Guns N Roses

As the modern incarnation of Guns N' Roses currently storms across Japan on a successful concert tour highlighted by an appearance in front of a packed house at the world-renowned Budokan Hall, today marks the twentieth anniversary of a rock album that has had a most profound impact on American culture. "Appetite For Destruction" is the second-largest selling debut record in history, having sold 15 million records in the United States alone and 25 million across the globe.

When "Appetite" hit the shelves in record stores across the US on July 21st, 1987, the buzz on the Gunners was building slowly. Most rock listeners had little idea exactly what kind of rock n' roll hellride was in store for them. Having brought a new level of rock n roll excess to Hollywood's famed Sunset Strip, the "most dangerous band in the world" was now ready to take on the world with charismatic frontman W. Axl Rose leading the classic lineup, rounded out by guitarists Izzy Stradlin' and Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Steven Adler. Guns N' Roses combined traditional rock sounds with punk rock and blues on "Appetite" to form a rock sound that reflected the gritty realities of street life. The band's emergence on the national scene signaled the end of the safe and calculated style of hair metal and re-ignited the entire rock genre.

Primed for controversy, the young, streetwise band was so edgy and out of control, it was necessary for label Geffen Records to censor the record's original "pornographic" album cover as well as bury the band's bondage-laced first video clip, the anarchic UK single. "It's So Easy." Named after the Robert Williams painting that adorned the censored album cover, "Appetite" ushered in a new era of rock music with imaginative songwriting and intense performances.

The uncensored record cover, based upon a tattoo on the forearm of singer Rose, is an instantly recognizable image of the individual band member's skulls upon a colorful cross.

"Appetite For Destruction" was produced by Mike Clink and recorded at three studios, Rumbo, Take One and Can Am. Three tracks from the album were released as singles in the US, "Welcome To The Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City," all of which receive substantial airplay on rock radio to this day. The track "Mr. Brownstone," although never released as a proper single, also enjoys plenty of attention from radio stations. By the end of its first year of release, the record had been certified Gold by the RIAA. "Sweet Child O' Mine," the record's second single was the song that established GN"R as an international rock sensation. Since then, it's become one of the best-loved songs in the entire history of rock music.

Over the years, high praise has been bestowed upon the album by prominent media outlets, scoring a five star rating from both Rolling Stone and All Music Guide. Kerrang! called "Appetite" the #1 album of all time. The record has scored impressively amongst dozens of best album polls.

A landmark in the history of rock music, "Appetite For Destruction" is a bona fide rock phenomenon that's left an indelible mark upon millions.

Guns N' Roses wraps up its Japanese tour this evening with an appearance in Osaka, Japan.