Guns N' Roses

Biography

Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in March 1985 by Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Tracii Guns, and others from L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose, whose names the band combined for its own. After early lineup changes, the classic lineup was finalized in June 1985: vocalist Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. The band signed with Geffen Records in March 1986. Guns N' Roses gained a local following before releasing their debut album Appetite for Destruction×Appetite for Destruction21 July 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Welcome to the Jungle4:342It’s So Easy3:233Nightrain4:284Out ta Get Me4:245Mr. Brownstone3:496Paradise City6:467My Michelle3:408Think About You3:529Sweet Child o’ Mine5:5610You’re Crazy3:1711Anything Goes3:2612Rocket Queen6:13 (1987), which initially struggled until the breakout success of the "Welcome to the Jungle×Welcome to the Jungle21 September 1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Welcome to the Jungle (LP version)A2Whole Lotta Rosie (live)B1It's So Easy (live)B2Knockin' on Heavens Door (live)" music video. The album sold over 30 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling debut album in the U.S., and produced three Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles: "Welcome to the Jungle", "Paradise City×Paradise City1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Civil War11:502Wild Horses2:393Patience7:174You Could Be Mine6:585November Rain12:136Medley: Instrumental Soli / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Guitar Solo18:53Disc 21Sweet Child of Mine9:302Move to the City8:023Don't Cry5:074Only Women Bleed / Knocking on Heavens Door11:155Bad Obsession7:576Estranged9:107Paradise City7:34", and "Sweet Child o' Mine", the last of which was their only number-one single. Their follow-up, G N' R Lies (1988), reached number two on the Billboard 200 and featured the top-five single "Patience×Patience1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Patience5:572Rocket Queen6:173Interview With W. Axl Rose7:49". In 1990, Adler was fired and replaced by Matt Sorum after struggling to perform in the studio due to drug addiction. Their 1991 twin albums Use Your Illusion I×Use Your Illusion I16 September 1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Right Next Door to Hell3:032Dust N’ Bones5:013Live and Let Die3:064Don’t Cry4:455Perfect Crime2:246You Ain’t the First2:387Bad Obsession5:308Back Off Bitch5:049Double Talkin’ Jive3:2410November Rain9:0111The Garden5:2412Garden of Eden2:4213Don’t Damn Me5:2014Bad Apples4:2815Dead Horse4:1816Coma10:16 and Use Your Illusion II×Use Your Illusion II17 September 1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Civil War7:42214 Years4:213Yesterdays3:164Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:365Get in the Ring5:416Shotgun Blues3:237Breakdown7:048Pretty Tied Up4:489Locomotive8:4210So Fine4:0611Estranged9:2412You Could Be Mine5:4413Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)4:4414My World1:24 debuted at numbers two and one on the Billboard 200 and sold a combined 35 million copies worldwide. The Illusion albums featured a series of high-budget music videos, including "November Rain×November Rain21 April 1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1November Rain8:582Sweet Child o’ Mine5:563Patience5:55", which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and later became the first 1990s music video to reach one billion YouTube views.
The band embarked on the Use Your Illusion Tour (1991–93), which was marked by incidents including the 1991 Riverport Riot. Stradlin abruptly left during the tour in November 1991 and was replaced by Gilby Clarke, who played on the punk covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). By 1995, Clarke had been replaced by Rose's childhood friend Paul Tobias, who played on the band's 1994 cover of "Sympathy for the Devil×Sympathy for the Devil13 December 1994 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sympathy for the Devil7:362Escape to Paris3:09" and whose inclusion caused friction with Slash and Sorum. Slash quit in October 1996 amid tension with Rose, and Sorum and McKagan left in 1997. By 1998, only Rose and keyboardist Dizzy Reed remained from the Illusion era, and the band was rebuilt with new members. Rose, alongside guitarists Tobias, Robin Finck, Richard Fortus, Buckethead, and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Reed and Chris Pitman, and drummers Josh Freese, Brain, and Frank Ferrer contributed to the long-delayed Chinese Democracy (2008), which reportedly cost $13 million and has been described as the most expensive album ever produced. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 but undersold industry expectations and was banned in China over its lead single, the title track. The band toured from 2001 to 2011 on the Chinese Democracy Tour, which included cancelled dates and riots in 2002. A performance from the group's 2012 Las Vegas residency was filmed in 3D and released as the live video album Appetite for Democracy 3D (2014).
After years of public feuding, Slash and McKagan rejoined the band in 2016 for the reunion Not in This Lifetime... Tour, which grossed $563.3 million, the second-highest-grossing concert tour at the time. Since the reunion, the group has released deluxe editions of Appetite for Destruction (2018) and Use Your Illusion (2022) and a remastered reissue of the live album Live Era '87–'93 (2025). Its first new material since 2008, the singles "Absurd×Absurd6 August 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1ABSUЯD3:23" and "Hard Skool×Hard Skool24 September 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hard Skool3:42" (2021), was followed by "Perhaps×Perhaps18 August 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Perhaps3:48" (2023) and "Nothin'×Nothin'4 December 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nothin'4:23" and "Atlas×Atlas3 December 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Atlas3:58" (2025). The current lineup consists of Rose, Slash, McKagan, rhythm guitarist Fortus, drummer Isaac Carpenter, and keyboardists Reed and Melissa Reese.
Guns N' Roses is one of the best-selling musical acts of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of over 100 million records. Their 2004 compilation Greatest Hits, released by Geffen without the band's authorization, is one of the longest-charting albums in the history of the Billboard 200. Their early sound fused punk, blues, hard rock, and metal, while the Illusion albums broadened it with progressive and art rock influences, and Chinese Democracy×Chinese Democracy18 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Chinese Democracy4:432Shackler's Revenge3:373Better4:594Street of Dreams4:475If the World4:546There Was a Time6:417Catcher in the Rye5:538Scraped3:319Riad n' the Bedouins4:1010Sorry6:1511I.R.S.4:2912Madagascar5:3813This I Love5:3414Prostitute6:16 added industrial and electronic elements. The band is regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of its era, with Appetite for Destruction credited with helping end the late-1980s glam metal craze and frequently ranked among the greatest albums of all time. "Welcome to the Jungle" is frequently played at sporting events and is considered a sports anthem. Rolling Stone ranked them number 92 on its 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, its first year of eligibility, though Rose, who had asked not to be inducted, declined to attend. Incidents including Rose's 1987 arrest in Atlanta, the deaths of two fans at the 1988 Monsters of Rock festival, and several riots contributed to the band being labeled "the most dangerous band in the world". Their lyrics, notably "One in a Million×One in a Million1991 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Out ta Get Me5:122Sweet Child o’ Mine5:543My Michelle5:144Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door7:045Welcome to the Jungle5:496Nightrain4:427Paradise City7:028Mama Kin3:329You’re Crazy3:3510One in a Million6:5911Used to Love Her2:5012Patience7:1013Mr. Brownstone4:5714Move to the City3:34", drew criticism as racist and homophobic, and a hidden track on "The Spaghetti Incident?", a cover of Charles Manson's "Look at Your Game, Girl", also caused controversy. The band was also criticized for late concert starts and long gaps between albums.

Formation (1985–1986)

In 1983, guitarist Tracii Guns introduced Chris Weber to Izzy Stradlin, who soon formed a band with Stradlin's childhood friend, Axl Rose. After several lineup changes, the group became Hollywood Rose. Guitarist Slash replaced Weber in the group before the band dissolved in 1984. Rose later joined Guns's band L.A. Guns, recommended by Stradlin, who was living with Guns at the time. On January 1, 1985, Rose and Stradlin briefly reunited as Hollywood Rose for a one-off show with bassist Steve Darrow, Tracii Guns, and drummer Rob Gardner.
Guns N' Roses was formed in March 1985 by Rose, Stradlin, Guns, Gardner, and bassist Ole Beich. Guns recalled the formation of the band in a 2019 interview, stating: "Axl got into an argument with our manager and our manager fired Axl... So, that same night we started Guns N' Roses... I called Izzy the next day and said, 'Hey, we are gonna start this new band called Guns N' Roses, do you want in?'". The name combined their previous bands names and was initially intended for a record label. Rejected names included "Heads of Amazon" and "AIDS".
After two rehearsals, Beich was replaced by Duff McKagan. Their first rehearsal with McKagan was recorded, and three songs - "Don't Cry", "Think About You" and "Anything Goes"- were aired during their first radio interview, two days before their debut show at the Troubadour on March 26, 1985. Plans for an EP featuring those songs and a cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" were abandoned after Guns left the band following an argument with Rose. He was replaced by Slash, and Gardner soon departed, with Steven Adler taking over on drums.

The "classic" lineup - Rose, Stradlin, Slash, McKagan, and Adler - was finalized on June 4, 1985. After two rehearsals, they played their first show on June 6. Two days later, they embarked on a chaotic West Coast tour from Sacramento to McKagan's hometown of Seattle, Washington. When both vans broke down en route, the band hitchhiked with only their guitars. McKagan later called the "Hell Tour" a defining moment for the group. They soon moved into a shared house and rehearsal space dubbed "The Hell House".
Guns N' Roses gained traction on the Hollywood club circuit, performing at venues like The Troubadour and The Roxy. In March 1986, they signed with Geffen Records, turning down a more lucrative offer from Chrysalis, which had sought to alter their image. Geffen offered full creative control and a $75,000 advance.

In December 1986, the band released the EP Live Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide to maintain momentum while they retreated from the club scene to focus on studio work. The EP included covers of Rose Tattoo's "Nice Boys×Nice BoysAlbum · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Shadow of Your Love3:072Move to the City3:463Knockin' on Heaven's Door4:424Whole Lotta Rosie4:315Patience7:066Down on the Farm4:067Reckless Life3:188Nice Boys3:019Mama Kin3:50" and Aerosmith's "Mama Kin", along with two originals: "Reckless Life" and "Move to the City". Though marketed as live recordings, the tracks were studio demos overdubbed with crowd noise. Released on Geffen's Uzi Suicide imprint, only 10,000 vinyl copies were pressed.
To test producers for their debut album, the band recorded "Nightrain×Nightrain21 August 1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Nightrain4:272Knocking on Heaven's Door (live)4:433Reckless Life (live)3:21" and "Sweet Child o' Mine" with Spencer Proffer. Nine songs were tracked during these sessions, including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Don't Cry", "Welcome to the Jungle×Welcome to the Jungle21 September 1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Welcome to the Jungle (LP version)A2Whole Lotta Rosie (live)B1It's So Easy (live)B2Knockin' on Heavens Door (live)" and "Shadow of Your Love×Shadow of Your Love4 May 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Shadow of Your Love3:06". They also recorded demos with Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton. Paul Stanley of KISS was considered but rejected after proposing changes to Adler's drum setup. Mutt Lange and Tom Werman were also approached, but Geffen declined due to cost.
Ultimately, Mike Clink was selected, having previously worked with Triumph. The band recorded "Shadow of Your Love" with Clink as a test. After rehearsals, they entered Rumbo Recorders in January 1987. Basic tracks were completed in two weeks, followed by a month of overdubs. Drums were finished in six days, but Rose's vocals took significantly longer, as he insisted on recording one line at a time.

