1985 to 1987

The self-styled 'World's most dangerous band', GUNS N' ROSES rapid rise to superstardom was one of the biggest success stories of the 1980s.

Originally a Glam band formed by then bassist IZZY STRADLIN (real name Jeffrey Isbabelle) and singer W. Axl Rose (real name William Bruce Bailey), the group went under the handle of ROSE initially.

Rose was born in Lafayette, Indiana on February 6th 1962 and was a choir boy as a child. Whilst still an infant his natural father had disappeared and, after his mother had remarried, Axl and his brother took on his step father's surname of Bailey. At the age of 17 he discovered that his real father's surname had been Rose. He then took on the name W. Rose, adopting the Axl tag after playing in a band of that name. It was perhaps a coincidence that Axl Rose was an anagram of Oral Sex, as is the fact his initials spell W.A.R.

Rose, who legally changed his name from Bill Bailey to W. Axl Rose in 1986, moved to Los Angeles in 1982 with Laffayette buddy IZZY STRADLIN, although once in the City Of Angels, he found it somewhat of a struggle to get recognition. The singer joined up with RAPIDFIRE, fronting a band unit of guitarist Kevin Lawrence, bass player Mike Hammernik and drummer Chuck Gordon. This short-lived act cut demos during 1983.

Together with guitarist IZZY STRADLIN he forged ROSE, being joined by guitarist Chris Weber and drummer Johnny Kreis (a.k.a. 'Johnny Christ'), the latter located via a wanted advert in 'The Recycler'. Bass guitar was initially in the hands of Rick Mars and subsequently Andre Roxx. One of the formative ROSE tracks, the Rose / Stradlin composition 'My Way - Your Way', would evolve into 'Anything Goes' on 'Appetite For Destruction'.

This unit then evolved into HOLLYWOOD ROSE, debuting live at The Orphanage, to cut a five song demo featuring the tracks 'Killing Time', 'Anything Goes', 'Rocker', 'Shadow Of Your Love' and 'Reckless Life'. By coincidence, a 1984 gig at at the Music Machine supporting STRYPER would also see BLACK SHEEP on the billing, this band featuring no less than a pre-GUNS N' ROSES Slash on guitar. However, following this gig HOLLYWOOD ROSE broke up, Axl Rose joining up with L.A. GUNS whilst Izzy Stradlin hooked up with LONDON.

Bringing in new personnel guitarist Tracii Guns, Steve Darrow on bass and drummer Robbie Gardner, HOLLYWOOD ROSE was re-activated, re-debuting with a New Year's Eve show at the Dancing Waters. HOLLYWOOD ROSE evolved further into GUNS N' ROSES.

The quartet placed ads in all the Los Angeles music papers in the search for a bass player. Eventually Seattle native Michael 'Duff' McKagan was recruited to fill the bass slot after quitting the ranks of fellow Los Angeles group ROAD CREW. Prior to hitching to California McKagan had a varied history through a whole series of Seattle Punk bands. He had started out with THE VAINS then THE LIVING before becoming the drummer with THE FASTBACKS. A stint with SILLY KILLERS led to McKagan becoming guitarist for CANNIBAL and THE FARTZ before he was back on the drums again in TEN MINUTE WARNING.

McKagan had joined ROADCREW after relocating from Seattle and turning his hand from a guitarist into a bassist in order to get a better chance at making it. Duff figured that, whilst there were a million guitarists out there maybe as a bassist he would have a better shot at fame and fortune. It turned out to be a wise move, but ROADCREW were going nowhere despite the presence of drummer Steven Adler and a British born guitarist called Slash.

Some sources suggest that Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner split after declining to take part in a tour of the West Coast clubs that McKagan had put together, others state that Guns and Gardner chose to leave to form L.A. GUNS. Whatever, the pair had decamped and McKagan tipped Axl off about Slash and Adler.

Slash (real name Saul Hudson) was born in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire on July 23rd 1965. His father, Anthony, had been heavily involved in the design of album covers (JONI MITCHELL's 'Court And Spark' being one) and his mother, Ola, designed clothes including the suits worn by DAVID BOWIE in his movie 'The Man Who Fell To Earth'. The guitarist had previously auditioned for the vacant axe slinger's position in POISON after Koko Smith had returned to Pennsylvania. He was offered the position but declined the offer as, according to later quotes, he wasn't willing to put on the make-up and dye his hair. Curiously, early GUNS N' ROSES photos depicted the guitarist in full on Glam mode, lipstick and all...

Slash, who had taken up the guitar quite late at the age of 15 and Adler had been school friends, Adler's family having relocated to Los Angeles from Ohio when he was fairly young. The pair accepted the offer to join GUNS N' ROSES and immediately found themselves engaged on the tour McKagan had previously booked after nearly four days of intensive rehearsals, arriving in Seattle in June 1985 two and a half days after setting off from Los Angeles and having their truck break down en route.

Using the notoriety already fostered by their previous bands, flyers for the inaugural GUNS N' ROSES gig on June 6th 1985 at The Troubadour in Los Angeles proclaimed "L.A GUNS and HOLLYWOOD ROSE presents the band Guns n' Roses". Upon their return to Los Angeles, GUNS N' ROSES hit the clubs in earnest, playing all the regular Rock dives and vying for major label attention alongside the likes of POISON and FASTER PUSSYCAT.

