I thought the guy suffered a nasty stroke or something in the mid-nineties (He certainly didn’t look, or sound, like he was in great shape where that last Surreal Life went down).

What exactly is his condition (mentally, physically) anyhow?

Who cares.

I feel that something’s great gonna happen. It’s getting closer.
Do it !

It kills me how Rolling Stone jumps on some of these bands bandwagons and doesn’t let go. Guns N’ Roses aren’t relevent in 2007 and haven’t been in 15 years. Move on guys. I think Springsteen has a new album coming out this fall, and John Fogerty certainly does on Sept 25. Try covering that for God’s sake. Axl Rose couldn’t carry John Fogerty’s guitar case.

can someone at RS please fucking write something about ROCK THE BELLS wher RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE PLAYED!?!?!?!?!

who fg cares about this ONCE great band Chinese Democrapy

Chinese Democracy sounds *meh* at best.

Axl was a man of a period… and that period has long since passed. I mean, face it: he doesn’t have an understanding of what today’s sound is (Hell, most bands can’t figure it out)… and no matter how many different ways he tries to futz with whatever he thinks today’s incarnation of GnR sounds like… it’s not gonna sound right.

As for a reunion… Eh, to be honest — while I would like to see it, for nostolgia’s sake — it would be just beating a dead horse. They’re all in their mid 40s… and they have 3.5 albums to draw from… I’d rather just get some of the bootlegs of their period and move on.

Besides — VR is sounding like a real band; Axl and his… road show of musicians still play (even if he sounds like hell)… Adler plays the standards to a certain degree of proficency. If you need to hear this stuff — it’s out there for ya.

I just wish that the 60 year old editors of this thing and 20 something year old writers of this thing could get on the same page and put out some decent content (10 outstanding records came out during the double issue pause… and you guys are covering frigging GnR from 20 years ago… Christ, get with the times).

GnR was overrated and is now more disfunctional than Van Halen and that is saying alot.

the reason that rolling stone is covering “20 year old” GNR songs is because NOTHING has come along in the past 20 years that even comes close to it….as for the guy who said “eh” to a reunion…are you high?? a GNR reunion would be the biggest tour of the last 10 years…..

Awesome new GNR INTERACTIVE book coming out by reckless road – amazing pics, interviews, even interactive downloads -recklessroad.com

It always amuses me how we as a public just want to dump on people and are so quick to call people has beens. I know that word wasn’t exactly used here in these comments, but that is basically what people have so far said in most of the comments. Axl for better or worse is a rock n’ roll icon (which you can’t really say for his contemporaries), and so are his former band mates — they actually made art, and they’ll never, ever be has beens in my eyes.

so…who sang?!?!

Too bad Axl and Slash couldn’t show up/stay and play a song or two. But, with all the animosity, I doubt it would’ve happened anyway.

Ali

The real reason that a gnr reunion won’t work, and a van halen reunion won’t work, and many more bands like them, is that the singers just can’t do what they used to. Neither Axl nor Dave can pull it off. So it comes across as being a suckier version of the original, which is never good.

Why does RS write about them? Do you really need to ask? Because 20 years later they are still insanely popular, their music from back then still just as approachable, just as good. Relevant? Take if from a 36 year old who plays in a punk band – get over yourself. This is rock n’ roll. It is not, nor has it ever been about relevance. Its about reckless irreverence. If you think you’re going to change the world with rock you need to grow up. And one more thing: Rage makes some good music. But give me a break with the communist crap. I don’t see Tom Morello giving all his riches away and moving to China.

“Dr. Cox | 7/30/2007, 11:36 am EST

the reason that rolling stone is covering “20 year old” GNR songs is because NOTHING has come along in the past 20 years that even comes close to it….as for the guy who said “eh” to a reunion…are you high?? a GNR reunion would be the biggest tour of the last 10 years….. ”

Um, yeah. Fuck off.

What about Radiohead (especailly OK Computer), Beck, The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Hives, TV on the Radio, The Mars Volta, Kings Of Leon, Arcade Fire, The Shins…how many more do you want me to name dude?

GNR were a good band 20 FUCKING YEARS AGO!!! Get over it. You are probably the kind of loser who still lives in his parents basement, working some dead end job, reliving your “glory days” while accomplishing nothing with your life.

