Wikipedia

Appetite for Destruction

1987 studio album by Guns N’ Roses

Appetite for Destruction is the first studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987, through Geffen Records.

Appetite for Destruction
Studio album by
Guns N' Roses
ReleasedJuly 21, 1987
RecordedJanuary 18 – June 23, 1987
Studio
Genre
Length53:52
LabelGeffen
ProducerMike Clink
Guns N' Roses chronology
Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide
(1986) 		Appetite for Destruction
(1987) 		Guns N' Roses (EP)
(1988)
Guns N' Roses studio album chronology
Appetite for Destruction
(1987) 		G N' R Lies
(1988)
Singles from Appetite for Destruction
  1. "It's So Easy/Mr. Brownstone"
    Released: June 15, 1987
  2. "Welcome to the Jungle"
    Released: September 28, 1987
  3. "Sweet Child o' Mine"
    Released: June 21, 1988
  4. "Paradise City"
    Released: January 10, 1989
  5. "Nightrain"
    Released: July 25, 1989

When the album as released in 1987, it was not popular. Next year, in 1988, it became very successful after the band had toured and radio stations played the singles "Welcome to the Jungle", "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child o' Mine". It was first on Billboard 200 and became the best-selling debut album of all time, as well as the eleventh best-selling album of all time in the United States. With more than 30 million copies sold worldwide, it is also one of the best-selling records of all time.

Although critics at first had mixed feelings toward the album, Appetite for Destruction is now liked by critics and is considered as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2018, it was re-released as a remastered box set with critics liking it too.

Background

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Guns N' Roses first recordings were for a planned EP in March 1985. This was shortly after the band formed. The recording included a cover of "Heartbreak Hotel". "Don't Cry ", "Think About You" and "Anything Goes".[1] The EP did not happen because original guitarist Tracii Guns left the band. He was replaced by Slash.[2] Shortly afterward, a new lineup of Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash, Steven Adler and Izzy Stradlin was confirmed.[3] This is the classic lineup for the band.

After playing many shows in Los Angeles clubs, the group signed with Geffen Records in March 1986.[4] In December 1986, the group released the four-song EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide, which was made to keep people interested in the band while it started work in the studio.[5][6] The label also thought the band didn't have enough songs, so they made the EP.[7]

Singer Axl Rose said that many of the songs on the album were written while the band was performing on the Los Angeles club circuit, and a number of songs that would be featured on later Guns N' Roses albums were considered for Appetite for Destruction, such as "Back Off Bitch", "You Could Be Mine", "November Rain" and "Don't Cry". "November Rain" was not put on the album because "Sweet Child O' Mine" is already on it. They only wanted one ballad.[8][9]

Producer Spencer Proffer was hired to record "Nightrain" and "Sweet Child o' Mine" to test if he could work with the band.[10] They eventually recorded nine songs during these sessions, including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Don't Cry", "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Shadow of Your Love".[10] In mid to late 1986, the band recorded demos with Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton,[10] which were released in 2018. (See Below for more info) The band at first considered Paul Stanley of KISS to produce, but he was rejected after he wanted to change Adler's drum set more than Adler wanted.[10] Robert John "Mutt" Lange was also considered, but the label didn't want to spend the extra money on a famous producer.[10] Ultimately, Mike Clink (who had produced several Triumph records) was chosen,[11] and the group recorded "Shadow of Your Love" first with Clink as a test.[10]

In 1999, Rose re-recorded the album with the lineup at the time (Rose, Robin Finck, Tommy Stinson, Paul Tobias, Josh Freese, Dizzy Reed & Chris Pitman) to "spruce up" the album with new recording techniques.[12] The re-recorded version of the album was never released, although an edited clip of "Sweet Child O' Mine" featuring the second half of the song using the re-recorded version was included over the credits of the movie Big Daddy in 1999.

Track listing

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Original release

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All songs written and composed by Guns N' Roses, except where noted. 

Appetite for Destruction[13]
Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Welcome to the Jungle"   4:31
2. "It's So Easy" (Guns N' Roses, West Arkeen) 3:21
3. "Nightrain"   4:26
4. "Out ta Get Me"   4:20
5. "Mr. Brownstone"   3:46
6. "Paradise City"   6:46
Side two
No. Title Length
7. "My Michelle"   3:39
8. "Think About You"   3:50
9. "Sweet Child o' Mine"   5:55
10. "You're Crazy"   3:16
11. "Anything Goes" (Guns N' Roses, Chris Weber) 3:25
12. "Rocket Queen"   6:13
Total length:
 53:52

Super deluxe edition

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The "Locked N' Loaded" Edition and the "Super Deluxe Edition" have the same musical contents. Disc one is the original album.