Having picked up management from Alan Niven, known for his work with GREAT WHITE, the graft paid off when they were snapped up by Geffen Records during the latter half of 1986. In order to build up a groundswell of fan support, opted to release a live EP in January of the new year to bridge the gap before their debut album arrived later in 1987.

The independent nature of the groundbreaking live EP 'Live?!@Like A Suicide' on the Uzi/Suicide label, it was actually funded by Geffen. Nevertheless, it was a record that was soon to rack up impressive sales figures, especially on import in Britain as the buzz on GUNS N' ROSES grew louder by the day. So much so that the EP would be re-issued later by Geffen after the band's full blown debut had blitzkrieged the charts due to public demand.

Consisting of two originals ('Reckless Life' and 'Move To The City') and smoking covers of AEROSMITH's 'Mama Kin' and the ROSE TATTOO penned 'Nice Boys Don't Play Rock n' Roll'. GUNS N' ROSES set their stall out nicely with the EP although the hype didn't really kick into gear until the band hit Britain.

The group debuted in the UK during June 1987 with three sold out shows at the old Marquee Club in London's Wardour Street. These dates were preceded by the 'It's So Easy' single and the band's 'Appetite For Destruction' then appeared in July. The group immediately hit the highway in North America opening up for THE CULT.

Upon release, 'Appetite For Destruction', caused a great deal of controversy for its depiction of a rape within the cartoon artwork by artist Robert Williams. Oddly enough, it was primarily British retail outlets who objected to the sleeve. Major chain WH Smith, who had previously objected to the smoking cherub on VAN HALEN's '1984' meisterwerk, refused to stock the record and Virgin also declined to give the album window space in their stores. An alternative cover was eventually made available with the band's cross tattoo logotype and this design would quietly be phased in as a permanent replacement.

GUNS N' ROSES returned to Britain in October to perform a highly successful five date tour with fellow Los Angeles. act FASTER PUSSYCAT after a previously announced support slot with AEROSMITH, set for September, had been shelved by the headlining act when the Boston veterans pulled out entirely. The entire GUNS N' ROSES / FASTER PUSSYCAT UK tour sold out rapidly. A single released to coincide with these dates, 'Welcome To The Jungle', included live versions of AC/DC's 'Whole Lotta Rosie' and BOB DYLAN's 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door', both captured live by producer Vic Maile at the Marquee shows the previous June.

In November GUNS N' ROSES joined the MÖTLEY CRÜE American tour after WHITESNAKE dropped out.

1988 to 1989

GUNS N' ROSES toured America in 1988 with support from ZODIAC MINDWARP and U.D.O. during which time the album went Gold in the States having shifted over 500'000 copies since its release the previous year. Mid-way through the tour McKagan opted out for a spell to enable him to get married and in came stand in bassist Haggis of British rockers THE CULT. During this extensive period of touring Steven Adler broke his hand in a bar-room fight and had to be substituted by CINDERELLA drummer Fred Coury for the remaining shows.

Prior to their appearance at the Castle Donington 'Monsters Of Rock' festival, the group opened for IRON MAIDEN on the Californian leg of their US tour, although had to pull out after a handful of dates when Rose lost his voice Still, by this point 'Appetite For Destruction' had reached number 1 in America some 13 months after its release as GUNS N'ROSES became the latest flavour to tempt the taste buds of the American youth.

The group's third single, 'Sweet Child Of Mine', had helped carry the album into the top ten and was itself a US number 1 hit.

The band's next release turned out to be the controversial 'Lies! The Sex, The Drugs, The Violence, The Shocking Truth' collection, a record that included the four tracks from the 'Live ?!@' Like A Suicide' EP plus a number of previously unreleased tracks including a number entitled 'One In A Million'.

GUNS N'ROSES would, over the next six or so months, be embroiled in controversy over the song's lyrical content, specifically with the use of the term 'niggers'. Not surprisingly this comment caused Axl to be branded a racist and moving Slash to write an open letter to the readers of 'Kerrang!' defending the singer over the use of the word in the context of the song.

Slash was linked with former porn star Traci Lords the same year, reportedly being enlisted by the actress to play on a demo tape she intended to shop to major labels. Unfortunately, the closest Lords came to being a Rock star was in a guest capacity on a record by British outfit MANIC STREET PREACHERS a few years later although Traci did eventually release a decent Techno album in 1995.

In October 1989 GUNS N' ROSES regrouped to play two shows as special guests to the ROLLING STONES at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

1990 to 1996

GUNS N' ROSES began work on the follow-up to 'Appetite For Destruction' in January 1990 with Mike Clink behind the desk. It was revealed in March that the group had sacked Steven Adler due to the drummer's inability to kick drugs. News filtered through that ex-PRETENDERS man Martin Chambers would be joining the band and that erstwhile SEA HAGS drummer Adam Maples was in line to record the new album as GUNS N' ROSES hired ex-THE WILD keyboard player Dizzy reed on a more definite permanent basis. However, there would appear to have been a change of heart when Axl announced that Adler had been welcomed back into the group in April after reportedly "getting his shit together". He subsequently played with the group at the Farm-Aid show. The 'is he, isn't he?' situation with Adler was finally put to bed in July 1990 with the official announcement that the drummer had left and GUNS N' ROSES had hired the JEFF PARIS, Y KANT TORI READ and THE CULT drummer MATT SORUM.