I personally really like “Appetite for Destruction”
but listening to these moronic GNR fans talk about them as though one good album makes them the greatest band ever makes me like the album, far less. How can I listen to those songs without thinking of this loser wacking to his Axl poster?

Thanks for ruining a good thing Rolling Stone by beating it with a stick WELL past its death.

Yes, I am half brain dead.

Richard Legner,

Why do feel the need to insult people because they have an opinion of GN’R that differs from yours? Making all these assumptions about someone just because of the band that’s their favorite? You need to grow up, man.

RS wouldn’t put GN’R on the cover if they didn’t think it would help sell magazines. They are still in the business of making money, regardless of anything else, so even if you don’t see the appeal, RS wouldn’t have done this if they didn’t think it would get people to buy magazines.

Ali

Re: Dr. Cox | 7/30/2007, 11:36 am EST

“the reason that rolling stone is covering “20 year old” GNR songs is because NOTHING has come along in the past 20 years that even comes close to it…”

Dr. Cox,
What planet were you on during the first half of the 90’s? You must have been oblivious to the movement emerging from Sealand during that time. You missed out on some really great music. Sure, GNR was huge in the “late 80’s”, and they deserve credit for what they did at the time…but all those (approximately 10-15) various former bandmembers GNR went though, have since moved on.

Here’s a look at the Very Cool trailer for the new book coming out – it should really ROCK! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =HgdezA1Tobg

D’oh!

Oops – bad link – this one should work for the Reckless Road book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =HgdezA1Tobg

Ali | 7/30/2007, 2:36 pm EST

“Why do feel the need to insult people because they have an opinion of GN’R that differs from yours? Making all these assumptions about someone just because of the band that’s their favorite? You need to grow up, man.”

Ali,
Don’t you like any other bands or music artists? Your defense of GNR is posted all over the freaking place on these BLOGS. Ok, so you really really like GNR, but the universe doesn’t revolve around them.

“What about Radiohead (especailly OK Computer), Beck, The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Hives, TV on the Radio, The Mars Volta, Kings Of Leon, Arcade Fire, The Shins…how many more do you want me to name dude?”

All good bands, but none that border on great. GN’R created a new category, which any great band does.The bands above don’t sell. They’re overhyped,big on hipster factor and poser cool, but GN’R have proved to be one of rock’s all time great acts. If you can’t handle that, then you need to get a life.

You know, this is what’s wrong with music today (as it has always been wrong with music), everything is just too much hype. GNR had ONE good album, Appetite. That’s it. Use your Illusion? Those disks sucked and so did the ones that followed. And now we are celebrating the 20th of this album? What album are we going to be celebrating in 20 more years?

Only a few bands are “allowed” to leave their mark. It really comes down to how marketable a band is. GNR was pretty damn marketable at first. Radiohead by contrast, not marketable so they don’t get the respect they deserve. As long as they have been around making good music, this cover and story should have been on them and the 10 year anniversary of OK Computer.

killingfloor | 7/30/2007, 3:35 pm EST

“…GN’R have proved to be one of rock’s all time great acts. If you can’t handle that, then you need to get a life.”

Ok, you’ve made your point, killingfloor, but can YOU handle this:

Nirvana’s brief run ended with the death of Cobain in April of 1994, but the band’s popularity expanded in the years that followed. Eight years after Cobain’s death, “You Know You’re Right”, an unfinished demo that the band recorded two months prior to Cobain’s death, topped radio playlists around the world. Since their debut, the band has sold over sixty million albums worldwide.

…or better yet, can you handle this:

The Beatles are the best-selling musical group of all time, estimated by EMI to have over one billion discs and tapes sold worldwide. The Beatles have notched up the most multi-platinum selling albums for any artist or musical group (thirteen in the U.S. alone).

The Beatles have had more number one albums than any other group (19 in the U.S. and 15 in the United Kingdom).

In summary, I agree that GNR were huge in their time and they deserve credit…but the universe doesn’t revolve around their “one” album and the spotlight doesn’t shine on them alone.

Northwest,

Where the hell did I ever post that “the world revolves around GN’R”? Never.

