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The group was formed in March of 1985 by Hollywood Rose members Axl Rose (vocals), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar), and L.A. Guns members Tracii Guns, Ole Beich (bass) and Rob Gardner (drums).[5] The band took their name by combining the two original groups. Their first performance took place on March 26, 1985.[6] Ole Beich quickly left the group and was then replaced by Duff McKagan. A short time later, guitarist Tracii Guns left the group to reform L.A. Guns, and was later replaced by Slash, who had known Rose and Stradlin during a short stint in Hollywood Rose. The new line-up came together quickly, and after Gardner quit and was replaced by Steven Adler, the band established its first stable line-up. It wasn't until June 1985 when the band went on what they dubbed the "Hell Tour" from L.A. to Seattle, that their comaraderie as members of Guns N' Roses really solidified. According to an interview with SuicideGirls.com, Slash insists, "That [trip to Seattle] is really what cemented the band" and established its chemistry.Before the first full album was ready Geffen decided to release an EP to keep the interest in the band that had to disappear from the clubs scene to work on the album. For this purpose an "independent label" Uzi Suicide Records was created by Geffen and on December 16 1986, a four song EP entitled Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide was released.
Designed to gauge public opinion of the band outside of Los Angeles, the record contained covers of Rose Tattoo's "Nice Boys" and Aerosmith's "Mama Kin", along with two original compositions: the punk anthem "Reckless Life" and the classic rock inspired "Move to the City", both of which were co-written by Hollywood Rose's founding member Chris Weber. Despite having the look and sound of a live album, band members have admitted that the tracks were actually studio recordings with a live audience enitoverdubbed.[9]Only 10,000 vinyl copies of the album were produced, and even though the tracks were re-issued verbatim two years later as part of the GN'R Lies EP, the original Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide has been a valuable and sought after collector's item among fans since the late 1980s. Guns N' Roses signed with a major label within eight months of their inception and topped national sales charts weeks after garnering late hours airplay on MTV. Appetite for Destruction was the second highest-selling debut album of all time, behind Boston's self-titled debut album.Their peers in the music industry often spoke highly of the band: Ozzy Osbourne called Guns N' Roses "the next Rolling Stones." In 2002, Q magazine named Guns N' Roses in their list of the "50 Bands To See Before You Die". Also, the television network VH1 ranked Guns N' Roses ninth in its "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" special, and also ranked 11th on "Top 50 bands". Appetite for Destruction appeared in the Rolling Stone Magazine special issue "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Guns N' Roses 92 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".[39]The band has not been free of criticism by the media. The flagrant alcohol and drug abuse by some members of the group, and Axl's fondness of Charles Manson T-shirts, were used by the media to portray Guns N' Roses as a poor example and negative influence on their young fans. The long periods of time that the band took to release albums were also a source of heavy criticism (the band's second album, GN'R Lies, was actually an EP and an old EP packaged together, and one of the songs was an acoustic cover of one from the band's debut album, it took from 1987 to 1991 to come up with a proper follow up to Appetite for Destruction and it has been 15 years since the band began work on their Chinese Democracy album).Frontman Axl Rose has become a source of both controversy and criticism since the other founding members left the group. His constant elusiveness, such as the fact that he has not held a press conference since 1994, has led to several stories claiming he is suffering from bipolar disorder. Music critics have blamed Rose for the break-up of the original group, have criticized him for continuing the band after the original members had departed and have questioned the constant change in band members. They also cite his neurotic behavior and sense of perfectionism as a cause of personal conflict and the long delays between albums. However, Rose still has fans who view him as a sort of musical anti-hero.Guns N' Roses will be eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame beginning in 2012.On the VH1 special Behind the Music, Slash was questioned about the possibility of a reunion. He replied that "no matter how much money they throw in our faces, there's no reason for us to get together. Unless there's a mutual respect or understanding, and we're way far from that."[40] In January 2007, former drummer Steven Adler claimed that he had been talking with Axl, Izzy, and Slash about a "classic" line-up reunion.[41]In April 2007, Slash said, on the Brazilian format of MTV, that he was open to a reunion of the "old" Guns N' Roses: "And I'm not saying never. I would say it would be a good idea to get, just for a couple of shows, to get the original STP (Stone Temple Pilots) and the original Guns N' Roses just to do a couple of shows for the fun of it".[42] However, in another interview from the same year, Slash stated: "I’ve obviously moved on and have a lot to do with Velvet Revolver, so that’s where my head is. Obviously it’s not an idea that I’m entertaining in any way, shape, or form at this point. I think the more time that passes, the less likely it will happen—and it was pretty unlikely five years ago."[43]On July 28, 2007, Adler's Appetite played the Key Club in Los Angeles to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Appetite for Destruction. The evening featured former Guns N' Roses member Tracii Guns' band LA Guns opening for Adler's Appetite, and original members Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan joined Adler's band on stage for several songs.[44] While Adler touted the event to the press as a "reunion,"[45] the show was not advertised as such,[46] and was not considered as such by the other former members. Slash was in the crowd watching for most of the show, but avoided getting on stage to discourage reunion rumours; Axl was also invited. This was the first time Adler had shared a stage with either musician since he left Guns N' Roses in 1989.