Appetite for Destruction

Appetite for Destruction, Guns N' Roses' debut album, was released on July 21, 1987. The album's original cover art, painted by Robert Williams and depicting a surreal scene of a monster attacking a rapist robot, was deemed too controversial by retailers. The band described the artwork as "a symbolic social statement, with the robot representing the industrial system that's raping and polluting our environment." A revised cover, created by Andy Engell from a design by tattoo artist Bill White Jr., featured skull caricatures of the five band members arranged on a cross.
The band's first single, "It's So Easy", was released exclusively in the UK on June 15, 1987, reaching number 84 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, "Welcome to the Jungle×Welcome to the Jungle21 September 1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Welcome to the Jungle (LP version)A2Whole Lotta Rosie (live)B1It's So Easy (live)B2Knockin' on Heavens Door (live)" served as the lead single in October, accompanied by a music video.
For nearly a year, the album and its singles struggled commercially. That changed when Geffen Records founder David Geffen personally urged MTV to air the "Welcome to the Jungle" video during late-night rotation. Although initially played only once at 4 a.m. on a Sunday, viewer demand quickly surged. The song, written in Seattle but inspired by Rose's experiences in Los Angeles, was partly based on an encounter with a homeless man in New York who shouted, "You know where you are? You're in the jungle, baby; you're gonna die!". The track later appeared in the 1988 film The Dead Pool, in which the band made a cameo.
"Sweet Child o' Mine", the album's second U.S. single, originated as a poem Rose wrote for his then‑girlfriend Erin Everly. Its broad appeal and heavy rotation on radio and MTV propelled it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 — the band's only chart‑topper. Slash later remarked, "I hated that song with a huge passion for the longest time, and it turned out to be our hugest hit." In Japan, the track appeared on the EP Live from the Jungle×Live from the Jungle11 May 1988 · EP · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1It's So Easy3:532Shadow Of Your Love3:043Move To The City3:424Knockin' On Heaven's Door4:395Whole Lotta Rosie4:296Sweet Child O' Mine5:55, which also included live recordings from the band's June 1987 shows at London's Marquee Club — their first performances outside the U.S.

Following the success of "Sweet Child o' Mine", "Welcome to the Jungle" was reissued and reached number 7 in the U.S. "Paradise City×Paradise City1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Civil War11:502Wild Horses2:393Patience7:174You Could Be Mine6:585November Rain12:136Medley: Instrumental Soli / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Guitar Solo18:53Disc 21Sweet Child of Mine9:302Move to the City8:023Don't Cry5:074Only Women Bleed / Knocking on Heavens Door11:155Bad Obsession7:576Estranged9:107Paradise City7:34" peaked at number 5, and Appetite for Destruction eventually reached number 1 on the Billboard 200. The album has since sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, including 18 million in the United States, making it the best‑selling debut album in U.S. history and the eleventh best-selling album overall.
Guns N' Roses supported the album with the 16‑month Appetite for Destruction×Appetite for Destruction21 July 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Welcome to the Jungle4:342It’s So Easy3:233Nightrain4:284Out ta Get Me4:245Mr. Brownstone3:496Paradise City6:467My Michelle3:408Think About You3:529Sweet Child o’ Mine5:5610You’re Crazy3:1711Anything Goes3:2612Rocket Queen6:13 Tour. Alongside headlining dates in the U.S. and Europe, the band opened for the Cult, Mötley Crüe, and Alice Cooper in 1987. During the tour, drummer Steven Adler broke his hand in a fight and was temporarily replaced by Cinderella's Fred Coury for eight shows. Bassist Duff McKagan missed several dates in May 1988 for his wedding, with Kid "Haggis" Chaos of the Cult filling in. Don Henley of the Eagles played drums for the band at the 1989 American Music Awards while Adler was in rehab. The band continued touring across the United States, Australia, and Japan, and opened North American shows for Iron Maiden and Aerosmith. Aerosmith manager Tim Collins later recalled, "By the end of the tour, Guns N' Roses were huge... Suddenly, the opening act was bigger than we were."

G N' R Lies

Guns N' Roses released their second album, G N' R Lies, in November 1988. The album combined the four tracks from the band's 1986 EP Live ?!@ Like a Suicide* with four new acoustic songs. Its sole single, "Patience×Patience1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Patience5:572Rocket Queen6:173Interview With W. Axl Rose7:49" reached number four on the U.S. charts, while the album peaked at number two. The cover artwork, designed as a tabloid-style parody, was altered after initial pressings to remove the headlines "Wife-beating has been around for 10,000 years" and "Ladies, welcome to the Dark Ages."
The song "One in a Million×One in a Million1991 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Out ta Get Me5:122Sweet Child o’ Mine5:543My Michelle5:144Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door7:045Welcome to the Jungle5:496Nightrain4:427Paradise City7:028Mama Kin3:329You’re Crazy3:3510One in a Million6:5911Used to Love Her2:5012Patience7:1013Mr. Brownstone4:5714Move to the City3:34", which included the slurs "nigger" and "faggot", generated controversy and was widely criticized as racist, xenophobic, and homophobic. Band manager Doug Goldstein said the lyrics were meant as satire reflecting the fears of an inexperienced teenager encountering diversity in Los Angeles, and that Rose defended the song as artistic expression, declining to further explain it. Rose denied being racist and defended his language, arguing that certain terms were not intended to refer to race and citing other musicians' use of similar wording. He later acknowledged that the lyrics reflected his anger following an attempted robbery and conceded that the language was offensive. Addressing accusations of homophobia, Rose described himself as "pro-heterosexual" and attributed his views to negative personal experiences with gay men. Other members of the band expressed reservations about including the song before the album's release, though it ultimately remained at Rose's insistence.
During a November 1987 concert in Atlanta, Rose assaulted several security guards and was detained backstage by police, while the band completed the performance with a roadie on vocals. Near-riots occurred at two August 1988 shows in New York. That same month, two fans were crushed to death during the band's performance at England's Monsters of Rock festival. Incidents such as these contributed to Guns N' Roses being labeled "the most dangerous band in the world".

Use Your Illusion I and II

The band planned to start recording their follow-up to Appetite for Destruction in January 1989, but by February they still had not entered the studio. Slash said they had ten songs written by March, and Rose had considered a double album. However, the band did not have a set schedule for recording, and being off the road led to addiction issues with several members; Slash and Adler struggled with heroin while Stradlin battled a cocaine addiction. In the summer of 1989, the band relocated to Chicago for rehearsals, setting up in a vacant theater above the Metro. However, Rose and Stradlin did not arrive until two months into the stay. Slash said that "nothing was really getting done", though Rose and Stradlin disagreed with his assessment. Slash left town and considered leaving the band after Rose, according to Slash, destroyed the rehearsal space. By mid-1989, members of the band continued to struggle with addictions, including McKagan, who was drinking heavily, while Stradlin became sober in August after an incident in which he was arrested for disorderly conduct on an airplane. The band returned to Los Angeles for rehearsals in July, starting pre-production work with producer Mike Clink. Stradlin did not attend these rehearsals, but sent homemade cassette tapes of his songs and ideas to the band.
The band returned to the road in September 1989, opening several shows on the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels Tour. In October 1989, while opening for them at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Rose warned that the shows would be the band's last if members did not stop using drugs, referencing the song "Mr. Brownstone×Mr. Brownstone8 April 2019 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Down on the Farm3:372It's So Easy3:363Mr. Brownstone5:084Live and Let Die3:075Out Ta Get Me4:526Sweet Child O' Mine6:557My Michelle5:118Rocket Queen6:439Welcome to the Jungle5:5910Free Fallin'4:1911Night Train5:1012Paradise City6:5813Mama Kin4:4614Patience6:4415Civil War8:4516Knockin' on Heavens Door7:2317You Could Be Mine5:4718It's So Easy3:1119Wild Horses3:4220Double Talkin' Jive8:0021Novemeber Rain9:1622The Godfather Theme2:31". At the next show, Slash made a short speech about the perils of drugs, and Rose apologized to his bandmates onstage, saying "I'd like to apologize ... I just didn't want to see my friends slip away." After Slash was nearly arrested in Phoenix in October 1989 while experiencing drug-induced psychosis, the band staged an intervention and forced him into rehab, but he checked himself out after a few days. In November 1989, former Hollywood Rose guitarist Chris Weber sued the band for $300,000 in unpaid royalties, alleging that he was not credited as a co-writer on several Guns N' Roses songs. In late 1989, Slash became sober and later said:

There was that whole change in our personal lives ... it was really serious ... After the tour they basically dropped us off at the airport and it was like, "Well, touring's done, guys. Go make another record." We went through a lot of emotional and personal changes. We were gone for a long time, and during that period we watched everything go back down the toilet.
By December 1989, the band restarted pre-production work, considering several names for the album, including "Girth", "Heinous", "GN'R Sucks" and "BUY-product". Slash said they had written 35 songs and were going to release 24 of them on a double album. Rose said the writing process had changed: "The first album was basically written off me coming up with maybe one line and maybe a melody for that line ... And then we'd build a song around it ... On this, Izzy's brought in eight songs ... Slash has brought in an album, I've brought in an album." By March 1990, Geffen had grown frustrated with the slow progress and tried to set deadlines; Rose protested that "we were not going to give anybody the record until we felt it was done."
In April 1990, Guns N' Roses returned to the studio to begin recording. Drummer Steven Adler was briefly fired due to his drug use but was reinstated after agreeing to a contract in which he pledged to stay clean. During the recording session of "Civil War×Civil War1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Civil War7:402Exclusive interview with Slash7:13", Adler was unable to perform well due to his struggles with cocaine and heroin addiction, and caused the band to do nearly 30 takes. Adler claimed at the time he was sick from taking opiate blockers to help with the addictions. He was fired on July 11, 1990 as a result, and later filed a lawsuit against the band. In 2005, he recalled:

Doug Goldstein called me into the office about two weeks later. He wanted me to sign some contracts. I was told that every time I did heroin, the band would fine me $2,000. There was a whole stack of papers, with colored paper clips everywhere for my signatures. What these contracts actually said was that the band were paying me $2,000 to leave. They were taking my royalties, all my writing credits. They didn't like me anymore and just wanted me gone. That's why I filed the lawsuit – to get all those things back.
Martin Chambers of the Pretenders and Adam Maples of Sea Hags were considered as replacements. Jussi Tegelman, of the Finnish band Havana Black, played on drums in studio sessions before a permanent replacement was found. The position was filled by drummer Matt Sorum, who had played briefly with the Cult. Slash credited Sorum with preventing the band from breaking up at the time.

