Perfectionism would be a problem that would basically end Guns N’ Roses, but in 1987 it helped them create the perfect album. All the band members wrote different tracks; Axl recorded each line one by one; Slash discovered his guitar sound; and 18-hour days from an engineer all combined to get it to sound perfect. It took a year for anyone to really notice or care but when they did, they never stopped, and this classic sold 18 million copies. The biggest hit was “Sweet Child O’ Mine” but “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City” are also true standouts.
Fun Fact: “November Rain” was supposed to be one of the tracks on Appetite but Axl felt that it would be too many ballads and that only “Sweet Child O’ Mine” should be on this one.
Learn more about the album:
Guns N’ Roses Conquered the Rock World with Appetite for Destruction
25 Things You Might Not Know About Appetite For Destruction
Smack, strippers and Guns N’ Roses: the chaotic road to Appetite For Destruction
Essential video:
Listen to the album: