Here are the top 5 things we bet you didn't know about GNR (via AXS)
5. Geffen, GNR's record label, rejected the first cover idea for Appetite for Destruction.
The band’s debut album cover featured an image of a cross and skulls of the five band members, but that replaced controversial artwork of a robotic rapist about to be punished by a metal avenger. In a 2011 interview with VH1's "That Metal Show," Rose revealed that he initially wanted the album's cover art to be the famous photo of the Space Shuttle Challenger exploding, but the label rejected that idea, too.
4. Duff McKagan inspired a "Simpsons" trademark.
Bassist Duff McKagan was known as the band's big drinker, and Rose even introduced him at an MTV concert as “Duff, The King of Beers." In his autobiography "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)”, McKagan revealed that the impromptu intro spawned an industry. "A production company working on a new animated series called me to ask if they could use the name ‘Duff’ for a brand of beer in the show,” he wrote. “Little did I know that the show would become 'The Simpsons' and that within a few years I would start to see Duff beer glasses and gear everywhere we toured.”
3. Two of the most iconic GNR songs are about real-life loves.
The band’s only No. 1 hit single, "Sweet Child O' Mine," was about lead singer Axl Rose's then-girlfriend, Erin Everly. The daughter of music legend Don Everly even appeared in the song’s video. Also, the song "My Michelle" was written about a childhood friend of Slash's named Michele Young, whom he had a crush on as a teen.
2. Axl just missed Kurt Cobain's spit.
At the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, Rose got into a backstage run-in with members of Nirvana. Kurt Cobain later decided to spit on Rose's piano keys minutes before GNR was slated to perform the song "November Rain.” But to his horror, the legendary Elton John sat down at the piano instead to accompany the band on their epic tune.
1. Axl Rose skipped the band’s Hall of Fame induction.
After years of bad blood among the original bandmates, Rose famously skipped Gun N’ Roses’ 2012 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Citing mixed feelings on the event as well as confusion about what the purpose of the Hall of Fame really is, the rocker later apologized in an open letter to the city of Cleveland and all of his fans.
Shop Guns N Roses collection HERE