In response to an interviewer's suggestion that replacing Adler with Sorum had turned Guns N' Roses from a rock 'n' roll band to a heavy metal band, Stradlin responded: "Yeah, a big musical difference. The first time I realized what Steve did for the band was when he broke his hand in Michigan ... So we had Fred Coury come in from Cinderella for the Houston show. Fred played technically good and steady, but the songs sounded just awful. They were written with Steve playing the drums and his sense of swing was the push and pull that give the songs their feel. When that was gone, it was just ... unbelievable, weird. Nothing worked."
A few months prior, keyboardist Dizzy Reed became the sixth member of the group when he joined as a full-time member.
In May 1991, Guns N' Roses fired their manager, Alan Niven, replacing him with Doug Goldstein. According to a 1991 cover story by Rolling Stone, Rose forced the dismissal of Niven against the wishes of some of his bandmates by refusing to complete the albums until he was replaced.
The band released the recordings as two albums, Use Your Illusion I×Use Your Illusion I16 September 1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Right Next Door to Hell3:032Dust N’ Bones5:013Live and Let Die3:064Don’t Cry4:455Perfect Crime2:246You Ain’t the First2:387Bad Obsession5:308Back Off Bitch5:049Double Talkin’ Jive3:2410November Rain9:0111The Garden5:2412Garden of Eden2:4213Don’t Damn Me5:2014Bad Apples4:2815Dead Horse4:1816Coma10:16 and Use Your Illusion II×Use Your Illusion II17 September 1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Civil War7:42214 Years4:213Yesterdays3:164Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:365Get in the Ring5:416Shotgun Blues3:237Breakdown7:048Pretty Tied Up4:489Locomotive8:4210So Fine4:0611Estranged9:2412You Could Be Mine5:4413Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)4:4414My World1:24, on September 17, 1991. The tactic paid off when the albums debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 respectively in the Billboard charts, making Guns N' Roses the only act to achieve this feat until hip hop artist Nelly in 2004 and the first to have the top two albums since Jim Croce in 1974. The albums sold 770,000 units (Use Your Illusion×Use Your Illusion25 August 1998 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Live and Let Die3:042Don’t Cry (original)4:453You Ain’t the First2:364November Rain8:575The Garden5:226Dead Horse4:187Civil War7:42814 Years4:219Yesterdays3:1610Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:2111Estranged9:2412Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)4:44 II) and 685,000 units (Use Your Illusion I) in their first week, and spent 108 weeks on the chart. They have sold a combined 35 million copies worldwide, including 14 million in the United States.
Guns N' Roses accompanied the Use Your Illusion albums with many videos, including "Don't Cry", "November Rain×November Rain21 April 1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1November Rain8:582Sweet Child o’ Mine5:563Patience5:55" and "Estranged×Estranged1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Estranged9:242The Garden5:20", some of the most expensive music videos ever made. The ballad "November Rain" reached No. 3 in the US and became the most requested video on MTV, eventually winning the 1992 MTV Video Music Award for best cinematography. At 8:57, it was at the time also the longest song in US chart history to reach the Top 10. During the awards show, the band performed the song with Elton John accompanying on piano.

Use Your Illusion Tour

Before the release of the albums, Guns N' Roses embarked on the 28-month-long Use Your Illusion×Use Your Illusion25 August 1998 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Live and Let Die3:042Don’t Cry (original)4:453You Ain’t the First2:364November Rain8:575The Garden5:226Dead Horse4:187Civil War7:42814 Years4:219Yesterdays3:1610Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:2111Estranged9:2412Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)4:44 Tour. It became famous for both its financial success and for the many controversial incidents that occurred at the shows. The tour included 192 dates in 27 countries, with over seven million people attending concerts. The Use Your Illusion Tour is considered the "longest tour in rock history". The Use Your Illusion World Tour program included a guitar solo from Slash based on The Godfather theme; a piano-driven cover of "It's Alright" by Black Sabbath; and an extended jam on the classic rock-inspired "Move to the City", where the group showcased the ensemble of musicians assembled for the tour.
On July 2, 1991, at the Riverport Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri, Rose discovered that a fan was filming the show with a camera. After asking the venue's security to take away the camera, Rose jumped into the audience, had a heated confrontation with the fan, and assaulted him. After being pulled from the audience by members of the crew, Rose said, "Well, thanks to the lame-ass security, I'm going home!", threw his microphone to the ground and stormed off the stage. The angry crowd rioted, injuring dozens. Footage was captured by Robert John, who was documenting the tour. The police were unable to arrest Rose until almost a year later, as the band went overseas to continue the tour. Charges were filed against Rose, but a judge ruled that he did not directly incite the riot. In his defense, Rose stated that the Guns N' Roses security team had made four separate requests to the venue's security staff to remove the camera, that those requests were ignored, that other members of the band had reported being hit by bottles launched from the audience, and that the security staff refused to enforce a drinking limit. Rose was eventually found guilty of property damage and assault. He was fined $50,000 and given two years probation.

Rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin abruptly quit the band on November 7, 1991, after a repeat of the St. Louis incident nearly unfolded during a concert in Germany. As reasons for his departure, Stradlin cited a combination of Rose's personal behavior, his mismanagement of the band, and difficulties being around Slash, Sorum, and McKagan due to his newfound sobriety and their continuing addictions. Stradlin later commented, "Once I quit drugs, I couldn't help looking around and asking myself, 'Is this all there is?' I was just tired of it; I needed to get out". The band had three weeks to find a replacement or cancel several shows. Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction was considered, but according to Slash, "he couldn't get it together". Stradlin was eventually replaced by Los Angeles guitarist Gilby Clarke, whom Slash credited for saving the band. At many shows on the tour, Rose introduced Clarke to the audience, and Slash and Clarke would play "Wild Horses×Wild Horses18 July 2019 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Wild Horses3:422Free Fallin'4:193My Michelle5:114Patience6:445It's So Easy3:366You Could Be Mine5:477Out Ta Get Me4:528Welcome to the Jungle5:599Novemeber Rain9:1610Double Talkin' Jive8:0011Mr. Brownstone5:0812Paradise City6:5813Mama Kin4:4614Sweet Child O' Mine6:5515Down on the Farm3:3716Knockin' on Heavens Door7:2317Night Train5:1018Rocket Queen6:4319Civil War8:4520Live and Let Die3:0721It's So Easy3:1122The Godfather Theme2:31", a Rolling Stones cover. In 1993, Clarke broke his arm in a motorcycle accident during the tour and was replaced by Stradlin for several weeks.
In 1992, the band performed three songs at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Because of the controversial song "One in a Million×One in a Million1991 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Out ta Get Me5:122Sweet Child o’ Mine5:543My Michelle5:144Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door7:045Welcome to the Jungle5:496Nightrain4:427Paradise City7:028Mama Kin3:329You’re Crazy3:3510One in a Million6:5911Used to Love Her2:5012Patience7:1013Mr. Brownstone4:5714Move to the City3:34", activist group ACT UP demanded that the band be dropped from the bill, urged other artists to shun GN'R, and urged the crowd to boo the group. Members of Queen dismissed the activists, with lead guitarist Brian May stating: "People seem so blind. Don't they realize that the mere fact that Guns N' Roses are here is the biggest statement that you could get?" Slash later performed "Tie Your Mother Down" with the remaining members of Queen and Def Leppard vocalist Joe Elliott, while Rose performed "We Will Rock You" and sang a duet with Elton John on "Bohemian Rhapsody". Their personal set included "Paradise City×Paradise City1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Civil War11:502Wild Horses2:393Patience7:174You Could Be Mine6:585November Rain12:136Medley: Instrumental Soli / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Guitar Solo18:53Disc 21Sweet Child of Mine9:302Move to the City8:023Don't Cry5:074Only Women Bleed / Knocking on Heavens Door11:155Bad Obsession7:576Estranged9:107Paradise City7:34" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". When the band returned to the US for the second leg of the Use Your Illusion Tour, Rose had wanted the grunge band Nirvana as the support act, but lead singer Kurt Cobain declined.
Later that year, Guns N' Roses embarked on the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour with heavy metal band Metallica, supported by Faith No More, Motörhead, and Body Count. During a show in August 1992 at Montreal's Olympic Stadium, Metallica's lead singer James Hetfield suffered second-degree burns to his hands and face after malfunctions with pyrotechnics. Metallica was forced to cancel the second hour of the show, but promised to return to the city for another performance. After a long delay, during which the audience became increasingly restless, Guns N' Roses took the stage. However, the shortened time between sets did not allow for adequate tuning of stage monitors and the band members could not hear themselves. In addition, Rose claimed that his throat hurt, causing the band to leave the stage early. The cancellation led to another audience riot, in which 10 audience members and three police officers were injured. Police made at least a dozen arrests related to the incident.

The Use Your Illusion tour ended in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 17, 1993. The tour set attendance records and lasted for 28 months, in which 192 shows were played in 27 countries. The show in Buenos Aires marked the last time that Sorum and Clarke played in the band, and the last time Slash performed with the band until 2016.

"The Spaghetti Incident?"