GUNS N' ROSES next set of recordings would prove to be hugely ambitious. Preceded by the July 1991 single 'You Could Be Mine', which many critics believed to be not quite in the same league as earlier material, the 'Use Your Illusion' set comprised of two CD albums launched consecutively during September. Predictably in such a scenario one would keep the other from the top spot on both the American and UK album charts with 'Use Your Illusion 2' coming off the winner. As well as giving fans a glut of new original material the band also served up suitably grandiose versions of WINGS 'Live And Let Die' and BOB DYLAN's 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'. More contentiously, 'Use Your Illusion 2' contained the vitriolic no holds barred 'Get In The Ring', an outright verbal attack on named journalists who Axl Rose believed had bad mouthed the band. Another notable inclusion featured on 'Use Your Illusion 1' would be 'The Garden', seeing Axl Rose duetting with ALICE COOPER.

Both records slipped past the platinum marker with consummate ease and sales were further buoyed when the epic ballad 'November Rain' gave the band another monster hit single. GUNS N' ROSES would follow it with the cover versions 'Live And Let Die' in December 1991 and February 1992's 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door', the latter recorded live at the FREDDIE MERCURY tribute concert.

Adler eventually bounced back heralding the formation of ROADCREW created mainly from ex VAIN musicians vocalist Davey Vain, guitarist James Scott and bassist Ashley Mitchell together with second guitarist Sean Rory. Although ROADCREW scored invaluable press exposure for a series of club gigs the whole project was soon to fragment as Adler struggled to contain his addiction problem.

Meantime GUNS N' ROSES themselves, in the midst of a drawn out American arena tour supported by SOUNDGARDEN, were undergoing turbulent times too as Stradlin was unceremoniously ousted from the band. Although it had been mooted that BURNING TREE's Marc Ford had at one stage been made an offer Stradlin's replacement was drafted almost instantaneously in the form of ex CANDY and KILL FOR THRILLS man GILBY CLARKE.

The 1993 effort 'The Spaghetti Incident' was an album composed entirely of cover versions with GUNS N' ROSES paying homage to those who had inspired them leaning heavily towards early eighties American punk. Tracks covered comprised of THE DAMNED 'New Rose', NEW YORK DOLLS 'Human Being', NAZARETH's 'Hair Of The Dog', THE STOOGES 'Rawpower', T-REX's 'Buick Mackane', MISFITS 'Attitude' (often performed live by GUNS N' ROSES with lead vocals taken by McKagan), DEAD BOYS 'Ain't It Fun', UK SUBS 'Down On The Farm' (first performed by GUNS N' ROSES at the 1990 Farm Aid event), RUNAWAYS 'Black Leather' (written by STEVE JONES of the SEX PISTOLS), FEAR's 'I Don't Care About You' (a track previously covered by SOUNDGARDEN as the B side to their 'Outshined' single), JOHNNY THUNDERS 'I Don't Care About You' and an obscure track from the 1950's act SKYLINERS 'Since I Don't Have You'.

The album also included an unaccredited "secret" track, 'Look At Your Game Girl', written by imprisoned 60's cult leader Charles Manson. The inclusion of the song created the predicted uproar although later versions of the album did see this track deleted. The notorious murderer received no payment for the band's rendition of the song as a 1973 federal court ruling stipulated that all Manson income was to be turned over to one of the surviving sons of one of many victims.

By late 1994 GUNS N' ROSES emerged from the shadows contributing their version of the ROLLING STONES classic 'Sympathy For The Devil' to the soundtrack to the movie 'Interview With A Vampire'. The first recording to feature new guitarist Paul Huge.

Meantime, and almost unnoticed, an album of significant import slipped by on Japanese release in 1995. THE OUTPATIENCE record 'Anxious Disease' would not only turn out to be the band led by GUNS N' ROSES songwriter Wes Arkeen but would see Slash, McKagan, Stradlin and even Axl Rose donating their talents as guest contributors.

1997 to 2007

In June 1997 reports filtered through that GUNS N' ROSES collaborator Wes Arkeen had been found dead, the result of a drug overdose.

The turmoil ensued throughout the year as Rose's attempts to record a fresh GUNS N' ROSES album seemingly floundered. It had been a full four years since the last recorded output from the GUNS N' ROSES name and long suffering fans of the band were only just beginning to realise their patience was to be tested to the absolute limit. Rumours flew that only the vocalist remained to hold on to the band name and his chosen producer, dance guru MOBY, threw in the towel during October.

As 1998 dawned various members announced their activities. DUFF McKAGAN would finally quit GUNS N' ROSES to concentrate on another of his acts NEUROTIC OUTSIDERS. Matt Sorum founded a band project with former DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH vocalist GLENN HUGHES and guitarist STEVIE SALAS. The drummer would later rejoin THE CULT.

In a burst of unexpected publicity the elusive Axl Rose had a police mugshot spread over the internet as he was arrested for a fracas in a Phoenix airport. Meantime, life for the high profile ex-Gunners went on with plenty of product arriving to satisfy fans needs. March found IZZY STRADLIN releasing his third solo album '117 Degrees' on Geffen. GILBY CLARKE had his third effort 'Rubber' issued shortly after. Ex-drummer Steven Adler was announced as the latest recruit to the BULLETBOYS in June '98 but his return to the limelight was marred by his arrest for assault in October.

The same month Rose reassembled GUNS N' ROSES retaining Reed on keyboards together with former NINE INCH NAILS guitarist Robin Finck, second guitarist Paul Tobias (widely credited as 'Paul Huge'), former BASH & POP, PERFECT and REPLACEMENTS bassist Tommy Stinson and ex-VANDALS, INFECTIOUS GROOVES and PEARL JAM drummer Josh Freese.

DUFF McKAGAN reunited with his long lost Seattle buddies TEN MINUTE WARNING to record an EP for the Sub Pop label. The bassist's own projected second album 'Beautiful Disease' was shelved by Geffen. Unable to secure the rights the album was to languish in the vaults.

Meantime the band's past came back to haunt them when former HOLLYWOOD ROSE member Chris Weber filed a lawsuit against the band claiming co-writing credits on the songs 'Back Off Bitch' and 'Shadow Of Your Love'.

January 1999 saw the reunion onstage of Slash, McKagan and Sorum for a show at the Slamdance film festival performing 'Attitude'. Rose was back in the press receiving a token $500 fine for his unruliness in Phoenix the year before.

McKagan issued a fan club only live CD in 1999 'Episode 1999 live' with his act LOADED. The bassist would finally quit GUNS N' ROSES to concentrate on another of his acts NEUROTIC OUTSIDERS.

GUNS N' ROSES made a low key return with a re-recorded version of 'Sweet Child O'Mine' appearing unannounced at the end of the 'Big Daddy' movie. Although a rehash of an old classic it was the first new GUNS N' ROSES material for six years.

As Slash suffered a burglary at his home resulting in the theft of no less than 11 guitars his replacement Robin Finck quit GUNS N' ROSES to rejoin NINE INCH NAILS. Finck's departure came on the eve of the witnessing of brand new GUNS N' ROSES material. Typically and deliberately unpublicised the new song 'Oh My God' would be heard on the movie soundtrack for the film 'End Of Days'. The song was for more industrially based than many fans would have liked.

GUNS N' ROSES were placated with the release of an official live album 'Live Era '87-93' in November. Both GILBY CLARKE and IZZY STRADLIN fanned the flames with further solo releases in 'Live' 99' and 'Ride On' respectively. A tribute album was also issued, 'Appetite For Reconstruction' hosting a series of Electronic remakes.

The millennium broke with no concrete news on GUNS N' ROSES return. With the band seemingly in stasis Freese quit to form the hugely successful A PERFECT CIRCLE fronted by TOOL mainman Maynard James Keenan. The band also had a further lawsuit filed against them by songwriter Bobby Martin who alleged that 'Don't Cry' was in fact a reworking of his Puerto Rican hit single 'Ensename A Amar'.

Despite his troubles Rose was enticed on stage for an impromptu performance with GILBY CLARKE at the Cat Club in Los Angeles. Amazingly this was the singer's first time on a stage in seven years! Meantime McKagan had joined IZZY STRADLIN's band for a Japanese tour in June.

The following month SLASH'S SNAKEPIT was back in action opening for a mammoth AC/DC American tour supporting his 'Ain't Life Grand' album.

Ex-JUICE 13 bassist Krys Baratto was pulled in to the GUNS N' ROSES fold during 2000 to lay down demos although he too would depart for C.C. DeVille's SAMANTHA 7. 2000 also saw a GUNS N' ROSES tribute album emerge with the acoustic flavoured 'Strings Of Fire'. Reports emerged that Rose was planning on making his GUNS N' ROSES comeback at the 2001 'Rock In Rio' festival. The line-up comprised of Tobias, Reed, Stinson, guitarist Buckethead (a.k.a. Brian Carroll - a man who always plays with a mask to conceal his identity), a returning Finck and ex-drummer Brain (real name Bryan Mantia). Both Brain and Buckethead are ex-members of PRAXIS and PRIMUS.

The band made their return in Brazil at the annual 'Rock In Rio' festival. Reports in general were satisfactory if not exactly enthusiastic, many journalists seeming to be more interested in Axl's physical condition than the music. Nevertheless GUNS N' ROSES were soon to organise a lengthy run of European shows including German festivals. The bands London Docklands Arena gig was quick to sell out but in May all the dates were pulled. The official explanation being that Buckethead was suffering from a mysterious abdominal haemorrhaging.

An album, titled 'Chinese Democracy' and then being produced by Bob Ezrin and later Sean Beaven, was set for release in 2001 but had still not arrived by the following year. What did emerge were plans to perform live in Las Vegas and a project to re-record the classic 'Welcome To The Jungle' for use on the soundtrack for the movie 'Black Hawk Down'. This latter idea was subsequently scrapped. The Vegas shows would come in for some unexpected publicity when rumours spread that Rose had banned any previous members of the band from attending. New songs debuted included 'Oh My God', 'Madagascar', 'Chinese Democracy', 'The Blues' and 'Silk Worms'.

