Guns n’ Roses was a band which should have had many more hits than they did. From Axl’s driving vocals, to Slash’s virtuosity, they revolutionized hard rock. By bridging the gap between blues-driven rock such as Aerosmith and heavier metal such as Metallica, they forged a sound that was raw, passionate, and talented.
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the “Use Your Illusion” albums, let’s take a look back at some of their greatest hits:
Welcome to the Jungle: The track that started it all. It’s difficult to not feel the rush when you hear that first riff. For many, it’s the quintessential Guns n’ Roses track. Combining Slash’s prowess as a guitarist as well as Axl’s intensity, it set the stage for the band’s energy as a whole.
Sweet Child o’ Mine: Also from Appetite for Destruction, this was on the lighter side of things. Showcasing the breadth of the GN’R's capability, it let us know that these hard rockers had hearts too. Slash is put on display during this track as a ferocious talent.
Patience: One of my all time favorite tracks. This is quite opposed to the band’s usual nature. Where we would normally hear driving guitars, we hear gentler, acoustic guitars. Paired with a calmer tempo, and subtle musicality, tracks like this set this group apart from others of the same era.
November Rain: For a lot of fans, this was the beginning of the end. At nearly nine minutes, his is the longest song to ever hit the top 10 and the band’s last top 10 hit. Fans had a difficult time seeing the Guns n’ Roses they’d grown to love through the piano and rich orchestra. In addition, the era of epic ballads was essentially over in the realm of rock n’ roll.
This is a very short history of one of the greatest, most talked about bands in rock n’ roll history. In my opinion, some of the less renowned songs by this group are some of their most developed. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen. There’s a reason why there’s been almost 20 years since their hey-day and we’re still talking about them.