Guitarist HATED Song-Felt it SOUNDED Like A Circus Melody...Became #1 Hit of 80s | Professor Of Rock

Visit iolo.com/profe... and use code PROFESSOROFROCK to get 60% off System Mechanic Ultimate Defense with 30 Days of FREE 24/7 Live Tech Support. Thanks for Sponsoring the video iolo! Today’s song contains one of the most iconic opening riffs of all time… from one of the most notorious and dangerous bands of the 80s: Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses.
It actually pissed off the guitarist Slash who wrote it. Because it wasn’t supposed to be a song. Instead, this guitarist had written as a training exercise. And to his ears it sounded like a circus melody. Meanwhile, his bandmate, a fiery train wreck of a frontman named Axl Rose, well, he absolutely loved it. He’d actually penned a poem some time before that fit it perfectly and he was adamant about recording it. That was a good call… because this song stormed the charts and was the rocket fuel that helped their album Appetite for Destruction become the biggest selling debut in history… But before that it almost didn’t even get off the ground as MTV refused to play it. Nearly a year in, the album had only sold 200k copies... One phone call changed that. Get ready for the rest of the story… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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#1980s #gunsnroses #classicrock
Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember when music was so diverse that on mainstream radio you go from hearing Rock to New Wave to Glam Metal you’ll dig this channel, make sure to subscribe below right now and click the bell so that you never miss an interview. . We also have a patreon you'll want to check out. where we are starting to put full interviews … exclusive content and you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.
So it’s time for another edition of our series The New Standards. This show takes an in-depth look into songs that transcend genre, decade, and fads - songs that are monumental touchstones in our culture and society. On previous episodes we have covered Black by Pearl Jam and Pictures of You by The Cure. But today we are giving you the story behind the 1988 #1 hit Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses.
In its early iteration, Guns N’ Roses was comprised of rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagen, drummer Steven Adler, a lead guitarist who only needed one name, Slash, and at the center of the storm legendary and chaotic frontman, Axl Rose. Axl grew up in Indiana, but fled the Hoosier State in the early 80s to escape an abusive upbringing. Growing up he had been badly beaten by his stepfather and as a sad consequence developed quite a volatile temper.
Rose went cross country to LA where became active in the local hard rock scene. There he threw in with multiple bands. With Izzy Stradlin, Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner, he formed a rock band that was called, in turn, Rose, Hollywood Rose and then L.A. Guns. After Guns and Gardner left, they were replaced by Steven Adler and Slash. With the addition of bass player Duff McKagan, the group renamed themselves Guns N’ Roses.
Following their US Hell Tour ‘85, GNR released the EP,
‘Live?!*@ Like A Suicide’ [Live Like a Suicide?] on the independent label Uzi/Suicide. This sparked some serious interest from critics and record companies alike, including Geffen… which ultimately signed the band in 86.

[@ProfessorofRock]

POLL: What is your pick for the album that on first listen blew your mind... a record or song that knocked you out?

[@rogerdeahl9629]

Kansas Leftoverture. 8 songs all great. Opener: Carry On Wayward Son, and you were hooked.

[@freezer8530]

Boston's eponymous debut.

[@surlechapeau]

Boston - Boston (debut album)

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Raintown Deacon Blue Declaration The Alarm Steve McQueen ( Two Wheels Good in America) Prefab Sprout Humans Lib Howard Jones No Parlez Paul Young Super Trooper Abba Bad English Bad English Stand out songs that had a big impact; Dreaming OMD Scarlet Nights Prefab Sprout ( Jordan The Comeback album) Our Last Summer Abba Feels Like Heaven Fiction Factory 68 Guns The Alarm Spirit of 76 The Alarm What Is Love? Howard Jones Nothing Ever Happens Del Amitri Time After Time Cyndi Lauper Change Of Heart Cyndi Lauper

[@misterschubert3242]

I had heard so much great stuff when I was young that I couldn't be blown away by a Sgt. Pepper or the Wall, or Abbey Road or Zeppelin I or Bston etc (I've heard these all my life), so the first time I remember getting really excited about a new album was So by Peter Gabriel, the first time as a "musician" (i.e. beyond the 4th grade piano lesson singular) was Shake Your Moneymaker by the Black Crowes (it sounded so fresh yet so familiar), and four songs stick out in my mind: Cult of Personality by Living Colour, It's Love by King's X, Ordinary World by Duran Duran (I totally didn't expect that one), and Dinosaur by King Crimson.