As 2002 broke it transpired that guitarist BUCKETHEAD was busy working on a new album with his other act, THANATOPSIS whilst GUNS N' ROSES themselves had seemingly parted ways with recently engaged producer Roy Thomas Baker. Meantime erstwhile Gunner Slash announced the dissolution of his SLASH'S SNAKEPIT combo as 2002 broke. It would shortly after be revealed that the ex GUNS N' ROSES triumvirate of Slash, IZZY STRADLIN and DUFF McKAGAN had ensconced themselves in the recording studio working on a brand new venture.

Meantime, yet another in the long line of GUNS N' ROSES tribute albums emerged with Deadline Records releasing an April collection including the talents of MITCH MALLOY, Stevie Rachelle of TUFF, the RATT duo of Jizzy Pearl and John Corabi, QUIET RIOT's Kevin DuBrow and Joe Leste of the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES.

GUNS N' ROSES would announce a third attempt at playing in the UK for August of 2002, billed as appearing at the 'Carling Festival' in Leeds. Another confirmed gig would be the 'Summer Sonic 2002' show in Hong Kong. Further shows in Seoul, Korea, Belgium and Indonesia were then scheduled. The ex gunners collective would be making news too with Slash, McKagan and Matt Sorum uniting with BUCKCHERRY members Josh Todd and Keith Nelson for a set at the Los Angeles Key club on April 29th as a part of tribute concert for the late OZZY OSBOURNE / MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Randy Castillo. As if the band line up alone was not enough Steven Tyler of AEROSMITH joined the ad hoc band onstage for an encore of 'Mama Kin'. Following this gig the Slash / McKagan / Sorum axis would rehearse with a view to assembling an all new band.

More rumours throughout the summer suggested 'Chinese Democracy' might be in line for a September release, some three years behind schedule. However, within hours of the rumour circulating Geffen Records issued an official denial. Worryingly the band's September 27th gig in Seoul, Korea was pulled, apparently to give the band more time to finish the album. Some solid news on the Gunners front did arrive though with the issue of BUCKETHEAD's solo album 'Bermuda Triangle' on Catalyst Records. GUNS N' ROSES drummer Brain would guest on one track.

The band arrived in China for shows brandishing yet another new line up with second keyboard player Chris Pitman and Richard Fortus having replaced Paul Tobias. GUNS N' ROSES broke venue capacity records in Japan, pulling 35,000 people to Tokyo's Chiba Marine Stadium and a further 25,000 at Osaka's WTC Open-air stadium. The group also put in an unheralded performance at the MTV Music Awards, their first North American show in a decade. With Axl Rose sporting a new dreadlocked braids look GUNS N' ROSES performed a medley of 'Welcome To The Jungle', the new track 'Madagascar' and the obligatory 'Paradise City'.

That same month a new track from New York Thrash veterans ANTHRAX 'Love Siege' was made available through internet download. The song had been cut for the soundtrack for director John Carpenter's 'Ghost Of Mars' movie and included none other than GUNS N' ROSES guitarist BUCKETHEAD on guest lead solos.

When the band finally revealed details for a North American tour to close out the year overwhelming fan reaction soon set aside the ongoing media speculation as to the band's present status. Tickets for New York's Madison Square Garden show on December 5th sold out within 10 minutes of going on sale. Fans would have double concern to celebrate as it was learned that the Slash / McKagan / Sorum band project was taking shape with IZZY STRADLIN also contributing to the song-writing process by October and McKagan's LOADED bandmate Dave Kushner employed as a session guitarist. Shortly after it would be learned that former SKID ROW singer SEBASTIAN BACH was in rehearsals with the band.

Quite incredibly GUNS N' ROSES inaugural date on their much vaunted North American tour was cancelled on the very day of the planned concert. Fans waiting for the band's show at the Vancouver General Motors Place venue on November 7th rioted when they heard that the concert was pulled. Police resorted to the use of pepper spray to control the crowd and an estimated several hundred thousand dollars worth of damage. Although the rest of the band had made it into the city Axl Rose was officially reported to be stuck at Los Angeles LAX airport due to bad weather conditions. Oddly this had not affected any other flights that day.

The tour from that point proceeded as planned throughout November and onto a sold out show at Madison Square Garden in New York. However, on December 6th the band's Philadelphia First Union Center show was pulled at the last minute. Despite support acts CKY and MIX MASTER MIKE having put on their show as normal 14'000 fans at the sell out show duly rioted as loudspeaker announcements informed the stunned crowd GUNS N' ROSES was not going to perform due to a band member being sick. Major damage was caused to the inside of the venue. Further gigs in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Albuquerque and Phoenix were all cancelled at short notice and within hours the entire tour had been cancelled. All told GUNS N' ROSES had put on just sixteen shows, grossing six and a half million dollars in ticket receipts.

As Slash, McKagan and Sorum built anticipation for their project another former Gunner, drummer Steven Adler, also weighed in with his own venture. Initially billed as ADLER'S APPETITE, the band incorporated RATT and ex-LOVE/HATE singer Jizzy Pearl, ex-SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and RATT guitarist Keri Kelli, FASTER PUSSYCAT guitarist Brent Muscat, along with ex-VINCE NEIL and RATT bassist Robbie Crane. The band put out a press release promising to perform the GUNS N' ROSES album 'Appetite For Destruction' on the live circuit. In keeping with the perceived chaos surrounding all branches of the band Jizzy Pearl issued a statement the following day denying any involvement, motioning that he had jammed with Adler and nothing further. Within days live work, with Pearl at the helm, was announced for this new band, who had also undergone a name change to SUKI JONES.

