Skate-Wear Central

Roses Appetite

Still Rockin’: All About Guns N Roses

Axl Rose, lead singer and co-founder of Guns N Roses, was born in Indiana in 1962. The band formed around 1985, by Axl and Tracii Guns, featuring Ole Beich and Duff McKagan. The band’s sound is a combination of rock and roll, heavy metal, punk rock, and blues rock.

Since the 80s, Guns N Roses have sold more than 110 million albums worldwide. Their first album, titled “Appetite for Destruction”, was released in 1987. It was a huge success, reaching the Billboard 200 and going number one in the United States. Three songs from that album went to the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album “GNR Lies” was released in 1988. “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” were released in 1991. “The Spaghetti Incident?” was released in 1993. “Chinese Democracy” was released more than 10 years later.

As you can imagine, the early years of Guns N Roses were tumultuous at times, and the band went through some changes, with people being replaced as needed.

Originally, the band was comprised of Axl Rose, Tracii Guns, Izzy Stradlin, Rob Gardner, and Ole Beich. Beich was fired and his replacement was Duff McKagan. Tracii was replaced by Slash. Rob Gardner was replaced by (long time pal of Slash) Steven Adler.

In October 1986, Guns N Roses was the opening act for a gig with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. That event spawned a special, limited release album (10,000 to be exact) titled “Live?!* @ Like A Suicide”. Even though the songs were released on an album afterwards the “Live ?!* @ Like A Suicide” album is now a very rare and sought after collectible.

Another claim to fame is that the Guns N Roses band set the record for the longest rock tour in history. The tour lasted more than 28 months and went worldwide. It was the “Use Your Illusion World Tour” and remains the longest tour in rock and roll history. Guns also have to their credit three of the most expensive video clips ever made. Those videos are “Estranged”, “November Rain” and “Don’t Cry”.

The band continued to evolve and revolve, and the line up changed with the years. Axl Rose remains the sole original member and it is widely accepted that during one critical tour he managed to secure ownership of the band’s name. Band members and their years of contribution follow: Axl Rose (1985- current), Dizzy Reed (1990- current), Chris Pitman (1998-current), Tommy Stinson (1998- current), Richard Fortus (2002-current), Frank Ferrer (2006-current), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (2006- current), and, most recently, DJ Ashba (2009- current).

Guns N Roses has been nominated for a variety of awards, with 21 nominations to their credit. They have won half of those nominations. The American awards include Favourite Pop / Rock Single, Favourite Heavy Metal / Hard Rock Artist, Favourite Heavy Metal / Hard Rock Album, Best New Artist, Best Heavy Metal Video, Video Vanguard Award, and Best Cinematography.

The Best Cinematography award is from MTV for the song “November Rain”, which also set the record for the longest song to hit the top ten charts. It runs at 8 min 56 sec. This song was also the most requested song of the year.

Guns N Roses also won two worldwide sales-based awards, one being World’s Best-Selling Hard Rock Artist of the Year (1993).

Despite their reputation and many accomplishments, a number of the band members also bare the scars of their lifestyle and fame, having battled personal demons of drug and alcohol abuse. However, despite some carnage, clearly Guns N Roses has managed to endure and, on the whole, prosper, leaving a complex, unforgettable rock and roll legacy… and the story’s not yet done.

About the Author

Take a look at the music charts and the current top 10 albums at BigPond Music Australia.

Guns N’ Roses – Welcome To The Jungle

Xtreme Couture Black Guns And Roses Adjustable Trucker Hat $24 If you’ve got a healthy appetite for destruction, the Guns And Roses adjustable trucker hat from Xtreme Couture is all you’ll need to bring despair to those around you whose hardcore style is far from hitting the mark. It has tonal printed and embroidered flourish graphics with an appliqué leather brand crest and small metal studs on the crown, distressed fabric at the bill, classic Xtreme Couture branding on the inside front panels, and mesh panels with an appliqué brand patch at the back for wild, edgy style. Welcome to the jungle, baby.

Sullen Black Mother Roses Boardshort $46.99 Look sharp and a little dangerous when you hit the beach in the Mother Roses boardshorts from Sullen. They feature “Fast Dry” construction, zip mesh thigh pockets on each side and a sublimated print!

9 Red Soap Roses $10.2 Cool kids clothing and accessories from Up & Riding.

TapouT War of the Roses Ladies Slim Fit Racerback Tank Top – White $24 Look sexy, feminine and hardcore in the War of Roses tank top from TapouT. This racerback tank features softhand branding embellished with roses for a look that boasts that MMA girls are the fiercest and the prettiest.

