility of this being true – to many, including myself, it just seemed too ridiculous. Now, however, we finally know – it’s true and it’s happening! I was expecting it, to be honest but that doesn’t mean that I have accepted it! My personal belief is that instead of going with Axl Rose, AC/DC should’ve just cancelled the tour, supported Brian in his recovery and basically gone out with dignity and respect. Instead, they chose to continue the journey with a frontman, whose singing abilities are quite questionable and extremely unsuitable for any AC/DC song. AC/DC were, are and always will be true legends in rock music. As such, I believe they should’ve made a better decision – fans will never stop loving you or listen to your songs if you just choose to retire. I am trying to understand and support their decision but I just can’t. I feel like this whole thing was made for one reason one – marketing and of course money. Everyone on the internet is going nuts over the news but at the end of the day it’s going to be a historical moment. After all, collaboration between those exact rockstars was never even thought of before. Naturally, everyone is going to be so curious and believe me, people might be angry but they will buy the tickets! I also think that it’s a little bit disrespectful towards Brian Johnson who basically helped turn the band into what it is now – one of the best (if not the best) rock bands in history! After so many years of hard work and dozens of breath-taking concerts, I think Brian deserves better…
Also, I wanted to say that the press release, announcing the news was extremely cold and superficial – I was not expecting it to be like that. Brian Johnson is AC/DC and there’s no AC/DC without Brian Johnson. He did so much for the band and he can never be replaced. Fans love him, adore him and respect him with all their hearts. I think he deserves so much more than 2 trivial sentences and a “best of luck in your future endeavors”, don’t you think? Well, all I can say is THANK YOU, Brian for everything you did – We salute you!
Anyhow, I will be waiting with extreme anticipation… I don’t have high hopes but I’m curious and ready to experience this “one of a kind” event… Let me know what you think??
GUNS N’ ROSES are finally back on stage – the place where they truly belong to! On the 1st of April – this past Friday, just after midnight, Guns N’ Roses officially returned with a live performance at the tiny Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. The capacity of the place is around 400 people. According towww.blabbermouth.ne , the lineup consisted of Axl Rose, together with Slash, Duff McKagan, keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrar and new-coming second keyboardist Melissa Reese rocked together on stage. Whether or not the other two founding members – Izzy Stradlin or Steven Adler appeared has not been reported yet.
The band played a 17-song set, including some of their classic rock tunes, such as “Welcome to the Jungle”, “Rocket Queen”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and of course, “Paradise City”. Interestingly, the concert featured Slash, playing songs from 2008 “Chinese Democracy” album for the first time. The band also performed a cover of The Who’s “The Seeker” during their encore – a song known to be often performed by the previous line-up of the band.
Guns N’ Roses Setlist from Troubadour, April 1 Live Event
“It’s So Easy” 2. “Mr. Brownstone” 3. “Chinese Democracy” (first time with Slash) 4. “Welcome to the Jungle” 5. “Double Talkin’ Jive” 6. “Live and Let Die” (Wings cover) 7. “Rocket Queen” 8. “You Could Be Mine” 9. “Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from ‘The Godfather’)” 10. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” 11. “New Rose” (The Damned cover) 12. “Better” (first time with Slash) 13. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Bob Dylan cover) 14. “My Michelle” 15. “Nightrain”
Encore: 16. “The Seeker” (The Who cover) 17. “Paradise City”
Let’s not forget that Guns N’ Roses has six more concerts scheduled this month. Two would be at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, two in Las Vegas and two in Mexico City. The most recent one is on April 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. We can’t wait!
Here are some audio and visual materials from the event. I’m curious to find out what you guys think about their live performance. Obviously, the fans who were lucky enough to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event, were in their highest spirits. I do agree with the majority of people, saying that Axl’s voice is just not what it used to be and his vocal delivery has drastically changed over the years. However, based on what I saw and heard on those videos, I think that he sounds much better, compared to few years ago, for instance. This is probably the best I’ve heard from him for a very long time. I believe he’s taking the reunion seriously and he sounds ready for it! What else can I say – I wish I was there to experience and feel it because they do seem so energetic and powerful! The crowd was great too! Not to mention that for the first time since the 90s, Axl and Slash are back together on stage! I cannot wait to see their upcoming live events!