The Slash / McKagan / Sorum venture retained its media status too as auditions for potential frontmen became the subject of a reality TV show. In March the musicians performed versions of 'Paradise City' and the CYPRESS HILL song '(Rock) Superstar' with CYPRESS HILL rappers Sen Dog and B-Real on ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' show. The group, utilising the services of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman SCOTT WEILAND cut a rendition of PINK FLOYD's 'Money' for use on the soundtrack to the remake of the cult robbery flick 'The Italian Job'. Keyboard player Teddy Andreadis, of SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, also performed on this track. Soon after it would be learned the group, having settled on the title RELOADED (but soon switched to VELVET REVOLVER), had cut a further track with Weiland at the helm, an original composition 'Set Me Free' for use on another movie soundtrack 'The Hulk'.

Controversy surrounded GUNS N' ROSES yet again as their supremely delayed album 'Chinese Democracy' had it's title stolen by THE OFFSPRING. It was a clever piece of publicity on behalf of the Californian Nu Punks that prompted a cease and desist order from GUNS N' ROSES lawyers. However, it's timing of April 1st had many wondering...

Former Gunners DUFF McKAGAN and IZZY STRADLIN guested on the 2003 'Bubblegum' solo album from QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE/ex-SCREAMING TREES singer MARK LANEGAN. Meantime present day GUNS N' ROSES bassist TOMMY STINSON set about recording a solo album, pulling in band colleagues guitarist Richard Fortus and keyboardist Dizzy Reed with drummer Josh Freese, saxophonist Jason Freese and CATHOLICS guitarist Dave Phillips.

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist BUCKETHEAD put in guest recording sessions for an album 'Pandemoniumfromamerica' by VIGGO MORTENSEN, the actor best known for his lead role in the epic 'Lord Of The Rings' movie trilogy. Meantime bassist Tommy Stinson inked a solo deal with Sanctuary Records. His debut solo album included guest sessions from Josh Freese, Jason Freese, Dizzy Reed and Richard Fortus. With rumours suggesting Buckethead had been ejected from the GUNS N' ROSES line up, the guitarist spent April on the road in the U.S. opening for the PARTICLE. In mid March the official announcement was made that Buckethead had indeed left the band, apparently having informed Axl Rose of his decision the previous month. The guitarist subsequently busied himself with two solo releases, 'Population Overdrive' and 'Cuckoo Clocks Of Hell'. Ajax Garcia, guitarist and founder of late '90s Punk Rock n' Roll act THE NAPOLEON BLOWNAPARTS revealed he had been approached to fill the vacancy.

GUNS N' ROSES seemingly announced a return to live action by confirming a headline slot at the Lisbon 'Rock In Rio' festival for 30th May but then cancelled this show. Meantime, with 'Chinese Democracy' still having been granted no official release date Geffen ushered out a further 'Greatest Hits' compilation. However, Axl Rose, Slash and McKagan filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the release, claiming they had not been given the opportunity to approve the choice of songs, the artwork, release date or the re-mastering done on the tracks included on the compilation. By this stage the still unreleased 'Chinese Democracy' was rumoured to have cost the record label a cool $13 million. The objection was thrown out and 'Greatest Hits' duly made its mark globally, scoring top five in many countries and hitting the no. 1 position in Ireland - where it remained for four straight weeks, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Austria. Although it did not debut at no. 1 in the UK it took the position three weeks later. The compilation shifted over 160'000 copies in its first week tally in the USA, debuting at no. 3. It continued to do brisk business into the second week, selling a further 96,000 copies to maintain a top ten placing. In little over a month 'Greatest Hits' had gone two times platinum in Ireland and the United Kingdom, platinum in Norway and Switzerland, and gold in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Although the collection dropped a spot in the UK in its third week it then bounced back up again to no. 1. In Belgium sustained interest saw the album charting high before reaching no. 1 in its tenth week of release.

Dizzy Reed kept himself active on the live front with his HOOKERS 'N' BLOW outfit, a combo also including Alex Grossi and Matt Starr, both credited with membership of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, FASTMASTER and BANG TANGO, Curtis Roach of FASTMASTER along with drummer Troy Patrick Farrell of the GILBY CLARKE band and MIKE TRAMP's touring act. Meantime, GUNS N' ROSES would test out Ron Thal for the guitar vacancy. Thal's previous credits included a 1995 solo album 'The Adventures Of Bumblefoot'. This conjecture would be swiftly shot down by the band who issued an official statement declaring "To set the record straight no one - we repeat no one - has been invited to join the band. We would normally not respond to rumours but it is wrong to allow a few self publicists the platform to mislead the media and Guns N' Roses fans".

Adding to Rose's woes would be reports from 'Celebrity Justice' that former Gunners Slash and DUFF McKAGAN were suing the singer for allegedly blocking the use of GUNS N' ROSES songs for movie soundtracks. Apparently the blockbuster 'Black Hawk Down' had originally planned on the inclusion of 'Welcome To The Jungle'. Other films alleged to have requested tracks were 'Just Married', 'We Were Soldiers', 'Death To Smoochie' and 'Old School'.

