Inspired by a 23-year-old co-worker who had no idea what "Graceland" was, Pop*Ledge was created to increase your knowledge of popular culture with random information. Each post will give readers a top-line explanation about someone, something, somewhere or an incident that is relevant to pop culture.

Thursday, April 15

GUNS N' ROSES

Guns N’ Roses is one of the most influential hard rock groups, ranking ninth on VH1’s "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list.

Formed in 1985, the band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. The group was originally formed when the bands “Hollywood Rose” (including lead singer Axl Rose) and “L.A. Guns” (including lead guitarist Tracii Guns) merged. After a short while Tracii Guns was replaced on lead guitar by Slash, but the band name lived on.

The band's 1987 debut album, Appetite for Destruction, charted three Top 10 hits including the first single “Welcome to the Jungle." The album also featured "Sweet Child o' Mine” and "Paradise City." Rolling Stone magazine's called the album one of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."

In 1991, GNR released Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, which debuted at #2 and #1 respectively in the Billboard charts, setting a record as they became the first and only group to date to achieve this feat. The hit ballad "November Rain" won the 1992 MTV Video Music Award for best cinematography and was the longest song in chart history to reach the top ten (over 8.5 minutes).

While an actual break-up of Guns N' Roses never occurred, new players were brought in as the old ones left. Slash left the band following a hiatus in 1994. Currently, only Axl Rose is the only original member who remains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_N'_Roses

The full band during their heyday. Axl is the man in the middle. Slash is to his immediate left.


The cover of Appetite for Destruction, the bands iconic album.

GNR classic, "Sweet Child o' Mine"

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