[@Elhastezy888]

This song came out when I was 16 years old & my mom was 36. And even though my mom was truly a goody-to-shoes & we weren't exactly "rockers" she absolutely loved this song & said it was her song for me🤍 After not seeing my mom in about 7 years we got together & were paling around Freemont Street Experience a couple years ago & this awesome live band blasted this song..... as i was watching other people dance & enjoy themselves my mom was singing & crying behind me. I barely caught a glimpse of it. She passed away a few months ago & I'll never ever ever be able to hear this song again without crying

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Aww…so sorry for your loss. That’s very sweet.

[@RavenThom]

Sick!

[@richardpickell8062]

Sorry about your loss my friend

[@Elhastezy888]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 thank you so much. she was a fierce mom💕 many blessings

[@Elhastezy888]

@@richardpickell8062 thank you so much for that💓 she was an excellent mom many blessings

[@dad4ever-c90]

The first time I saw GnR in concert, they were opening for Aerosmith. Most of the other 17,000 spectators only knew them as the Welcome to the Jungle band. But by the end of their high-octane set, they had whipped the entire arena into a frenzy of Guns n Roses fanatics. Great experience!

[@ProfessorofRock]

THat's VERY cool.

[@MyName-pl7zn]

Where did you see them? I saw them warm up for Aerosmith in Detroit and thought their songs were great but the rhythm section was off that night. Definitely got it right when they became headliners

[@DisappearingBoy2010]

Same here...I remember everyone from school going to this concert but they only went for GNR and left after.

[@joecastro6721]

I have a confession, my friend had an extra ticket to see Aerosmith and a, at the time, a little known GNR. I thought Aerosmith was pretty much done as a band and thought GNR was a flash in the pan, so I said no. One my biggest regrets of my life. Since then, I have seen Aerosmith 16 times.

[@sonnybarry]

I saw this tour at Weedsport, NY. GnR opened with It's So Easy and absolute mayhem ensued. The most violent concert I've ever been to. Pure mob rules.

[@stephenhanft1226]

Appetite For Destruction is one of the great debut albums in rock history. They showed that they could rock hard with "Welcome To The Jungle" and then do a great ballad ballad with "Sweet Child O' Mine". A very talented band.

[@ProfessorofRock]

A great debut album.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

They were so diverse in musical styles.

[@chadalicious374]

"Appetite For Destruction is one of the great albums in rock history". Period.

[@wingracer1614]

Yep but the best song on the album is the very last one.

[@jeromethiel4323]

In '88 you could not go into a bar, night club, or dance club without this song playing at least once, and quite often multiple times. That album was pretty much ALL hits. I can't think of a bad or even mediocre song on that album.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s a really iconic song.

[@raviscott4853]

The only 2 albums I've ever listened to for the 1st time & thought every track was a winner, was "Appetite For Destruction" by GnR and "The Black Parade" by MCR. Both are imho, perfect.

[@larrydanadavid2435]

@@alfonsomunoz4424 Roughly 100 million strippers would disagree with you.

[@jamessharp9790]

Yeah you couldn’t escape it anywhere

[@bigneiltoo]

Sweet Child of Mine was topped a month later by another #1 power ballad: Def Leppard Love Bites, right as I was heading to college.

[@wooly1950]

I'm 72 and still listen to G and R when i go for my walks or on my bike, their music is full of energy

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

You know you’re a legend when even the boomers rock out to your stuff! 🎸

[@SteveMasonCanada]

Respect! I thought I was the oldest rocker here at 62. :)

[@tanyalarose8907]

@@SteveMasonCanada I'm 59 so I'm not far behind you.😊

[@wooly1950]

@@SteveMasonCanada Cheers, i would Love to be 62 again !!

[@MechaGodzilla]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I mean, the band mainly consists of boomers, so not surprising!

[@leoalmond4967]

I’m telling you this song has shaped a big portion of my musical demeanor. My best friend Joey and I would blast it growing up. Many years later I would sing this to my daughter as a gentle lullaby. 15 years later she would strum her guitar for my youngest daughter and sing it to her. Yes sweet child of mine has transcended generational barriers and taken hold of us at our cores…

[@jeffreyg.marsoccitheplaine6931]

Appetite for Destruction became my go to driving cassette throughout college. With a 200 mile drive between school and home, I wore it out and had to buy another one.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I think we've all worn out a few versions! Ha ha.