Guess Smell the Roses Sweetheart Bikini Top and Retro Bottom $94 Fresher than… The Guess Smell the Roses Soft Cup Sweetheart Bikini Top. With the chic floral design and halter-top tie this bikini has a vintage come hither look. The sexy yet girlish scrunched-hole in the center of this sweetheart shaped Guess women s swimsuit creates a feminine and flirty vibe by giving you a uniquely appealing look. Content: 84% Polyester 16% Spandex Made in California U.S.A.

Guess Smell Roses Underwire Bikini Top and Skirted Bottom $102 Floral galore. Get the freshest bikini top this season with the Guess Smell the Roses soft cup underwire bikini top. The multi-colored floral print will have you gleaming as the brightest rose of the garden. This Guess swimsuit bikini top is equipped with soft cups for a little added support. Support is nice. And this suit does it with sexy fashionista push up-style. The front tie plays up the look with a vintage girly feel. Comfort is just the cherry on top of this women s swimsuit with a clasp back fit for security. Content: 84% Polyester 16% Spandex Made in California U.S.A.

Guess Smell The Roses Women’s Swimsuit or Bathing Suit Tunic $59 Glamour just is something that you’ve got to own. Cover up in season’s trend: the tunic. This elegant floral print cover-up will dress up any Guess women s swimsuit and let you strut your stuff as the paparazzo follow you around the pool cabana. With its vibrantly fresh floral colors deep v-neck cut and cinched waistline you re sure to look hot anywhere you go! So go on. Wear this Smell the Roses tunic over any of your swim favorites and release that sleek and sexy feminine side of yours. Color: Multi.  Content: 100% Polyester. Made in California U.S.A.

Toddler’s Nina Kids Roses (Toddler) $48.99 Synthetic upper features large floral decal at the top; Zipper closure for easy on and off; Shaft: 6 1?2 in; Circumference: 10 1?2 in; Weight: 6 oz;

Women’s Keen City of Roses Slide $56.99 Full grain vegetable tanned leather upper provides protection and durability; KEEN.Cush footbed forms to your foot for a custom fit; Leather lining for added protection; Non-marking natural rubber outsole gives you excellent grip; 1 1/2″ heel;

Hurley Women’s Ruffle Swimsuit – Every Rose Floral Bikini $72 Stop and smell the roses. The mixture of ruffle edge detailing and sweet rose print makes this a girly-girl’s favorite. This sliding triangle top has removable soft cups. Color: White. Content: 84% Polyester 16% Spandex. Made in California U.S.A.

Mens Electric Tee – Electric Nelson T-Shirt $18.99 Online Exclusive! Vibrant colored graphic with American flag, gun, and roses on front. Crew neck. Short sleeves. Regular fit. 19.5″ width. 29″ length. Medium measured and shown.

Yaga Flowaz Juniors Burnout T-shirt – Olive $19.99 Get a look that’s as sweet as fresh-cut grass and light as air in the Flowaz burnout tee by Yaga! Featuring a printed floral graphic on super-soft, burnout fabric, it’s sure to make you want to stop and smell the roses.

Metal Mulisha Ladies Black Stranded Boatneck Shirt $32 Ladies, you won’t be lost in the crowd in the Stranded tee from Metal Mulisha. It features a boatneck collar, raw edges and a textured screen print of angel wings, roses and branding. It’s a hip and confident look that will get you noticed!

Sullen Paragon T-shirt – Black $22 Set an example for your peers in the Paragon tee from Sullen. It features a Shakespeare-esque skull and cobra graphic surrounded by roses on the chest with elegant scripted branding on the upper back.

Silver Star Youth White Skull Flower T-shirt $17.95 Your young MMA fan will be a world of contradictions in this graphic tee by Silver Star featuring a deadly Skull graphic surrounded by a bed of lush roses and accented with red metallic foil on a single rose held in the skull’s teeth!

Hostility Blossom Ladies T-shirt – White $27.95 Your flirtatious side is in full bloom, so be coy with your man and give him a subtle glimpse of your mischievous side in this v-neck tee from Hostility. It features softhand screen printed roses with pink glitter accents and a deep v-neck for a look that’s sweet and sassy.

Affliction Death Catcher Heathered T-shirt – Pacific Blue $48 Mock death’s attempts to catch you in the Death Catcher tee from Affliction. It features reversed contrast seams along the sides, a distressed graphic of a bird perching on a skull resting in a bed of roses and stone-inspired branding. Someday you’ll get caught, but until then fight with everything you’ve got.