In June 2004 the Cleopatra label collected together archive HOLLYWOOD ROSE demos for release as 'The Roots Of Guns n' Roses'. The album collected together five original demos alongside alternate takes on these same tracks remixed by former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist GILBY CLARKE and CINDERELLA's Fred Coury. Adding to this resurrection of Rose's formative works would be the revelation that demos from 1983, when the singer fronted RAPIDFIRE, were due for release.

VELVET REVOLVER had a surprise for fans when, on 31st October the group delivered a set at the Little Rock, Arkansas 'Rocktoberfest' dressed up as GUNS N' ROSES, singer SCOTT WEILAND sporting a ginger wig and bandana whilst Slash took to the stage with a bucket on his head.

Early 2005 brought further signals that 'Chinese Democracy' was still an ongoing project. Meantime, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Richard Fortus recorded with veteran German Punktress NENA and also took time out to join her live band for European gigs. Dizzy Reed busied himself composing and recording music for the movie soundtrack 'Still Life', working in collaboration with BUCKCHERRY frontman Josh Todd and Louise Post of VERUCA SALT.

In May Axl Rose's attempt to prevent release of the HOLLYWOOD ROSE album came to a halt as Judge Gary Allen Feess, Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, awarded Cleopatra Records' request for attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $24,176.38. The money from back catalogue would still be flowing for Axl Rose though as in June the Recording Industry Association of America revealed GUNS N' ROSES had sold over 36 million albums in the USA, with only LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, AEROSMITH, METALLICA and VAN HALEN ranking above them in terms of Hard Rock sales.

In August, ex-Gunner Steven Adler's ADLER'S APPETITE, now fronted by Sheldon Tarsha, acquired BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION/ex-L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns - himself a formative GUNS N' ROSES man, evolved into GUNS N' ROSES REVISITED for a series of August Asian gigs across Philippines, Singapore, Bali and Indonesia.

On October 24th Tommy Stinson took time out of the GUNS N' ROSES schedule to perform with SOUL ASYLUM at the First Avenue in Minneapolis. As 2006 was ushered renewed speculation arose as to both a final release date for 'Chinese Democracy' and a mooted reunion of the classic line-up. Indeed, as Slash issued a public statement cryptically confirming his anticipation for the new record by February the rumour mill was suggesting that his place in VELVET REVOLVER had been taken by DAVE NAVARRO. As this conjecture brewed, album songs such as 'Better', 'I.R.S.', 'There Was A Time' and 'Catcher In The Rye', the latter featuring a guesting BRIAN MAY, would be leaked across the internet. All 10,000 tickets for GUNS N' ROSES' July 5th 2006 show in Helsinki, Finland at the Hartwall Arena sold out in under ten minutes when placed on sale on March 13th. An extra show to cater for demand was duly added for the following day. Thay same month Soundscan statistics revealed that, quite incredibly, 'Greatest Hits' was still selling over 11,000 copies every week in the USA.

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist GILBY CLARKE was in the news again as he revealed SUPERNOVA the brand applied to the all star band unit assembled for the second season of reality TV show 'Rock Star'. The core band comprised Clarke, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer TOMMY LEE and former FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, METALLICA bassist and current ECHOBRAIN and VOIVOD member Jason Newsted on bass.

As GUNS N' ROSES announced a string of four New York Hammerstein Ballroom concerts for May, Joshua Craig of Boston based band THE ALIEN BLAKK, revealed that he had auditioned for the group in mid April.

The first show of the Hammerstein Ballroom run, on May 12th, debuted new guitar player Ron Thal (a.k.a. Bumblefoot) from New York Rap Metal combo BUMBLEFOOT. SEBASTIAN BACH guested on vocals for 'My Michelle'. Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist IZZY STRADLIN took the stage on May 17th for the song 'Think About You'. Stradlin also showed up for the final night, featuring on 'Think About You', 'Patience' and 'Night Train', the latter also witnessing an onstage appearance of KID ROCK.

The band undertook a surprise first at 1 a.m. on the 19th, performing an all acoustic unannounced set at The Plumm club in New York to celebrate the birthday of 'Rent' actress Rosario Dawson. Naturally a GUNS N' ROSES event was not to go unmarked by controversy, reports claiming clothing tycoon Tommy Hilfiger attempted to confront Axl Rose. An official Sanctuary Management statement read "Tommy Hilfiger was carried away by his own security people kicking and screaming after attempting to pick a fight with GUNS N' ROSES mainman Axl Rose ... Hilfiger who took two swings at Rose, was fortunate that he found Rose in good spirits and a forgiving mood." Unbeknown to the public at the time was that these New York appearances coincided with an attempt to finish 'Chinese Democracy' in the studio during this period.

GUNS N' ROSES June 11th headline spot at the UK 'Download' festival saw the group once again joined by a guesting IZZY STRADLIN to run through three songs, 'Patience', 'Night Train' and 'I Used To Love Her'. SEBASTIAN BACH also joined in for 'My Michelle'. The show ran far from smoothly, with Rose leaving the stage two times, leaving his band to play an instrumental take of 'Don't Cry' and, quite unexpectedly, CHRISTINA AGUILERA's hit 'Beautiful'.