Initially, the band planned to release an EP of covers in 1992 or 1993, but decided to record a full album. Their fifth studio album, "The Spaghetti Incident?", a collection of punk and glam rock covers, was released on November 23, 1993. The album features covers of songs of punk artists such as U.K. Subs, the Damned, New York Dolls, the Stooges, Dead Boys, Misfits, Johnny Thunders, the Professionals, FEAR, as well as T. Rex, Soundgarden and the Skyliners. The lead single, "Ain't It Fun" featured Hanoi Rocks singer Michael Monroe as a guest vocalist. The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard charts, and sold 190,000 copies its first week.
Many of the tracks were recorded during the same sessions as the Illusions albums, which were originally intended to produce three or four albums. Stradlin's guitar parts were reportedly re-recorded entirely by Gilby Clarke. Slash described the recording as "spontaneous and unpainted", and recording the songs served as "a purpose to alleviate the pressure of making the Illusions records". The band wanted to increase the profile of some of their favorite bands and help them financially via royalties with the tracklist selection, and considered naming the album "Pension Fund".
The album includes a hidden track, a cover of "Look at Your Game, Girl", originally by cult leader Charles Manson. The track was kept secret and left off advance tapes sent to reviewers. The inclusion of the song caused controversy, with law enforcement and victims rights groups expressing outrage. Rose stated "we wanted to downplay it. We don't give any credit to Charles Manson on the album". Label president David Geffen commented: "[If] Rose had realized how offensive people would find this, he would not have ever recorded this song". Slash mentioned that the song was "done with naive and innocent black humor on our part". Rose stated he would donate all performance royalties from the song to a nonprofit environmental organization. The band was going to remove the song before learning that royalties would be donated to the son of one of Manson's victims. Geffen Records stated their share of royalties would be donated to the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau.
The band did not tour in support of "The Spaghetti Incident?". Although well received critically; it is the band's worst selling studio album, having sold 1 million copies by 2018.

Lineup changes and sporadic activity (1994–1998)

Between 1994 and 1996, the band sporadically recorded new material. According to Matt Sorum, in 1996, the band had recorded seven songs, with seven more in the writing stages, and intended to release a single album with 10 or 12 songs in spring 1997. In May 1994, Gilby Clarke said work on the next Guns N' Roses album had ended. Rose said the material was scrapped due to the lack of collaboration between band members: "We still needed the collaboration of the band as a whole to write the best songs. Since none of that happened, that's the reason why that material got scrapped." The album was described by McKagan as consisting of "up-tempo rock songs" with "no ballads". Sorum said that It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, the debut album from Slash's band Slash's Snakepit, "could have been a Guns N' Roses album, but Axl didn't think it was good enough".
In 1994, all of the then-current members of the band contributed to Gilby Clarke's debut album, Pawnshop Guitars. In December 1994, GN'R released a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil×Sympathy for the Devil13 December 1994 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sympathy for the Devil7:362Escape to Paris3:09". The song appeared in the films Interview with the Vampire and Fallen and was released as a single. Entertainment Weekly stated that the "note-for-note remake works up a decent lather but seems utterly bankrupt". The recording featured Rose's childhood friend and Hollywood Rose collaborator Paul "Huge" Tobias on rhythm guitar.
Tobias's presence in the band created tension; Slash had "creative and personal differences" with Tobias. A 2001 interview revealed Slash told his bandmates in September 1996, "I'm going to confront it. Either Paul goes, or [I go]."

The music was going in a direction that was completely indulgent to his friend [Huge] ... And another factor is this guy that Axl brought in and told us, 'This is our new guitar player' ... There was no democracy there. And that's when Slash really started going, 'Fuck this. What, this is his band now? or something?' ... It was ridiculous. I'd go down there to start rehearsal at 10, and Axl would show up at four or five in the morning. That sort of thing was going on for a couple of years.
Gilby Clarke's contract was not renewed and he was gone from the band by 1995. Slash stated in his book that Rose fired Clarke without consulting anyone, claiming he was a "hired hand". Clarke was not involved in the recording of "Sympathy for the Devil": "I knew that that was the ending because nobody told me about it". Clarke mentioned that before the final show of the Use Your Illusion Tour, Rose told him "Hey, enjoy your last show". Clarke later sued the band over the use of his likeness in Guns N' Roses Pinball.
In August 1995, Rose legally left the band and created a new partnership under the band's name. Rose later stated that he took this step "to salvage Guns not steal it". Rose reportedly purchased the full rights to the Guns N' Roses name in 1997. Slash claimed he and bandmates signed over the name under duress: "Axl refused to go onstage one night during the Use Your Illusion tour in 1992 unless the band signed away the name rights to the band. Unfortunately, we signed it. I didn't think he'd go on stage otherwise." Rose denied the claim, saying "(it) Never happened, all made up, fallacy and fantasy. Not one single solitary thread of truth to it. Had that been the case I would have been cremated years ago legally, could've cleaned me out for the name and damages. It's called under duress with extenuating circumstances."
In 1996, Rose, Slash, McKagan, and former member Izzy Stradlin guested on Anxious Disease, the debut album by the Outpatience. This would be the last material the four classic-era band members worked on together.
The recording of "Sympathy for the Devil", coupled with tension between Slash and Rose, led the former to quit the band officially in October 1996. Rose sent a fax notifying MTV of the departure, and Slash responded: "Axl and I have not been capable of seeing eye to eye on Guns N' Roses for some time. We tried to collaborate, but at this point, I'm no longer in the band." Slash stated, "Axl's whole visionary style, as far as his input in Guns N' Roses, is completely different from mine. I just like to play guitar, write a good riff, go out there and play, as opposed to presenting an image."
Slash was replaced by Nine Inch Nails touring guitarist Robin Finck in January 1997. He signed a two-year contract with the band in August 1997, making him an official member. Finck was originally recommended by Matt Sorum to Rose a year earlier as a possible second guitarist to complement Slash. Slash's departure was followed by the departure of Matt Sorum in April 1997. Sorum was fired by Rose following an argument about Tobias's inclusion in the band. Sorum later stated that Tobias was the "Yoko Ono of Guns N' Roses".
Rose auditioned multiple potential members, including multi-instrumentalist Chris Vrenna and guitarist Zakk Wylde, alongside drummers Dave Abbruzzese, Michael Bland, Joey Castillo and Kellii Scott from Failure. Rolling Stone reported in April 1997 that the lineup of Guns N' Roses was Rose, McKagan, Tobias, Finck & Vrenna.
McKagan was the last of the Appetite lineup to leave, resigning as bassist in August 1997. McKagan had recently become a father and wrote about his decision to leave in his autobiography: "Guns had been paying rent on studios for three years now—from 1994 to 1997—and still did not have a single song. The whole operation was so erratic that it didn't seem to fit with my hopes for parenthood, for stability."
Josh Freese was ultimately hired to replace Sorum on drums, joining in the summer of 1997. After being recommended by Freese, former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson joined in 1998, replacing McKagan. By the end of 1998, a new version of Guns N' Roses had emerged: Rose on lead vocals, Stinson on bass, Freese on drums, Finck on lead guitar, Tobias on rhythm guitar, Reed on keyboards, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Pitman.
In 1998, Geffen released an edited single disc version of the Illusion albums titled Use Your Illusion×Use Your Illusion25 August 1998 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Live and Let Die3:042Don’t Cry (original)4:453You Ain’t the First2:364November Rain8:575The Garden5:226Dead Horse4:187Civil War7:42814 Years4:219Yesterdays3:1610Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:2111Estranged9:2412Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)4:44. In November 1999, the label released Live Era '87–'93, a collection of live performances from various concerts during the Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion tours. Former guitarist Slash described the selection of songs of the album as a "very mutual effort", adding that "the live album was one of the easiest projects we all worked on. I didn't actually see Axl, but we communicated via the powers that be."

Early recording sessions

A new Guns N' Roses album had reportedly been in the works since 1994, with Rose the only original member still in the band. Several producers, including Youth, Moby, Mike Clink, Eric Caudieux & Sean Beavan worked with the band during the late 1990s, incorporating new electronic and industrial elements to the music. Rolling Stone stated that the label planned for the album to be released in late 1999. By August 1999, the band had recorded over 30 songs for the album, which was tentatively entitled 2000 Intentions.
In November 1999, during an interview with Kurt Loder for MTV, Rose said that he had re-recorded Appetite for Destruction with the then-new band, apart from two songs which he had replaced with "Patience×Patience1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Patience5:572Rocket Queen6:173Interview With W. Axl Rose7:49" and "You Could Be Mine×You Could Be Mine8 July 1991 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1You Could Be Mine5:452Civil War7:40". During the interview, Rose announced the title of the upcoming album, Chinese Democracy×Chinese Democracy18 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Chinese Democracy4:432Shackler's Revenge3:373Better4:594Street of Dreams4:475If the World4:546There Was a Time6:417Catcher in the Rye5:538Scraped3:319Riad n' the Bedouins4:1010Sorry6:1511I.R.S.4:2912Madagascar5:3813This I Love5:3414Prostitute6:16. Rose explained:

There's a lot of Chinese democracy movements, and it's something that there's a lot of talk about, and it's something that will be nice to see. It could also just be like an ironic statement. I don't know, I just like the sound of it. (The album has) a lot of different sounds. There's some heavy songs, there's a lot of aggressive songs, but they're all in different styles and different sounds. It is truly a melting pot.
Band manager Doug Goldstein stated in November 1999 that the band had "almost finished" recording the music, and the album was due out some time in 2000. Later that month, the band released a new song, the industrial styled "Oh My God×Oh My God2 November 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Oh My God3:40", which was included on the soundtrack of the film End of Days. The track featured additional guitar work by Dave Navarro and Gary Sunshine, Rose's personal guitar teacher. Rose claimed that former members Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum had "failed to see the potential" of the song and had no interest in recording or playing the piece.

In August 1999, guitarist Robin Finck departed the band to rejoin his former band, Nine Inch Nails, on tour. In March 2000, avant-garde guitarist Brian Carroll, more commonly referred to as Buckethead, joined Guns N' Roses as a replacement for Finck. Also in March 2000, drummer Josh Freese left the band. He was replaced by former Primus drummer Bryan Mantia, known professionally as Brain. Finck returned to the band in late 2000, to complement Buckethead on lead guitar. With the album nearing completion in mid-2000, producer Roy Thomas Baker convinced Rose to re-record it, causing further delays.