Let’s travel back to the beginning of the 90s – I promise you, it’s totally worth it!
I was looking for a song that was released on the year I was born in – 1992 and I suddenly realized that one of the most touching, emotionally-intense and well-written rock ballads EVER came out the same year. That’s right, I’m talking about Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain”. The song is, without doubt, a true masterpiece and in my opinion probably their greatest one. In addition to appreciating the true value of this work of art, I thought that it’s quite essential to familiarize ourselves and truly understand the meaning of the song, its lyrics and music video, as well. I don’t know about you guys, but if you are a lyrics-lover like me, I believe you can’t but be moved by the beauty of those words… Let’s dive into the song…
Guns N’ Roses – “Use Your Illusion I” (1991) album cover
Even though “November Rain” was released as a single in 1992, it actually featured in their 1991 album “Use Your Illusion I”. By the way, it’s an awesome album and in my opinion their most admirable one. Not to mention that it was certified 7x times platinum by the RIAA, got a bunch of Grammy nominations and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard charts. (I feel like I should just mention that “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” were released simultaneously, however I still stand for what I said in terms of which one is better) “November Rain” was written by Guns N’ Roses’ lead singer – Axl Rose and was recorded sometime between 1990 and 1991. He actually wrote it on his piano in the early 80s…The power-ballad style song made a huge statement the moment it was released to the public. In the USA, it got to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and worldwide it reached top 10 positions in countries such as Australia, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, Ireland and others. Furthermore, “November Rain” is the longest song in history to enter the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart – it runs for 8:57 minutes. The original version, by the way, was 25-minutes long – wow! However, they had to cut it short – a completely understandable move, having in mind the radio and TV limitations back then. I would honestly love to listen to this song for almost half an hour, though.
When we were doing that EP for L.A. Guns, like ’83? He was playing “November Rain” — and it was called “November Rain” — you know, on piano. The guitar solo is amazing. Way back then. It was the only thing he knew how to play, but it was his. He’d go, “Someday this song is gonna be really cool.” And I’d go, “It’s cool now.” “But it’s not done”, you know, he used to say. And, like, anytime we’d be at a hotel or anywhere, there’d be a piano; he’d just kinda play that music. And I’d go, “When are you gonna finish that already”, you know? And he’d go, “I don’t know what to do with it. I need Moody’s help,” said Tracii Guns, founding member of Guns ‘N Roses about Axl Rose working on this song since at least 1983.
Interesting fact, the song contains the longest ever guitar solo in a Top 10 single. Actually, Slash plays a few guitar solos in the song ( depending on how you see it). As I said, the lengthy artistic visions of Rose had to be cut down, along with the guitar solos of Slash… (the song was shortened to almost 9 minutes).
During the Chinese Democracy Tour, back in 2006, Axl Rose shared with the audience that the other band members were opposing the production and release of this song. He stated that his ideas and visions for a more symphonic, power-ballad style rock song were rejected from Slash and McKagan. According to him, they wanted for the band to stick to rough rock music and don’t go with a song like this one. He said that eventually he managed to convince them that this could be a good direction for the band. I am not sure how truthful those statements are because Axl Rose likes to make up stories every now and then. I should say that based on my research, Slash completely disagreed and contradicted such claims.
On an interesting note, it seems like Axl was always striving towards making a song that resembles “Stairway to Heaven” or “Bohemian Rhapsody”. In a several occasions, he mentioned that Zeppelin and Queen, especially, were a huge influence to him and his career. “November Rain” has a few similarities with both those songs which can be observed in the advancement and progression of the melody and quick changes of the rhythm.