All songs written and composed by Guns N' Roses, except where noted. 

Disc 2: B-Sides N' EP's
No. Title Length
1. "Reckless Life"   3:21
2. "Nice Boys"   3:02
3. "Move to the City" (Live) 3:34
4. "Mama Kin"   3:41
5. "Shadow of Your Love" (Live) 3:03
6. "You're Crazy" (Acoustic Version) 4:25
7. "Patience"   5:54
8. "Used to Love Her"   3:13
9. "You're Crazy"   4:10
10. "It's So Easy" (Live at the Marquee Club London / 1987) 3:54
11. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Live at the Marquee Club London / 1987) 4:59
12. "Whole Lotta Rosie" (Live at the Marquee Club London / 1987) 4:06
Total length:
 47:21

All songs written and composed by Guns N' Roses, except where noted. 

Disc 3: 1986 Sound City Session
No. Title Length
1. "Welcome to the Jungle"   4:59
2. "Nightrain"   4:49
3. "Out ta Get Me"   4:01
4. "Paradise City"   5:34
5. "My Michelle"   4:21
6. "Think About You"   3:50
7. "You're Crazy"   3:21
8. "Anything Goes" (Guns N' Roses, Chris Weber) 4:35
9. "Rocket Queen"   6:06
10. "Shadow of Your Love" (Rose, Stradlin, Paul Tobias) 2:38
11. "Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley cover)" (Mae Boren Axton, Thomas Durden, Elvis Presley) 4:36
12. "Jumpin' Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones cover)" (Jagger/Richards, Bill Wyman) 3:21
Total length:
 52:11
Disc 4: 1986 Sound City Session N' More
No. Title Length
1. "Shadow of Your Love"   3:05
2. "Move to the City"   3:16
3. "Ain't Goin' Down No More" (Instrumental Version) 3:30
4. "The Plague"   0:54
5. "Nice Boys"   2:58
6. "Back off Bitch"   4:39
7. "Reckless Life"   2:45
8. "Mama Kin"   3:26
9. "New Work Tune"   3:25
10. "November Rain" (Piano Version) 10:18
11. "Move to the City" (Acoustic Version) 3:41
12. "You're Crazy" (Acoustic Version) 4:06
13. "November Rain" (Acoustic Version) 5:00
14. "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (Acoustic Version) 3:52
15. "Move to the City" (1988 Acoustic version) 3:26
Total length:
 58:21

All songs written and composed by Guns N' Roses, except where noted. 

Hidden bonus cassette: 1985 Mystic Studio Session
No. Title Length
1. "Welcome to the Jungle"   4:52
2. "Anything Goes" (Guns N' Roses, Weber) 5:03
3. "Don't Cry" (Rose, Stradlin) 4:36
4. "Back Off Bitch" (Rose, Tobias) 4:46
5. "Think About You"   3:58

A fifth disc is included; a Blu-ray disc, which has 96 kHz 24-bit 5.1 Surround Sound & Remastered Stereo mixes, mixed by Elliot Scheiner and Frank Filipetti. It includes all of Appetite for Destruction, alongside bonus tracks "Shadow of Your Love", "Patience", "Used to Love Her", "You're Crazy", and "Move to the City (1988 Acoustic version)". In addition, it includes music videos for "Welcome to the Jungle", "Sweet Child O' Mine", "Paradise City", "Patience", and a previously unreleased video of "It's So Easy".[14]

Deluxe edition

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All songs written and composed by Guns N' Roses, except where noted. 

Disc 1: Appetite for Destruction Remastered
No. Title Length
1. "Welcome to the Jungle"   4:33
2. "It's So Easy" (Guns N' Roses, West Arkeen) 3:22
3. "Nightrain"   4:28
4. "Out ta Get Me"   4:23
5. "Mr. Brownstone"   3:48
6. "Paradise City"   6:45
7. "My Michelle"   3:39
8. "Think About You"   3:51
9. "Sweet Child o' Mine"   5:56
10. "You're Crazy"   3:17
11. "Anything Goes" (Guns N' Roses, Chris Weber) 3:26
12. "Rocket Queen"   6:13
Total length:
 53:41

All songs written and composed by Guns N' Roses, except where noted. 