Return to touring and cancellations (2001–2002)

In an interview with Rolling Stone in February 2000, Rose played several songs of the upcoming album to reporters, including "Chinese Democracy×Chinese Democracy18 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Chinese Democracy4:432Shackler's Revenge3:373Better4:594Street of Dreams4:475If the World4:546There Was a Time6:417Catcher in the Rye5:538Scraped3:319Riad n' the Bedouins4:1010Sorry6:1511I.R.S.4:2912Madagascar5:3813This I Love5:3414Prostitute6:16", "Catcher in the Rye", "I.R.S.", "The Blues", "There Was a Time" and "Oklahoma". Rose mentioned that part of the delay of the new album was him "educating himself about the technology that's come to define rock", stating that "it's like from scratch, learning how to work with something, and not wanting it just to be something you did on a computer." Rolling Stone described the album as "Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti remixed by Beck and Trent Reznor. Rose mentioned that the expense of the record would be negated by the recording sessions yielding multiple albums, including a record that is "more industrial and electronica-influenced than Chinese Democracy". In a 2001 interview, Rose described the album as having "all kinds of styles, many influences as blues, mixed in the songs" and said that it was "not industrial".
Describing why he continued using the Guns N' Roses name, instead of labeling the upcoming album an "Axl Rose solo album", Rose stated "there were other people in Guns N' Roses before them, you know. I contemplated letting go of that, but it doesn't feel right in any way. I am not the person who chose to try to kill it and walked away. ... Everybody is putting everything they've got into singing and building. Maybe I'm helping steer it to what it should be built like." Also in the interview, Rose attributed the breakup of the old lineup to drug addictions and "an effort from inside the band to destroy him", stating "There was an effort to bring me down. It was a king-of-the-mountain thing", and that he "needed to take control to survive", also describing the dissolution as "a divorce".
Eight years after the previous Guns N' Roses concert, the band made a public appearance in January 2001 with two well-received concerts: one in Las Vegas and one at the Rock in Rio Festival in Rio de Janeiro. The band played both songs from previous albums and songs from then-unreleased Chinese Democracy. During the band's Rock in Rio set, Rose made the following comment regarding former members of the band:

I know that many of you are disappointed that some of the people you came to know and love could not be with us here today. Regardless of what you have heard or read, people worked very hard (meaning my former friends) to do everything they could so that I could not be here today. I am as hurt and disappointed as you that unlike Oasis, we could not find a way to all get along.

The group played two shows in Las Vegas at the end of 2001. Former guitarist Slash claimed that he tried to attend a show and was turned away at the door by security. Due to his frustrations with touring, rhythm guitarist Paul Tobias left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Richard Fortus (formerly of the Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love).
The band then played several shows in August 2002, headlining festivals and concerts throughout Asia and Europe, including Pukkelpop, Summer Sonic Festival, and The Carling Weekend. At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards on August 29, 2002, Guns N' Roses closed the show in a previously unannounced performance, playing "Welcome to the Jungle×Welcome to the Jungle21 September 1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Welcome to the Jungle (LP version)A2Whole Lotta Rosie (live)B1It's So Easy (live)B2Knockin' on Heavens Door (live)", "Madagascar", and "Paradise City×Paradise City1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Civil War11:502Wild Horses2:393Patience7:174You Could Be Mine6:585November Rain12:136Medley: Instrumental Soli / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Guitar Solo18:53Disc 21Sweet Child of Mine9:302Move to the City8:023Don't Cry5:074Only Women Bleed / Knocking on Heavens Door11:155Bad Obsession7:576Estranged9:107Paradise City7:34".
In November 2002, the band's first North American tour since 1993 was organized to support Chinese Democracy, with CKY and Mix Master Mike joining. However, the opening show in Vancouver was canceled by the venue when Rose failed to turn up. According to Guns' management, "Axl's flight from L.A. had been delayed by mechanical troubles". A riot ensued. The tour was met with mixed results, some concerts did not sell well, while shows in larger markets such as New York City sold out in minutes. Due to a second riot by fans in Philadelphia when the band failed to show up again, tour promoter Clear Channel canceled the remainder of the tour.

Label conflict, Greatest Hits, and lawsuits

In September 2003, Eddie Trunk played a previously unheard track, "I.R.S.", on his radio show, given to him by baseball player Mike Piazza. The band management heard about the nationwide leak, and obtained a cease and desist order for all stations that had a copy of the track. Rose had played several new songs at a strip club in Las Vegas two months earlier to gauge the reactions of the crowd.
In February 2004, Geffen said, "Having exceeded all budgeted and approved recording costs by millions of dollars, it is Mr. Rose's obligation to fund and complete the album, not Geffen's." By March 2004, Geffen had pulled funding from Chinese Democracy×Chinese Democracy18 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Chinese Democracy4:432Shackler's Revenge3:373Better4:594Street of Dreams4:475If the World4:546There Was a Time6:417Catcher in the Rye5:538Scraped3:319Riad n' the Bedouins4:1010Sorry6:1511I.R.S.4:2912Madagascar5:3813This I Love5:3414Prostitute6:16. Around then, band manager Merck Mercuriadis stated that "The 'Chinese Democracy' album is very close to being completed". According to a 2005 report by The New York Times, Rose had allegedly spent $13 million ($21,430,397 in current dollar terms) in the studio by that point. Mercuriadis rejected the budget claims made by The New York Times, claiming the sources had not been involved in the project in several years. The album was frequently described as "the most expensive album ever made".
In March 2004, since Rose had failed to deliver a new studio album in more than ten years, Geffen released Guns N' Roses' Greatest Hits. Slash and McKagan joined Rose in suing Geffen to stop the release of the album, which was compiled without authorization from any current or former band members. The lawsuit was thrown out and the album went triple platinum×PlatinumAlbum · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 31 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Sweet Child o’ Mine6:022The Civil War7:443You Ain’t the First2:454Don’t Cry4:525You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory3:426Paradise City6:53714 Years4:278Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:439Nightrain4:3310The Garden5:2611Since I Don’t Have You4:2512Rocket Queen6:2113Get in the Ring5:4214Patience5:55Disc 21November Rain8:572Welcome to the Jungle4:353Yesterdays3:184Ain’t It Fun5:105It’s So Easy3:286Right Next Door to Hell3:067You Could Be Mine5:498Attitude1:319Mr Brownstone3:5210Love and Let Die3:0611One in a Million6:1112The Garden5:2213Hair of the Dog4:0114Used to Love Her3:1715Anything Goes3:3116Bad Obsession5:3317You’re Crazy3:16 in the US, eventually going on to be the third-longest-charting album in the Nielsen SoundScan era. McKagan and Slash also joined Rose in an unsuccessful effort to prevent the release of The Roots of Guns N' Roses.
The band was scheduled to play at Rock in Rio Lisboa in May 2004. However, Buckethead left the band in March of that year, causing the band to cancel the show. Buckethead reportedly left the band because of the "inability to complete an album or tour", according to his manager. Rose claimed "the band has been put in an untenable position by guitarist Buckethead and his untimely departure. During his tenure with the band, Buckethead has been inconsistent and erratic in both his behavior and commitment ... His transient lifestyle has made it impossible for even his closest friends to have nearly any form of communication with him whatsoever."
In February 2006, demos of the songs "Better×Better2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Better4:57", "Catcher in the Rye", "I.R.S.", and "There Was a Time" were leaked on to the Internet through a Guns N' Roses fan site. The band's management requested that all links to the MP3 files and all lyrics to the songs be removed from forums and websites. Despite this, radio stations began adding "I.R.S." to playlists, and the song reached No. 49 on the Radio & Records Active Rock National Airplay chart in the final week of February.
In August 2006, Slash and McKagan sued Rose over publishing and songwriting credits, which Rose's lawyer claimed were due to a "clerical error" while changing publishers.

Resumed touring and release delays (2006–2007)

Following a recommendation from guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal joined Guns N' Roses in 2006, replacing Buckethead. Thal made his live debut with the band at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 12, 2006, the band's first live show in over three years.
Five warm-up shows before a North American tour were held in September 2006. The tour officially commenced on October 24 in Miami. Drummer Frank Ferrer replaced Brain, who took a leave of absence to be with his wife and newborn child. Coinciding with the tour, the song "Better×Better2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Better4:57" was featured in an internet advertisement for Harley-Davidson in October 2006. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed stated that the release was an accident, with two versions being made—one "experimental edit" featuring a demo of "Better" and one with "Paradise City×Paradise City1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Civil War11:502Wild Horses2:393Patience7:174You Could Be Mine6:585November Rain12:136Medley: Instrumental Soli / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Guitar Solo18:53Disc 21Sweet Child of Mine9:302Move to the City8:023Don't Cry5:074Only Women Bleed / Knocking on Heavens Door11:155Bad Obsession7:576Estranged9:107Paradise City7:34". The ad with "Better" was mislabeled and inadvertently uploaded online for a day before being replaced by the intended ad with "Paradise City".
In November 2006, shows in Portland, Maine were cancelled, with the band claiming that the cancellations were "due to limitations imposed by local fire marshals". Rose later apologized in a statement, stating "We have chosen to take the public heat for these events in order to have another shot at the future today with a new album."
In December 2006, Rose released an open letter to fans announcing that Merck Mercuriadis had been fired as the band's manager. He revealed that the last four dates of the North American tour would be cut so the band could work on post-production for Chinese Democracy. He also set a tentative release date for the album for the first time since the album's announcement: March 6, 2007.
On February 23, 2007, Del James announced that the recording stage of Chinese Democracy was finished and the band had now moved onto mixing the album. However, this proved that March 6 release date would be impossible to achieve, and the album once again had no scheduled release date.
In February 2007, the "final" version of "Better" leaked online to positive reviews. On May 4, 2007, three more tracks leaked from Chinese Democracy: An updated version of "I.R.S.", "The Blues", and the title track. All three tracks had previously been played live.
Guns N' Roses embarked on the 2007 leg of the Chinese Democracy World Tour in Mexico in June, followed by dates in Australia and Japan. The songs "Nice Boys×Nice BoysAlbum · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Shadow of Your Love3:072Move to the City3:463Knockin' on Heaven's Door4:424Whole Lotta Rosie4:315Patience7:066Down on the Farm4:067Reckless Life3:188Nice Boys3:019Mama Kin3:50" and "Don't Cry" (appearing as an instrumental Bumblefoot solo) were played for the first time since the Use Your Illusion Tour. The tour ended on the twentieth anniversary of Appetite for Destruction's release date, in Osaka. During this tour, the band featured vocalist Axl Rose, Robin Finck, Ron Thal and Richard Fortus on guitars, Tommy Stinson on bass, Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman on keyboards and Frank Ferrer on drums.