Now let’s talk about the music video…
The music video was directed by Andy Morahan – a noted English music video director who worked with artists such as George Michael, Ozzy Osbourne, Cyndi Lauper, Simply Red, Tina Turner and many others. The essence of the video is its narrative quality – it tells us a story about love and many other things that come and go with it…
Naturally, one could imagine how expensive such lengthy and beautifully made music video would cost – in our case, the video costs were over $1.5 million – it makes it one of the most expensive MVs in history. The price was high, however what the band got out of it was much more valuable and it proved that it was a totally worthy investment. Not only the video got A LOT of play on MTV (and by A LOT I mean that people were watching the video literally every second), but it won them a “best cinematography” award at the 1992 MTV Music Awards where it also got a Video Vanguard award (by the way, the performed the song with Elton John on piano during the show – it’s such a beautiful performance). In addition, MTV also placed it at #1 on their 100 videos of 1992. It was also voted as the “BEST video clip” in Metal Edge’s 1992 Readers Choice Awards. Back to 2016 – it is the most viewed music video on YouTube that was not made in the 21st century – as of this moment, it has 549,443,803 views.
Check out the live performance I was telling you, guys about… ❤⬇
“We got into doing these huge production videos and by ‘November Rain’ it was too much, just too involved. At the end of the day it was a great video but that’s when I started realizing that it was getting out of hand,”said Slash to Q magazine on July 2004.
There are so many facts and intriguing details about the music video. For your and actually mine convenience, I decided to prepare a few bullet points, instead of just filling up the space with lengthy and dense amount of text…
Actress and model Stephanie Seymour – Axl Rose’s girlfriend at that time is the main female protagonist of the music video.
The video portrays a lavish wedding between her and Axl Rose, interrupted by a rainfall; the wedding scenes intercut with a live performance of the song in a theater.
Slash is Axl’s best man
There has been some speculation as to how she dies in the video. Some people say that she died from a gunshot, while others say that she was struck by lightning during the storm. Personally, I think she was driven to suicide…
“November Rain” is based on the short story “Without You”, written by Del James and published in his book “The Language of Fear” a few years later. The story is basically about a rock star, grieving over the death of his girlfriend, who had committed suicide. It was inspired by Axl Rose’s troubled relationship with Erin Everly.
Some people say that the MVs for “November Rain“, “Don’t Cry” and “Estranged” form an unofficial trilogy, though it was never officially confirmed. (I’ve never thought about it, to be honest…)
The priest was an Italian man named Gianantonio, who was also a friend of Axl. The church from the video is actually where he served for many years, before the shooting of the video.
The video was shot in LA and New Mexico.
The MV was filmed during the winter season.
The MV uses the full version of the song, including all the guitar solos and symphonic performances (not the 30 minute version, but the almost 9 minute one)
The guy who ruins the wedding cake by crashing into it (around the 7-minute mark of the video) is Riki Rachtman – a host of the MTV show Headbangers Ball. He is also one of Axl’s good buddies.
The awesome rock ‘n’ roll outfit worn by Slash in the music video can be seen at Hard Rock Café in Orlando, Florida.
You can watch the making of the video here :
In terms of lyrics, as Axl himself once said, the song is about “not wanting to be in a state of having to deal with unrequited love.” Those words are difficult to interpret, though…
This song can relate to so many people who are or were in a similar situation, however I can still feel how personal this is to him – I think a lot of his experiences and emotions were placed together in those lyrics and that’s the reason why when I listen to the song, I feel like a bit of an outsider, rather than a participant. I don’t know – maybe it’s just me …. I get all weird with songs sometimes…
Hearts can change and even a candle that once burned bright cannot stay lit in the cold November rain… A love that once used to mean everything and was shining with the brightest colors can change through time. One day, people might wake up and realize that they might lose their loved one and be left all alone… However, there’s some positive note in the song – he says that “everybody needs somebody” and just like the November rain cannot last forever, the wounds might heal over time and the two of them can be together again. There’s a suggestion that both of them just need a little bit more time but at the end – they will find their way back to each other.
