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Guns N' Roses facts for kids

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Guns N' Roses
Glasto2023 Guns 'N' Roses (sans Dave Grohl).jpg
Guns N' Roses at Glastonbury Festival 2023. From left to right: Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Duff McKagan, Axl Rose, Slash, Melissa Reese and Frank Ferrer
Background information
Also known as GNR
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active 1985–present
Members
Past members
  • Izzy Stradlin
  • Rob Gardner
  • Tracii Guns
  • Ole Beich
  • Steven Adler
  • Matt Sorum
  • Gilby Clarke
  • Paul Huge
  • Robin Finck
  • Josh Freese
  • Tommy Stinson
  • Chris Pitman
  • Buckethead
  • Brian
  • Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal
  • DJ Ashba

Guns N' Roses is a famous American hard rock band. They started in Los Angeles, California, in March 1985. The band formed when two local groups, Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns, joined together.

When they signed with Geffen Records in 1986, the band had its "classic lineup." This included singer Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. Today, the band's members are Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, and keyboard players Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese.

Some of their most well-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.

How Guns N' Roses Formed

The music Guns N' Roses made was different from other rock music in the 1980s. They played a harder, more traditional style of rock. This unique sound made many music fans interested in them.

The band was officially created in Los Angeles in June 1985. The first members were singer W. Axl Rose, guitarists Tracii Guns and Izzy Stradlin, bassist Ole Beich, and drummer Rob Gardner. Axl's old band was called Hollywood Rose. Tracii's old band was named L.A. Guns. They combined the two names to get "Guns N' Roses."

In 1985, Guns N' Roses planned a show in Seattle. But Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner could not make it. Axl Rose asked his friends, guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler, to help out. They agreed and later became permanent members of the band. On their way back to Los Angeles, the five members wrote the lyrics for 'Welcome to the Jungle'. This song became one of their most famous hits.

In 1990, drummer Steven Adler left the band. He was replaced by The Cult's drummer, Matt Sorum. Slash, McKagan, and Sorum later played together in another band called Velvet Revolver.

Band's Journey and Achievements

After the "Appetite for Destruction" lineup changed, Axl Rose remained the only constant member. Many different musicians have played in the band since then.

On September 20, 2022, the band announced a special remastered box set. It included their two Illusion albums, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II. This box set was released on November 11, 2022. It featured remastered songs and live concerts from 1991 and 1992.

Guns N' Roses continued to tour in 2023. On June 24, 2023, they performed as the main act at the Glastonbury Festival for the first time. Some people had mixed feelings about the show. The band said that technical problems caused issues with the sound.

On August 18, 2023, the band released a new song called "Perhaps". Another song, "The General," was released digitally and on vinyl later that year.

In 2012, Guns N' Roses was honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The members included Axl Rose, Stradlin, McKagan, Slash, Adler, Sorum, and Reed. The band has sold over 100 million records around the world. This makes them one of the best-selling bands in history.

Band members

Current members

  • Axl Rose – lead vocals, piano, percussion (1985–present)
  • Duff McKagan – bass guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals (1985–1997, 2016–present)
  • Slash – guitars, backing vocals (1985–1996, 2016–present)
  • Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals, percussion (1990–present)
  • Richard Fortus – guitars, backing vocals (2002–present)
  • Frank Ferrer – drums, backing vocals (2006–present)
  • Melissa Reese – synthesizers, keyboards, backing vocals, sub-bass, programming, percussion (2016–present)

Discography

  • Appetite for Destruction (1987)
  • G N' R Lies (1988)
  • Use Your Illusion I (1991)
  • Use Your Illusion II (1991)
  • "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993)
  • Chinese Democracy (2008)

Awards and Nominations

American Music Awards

  • 1989: Favorite Pop/Rock single – "Sweet Child o' Mine"
  • 1990: Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist
  • 1990: Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album – Appetite for Destruction
  • 1992: Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist

Billboard Touring Awards

  • 2017: Top Tour- "Not In This Lifetime... Tour"
  • 2017: Top Draw- "Not In This Lifetime... Tour"

MTV Video Music Awards

  • 1988: Best New Artist in a Video – "Welcome to the Jungle"
  • 1989: Best Heavy Metal Video – "Sweet Child o' Mine"
  • 1992: Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
  • 1992: Best Cinematography in a Video – "November Rain"

Revolver Golden Gods

World Music Awards

  • 1993: World's Best-Selling Hard Rock Artist of the Year
  • 1993: World's Best Group

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Guns N' Roses para niños

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