[@chrisbr1969]

Me too! I wore out that cassette. Ah, the good ol’ days!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Haha, I’d be doing the same thing!

[@jesusisking8502]

Maybe it really sold 9 million copies and the next 9 million were replacements?

[@user-Dave67]

I of the first CD I gotten

[@stevelawrence8352]

I love this channel. Every episode I've watched has brought back so many memories of my teen years, high school, partying, getting laid for the first time, getting into trouble, nothing serious, just typical teen trouble. This channel is the next best thing to an actual time machine.

[@mazterford]

Yeah me too man…😅

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

I want that time machine! Lol

[@wordup897]

When I returned to college in August of 1987 my fraternity brother told me his brother's band was as big as Cinderella in LA (to which we all laughed not being hair metal fans). Nonetheless he popped in a cassette and we said, damn Stu, that ain't bad. Stu would be Stuart Bailey, Bill's (Axl's) brother, playing our first listen of Appetite before it was released. We had some rockin' house parties at good ol Purdue that year - Yeee HAW!!! Stu was a poli sci major with the vocabulary of an English Lit prof who dropped out after the year later to manage GnR for a spell. In 1993 he showed me the gold albums which were buried under a bunch of shoes in his closet - methinks he was stretchin' for some punk cred.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

The music from the 80's was amazing

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I was born in 2006 and clearly am in the wrong generation. Who’s got a DeLorean?

[@scorpiusbalthazar4327]

Movies as well. The 80s was the best, too bad I was only born in 82, so most of my memories are the 90s.

[@primeholyassasin20]

Man, it seemed hard rock was truly conquering in the late 80s. Whitesnake's self titled album, Def Leppard's Hysteria, Bon Jovi with both slippery when wet and New Jersey, Skid row's debut, and of course, Appetite for Destruction (IMHO the edgiest of the late 80's biggest rock blockbuster records). Aerosmith were in their 2nd wave, Motley were going strong, truly an imperial era for hard rock.

[@scottf2201]

I do have to say professor that I love your videos but I have to give you a big sarcastic thanks for this one LOL I never connected the opening riff of Sweet child of mine to that circus sound and now I will never be able to unhear that again. Thanks for your help on this one haha

[@ProfessorofRock]

Sorry!

[@Kenboslice3]

It was crazy how massive G' n R became in such a short amount of time. An important part of my rocking childhood. Another home run here Professor, great video!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Ken!

[@belle.m]

Just saw GnR in Melbourne in December ‘22. Still a great band live. Slash and Duff were on fire! I was never old enough to see the original lineup on tour, had to be over 18, but luckily I got to take my 12yr old daughter this time, who is a massive fan. She has the Appetite for Destruction album cover poster on her bedroom wall! They just transcend generations, which is testament to a great band. Great breakdown of this amazing song Adam.

[@Jcruzer70]

Summer of 87 was phenomenal as we blasted Appetite from our boom boxes and screamed every word of every song. What a wonderful time to be 16/17 years old. 🤘🤘

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

My mom graduated in 1987!

[@jonahhex8178]

Went on my first date the day I bought the cassette. Got my first kiss to the sound of sweet child. I will never forget it.

[@kevinbarlow4834]

Great video, as always! The thing that surprised me the most was the list of influences for the "Sweet Child O' Mine" solo - "Baker Street" and "Blinded by the Light" - I always thought it most resembled the solo from "I'd Love To Change The World" by "Ten Years After". I read a tweet from Slash regarding Alvin Lee's passing noting that Lee was an early influence? Anyway - again great video.

[@RSGill1903]

The song that got me hooked on Rock & Roll was Johnny Rivers doing Secret Agent Man. That guitar riff blew me away. The first LP to knock my socks off was Led Zeppelin 4.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I thought it was “Secret Asian Men” for all these years…🤣

[@JayBee6801]

This album stays in my playlist to this day. It is connected to so many memories. Greatest debut album ever. Love this album... yet listening to it is at the same time heartbreaking. Really miss those days.

