[Cipher Hour]

July 21st, 1987 was the official US release of Appetite, and a few singles (along with a video for Welcome to the Jungle) were released. At first, the band was moving at a slow burn. But after the release of the video for Sweet Child O’ Mine, things began to sky rocket. Sweet Child O’ Mine would go on to become the band’s first #1 single.

The rest of the year (and the following year) were nothing short of ongoing activity. Guns N’ Roses began doing big tours and in 88, they began writing a few of the songs that would show up on their next few efforts. Pressure within the band was fine, the drinking and drugs were still a major problem, but success was rolling in.

In November of that same year, “Gn’R Lies” was released into the public. Lyrics from the track “One in a Million” cause controversy and managed to label Axl as a racist and a homophobe. Axl denies being either. After long promotions and tours for the rest of the year and the next, Guns N’ Roses went on its first hiatus.

Appetite had hit the billboard charts at #1, Lies had risen to #5, and all the Guns N’ Roses singles were high up on the charts. Their popularity was booming as they went on tour with other famous/established bands/musicians, played at award shows, and even won an award themselves at the 1989 VMA’s (in which the band was completely wasted). The band needed a break. It was during this break though, that the drugs got worse.

However, it wasn’t long before the GnR train was back up and running. In February of 1990, keyboardist Dizzy Reed joined the band as recording and writing began for Guns N’ Rose’s biggest project yet; a double album.

Tension within the band was at a rise; however, the boys of GnR had managed to clean up moderately well after Axl threaten to break up the band because of it last year. But there was one member of the band that was too far gone to be reached. After failing to be able to play the drum parts written for the new material, Steven Adler was fired from the band (July 11th, 1990). Steven was quickly replaced by drummer Matt Sorum to create the new line-up as it was for the next few years.

W. Axl Rose (vocals)
Slash (lead guitars)
Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar)
Duff McKagan (bass)
Matt Sorum (drums)
Dizzy Reed (keyboards)

The rest of the year would drift by with a quick finalizing of the songs and a few major A-list shows. The following year would begin the cracks that would ultimately destroy the band in the years to come though.

From the beginning of 91 to September, many singles off of the double albums project were released into the world, concerts/tours were done, and Alan Niven was fired as manager and replaced by Doug Goldstein. Not only this, but Axl began to stop showing up for important gigs, and his ego began to grow.

In September, Use Your Illusion I and II were released into the world with almost instant success. Musically, it showed the huge evolution the band had undertaken. No longer was Guns N’ Roses the pure hard rock band from the Appetite days. To some, Use Your Illusion I and II were beautiful masterpieces of epic songs like November Rain, Coma, Estranged, etc combined with the old in-your-face-rock from their earlier days seen on songs like You Could Be Mine. To others, the double disc set was a disappointing departure from the hard rock roots band they had fallen in love with back in the late 80's.

Axl’s ego and control over the band was starting to become too much for the other members however, and in November of that same year, Izzy Stradlin officially quit the band. He was, however, quickly replaced by guitarist Gilby Clarke; a fellow musician who had been playing all the same clubs that Guns N’ Roses had.

This was not the only new change the band had to get used to quickly as they began touring again. Axl brought on a horn section as well as backup vocals to add to the Guns family, creating the last new lineup of the band before its dramatic break up.