Album release and promotion

In December 2007, Eddie Trunk reported that the album was done and handed over to Geffen Records, but delayed due to issues with the label. The following month, reports that the delays were disagreements between Geffen and Rose on marketing emerged. In February 2008, Rose's manager, Beta Lebeis, debunked Trunk's suggestion and stated the band is "in negotiations" with the record label, and the album had been finished since Christmas 2007.
On March 26, 2008, Dr Pepper announced a plan to give everyone in America – except the band's former guitarists Slash and Buckethead – a free can of Dr Pepper if the band released Chinese Democracy before the end of 2008. Rose stated he was "surprised and very happy" about the announcement, adding, "As some of Buckethead's performances are on our album, I'll share my Dr Pepper with him."

On March 27, 2008, the day after Dr Pepper's announcement, the band members announced that they had hired a new management team, headed by Irving Azoff and Andy Gould.
Amidst industry rumors in April 2008 that a release was coming soon, nine tracks purported to be from Chinese Democracy were leaked to a website on June 19, 2008, but were quickly removed due to a cease-and-desist letter from the band's label. Six of the leaked tracks had surfaced previously in some form, while three were new. On July 14, 2008, Harmonix, in conjunction with MTV Games, officially announced the release of a new song from Chinese Democracy. The song, entitled "Shackler's Revenge", was released through the new game Rock Band 2. The song "If the World" debuted October 10, 2008, playing in the end credits of the Ridley Scott film Body of Lies.

On October 22, 2008, after several months of speculation, band management, Best Buy, and Interscope Geffen A&M Records issued a joint press release confirming that the much-anticipated release of Chinese Democracy in the US had been scheduled for November 23, 2008, as a Best Buy exclusive. Several days before its official release, the band streamed the entire Chinese Democracy album on the group's Myspace page. The album was streamed over three million times, breaking the Myspace record for most streamed album ever.
Chinese Democracy, the band's sixth studio album and its first since 1993's "The Spaghetti Incident?" was released on November 22, 2008, in Europe and Australia, on November 23, 2008, in North America, and on November 24, 2008, in the United Kingdom. Chinese Democracy debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 but undersold industry expectations. The album's divided reception led to it being included on several publication's year end worst-of lists, as well of best-of lists.

Touring and Hall of Fame induction (2009–2014)

On February 6, 2009, Rose gave his first interview in nine years when he sat down with Billboard's Jonathan Cohen. Rose said that there was no chance that he would ever agree with a reunion with Slash:

What's clear is that one of the two of us will die before a reunion and however sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is. Those decisions were made a long time ago and reiterated year after year by one man.
Rose however stated that he was open to working again with Stradlin and McKagan:

I could see doing a song or so on the side with Izzy or having him out [on tour] again. I'm not so comfortable with doing anything having more than one of the alumni. Maybe something with Duff, but that's it, and not something I'd have to really get down into, as I'd get left with sorting it out and then blamed on top of it. So, no, not me.
In March 2009, the band announced that DJ Ashba would be the new lead guitarist, replacing a departing Robin Finck, who rejoined Nine Inch Nails.
In June 2009, it was reported that manager Irving Azoff had been "fired, then re-hired, then fired". A year later, Azoff's company Front Line Management sued Rose, claiming he "violated an oral agreement to pay 15% of earnings, or nearly $2 million, from a lucrative concert tour" and seeking $1.87 million in unpaid fees. Rose filed a $5 million counter-lawsuit against Azoff, saying that Azoff sabotaged sales of Guns N' Roses' comeback album, attempted to force Rose to reunite with his estranged×Estranged1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Estranged9:242The Garden5:20 former bandmates, failed to promote Chinese Democracy, and filed suit for "commissions he didn't earn and had no right to receive". The lawsuit was settled in 2011. Several years later, Guns N' Roses' management, led by Rose's former personal assistant Beta Lebeis and her family, stated that previous tensions led to an ultimatum of "no more managers".
Guns N' Roses headlined the Friday night at Reading Festival 2010 and closed Leeds Festival two days later. Guns N' Roses was 58 minutes late coming on to the stage, and because of a curfew issued by Reading Council the band's set ended at midnight. Rose orchestrated fan frustration toward the organizers, citing the strict curfew. Further late showings caused issues; during a concert on September 1, 2010, in Dublin, the band was over an hour late arriving on stage. Rose stopped the band in the middle of the second song, "Welcome to the Jungle×Welcome to the Jungle21 September 1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Welcome to the Jungle (LP version)A2Whole Lotta Rosie (live)B1It's So Easy (live)B2Knockin' on Heavens Door (live)", after multiple bottles were thrown on stage to warn the crowd. After another bottle was thrown, the band left the stage during the fourth song of the set. The band returned to the stage an hour later to finish the show.
Former bassist Duff McKagan joined the band on stage for the first time since leaving the band on October 14, 2010, at The O2 Arena, in London, England. He performed four songs with the group: "You Could Be Mine×You Could Be Mine8 July 1991 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1You Could Be Mine5:452Civil War7:40", "Nice Boys×Nice BoysAlbum · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Shadow of Your Love3:072Move to the City3:463Knockin' on Heaven's Door4:424Whole Lotta Rosie4:315Patience7:066Down on the Farm4:067Reckless Life3:188Nice Boys3:019Mama Kin3:50", "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", and "Patience×Patience1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Patience5:572Rocket Queen6:173Interview With W. Axl Rose7:49". The appearance was said to be a spur-of-the-moment decision, as he and Rose happened to be staying in the same hotel. Rose told the audience, "There was this guy at the end of my hallway playing all this loud music and shit. What the fuck? Oh—it's Duff!". McKagan later joined Guns N' Roses for two Seattle shows in December 2011 and had his band Loaded open for Guns N' Roses.
Guns N' Roses performed at Rock in Rio 4 on October 2, 2011, during heavy rain, playing "Estranged" for the first time since 1993. Guitarist Bumblefoot stated that due to the conditions, it was the "worst concert he's ever been a part of". Two months later, during a performance in Nashville, Tennessee, "Civil War×Civil War1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Civil War7:402Exclusive interview with Slash7:13" also made a return after an eighteen-year absence. On November 10, 2011, Rose gave his first TV interview in years to Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine of That Metal Show, discussing his whole career and the band's future.
Izzy Stradlin joined the band for a surprise performance at a wedding in Saint-Tropez, France, in July 2012. Also in July 2012, the band toured Israel for the first time since 1992. NME reported that year that the band's tour security said they had been instructed by Guns N' Roses' management that anyone wearing a Slash T-shirt not be allowed into the tour venue.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

On April 14, 2012, Guns N' Roses were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Slash, McKagan, Adler, Sorum and Clarke reunited for the induction. Clarke, who was not inducted, performed at the request of Sorum. The band performed "Mr. Brownstone×Mr. Brownstone8 April 2019 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Down on the Farm3:372It's So Easy3:363Mr. Brownstone5:084Live and Let Die3:075Out Ta Get Me4:526Sweet Child O' Mine6:557My Michelle5:118Rocket Queen6:439Welcome to the Jungle5:5910Free Fallin'4:1911Night Train5:1012Paradise City6:5813Mama Kin4:4614Patience6:4415Civil War8:4516Knockin' on Heavens Door7:2317You Could Be Mine5:4718It's So Easy3:1119Wild Horses3:4220Double Talkin' Jive8:0021Novemeber Rain9:1622The Godfather Theme2:31", "Sweet Child o' Mine", and "Paradise City×Paradise City1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Civil War11:502Wild Horses2:393Patience7:174You Could Be Mine6:585November Rain12:136Medley: Instrumental Soli / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Guitar Solo18:53Disc 21Sweet Child of Mine9:302Move to the City8:023Don't Cry5:074Only Women Bleed / Knocking on Heavens Door11:155Bad Obsession7:576Estranged9:107Paradise City7:34", with Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge on lead vocals.
Rose did not attend and had asked not to be inducted, writing in an open letter that the Hall of Fame "doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected". Stradlin and Reed also declined to attend the induction. At the ceremony, the crowd booed Rose's name and chanted "Fuck Axl". Afterwards, Rose released a statement saying he did not understand the purpose of the Hall of Fame, how it was funded or how acts are chosen. In an interview, Slash said that none of the band initially wanted to take part and were uncertain of how it would proceed.

Up Close and Personal Tour and Las Vegas residencies

In early 2012, the band announced the upcoming Up Close and Personal Tour, with shows in the United States and Europe. The shows themselves varied considerably in comparison to the previous Chinese Democracy Tour. All of the North American shows took place in smaller-scale clubs, not large arenas or stadiums. All pyrotechnics were removed from the shows.
On August 13, 2012, the band announced a residency at The Joint in Las Vegas entitled "Appetite for Democracy", celebrating the 25th anniversary of Appetite for Destruction and the fourth anniversary of Chinese Democracy. On November 21, 2012, the band's performance in Vegas was taped in 3D and was screened across theaters in 2014 before being released as Appetite for Democracy 3D on July 1, 2014. In October 2012, Guns N' Roses performed an acoustic set at Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit show. The performance was widely panned by critics, and Rose claimed an onset of strep throat hampered his vocals.
The band launched a South American tour in early 2014, including shows in Brazil and Portugal. For several shows, former bassist Duff McKagan rejoined the band to fill in for Stinson, who had previous commitments to touring with the Replacements. The group headlined the Revolver Golden Gods awards show, with McKagan on bass, on April 24, 2014. During the ceremony, Rose was awarded the Ronnie James Dio lifetime achievement award.
From May 21 to June 7, 2014, the band returned to Las Vegas for its second residency at The Joint, titled No Trickery! An Evening of Destruction.