The words are so beautiful – no second opinion about it. There’s nothing more sincere and true in this world than realizing that you need another person in your life and instead of hating and hurting each other, two people should find a way to be together. Life will end – just like the “November rain” – so it’s better to live it with the person you love and think of every day…
Lyrics:
❤🎸🎶 When I look into your eyes I can see a love restrained But darlin’ when I hold you Don’t you know I feel the same
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever And we both know hearts can change And it’s hard to hold a candle In the cold November rain
We’ve been through this such a long long time Just tryin’ to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go And no one’s really sure who’s lettin’ go today Walking away
If we could take the time To lay it on the line I could rest my head Just knowin’ that you were mine All mine So if you want to love me Then darlin’ don’t refrain Or I’ll just end up walkin’ In the cold November rain
Do you need some time…on your own Do you need some time…all alone Everybody needs some time… on their own Don’t you know you need some time…all alone
I know it’s hard to keep an open heart When even friends seem out to harm you But if you could heal a broken heart Wouldn’t time be out to charm you
Sometimes I need some time…on my own Sometimes I need some time…all alone Everybody needs some time… on their own Don’t you know you need some time…all alone
And when your fears subside And shadows still remain I know that you can love me When there’s no one left to blame So never mind the darkness We still can find a way ‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever Even cold November rain
Don’t ya think that you need somebody Don’t ya think that you need someone Everybody needs somebody You’re not the only one You’re not the only one ❤🎸🎶
This song is one of those classic work of art which will never die. Axl’s vocal delivery and Slash’s virtuosity created something so beautiful and so unique – a song of a generation. I remember when I was just a few years old and I saw the music video on MTV – I had no idea what the whole thing was all about. However, some scenes – like Slash playing the guitar on the field and Axl kissing his girlfriend remained forever in my head – it just looked so beautiful. I couldn’t speak English back then but I knew that the song tells a touching and romantic story – I could feel it…
I hope you guys love this song as much as I do…It’s just one unbelievable masterpiece… By the way, I’m still searching for the 30 minute version of the song…
Today we celebrate the 54th birthday of non-other than Axl Rose! There’s no self-respecting rock music fan who doesn’t know who Axl Rose is! However, for the record I still need to say that he is the charismatic and eccentric frontman of Guns N’ Roses and one of the most controversial rockstars of all time! Since today is his birthday, I decided to prepare a little appreciation publication that will acknowledge and present a few of my favorite photos of him, as well look through some of his best works as a musician throughout the years. Furthermore, since Guns N’ Roses recently announced a long-awaited comeback with tour dates this year, it seems like to me this is the perfect time to talk about Mr. Rose.
1
Before forming the infamous rock band Guns N’ Roses, Axl Rose was a member of other rock bands such as L.A. Guns and Rapidfire and was making a name for himself in the rock music scene. However, his major recognition and success came with GNR, of course. The band quickly gained an enormous fan base and grabbed the attention of so many people all around the world. Their commercial peak was reached with “Appetite for Destruction” which later on becomes the best-selling debut album of all time! That surely speaks volumes! Undoubtedly, one of the reasons why this album became such a major accomplishment is Axl Rose’s vocal delivery – it was most certainly not the conventional male rock star voice – it was something that people back then never really had the chance to hear before. His raw and high vocals were also accompanied by his bizarre, erratic and even crazy personality. This combination made all the girls crazy about him. He was indeed a quite handsome fellow… Let’s watch some of the videos from the album…I mean just look at him, do I even need to say more?