Disc 2
No. Title Length
1. "Reckless Life"   3:21
2. "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover) 3:02
3. "Move to the City" (Live) 3:34
4. "Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) 3:41
5. "Shadow of Your Love" (Live) 3:03
6. "Welcome to the Jungle" (1986 Sound City Sessions) 4:59
7. "Nightrain" (1986 Sound City Sessions) 4:49
8. "Out ta Get Me" (1986 Sound City Sessions) 4:01
9. "Paradise City" (1986 Sound City Sessions) 5:34
10. "My Michelle" (1986 Sound City Sessions) 4:21
11. "Shadow of Your Love"   3:05
12. "It's So Easy" (Live at the Marquee Club London / 1987) 3:54
13. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Live at the Marquee Club London / 1987) 4:59
14. "Whole Lotta Rosie" (Live at the Marquee Club London / 1987, AC/DC cover) 4:06
15. "You're Crazy" (Acoustic version) 4:25
16. "Patience"   5:54
17. "Used to Love Her"   3:13
18. "Move to the City" (1988 Acoustic version) 3:26
Total length:
 1:13:27

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[13]

Charts

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Chart Peak
position 		US Rolling Stone Top 200[15] 96

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[16] 3× Platinum 180,000^
Australia (ARIA)[17] 7× Platinum 490,000 
Austria (IFPI Austria)[18] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[19] Platinum 250,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Diamond 1,000,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[21] Gold 25,000[21]
France (SNEP)[22] 2× Gold 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[23] Platinum 500,000^
Italy (FIMI)[24] 2× Platinum 100,000 
Japan (RIAJ)[25] Platinum 200,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[26] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[27] 5× Platinum 75,000^
Sweden (GLF)[28] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[29] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] 4× Platinum 1,200,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] 18× Platinum 18,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

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References

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  1. ↑ "Guns N' Roses First Radio Interview March 1985 | Raz Cue | Rocks". web.archive.org. October 21, 2018. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ Dr. Rock (June 16, 2010). "Giving It Both Barrels: Dr Rock Takes On Tracii Guns Of The LA Guns". TheQuietus.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Guns: "And then I lasted for about seven or eight months in that, and then Axl and I got into an extraordinary fight ... and we did two shows after that argument and then I left. It just wasn't fun anymore."
  3. ↑ McKagan, Duff (2011). Stacy Creamer (ed.). It's so Easy (and other lies). Collaboration by Tim Mohr. Touchstone. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-4516-0664-5.
  4. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Biography on Bio". bio. TheBiographyChannel.co.uk. 2008. Archived from the original on December 8, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ "G N' R Lies". rollingstone.com. January 26, 1989. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  6. ↑ Voland, John (December 28, 1987). "POP REVIEW : Guns N' Roses Glam-Slams With Noisy Aggressiveness". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 23, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2017 – via LA Times.
  7. ↑ McKagan, Duff (2011). Stacy Creamer (ed.). It's so Easy (and other lies). Collaboration by Tim Mohr. Touchstone. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-4516-0664-5.
  8. ↑ "Axl/Slash Interview, 1988". Hem.passagen.se. Archived from the original on August 11, 2003. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  9. ↑ Hiatt, Brian (August 2007). "The Making of 'Appetite for Destruction'". Rolling Stone Australia (1032). Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 "31 Years Ago: Guns N' Roses Issue 'Appetite for Destruction'". Loudwire.
  11. ↑ McKagan, Duff; Mohr, Tim (2011). It's So Easy (and other Lies). Simon & Schuster. pp. 118, 120. ISBN 9781451606638.
  12. ↑ "The greatest disaster album... EVER". Daily Mail.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Appetite for Destruction liner notes. Geffen Records. 1987.
  14. ↑ "Appetite For Destruction – Super Deluxe Edition". Guns N' Roses Official Store.
  15. ↑ "Top 200 Albums". Rolling Stone. July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on March 10, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Argentinian album certifications – Guns – Appetite For D". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  19. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  20. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Guns 'N Roses – Appetite For Destruction". Music Canada.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Guns N'Roses" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  22. ↑ "French album certifications – Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  23. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Guns N' Roses; 'Appetite For Destruction')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  24. ↑ "Italian album certifications – Guns'N' Roses – Appetite for Destruction" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 15, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Appetite for Destruction" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  25. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  26. ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Guns N'roses in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Appetite For Destruction in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  27. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Guns N'roses – Appetite For Destruction". Recorded Music NZ.
  28. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011.
  29. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Appetite For Destruction')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  30. ↑ "British album certifications – Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Appetite For Destruction in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  31. ↑ "American album certifications – Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction". Recording Industry Association of America.

Other websites

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