American hard rock group Guns N’ Roses was founded in 1985 and is based in Los Angeles, California. The band’s original members were vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler when they signed with Geffen Records in 1986. Rose, Slash, McKagan, Richard Fortus on guitar, Frank Ferrer on drums, and Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese on keyboards make up the current line-up.
Rose recruited a diverse group of musicians, including punk bassist Tommy Stinson, virtuoso guitarist Buckethead, synth player Chris Pitman, and numerous touring Nine Inch Nails members, among others, in order to broaden the band’s sound with industrial and electronic elements. After a decade of labor, Guns N’ Roses finally released their sixth studio album, Chinese Democracy (2008), with the lead song being the album’s title.
It is the most expensive rock album ever, with production expenditures estimated at $14 million. Despite a generally favorable critical response, it opened at number three on the Billboard 200 but underperformed industry forecasts. Slash and McKagan returned to the group in 2016 for the Not in This Lifetime Tour after the extensive Chinese Democracy Tour. tour, which by the time it ended in 2019 had earned nearly $584 million, was the third-highest-grossing concert tour ever.
The band was dubbed “the most dangerous band in the world” in their early years due to their hedonism and rebelliousness, which brought comparisons to the early Rolling Stones. In 2012, the band’s first year of eligibility, the original lineup was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together with later members Reed and drummer Matt Sorum. One of the best-selling acts in history, Guns N’ Roses has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, including 45 million in the US.