Ali

I don’t really think anyone is saying the world revolves around them whether it be the old version or the new version. But I digress.
However I totally disagree with you that ONE truly landmark album shouldn’t be honored this way; it is quality over quanity that should matter in the end. Besides that one album alone was a monumental piece of work — almost every song on it was a hit and it has stood the test of time and of course completely timeless.

BTW, I think worldwide, GNR has sold around 90 million records, about 30 million more than Nirvana; but who’s counting, right?

Why do people care about this horrible Zeppelin clone wannbe

Christine,

I am not the one that thinks that the album shouldn’t be honored. I agree with you. You’re right, it is 90 million records sold worldwide. Now consider that they’ve only released three full-length original albums. Wow!

Ali

Re: Ali | 7/30/2007, 4:32 pm EST

“Northwest,
Where the hell did I ever post that “the world revolves around GN’R”? Never.”

Ali,
I was making a point that you seem to overly-defend GNR all over the BLOGS. Nobody is condemning anybody for being a huge GNR fan, but a lot of other people just don’t like them, that’s all. You keep defending yourself, and there’s no need for it. My tastes in music are fairly diverse, and for me it isn’t just about “one” band or “one” album. As for Radiohead, I think they are great. They may not be as successful in the popular “mainstream”, but they have their own fanbase following, such as other bands like Pearl Jam do, for example. And as for Nirvana, they didn’t even expect the level of success they achieved. People loved them for their music, and still do for that matter. It’s not “all” about GNR’s “ONE” album; other bands and music artists deserve the spotlight and RS covers just as much, and in some cases, even more.

~ Peace ~

What choo talkin’ ’bout willis???

“killingfloor | 7/30/2007, 3:35 pm EST

“What about Radiohead (especailly OK Computer), Beck, The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Hives, TV on the Radio, The Mars Volta, Kings Of Leon, Arcade Fire, The Shins…how many more do you want me to name dude?”

All good bands, but none that border on great. GN’R created a new category, which any great band does.The bands above don’t sell. They’re overhyped,big on hipster factor and poser cool, but GN’R have proved to be one of rock’s all time great acts. If you can’t handle that, then you need to get a life. ”

Yeah, you moron…Radiohead doesn’t border on greatness? They haven’t created a new category? When the fuck have you EVER heard anything resembling “Kid A”?

And since when does how much you sell have ANYTHING to do with greatness. try telling the Velvet Underground and the thousands of bands influenced by them that.

Fact is…GNR and their type of metal (all metal really) died only acouple years after Appetite came out. The album didn’t change th world…let alone even it’s own genre.

Great, yeah. But not as great as you like to think.

oh yeah, and wasn’t that so called “garage rock revival” of the early 2000’s consisting of the White Stripes, The Strokes and The Hives credited by many with bring rock back…since it was severly lacking in the latter part of the 90’s?

Did RS completely overlook U2’s 1987 masterpiece “The Joshua Tree”? How about REM’s 1987’s release of “Document”? U2 has created more than double the amount the music GNR has over the last 20 years…and all original bandmembers of U2 are still together, touring.

3 out of 5 ain’t bad, i say axl should change that awful hair first and then they all should do a one-off show and make billions off of it, 50 bucks for a program, 60 bucks for a shirt, 200 for front row etc. etc…

oooohhh, a cat fight! I think there are several differences between Appetite and some other great albums like Joshua Tree and OK Computer are as follows:

1. Appetite is truly great begining to end. Joshua Tree and OK Computer have some weak tunes.

2. Overall sales and continuing strong sales

3. continuing impact: how many teenageers (or adults for that matter) still ride around blasting OK Computer from their cars on a friday night.

one writer mentioned Nevermind as comparable, and I do think that might be seen the same way as Appetite, but it is not 20 years old yet.

Frankly, my vote for one that was overlooked is AC-DC’s Back in Black. That album still sells, and still kills on a Friday night (and i am in my 40s!)

Collectively, they made some cool tunes, but individually, they’ve yet to come close to their glory days. What a pity.

Northwest,

Just because someone has a favorite band, that does not mean it’s the only band that they like. It just so happens that Appetite was what woke me up to rock music.