[@bluebehir]

This album (more than this song) is also still on rotation for me, and I discovered it in 1989. But for me it's not so much about "memories" connected to the album or songs, but just the feeling and energy that the songs give me. Definitely greatest debut album ever.

[@Elwaves2925]

One of those rare songs where you can name that tune in one note. Love this song, it's really quite beautiful and it showed that GNR could do what they wanted, not just harder rock. I knew and had heard the album before this song, thanks to a mate, but it was definitely Sweet Child that pushed me to buy the album.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Definitely... I think your sentence got cut off...

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I literally know nobody who does NOT know the opening riff to this classic.

[@Elwaves2925]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Even my mum (RIP) knew it and she couldn't stand this type of music.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@Elwaves2925 Even my sister too!

[@Steven-hk2wb]

No doubt his unstable personality played a large part in the success of this song. Most great artists are extremely emotional, to the point that they suffer in their personal lives. That is why they write such great songs for us to enjoy.

[@chrisb2535]

I think the similarity to Baker Street (the snippet you mention) is in the ending solo of SCOM, not the main solo. If you listen to the part with the bends on the high E string (full bend/pre-bend on 22nd fret, and pre-bend and release on 17th fret ... i.e. around 5:08-5:16 on the album version), those totally sound influenced by that Baker Street snippet.

[@denisearmbruster7478]

EXCELLENT VIDEO!!! Your ability as a Rock-'n'-roll Historian is superb!

[@KyleBrightman]

I watched your video this afternoon less than 24 hours after upload. Tonight on the way to my in-laws house Sweet Child of Mine came up randomly on Spotify. I cranked it and my wife and I belted it out to pass on the love of this song to our 7 and 4 year old kids. This song will transcend generations if we keep passing it on.

[@b.thomas8926]

I rocked this album. Over and over again. It was great to be alive during that time. Never knew how good we had it until much later.

[@casadimilano7048]

Love the story at the end, about your dad and your friends singing and then your son and his friends singing to it with you, beautiful story.

[@duromusabc]

I remember summer of 88 - the best hair rock bands came out with new awesome studio albums GNR - Appetite Bon Jovi- New Jersey Def Leppard - Hysteria Poison - Open Up &Say Ahhhh All 4 bands released huge hits well into fall and winter of 1988 and into winter and spring of 1989 ! My junior year in high school

[@MrOctober44]

Those were all massive albums

[@davidb7180]

Just to add to your list... Whitesnake (this album was still going strong from 87) Scorpions - Savage Amusement (very underrated album) Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason (not hair band I know, but you couldn't help to have this album from 87) Skid Row - Skid Row (They were about to own the world)

[@lyndaringer2567]

My sophomore year in high school, we had to do "demonstration speeches." A guy in my class demonstrated how to change a guitar string and ended by playing Sweet Child of Mine to perfection. Needless to say, he got an A and nobody wanted to follow him. 😂

[@jesusisking8502]

Isn't it amazing that two of the greatest riffs, Sweet child O' mine and Thunderstruck were both warm up riffs that turned into monster songs! I know this thanks to Professor of Rock. :)

[@jamesspears7242]

And "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas...also learned from Professor of Rock.

[@playhooky]

Also "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas - Kerry Livgren of Kansas kept playing a finger picking exercise he made up & his wife really liked it & encouraged him to write a whole song from it!!!

[@jesusisking8502]

@@playhooky Didn't see that one, will look for it. thx.

[@billyt9987]

Don't forget "Life in the fast lane" by the Eagles. A Joe Walsh warm-up lick.

[@jesusisking8502]

@@billyt9987 Another great riff, didn't know that. :)

[@badnewsbrown10p]

Sweet child was the first gnr song i heard. saw the video on much music. in October of 1988 I bought appetite with money from my 11th birthday. still holds up.

[@thanksfernuthin]

I was still at the "roommate" stage of my life when "Welcome to the Jungle" played on MTV. My roommate was watching it and the song came on. I was just walking through the living room and stopped, watched and listened for a few seconds and said, "These guys are gonna be HUGE." He replied, "I think you're right." It was that obvious. Not "I really like this." but "Everyone is going to really like this."