Follow-up to Chinese Democracy

In an MTV phone interview with Kurt Loder in 1999, Rose said he and the then-new band had recorded enough material for a double album. In an informal chat with Rolling Stone magazine in February 2006, Rose stated the band had 32 songs in the works. While appearing on various fan message boards in December 2008, Rose stated several working titles of songs for a possible future album. Former drummer Brain mentioned working on a "club remix" of "Shackler's Revenge", stating that Rose planned to put out a remix album of songs from Chinese Democracy×Chinese Democracy18 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Chinese Democracy4:432Shackler's Revenge3:373Better4:594Street of Dreams4:475If the World4:546There Was a Time6:417Catcher in the Rye5:538Scraped3:319Riad n' the Bedouins4:1010Sorry6:1511I.R.S.4:2912Madagascar5:3813This I Love5:3414Prostitute6:16. Several band members mentioned they had been collaborating on ideas and working on a new album throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s. In October 2012, Rose said, "All the guys are writing, and we recorded a lot of songs over the years. We'll figure out what we feel best about".
In August 2013, a new song entitled "Going Down" was leaked online. The track features bassist Tommy Stinson on lead vocals, with Rose providing backing vocals. Bumblefoot confirmed the song to be legitimate on his Twitter. Spin described it as "a country-tinged, mid-tempo lighter-raiser with lyrics about how "you've got nothin' good to say / Keep your mouth shut."
In an interview in June 2014, Rose commented on upcoming plans:

We recorded a lot of things before Chinese was out. We've worked more on some of those things and we've written a few new things. But basically, we have what I call kind of the second half of Chinese. That's already recorded. And then we have a remix album made of the songs from Chinese. That's been done for a while, too.

Reunion (2015–present)

On July 27, 2015, guitarist DJ Ashba left the band, citing his commitments to his family and his other band, Sixx:A.M. Ashba released a statement saying "I have reached a point in my life where I feel it's time to dedicate myself to my band Sixx:A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me." Several days later, music journalist Gary Graff reported that a "confirmed source within the band" had told him that Ron Thal had left the band after the 2014 tour. No official announcement from Thal or the band was made. Tommy Stinson then left the band, citing personal reasons making him unavailable to tour.
On December 29, 2015, several days after a Guns N' Roses-related teaser was released to movie theaters, Billboard reported that Slash was set to rejoin the band and a "reunited" lineup will headline Coachella 2016. Rose was set to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the following week to talk about the future of the band, but his appearance was cancelled due to "unforeseen circumstances". Guns N' Roses was officially announced as the headliner of Coachella on January 4, 2016, with KROQ reporting Slash and Duff McKagan were rejoining the band. The Coachella festival confirmed via press release that McKagan and Slash were rejoining.

Not in This Lifetime... Tour

On March 25, 2016, the band announced the Not in This Lifetime... Tour. The tour's name was a reference to a 2012 interview in which Rose, when asked about when a potential reunion would happen, responded "not in this lifetime".
A previously unannounced warmup gig at the Troubadour in Los Angeles took place on April 1, 2016. Melissa Reese replaced Chris Pitman as the second keyboardist after Pitman quit. During the show at the Troubadour, Rose fell off a monitor and broke his foot. Rose was given Dave Grohl's customized throne that Grohl had used to perform when he broke his leg at a concert.
The band's first scheduled concerts with Slash and McKagan took place at the newly opened T-Mobile Arena on April 8 and 9, 2016. At the performance at the first weekend of Coachella, AC/DC guitarist Angus Young joined the band on stage (Rose was set to join AC/DC as a touring vocalist). During the band's show of July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati, former drummer Steven Adler joined the band on drums for "Out ta Get Me" and "My Michelle×My Michelle13 August 2019 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1My Michelle5:082It's So Easy3:493Out Ta Get Me5:124Mr Brownstone4:435Knockin' on Heaven's Door7:066Nightrain5:127Welcome to the Jungle6:178Paradise City6:489Mama Kin4:5310Sweet Child o Mine7:0311Rocket Queen7:02". It was the first time since 1990 that Adler performed with the group. Adler would later join the band at shows in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Buenos Aires. The tour featured additional guest performers, including Sebastian Bach, more appearances by Angus Young, Angry Anderson, P!nk, Billy Gibbons and Dave Grohl.
In November 2017, Guns N' Roses was announced as the headline act at the UK Download Festival in June 2018. In addition, they won Top Tour/Top Draw at the 2017 Billboard Touring Awards. They were nominated for Top Touring artist and Top Rock Tour, as well as Top Duo/Group at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. The next year, they were nominated again for Top Rock Tour and Top Touring artist. They also headlined the 2018 Graspop Metal Meeting, alongside Iron Maiden and Marilyn Manson.
The tour was a financial success, grossing over $480 million by December 2017 and at that time was listed as the fourth highest-grossing concert tour of all-time. By the end of the tour in December 2018, the tour had grossed $563.3 million, making it the then second-highest-grossing tour, behind U2's U2 360° Tour.

Appetite for Destruction deluxe edition

On April 30, 2018, billboards in several large cities, as well as a website (GNR.FM), were spotted with the tagline "Destruction Is Coming". The website was updated with a countdown clock to May 4, 2018, and a snippet of the song "Shadow of Your Love×Shadow of Your Love4 May 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Shadow of Your Love3:06" playing. Journalist Mitch Lafon stated the campaign was for a deluxe edition of Appetite for Destruction. A video announcement was inadvertently released a day early, detailing the "Appetite for Destruction: Locked N' Loaded" edition. The boxed set includes 73 songs on four CDs (49 of which were previously unreleased), seven 12-inch 180-gram LPs, remastered versions of Appetite, an EP of B-sides, a 96-page book with unreleased photos, 12 lithographs, and assorted replica memorabilia. "Shadow of Your Love" was released as a single on May 4, 2018, the band's first single in almost a decade. To promote the release, a previously unseen music video for "It's So Easy" was released on Apple Music, as well as several promotional singles. The box set was released on June 29, 2018, to universal critical acclaim.

New recordings and touring

Rose discussed Slash and McKagan rejoining in a June 2016 interview, stating "It was always looked at as a possibility, but it never seemed right or felt right". He also reiterated his intention to release new Guns N' Roses music. Slash later told Aerosmith's Joey Kramer in an interview with WZLX that "We all were pretty positive (the reunion) would never happen, so it's still sort of blowing our minds. ... But everybody's really getting along great and I think everybody's come a long way, and it's all cool." Various members have discussed plans for a new album since 2017.
A North American stadium tour and several festival dates were announced in 2020, billed as a new tour rather than a continuation of the Not in This Lifetime... Tour. Greatest Hits was reissued that September with "Shadow of Your Love×Shadow of Your Love4 May 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Shadow of Your Love3:06" added, including its first vinyl pressing. Announced in June 2021, the We're F'n' Back Tour played the United States from July to October and was later extended into 2022 with legs in Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.
"Absurd×Absurd6 August 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1ABSUЯD3:23", which the group debuted onstage at Fenway Park a few days earlier, was released as a single on August 6, 2021, its first new material since 2008. "Hard Skool×Hard Skool24 September 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hard Skool3:42" followed on September 24, and both singles are reworkings of songs from the Chinese Democracy sessions. A physical release of "Hard Skool" was announced as both an EP and a vinyl single with different track listings; the EP, featuring "Absurd" and live tracks, came out on February 25, 2022. Slash said later in 2021 that the group had been reworking Chinese-era songs for future release, and in 2022 he confirmed that more new songs were in the works, saying "There's new Guns material coming out as we speak, and we'll probably keep putting it out until the entire record's worth of stuff is done".
A remastered deluxe box set of the two Illusion albums, Use Your Illusion×Use Your Illusion25 August 1998 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Live and Let Die3:042Don’t Cry (original)4:453You Ain’t the First2:364November Rain8:575The Garden5:226Dead Horse4:187Civil War7:42814 Years4:219Yesterdays3:1610Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:2111Estranged9:2412Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)4:44 (Super Deluxe Edition), was announced on September 20, 2022, and released on November 11. It includes both albums remastered, two live concerts from 1991 (New York) and 1992 (Las Vegas), a Blu-ray of the New York concert, and photographs and memorabilia. A live version of "You Could Be Mine×You Could Be Mine8 July 1991 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1You Could Be Mine5:452Civil War7:40" served as the lead single.

The Guns N' Roses 2023 Tour included the group's first headlining set at Glastonbury Festival, on June 24. It drew mixed reviews, with some publications calling it one of the worst headlining sets in festival history, and the group responded by claiming that technical difficulties had resulted in a poor mix. The piano-driven single "Perhaps×Perhaps18 August 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Perhaps3:48" followed on August 18, 2023, with its "R-side" "The General×The General7 December 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The General4:23" released digitally and on vinyl on December 8.

Lineup changes and 2026 world tour

The "Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things Tour" was announced in December 2024. Its 2025 dates took the group through Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, including stops in Düsseldorf, Riyadh, and Mumbai.

Longtime drummer Frank Ferrer, who had joined in 2006, left on March 19, 2025. Isaac Carpenter was announced as his replacement the next day. Carpenter made his live debut with the group on May 1.
On July 5, 2025, the group played several Black Sabbath covers at Black Sabbath's farewell concert, Back to the Beginning. A remastered Live Era '87–'93 was announced in October and released on vinyl on November 21.
On November 24, 2025, GNR announced a 2026 world tour alongside two new songs, "Nothin'×Nothin'4 December 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nothin'4:23" and "Atlas×Atlas3 December 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Atlas3:58", originally scheduled for release on December 2. The songs were released on December 4. Like the group's other post-reunion singles, both date to the Chinese Democracy sessions and feature new parts from Slash and McKagan.
On March 27, 2026, the day before the tour began, the group announced that Melissa Reese would not be joining it "due to unforeseen personal reasons". No replacement was named.
The tour opened on March 28 at the Tecate Pa'l Norte festival in Monterrey, Mexico, where "Nothin'" and "Atlas" received their first live performances. It continued with a Brazil leg in April and dates across Europe, before a North American stadium run opened on July 23 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, with support from acts including the Black Crowes, Public Enemy, and Ice Cube. As of October 2026, the tour is scheduled to continue through Asia and Oceania, with dates in India, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand ending on December 17.

Legacy, style and influence

Guns N' Roses signed with a major record label within eight months of the band's inception, and topped national sales charts weeks after garnering late-night airplay on MTV. Appetite for Destruction is the highest-selling debut album of all time in the United States. Apple Music said "Despite only releasing four album's worth of original material in their original incarnation, GNR had burned so brightly in such a short time that their legend remains stubbornly intact". Appetite for Destruction is credited with "(changing) hard rock's sensibilities at the time", and bringing a "danger, attitude and legitimacy" to rock, leading to a decline in the late-'80s glam metal craze. The band has been credited with helping re-popularize power ballads in heavy metal music.