Richard Legner,

If you consider GN’R a metal band then I have to question if you’ve really listened to them all that closely. They have much more in common with the Stones, Aerosmith and AC/DC than Iron Maiden or Judas Priest. The blues element in their music is what makes them a rock band, not a metal band. Metal bands like Iron Maiden have no such blues element. And if you think all metal has died, I have to wonder, are you saying in a commercial sense? Yes, metal isn’t as popular as it once was in the mainstream. But, it is alive and well. It will always be.

Ali

How come no one made a big deal when Slash, Duff, Izzy, and Matt Sorum played together a few years ago?

ALI,

Cheers man, I agree with everything you are saying and I appreciate you following up to a lot of the people who seem to be completely missing your point. Appetite was such a huge album for me. I first heard the album when I was 19, and I had been playing guitar for two years. It completely blew my mind, and now 4 years later it still does. And one of the most important things about the album is that it is timeless and transcendent like some people have mentioned. You can listen to it now, 20 years after its release, and still not be sick of it at all. The music is just that good.

Also, to reiterate, GnR is a rock band, a blues based rock band, NOT a metal band.

Peace.

Ali,
Rock music originated in the 1950’s, long before GNR were formed. I assume that you might be quite young, and perhaps not have been exposed to much of anything else. If GNR was inspired by blues, which I am not disputing, you’ll need to go back further in time than the 80’s to appreciate some the influences.

RE: mark eee | 7/30/2007, 7:53 pm EST

“1. Appetite is truly great begining to end. Joshua Tree and OK Computer have some weak tunes.”

Name the songs you think are weak and explain why you think they are weak.

Northwest,

I am not as young as you may think I am as I bought Appetite in early 1988. I am well aware of the fact that rock existed long before GN’R. I am only saying that it just so happened that the first rock band I really heard WAS GN’R.

And I don’t think that GN’R was inspired by pure blues, but more bluesy type of rock bands like Aerosmith, The Stones and AC/DC. But, they were also partly inspired by punk bands such as The Sex Pistols (that was the point of much of The Spaghetti Incident).

One Fish Two Fish,

Thanks man. I have listened to the record for 19 and a half years now, and I’m not sick of it. Not even close. It still sounds great. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t still push units and be on the cover of RS.

Ali

“How come no one made a big deal when Slash, Duff, Izzy, and Matt Sorum played together a few years ago?”

Well that wasn’t to mark a 20th anniversary of a cultural touchstone; however, I think it was a big deal on it’s own.

Plus, I think this the first time Duff has performed with Adler in like 17 years since his last performance w/ the band which was at Farm Aid in ‘90.

Ali,

Do the names Led Zeppelin, Hendrix or Jeff Beck mean anything to you…

…nevermind

~ peace ~

Who are the jokers who say GN’R made only one great album? You guys never heard UYI 1&2 obviously. They are two of the ballsiest,hardest rocking blues influenced albums of the 90’s. Axl’s lyrics and Slash’s licks on these records still kick ass today. Kid A? Guero? Who is gonna listen or rock out to these CD’s in 3 years? Let’s face it, GN’R gave us 3 GREAT albums in a short span. And they imploded. Like Nirvana. And yes, greatness doesn’t translate to album sales always, but like cream always rises to the top, so do exceptional bands. GN’R will always be the standard bearer for no frills, balls out, hard rock that will stand the test of time.

No, I’ve never heard of this Hendrix person or this Beck person you speak of. Who are they? Do they happen to play guitar? I don’t know. What about this Led Zeppelin? Why do they spell Led without an “A”? What do I know, I’ve never heard of any of them. It’s not like I own records by any or ALL of them.

No matter how you cut it, GN’R were more directly influenced by Aerosmith, The Stones and AC/DC and punk bands like The Sex Pistols. If you’re trying to say that Beck, The Yardbirds, Zeppelin, or Mr. Hendrix and his experience are better…well, we all have our preferences and I do like all of them and own records by them. I just prefer more aggressive rock like GN’R.

Re: killingfloor | 7/30/2007, 10:04 pm EST

“Who are the jokers who say GN’R made only one great album? You guys never heard UYI 1&2 obviously. They are two of the ballsiest,hardest rocking blues influenced albums of the 90’s. Let’s face it, GN’R gave us 3 GREAT albums in a short span. GN’R will always be the standard bearer for no frills, balls out, hard rock that will stand the test of time.”

