Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Gosh, damn, if there was any album out there that truly changed my life then, Guns N' Roses massive debut, 'Appetite for Destruction' was the one one that did it. This was the one that got me on the right path. This is the one that got me into, 'my own music.' It was the one that allowed me to push away the music that my parents had raised me on (oldies and such) and to most importantly get me into good 'ol hard rock n' roll!

I can still vaguely remember how I acquired this album too. My parents had bought me a Beatles album (or best of, maybe) for Christmas in 1991, but wanting to break away from my parents musical influences (and to be rebellious, perhaps) I had asked them to exchange the cassette for this band named, Guns N' Roses. They probably didn't know what the fuck they'd just done, but this as I already said was the one that got me on the right path, the heavier path, which eventually lead to an interest in heavy metal just a few years down the road. I was about nine years old at the time.

There's so many memories in my mind and within my heart when I think about this album. I remember listening closely to the lyrics, and singing along with them, trying to make sense of it all, but often missing something due to my youthfulness. I remember thinking that Slash, Izzy, Steven, Duff and Axl were the coolest dudes in the world. I recall telling my mom around that time that I wanted to be Axl and it was a year or so later that I grew my hair out for the first time (though it didn't go so well since I have quite the curly hair in comparison to Axl's straight hairs).

Oh, and the guitar solos, fuck, man! I remember jumping on my bed playing air guitar to Slash’s solo in, ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine' (admit it, you did it too), and I played this album so much that I wore out the original tape and had to re-purchase it a few years later. And that strange artwork in the booklet, you know the original artwork of the robot rapist? Oh yes, I remember looking at that exposed boob of the ravaged girl laying against the fence and getting some funny feeling in my pants. I didn't know what the fuck that meant, but I knew I liked it (Hahah!). And those cuss words, naughty, and a bad influence on me for sure, but, ya know, "I see you standing there, You think you're so cool... Why don't you just, FUCK OFF!!"

'Appetite for Destruction' was all that and some more for a simple nine year old from, Wisconsin. And, ya know, its hard to believe its been over twenty years since I first heard it and its been almost twenty five years since its original release (July 21st!).

Easily the bands best, most pissed off and hard rockin' album, ‘Appetite for Destruction’ had songs about society and the Hollywood streets (Welcome to the Jungle), drugs & alcohol (Nightrain & Mr. Brownstone), girls/prostitutes (It’s so easy), youthful mischief (Out ta get me) and even a more sensitive side with songs like, ‘Think About you' & ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine.’ All of this was characterized by the colossal guitar riffs & solos of Slash and Izzy and the loud powerful vocal screechings of bad boy, Axl Rose. At a time when mainstream music had little to no feeling and really no messages what so ever Guns N’ Roses appeared and became the heroes for millions of young Americans. There really isn’t a bad moment on this entire album. Songs like ‘Welcome to the Jungle, ‘Paradise City,’ and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ are classics that still kick my ass every time I hear them. Damn, and that acoustic guitar running through the chorus of, 'I Think about you' is just beautiful, what a powerful song, and who isn't touched, at least a little bit, by the tender sorrow in Axl's voice and the final lines of, 'Rocket Queen?' "Don't ever leave me, Say you'll always be there, All I ever wanted, Was for you to know that I care..."

A song like, 'My Michele' seemed odd to me when I was young, but that one has totally grown on me since and I nowadays appreciate the simplicity and understand the words of songs like, 'You're Crazy' or 'Anything Goes.' The other members contributions mustn't be overlooked either. Steven's drumming is nothing overly special, but its good solid hard rock drumming, but maybe the cowbell makes one too many appearances? Also you've gotta love Izzy's bass work, especially on, 'Mr. Brownstone,' freakin' groovy as hell, yaowza!

As many know, GnR had no less than five singles lifted from this record and within a short time they became the biggest band in the world. Unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of what they did after this. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Use your Illusions combo when I was a kid, but those albums just didn't age well. Still, some superb songs, but this early pure hard rockin' stuff will always be the best.

As I said earlier this album turns 25 in July of 2012, which is hard to believe, makes me feel old, but it just lets me know that I've been a rocker for a long fucking time. Personally its been a little over 20 years for this guy writing this, but I'm quite sure if I play my cards right I'll be listening for another 20 to come.

I don't know what else to say. Its one of my all-time favorite albums and its truly one I'll take to my grave. I could probably go on forever, I really could, man. You've no doubt heard it and maybe it means as much to you as it does to me. Or maybe it means nothing to you. Everyone is different, regardless I'll always love this record.