Guns were five dudes with this shared vision. We met and it was the exact five right guys… The moment we got in a room and played the first three chords, we all knew it. We didn't have illusions that we were going to be huge or anything. But people started coming to our gigs and then labels started coming to our gigs and we made the record we wanted to make. And, all of a sudden, it hit, and it seems like a whole generation of the world had an affinity for that record. – Duff McKagan
Many music industry peers spoke highly of GNR. Joe Perry stated that the band was the first to remind him of Led Zeppelin. Ozzy Osbourne stated that GNR could have been "the next Rolling Stones" if the classic lineup had stayed together. Tom Petty also favorably compared the band to the Rolling Stones. Country musician Steve Earle stated, in 1989, "Guns N' Roses are what every L.A. band pretends to be". Gangsta rap group N.W.A., of whom Guns N' Roses were early supporters and befriended, named a song "Appetite for Destruction×Appetite for Destruction21 July 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Welcome to the Jungle4:342It’s So Easy3:233Nightrain4:284Out ta Get Me4:245Mr. Brownstone3:496Paradise City6:467My Michelle3:408Think About You3:529Sweet Child o’ Mine5:5610You’re Crazy3:1711Anything Goes3:2612Rocket Queen6:13" after the Guns album of the same name. Alice Cooper praised the band's raw energy, calling them "the most dangerous band in the world" during their late-1980s rise. Elton John described "November Rain×November Rain21 April 1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1November Rain8:582Sweet Child o’ Mine5:563Patience5:55" as "one of the greatest songs ever written", highlighting Axl Rose's orchestral ambition. While many contemporaries praised Guns N' Roses, several bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s expressed disdain. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain stated that his band was "not your typical Guns N' Roses type of band that has absolutely nothing to say" and refused to tour with them. Metallica's co-headlining tour with Guns N' Roses in 1992 was marked by tensions, with Metallica members criticizing Axl Rose's behavior and late performances. Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan said the group's reputation represented the kind of mainstream rock excess that alternative music sought to move beyond. Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor was similarly critical, later recalling that opening for Guns N' Roses on the 1991 Use Your Illusion Tour was "a miserable experience" and that he "ended up hating everything about Guns N' Roses".

Early Guns N' Roses music was a fusion of punk rock, blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal, and glam metal. The Illusion albums saw the band branching out into art rock, and featuring influences from progressive rock, folk rock, progressive metal, speed metal, funk metal, and industrial music. "The Spaghetti Incident?" saw the group cover mostly punk rock songs. Since its 1999 revival, the band has retained hard rock and piano rock features while including elements of industrial rock, electronic rock, nu metal, industrial metal and trip hop. In the 1990s, the band integrated keyed instruments (played by either Rose or Reed) into the band. Teddy Andreadis was brought in as an additional keyboardist and harmonica player for the Use Your Illusion Tour, alongside multiple backing vocalists and a brass and woodwind section. Later tours saw keyboardist Chris Pitman (and after 2016, Melissa Reese) contribute sub-bass and synth parts, as well as reproducing the brass and string parts of songs electronically.
A heavy influence on both the image and sound of Guns N' Roses was the Finnish band Hanoi Rocks; singer Michael Monroe and Rose have collaborated on various occasions. Rose has stated that the band was massively influenced by groups like Queen, AC/DC, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Rose Tattoo, and that the sound of Appetite for Destruction was influenced by AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, the Who, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, Van Halen, the New York Dolls, and Hanoi Rocks. The band was also influenced by the likes of T. Rex, the Sex Pistols, Black Sabbath, MC5, and Accept. Rose's orchestral-style songwriting on the Illusion albums was influenced by the Electric Light Orchestra, Elton John, and Queen, particularly their album Queen II. Rose cited the influence of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in recording the title track of Chinese Democracy. Rose was heavily influenced by the industrial rock sound of Nine Inch Nails, changing the band's sound in the lead up to Chinese Democracy. Critics noted influences of Queen, Wings and Andrew Lloyd Webber on some songs on Chinese Democracy.
Guns N' Roses influenced many later rock bands such as Alter Bridge, Avenged Sevenfold, Black Label Society, Blind Melon, Buckcherry, Bullet for My Valentine, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Fozzy, Ghost, Green Day, Halestorm, Hinder, Manic Street Preachers, Mother Love Bone, Nickelback, Pearl Jam, Seether, Shinedown, Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots, Sum 41, The Pretty Reckless, and The Strokes.
Guns N' Roses have appeared in popular culture across television and film. Arrested Development featured a gag in the episode "Sword of Destiny" (2005), where Tony Wonder attempts to name his magic DVD "Use Your Illusion×Use Your Illusion25 August 1998 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Live and Let Die3:042Don’t Cry (original)4:453You Ain’t the First2:364November Rain8:575The Garden5:226Dead Horse4:187Civil War7:42814 Years4:219Yesterdays3:1610Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door5:2111Estranged9:2412Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)4:44". Slash was lampooned in the South Park episode "Crack Baby Athletic Association", where he is portrayed as a mythical figure named "Vunter Slaush", a Santa Claus-like legend believed by the children. Celebrity Deathmatch staged a fight between Axl Rose and Slash in a music-themed episode. Rose also voiced himself in a 2018 episode of New Looney Tunes, and in 2021 appeared in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?. Can't Hardly Wait (1998) features a comedic performance of "Paradise City×Paradise City1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Civil War11:502Wild Horses2:393Patience7:174You Could Be Mine6:585November Rain12:136Medley: Instrumental Soli / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Guitar Solo18:53Disc 21Sweet Child of Mine9:302Move to the City8:023Don't Cry5:074Only Women Bleed / Knocking on Heavens Door11:155Bad Obsession7:576Estranged9:107Paradise City7:34", while Step Brothers (2008) includes the family car singalong of "Sweet Child o' Mine", and The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017) included a flute rendition of "Welcome to the Jungle×Welcome to the Jungle21 September 1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Welcome to the Jungle (LP version)A2Whole Lotta Rosie (live)B1It's So Easy (live)B2Knockin' on Heavens Door (live)". The U.S. release of the video game Mega Man X5 (2000) renamed its bosses after Guns N' Roses members. Manga series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure The JoJoLands introduced a Stand named "November Rain" after the Guns N' Roses song. "Welcome to the Jungle", frequently played at sporting events, is considered a sports anthem.

In 2002, Q magazine named Guns N' Roses in its list of the "50 Bands to See Before You Die". The television network VH1 ranked Guns N' Roses ninth in its "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" special, and also 32nd on its "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Appetite for Destruction was ranked 62nd greatest album of all time in Rolling Stone magazine's special issue "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Guns N' Roses No. 92 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". "Paradise City" has also been voted 9th-best "Best Hard Rock Song" out of 100 candidates by VH1.
Guns N' Roses was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 14, 2012, in its first year of eligibility. The group is one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide, including shipments of 45 million in the United States. Both the Use Your Illusion Tour and the Not in This Lifetime... Tour are among the most attended concert tours of all time. Their song "Sweet Child o' Mine" has the most views on YouTube for a 1980s music video, and "November Rain" has the most for a 1990s music video, becoming the first from that decade to reach 1 billion views.
Several of the band's members are considered among the best in their respective fields and the world's most acclaimed—Rose has been called one of the best vocalists of all time, Slash ranked as one of the best guitar players of all time, and McKagan hailed as one of the best bass players in rock by publications ranging from Rolling Stone and NME to Time and Guitar World. Izzy Stradlin was ranked as one of the best rhythm guitarists of all time by Ultimate Guitar, and Steven Adler was ranked as the 98th greatest drummer of all time by Rolling Stone. Later members were also ranked among the best in their field: keyboardist Dizzy Reed ranked among the greatest rock pianists by IRockU, drummer Matt Sorum ranked among the best rock drummers by Drum!, guitarist Buckethead was ranked among the fastest and most innovative guitarists of all time by publications such as AllMusic and Guitar World, and studio drummer Josh Freese ranked among the top 10 drummers by Gibson.
Guns N' Roses has also received significant criticism throughout the years. The band received criticism for drug and alcohol use in the 1980s and early 1990s. Songs such as "One in a Million×One in a Million1991 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Out ta Get Me5:122Sweet Child o’ Mine5:543My Michelle5:144Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door7:045Welcome to the Jungle5:496Nightrain4:427Paradise City7:028Mama Kin3:329You’re Crazy3:3510One in a Million6:5911Used to Love Her2:5012Patience7:1013Mr. Brownstone4:5714Move to the City3:34" and the band's cover of Charles Manson's "Look at Your Game, Girl" were considerably controversial upon release. In addition, some lyrics have been regarded as sexist. The band has also been criticized for tardiness and starting shows later than advertised. The long periods of time between albums are another source of criticism. The group's live performances have occasionally ended in violence, most famously the 1991 Riverport Riot in St. Louis, when Rose leapt into the crowd to confront a fan with a camera before shutting down the show. His departure from the stage sparked chaos that injured dozens and caused extensive property damage, leading to lawsuits and Rose's arrest.
In October 2009, Ulrich Schnauss's record labels Independiente and Domino sued Guns N' Roses, alleging that the band had committed copyright infringement by using portions of Schnauss' compositions in the track "Riad N' the Bedouins" on the album Chinese Democracy×Chinese Democracy18 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Chinese Democracy4:432Shackler's Revenge3:373Better4:594Street of Dreams4:475If the World4:546There Was a Time6:417Catcher in the Rye5:538Scraped3:319Riad n' the Bedouins4:1010Sorry6:1511I.R.S.4:2912Madagascar5:3813This I Love5:3414Prostitute6:16. The band claimed the samples were obtained legitimately. Chinese Democracy was banned in the People's Republic of China, due to criticism in its title track of the Government of the People's Republic of China and reference to the Falun Gong. The Chinese government said through the media that it "turns its spear point on China". In November 2023, the band was sued for copyright infringement (and their manager Fernando Lebeis was sued for sexual harassment) by their former photographer Katarina Benzova, claiming they "falsely claimed ownership" over photos she took and she suffered repeated unwanted advances from Lebeis during the twelve years she worked for the band.

Band members

Current members

Axl Rose – lead vocals, piano, keyboards, percussion (1985–present)
Duff McKagan – bass guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals (1985–1997, 2016–present)
Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, occasional backing vocals (1985–1996, 2016–present)
Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals, percussion (1990–present)
Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
Melissa Reese – synthesizers, keyboards, backing vocals, sub-bass, programming, percussion (2016–present; not touring 2026)
Isaac Carpenter – drums (2025–present)