After becoming this huge rock sensation, the band started recording a new album and embarked on a long tour, which became a huge success, of course. The tour itself may have been a financial win, but Axl Rose had his numerous moments of irrationality and being all late-arriving, canceling-at-the-last-minute, super-famous ego-driven rockstar and all. He had his moments in many of the band’s live concerts. I’m not going to go into details about the things he did because I believe he was quite young and people do make mistakes… I think fans forgave him a long time ago – after all he is Axl Rose and we still love him!
The following two albums – Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II also reached high positions in the charts and made Axl and the band even more famous.
The problems within the members of the band were too large and too many to overcome which was very unfortunate for all the fans hoping to see them work together on more projects. Nevertheless, Axl Rose committed himself to a new album – “Chinese Democracy” which was released in 2008 as the band’s sixth studio album after “The Spaghetti Incident?” (1993). The album was long-awaited and it did have a major success and positive critical reviews, however it was nothing compared to what things used to be. Working alone without the original members of the band, Axl Rose crafted a very different, electric driven album which was most certainly not the same as the well-known previous hard rock sound we were used to.
Finally, I would like to finish by saying that Axl Rose is a true rockstar and indeed a voice of a generation that continues to spark and trigger our interest and admiration with pretty much everything he does on and off stage. I respect him for his success and greatness back in the 80s and 90s and wish to go back in time and see the band performing live – his stage persona is very intriguing to me and I’m sure I would’ve had so much fun. For what he did, the way he performed and his musical talents as a whole, he did receive numerous awards and recognitions, such as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Ronnie James Dio lifetime achievement award and you know…selling more than 30 million copies of a single album worldwide…
Happy Birthday, Mr. Axl Rose – the rockstar that changed the game and put a new meaning into the word “controversial”! P.S We, the fans, cannot wait for the comeback of the band this year! I’m sure it’s going to be something amazing! Please, don’t come late or forget to show up, otherwise… fans might start rioting again…and we don’t want history to repeat itself now, do we…?
oh I love this so much….
cheers!
—
p.s I do not own any photo or video material that was used for this publication. All the credit goes to the photographers and the uploaders!
In 1987, Guns N’ Roses blew up the music industry by exploding onto the national scene with their first and best album! In addition to being one of the best-selling albums of all time, “Appetite for Destruction” also happens to be the best-selling debut album in history of music! What a debut that was! Not only did it peaked at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 Chart, but it also reached top 10 positions in Australia, Canada, Norway and Sweden.
![10 Classic Rock Songs about Missing Someone [PART 2]](https://thatmixtapewillrock.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/miss-u-2.jpg?w=825&h=250&crop=1)
![[The Greatest Rock Albums of the 80s] Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction](https://thatmixtapewillrock.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/vinyl.jpg?w=600&h=510&crop=1)
Released: 
![[NEWS] Guns N’ Roses are BACK!](https://thatmixtapewillrock.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/guns-n-roses-logo.jpg?w=825&h=510&crop=1){kind=logo}
Interesting fact, the song contains the longest ever guitar solo in a Top 10 single. Actually, Slash plays a few guitar solos in the song ( depending on how you see it). As I said, the lengthy artistic visions of Rose had to be cut down, along with the guitar solos of Slash… (the song was shortened to almost 9 minutes).
Naturally, one could imagine how expensive such lengthy and beautifully made music video would cost – in our case, the video costs were over $1.5 million – it makes it one of the most expensive MVs in history. The price was high, however what the band got out of it was much more valuable and it proved that it was a totally worthy investment. Not only the video got A LOT of play on MTV (and by A LOT I mean that people were watching the video literally every second), but it won them a “best cinematography” award at the 1992 MTV Music Awards where it also got a Video Vanguard award (by the way, the performed the song with Elton John on piano during the show – it’s such a beautiful performance). In addition, MTV also placed it at #1 on their 100 videos of 1992. It was also voted as the “BEST video clip” in Metal Edge’s 1992 Readers Choice Awards. Back to 2016 – it is the most viewed music video on YouTube that was not made in the 21st century – as of this moment, it has 549,443,803 views.
MY ROCK MIXTAPES 