GUNS N' ROSES European dates throughout July saw the SEBASTIAN BACH band as direct support. Stradlin joined the band for shows in Prague, Warsaw, the Austrian 'Novarock' festival, Paris and a planned Zurich concert. However, this latter gig was postponed when drummer Bryan Mantia had to return to San Francisco to attend his pregnant wife. The group pulled in stand in Frank Ferrer, of PISSER, for an appearance at the June 23rd 'Graspop Metal Meeting' festival in Belgium.

GUNS N' ROSES performed two concerts on July 29th, as after their first London Wembley Arena concert an exclusive acoustic performance was cobndtced at the tiny Cuckoo venue. SEBASTIAN BACH came to the band's aid the next day. Performing again at the Wembley Arena, Axl Rose was reportedly taken ill. The band played an abbreviated set with Bach closing the show vocalising on 'Night Train' and 'Paradise City'. Whilst in London during August a further attempt was made to complete 'Chinese Democracy' but again the results were not deemed final. Further studio work then carried on back in Los Angeles.

Band manager Merck Mercuriadis laid intrigue with a statement in October, saying "The album will come out this year. There are ten Tuesdays left before January - it will come out on one of them." He would then further alude to the fact that there was to be no advertising of the album upfront of its release date whatsoever.

US shows ran throughout October and November, again supported by SEBASTIAN BACH. PAPA ROACH also joined this package until November 3rd. The band's New York Madison Square Garden concert, on November 10th, sold out a month beforehand. The next day Axl Rose put in a guest slot at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research fundraising dinner, titled 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's...', held at The Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Another round of New York recording sessions again proved inconclusive.

From November 13th, at the Baltimore, Maryland 1st Mariner Arena, GUNS N' ROSES added controversial burlesque group SUICIDE GIRLS to the opening slot. EAGLES OF DEATH METAL then joined the billing beginning November 24th in Cleveland, set to run through until December 20th in Universal City, California. However, the band only lasted for the first show. They received such a poor reception from GUNS N' ROSES fans they were unceremoniously dumped from the tour. During the headliners set frontman Axl Rose branded the band the "Pigeons Of Shit Metal". Their position was taken by HELMET.

On December 14th Axl Rose issued an open letter to fans stating that GUNS N' ROSES had set a March 6th 2007 release date for 'Chinese Democracy' and also revealing they had severed ties with manager Merck Mercuriadis. The US tour rolled on regardless and on December 15th METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich joined GUNS N' ROSES on stage at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California for a rendition of 'Out Ta Get Me'.

Izzy Stradlin again joined his former bandmate Axl Rose onstage, performing five numbers at the December 17th GUNS N' ROSES show at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk in Universal City, California.

GUNS N' ROSES, utilising a stand in bassist, played a two-song set, comprising 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine', at the Rodeo Drive's Walk of Style ceremony on February 8th in Beverly Hills, California. The event, an exclusive dinner and concert for 400 hosted by actor Rupert Everett, was held in honour of fashion moguls Gianni and Donatella Versace.

The band unveiled wider touring plans, covering Australia and New Zealand, due to kick off in Japan on April 14th. However, bassist Tommy Stinson sustained an injury to his hand by falling down a flight of stairs, forcing a delay to these concerts.

In mid June 2008 Californian blogger Kevin Skwerl, a former employee of Universal Records, posted nine newly leaked 'Chinese Democracy' tracks, including three previously unheard songs allegedly from GUNS N' ROSES' long-awaited album. Skwerl subsequently claimed to have been questioned by FBI agents about the incident. He was arrested on 27th August.

In a brazen marketing ploy, WARRIOR SOUL released their new studio album, billed 'Chinese Democracy', in October 2008.

In October reports emerged that 'Chinese Democracy' was in fact going to be released in the 2008 calendar year. In an exclusive deal with Best Buy stores, the album release date was Sunday 23rd November. In the lead up the song 'Shackler's Revenge' was included on the 'Rock Band 2' video game and another new track, 'If The World', was used for the outro credits of the Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe movie 'Body Of Lies'. Much as this was a surprise to a public that had almost given up on any release of the album, it proved a nasty shock for soft drinks manufacturer Dr. Pepper, who earlier in the year had promised a can of thebeverage to every citizen in the USA, excepting Slash and Buckethead, if 'Chinese Democracy' saw release in 2008. The company honoured the bargain, offering free cans to people registering on their website.

'Chinese Democracy' sold 50,791 copies in the UK in its first day of release. It went immediate platinum in Finland, recognised by 30,000 sales and also sold over 30,000 copies on it's first day in the Netherlands. In the USA the album only achieved a no. 4 chart position, selling just 254,341 copies. Media highlighted the fact that Axl Rose had apparently been uncoctable by management and record company for over two months and that no promotion or touring plans were forthcoming.

'Chinese Democracy' shifted just under 57,000 copies in the United States in its second week of release, sliding down to no. 18 with a 78% drop in sales. In the UK, the album dropped out of the top ten.

Geffen Records set a 15th December UK release date for a limited deluxe box set edition of 'Chinese Democracy', this including the regular CD plus a T-shirt, bandana, patch, belt buckle and key ring.

On 21st March 2009 Axl Rose announced that guitarist DJ Ashba, known previously for his work with BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, BULLETBOYS and SIXX: A.M., had joined the band. Meantime, with no live activity on the GUNS N' ROSES front, Bumblefoot hooked up with LITA FORD for US dates in July and August.

Garry Sharpe-Young