Guns N' Roses facts for kids

Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
	Guns N' Roses onstage in Venezuela in 2010; From left to right: Dizzy Reed, Bumblefoot, Richard Fortus, Axl Rose, DJ Ashba, Chris Pitman, Tommy Stinson
Background information
Also known as	G N' R, GnR
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Geffen, UZI Suicide
Associated acts	Hollywood Rose, L.A. Guns, Neurotic Outsiders, Praxis, Road Crew, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver
Members
	Axl Rose; Slash; Duff McKagan; Dizzy Reed; Richard Fortus; Melissa Reese; Frank Ferrer
Past members
	See List of Guns N' Roses band members

Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose singing onstage at the Download Festival at Donington Park, England in 2006

Guns N' Roses is a popular American hard rock band. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California, USA. The five original members of the band were Axl Rose (lead vocals), Slash (lead guitar), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Duff McKagan (bass, backing vocals), and Steven Adler (drums). The band's most known songs are Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, Sweet Child O'Mine, Patience, Live and Let Die, November Rain", Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Don't Cry, and Civil War.

The music they made was different from the rock music that was popular in the 1980s. They played harder rock music. It was also closer to traditional rock. Because of this, many music fans became interested in Guns N'Roses. Guns N'Roses was created in Los Angeles in June, 1985. By singer W. Axl Rose, guitarists Tracii Guns and Izzy Stradlin, bassist Ole Beich and drummer Rob Gardner. Axl's old band was named Hollywood Rose, and Tracii's old band was named L.A. Guns. They joined the two names and got the name Guns N' Roses.

Slash performing during a Velvet Revolver concert.

In 1985, Guns N' Roses went to Seattle to perform. Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner could not attend the show. Rose called guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler, who were his friends. He asked them for help. They agreed, and became permanent members. On the way back to Los Angeles, the five members wrote the lyrics for 'Welcome to the Jungle' which became one of their most famous songs. Then in 1990 Drummer Steven Adler got fired from the band because of his drug abuse. He was replaced by The Cult Drummer Matt Sorum.

Slash, McKagan and Sorum were in Velvet Revolver with Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland and Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner, until Scott passed away.

Since parting ways with the Appetite for Destruction lineup, Rose has remained a constant member and many lineups have changed since. The last studio album the band released was Chinese Democracy, which had been delayed for over ten years, to mixed reactions. In 2016, Slash and Duff rejoined the band, along with the band's first female member, Melissa Reese.

Images for kids

Izzy Stradlin was the band's rhythm guitarist from 1985 until 1991.
The band's logo typeface
Duff McKagan was the band's bassist from 1985 until 1997, returning in 2016.
Dizzy Reed joined the band as keyboardist in 1990.
Gilby Clarke replaced Izzy Stradlin as rhythm guitarist, playing from 1991 to 1994.
Guitarist Zakk Wylde played with the band for several weeks and was considered as a potential second guitarist in 1995.
Izzy Stradlin on stage with Guns N' Roses in 2006
Drummer Frank Ferrer joined the band in 2006.
Guns N' Roses playing the Sofia Rocks Fest 2012 in Bulgaria.
Guns N' Roses in Bangalore in 2012. From left to right, Richard Fortus, Axl Rose, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, DJ Ashba and Tommy Stinson
The members of Guns N' Roses inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Top row: Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed. Bottom Row: Slash, Matt Sorum, Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin.
Guns N' Roses performing at Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, UK, in May 2012. From left to right, Richard Fortus, Axl Rose, DJ Ashba.
Guns N' Roses in 2010. From left to right: Dizzy Reed, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Richard Fortus, Axl Rose, DJ Ashba, Chris Pitman, and Tommy Stinson. Drummer Frank Ferrer is not pictured.
Keyboardist Melissa Reese joined the band in 2016.
Both bassist Duff McKagan (left) and guitarist Slash (right) returned to the band in 2016.
Guns N' Roses's early look and sound was heavily influenced by Finnish band Hanoi Rocks.