The alleged “jokers” have heard all 3 Guns ‘n Roses albums. 1 good one out of 3 isn’t bad. In response to the statment that GNR sets a “standard”, that kind of recognition would more deservedly go to Clapton (the Yardbirds, Cream) and to Hendrix. And that is no joke.

Ali lives on Mars.

An etreeeeemly underrated drummer. Not to mention the coolest guy in the band, second only to Izzy HH

Ali = voted for Bush

I have no problem with RS Putting G&R on the cover for the 20th anniversary of one of the greatest records ever (I still remember walking down the street listening to a bootleg casette a friend from NY sent me before the album came out; it seemed like musci from another planet). I have a huge problem with the continual coverage everytime one of them wipes their nose. C’mon! They made one great album two very good albums that should have been one great one and a couple other decent songs here and there. Then …. nothing. Axl has fallen over the line that seperates self-obsessed genius from meglomania and the rest of them, while fantastic musicians need him to take them over the line. Velvet Revolver’s new shit sounds rockin’; cover that. And, god forbid they have a reunion. That always works out so well.

This goes out to the band members themselves. Screw the critics if you gonna do it, screw the money thing, even if you will say we’re gonna do it for US FANS but deep inside , it’s still all about money. WE, THE FANS, DON’T CARE, just reunite and do it one more time before anyone of you dies. You can see that the police is doing it, genesis, etc…even the spice girls. Do it for us, the FANS, forget your EGOS, man, we the fans are the reason why you got famous and good life anyways, and we only live once in this earth, you may regret not doing it when you get more older or die later on. And by the way, Appetite and Illusions cds are the ones I am playing on my car stereo for a couple of weeks now…

Adler’s going to need a suicide watch when the original band regroups, only with Sorum on drums. He’s a casualty. The interviews I’ve seen with him lately he is barely coherent, & I don’t think he was wasted. He’s just done.

horrible night, horrible show..bad sound, bad lighting, bad attitudes from venue employees and, worst of all, Adler’s band was horrifyingly bad. I felt sorry for Duff and Izzy, and it’s no wonder Slash got out of there before he was fed to the lions.
No amount of corporate media hype can change the reality of what went down. It was a negative mark on the history of the greatest band to ever come out of Hollywood.

BOW WOW! Did you see Slash’s Wife?

Hey Overweight Grease-ball, Let me get this straight; you’re saying that GnR is irrelevant and then you bring up Springsteen and fuckin’ JOHN FOGERTY?

Guns’n Roses was,and still is a grate Band today.Axl Rose is soooo cute”

Guns’n Roses was,and still is a grate Band today.Axl Rose is soooo cute”

i think that G&R made 3 great albums becuase of the emotion of the guitar and the songs that they put together i think that “the garden of eden”,”my world”and “you ain’t the first” i am learning to play drums and steven adler is my idol for being strong and all that has happend to him he is still going out on that stage and doing what he loves. and i think that is beautiful for any musicain to do. it would be great for guns to be back and i agree with message “i miss steven adler” i miss izzy i just wish that non of the bull Sh*t happend becuse they were a family, they were a band should be and now its f**ked up it would be great to see them get back together and i hope they do.

if motley crue can get back to gether guns n roses should be able too steve get your shit together one more for the road for us

Everyone here needs to realize that RS is celebrating a monumental period in time that will probabely standout in Rock history. The Doors only recorded 6 albums before Morrison’s death and they only had 1 number one record, but yet they are and will be an influential period in rock history like many other bands past and future including Guns n Roses. Music and musicians have and will always be celebrated for outstanding achievements whether it’s 1 or 100 records… isn’t that what history is all about. It’s great to see when people of all ages can appreciate music from all eras/genres and articles like these is what sparks intrest and carries on classics with a newer generation of music lovers. So rather than bickering amongst 1 another who’s better or the best (no one will ever (win) that battle because it’s a matter of ones opinion) crank up the tunes and Rock! Cheers

gnr was the best band i like when the original band members were in the group.the best album that i like is appetite for destruction. the best song is sweet of mine. i wish the band would get back together.