[@brandonjackson5865]

It’s amazing to me how Slash didn’t realize that intro was something special the first time he played it. I guess he thinks it’s cheesy and maybe it is but that’s part of what makes it so incredible it’s an ear worm and melodic hook and I’d argue it’s harder to craft a lead guitar melody that’s a memorable hook than it is to write a lyrical hook. It’s also a pretty decent finger twisting warm up exercise if you don’t “cheat” and bar it off with your index finger when playing it.

[@brenturquhart7090]

I wonder if Guns & Roses would be as big as they are without Sweet Child of Mine. Of course Welcome to the Jungle was huge, and their other songs are good, but Sweet Child of Mine was on a whole different level. I have friends that would not consider themselves “Rockers”, but they bought the album because of Sweet Child of Mine and it brought them to the dark side, and like a gateway drug, it introduced them other hardcore rock. All I know was it was a great song and all the girls liked it. Is there any better reason than that?

[@ProfessorofRock]

Not a chance. Sweet Child put them over the top.

[@Elwaves2925]

Sweet Child introduced them to whole new audiences, not just fans of harder rock, you point this out yourself. While I did like some harder rock, GNR were on the edge of that and it was Sweet Child that caused me to buy their album and get into it.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I agree. If not for Sweet Child they would have been buried underground for even more time.

[@MrOctober44]

No way. The album had been out for almost a year and had only sold about 200,000 copies. With Sweet child, they pulled in a huge female audience

[@scottburton9701]

Can't believe "Sweet Child O' Mine" is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2023-It still sounds awesome!

[@CraigGrant-sh3in]

Clint Eastwood gave Guns And Roses a boost in 1988 in The Dead Pool. The production wanted to use Welcome To The Jungle in the movie. The band agreed but part of the deal was they had a part in the movie. They show up at Johnny Squares (a young Jim Carrey) funeral and in the production of a band video directed by a young Liam Neesom . It also stared a young woman named Patricia Clarkson

[@rogerdeahl9629]

In the summer of 1988, Appetite For Destruction was played everywhere! Couldn't go more than 20 minutes without hearing a GnR song. And the summer of 88 was the hottest on record in Pittsburgh....... and as a bonus I got to attend the Monsters of Rock tour........ complete with firetruck hosing us down to cool off. Great times. Thanks for this Professor. Love the show. 👍

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Roger. Appreciate your support!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s like they were the hair metal Beatles.

[@cassietherainbowsend722]

Lucky you if the fire hoses reached you. Lol I was at about the 50 yard line at the Memphis Liberty Bowl Stadium and the hoses didn’t reach us. It was August. Very hot summer. Temperature and Music wise.

[@jamesbullock9209]

Back in 1988, this song was HUGE!! Hair metal was still king and GnR was everywhere. Even the band I was the sound tech for in high school covered this one and it was always a crowd pleaser. Over the years, overexposure made me dislike the song, but the memories associated with it live on. Great episode, Adam!!

[@ProfessorofRock]

They were EVERYWHERE. Like overnight.

[@zachhoran]

GNR still tour 35 years later off of four albums, one EP and one album of covers

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s still a perfect song, even though I agree that it’s overplayed.

[@kathyo9420]

To this day it's one of the best albums of all time. Slash and Duff both said in their books they had no idea it would become what it became. God bless Axl for writing it and making them record it. GnFnR forever.

[@chelton87]

I was 17 in 1987 it was a glorious time, music was evolving and shows were so exciting

[@johnlascala5355]

Even as a boy of only 13 years old when it came out, I could tell how different this song was for GNR. It really spoke to a depth the band had that showed they were going to last. Awesome song! Mr Reader, I appreciate the context surrounding this song and GNR and appreciate you reviving some fond memories of the time for me.

[@KrisVComm]

That guitar riff is a total lift from Rush’s Xanadu. Anyone who doesn’t recognize this is unaware of Rush’s classic song. Slash should come out and credit Alex publicly

[@ajwilsonny]

Don’t remember the source, but my understanding was that the opening riff of SCOM was written as a homage to Xanadu. Not true?

[@mfar3016]

If you haven’t already, please check out the version that’s done with 4 separate violins. It will give you goosebumps, I guarantee it!

[@fishermaneb]

I was the first one to have it in middle school. My brother gave it to me when it was a month out. He came back from the Middle East , I picked this up I don’t like it, then gave it to me. I was amazed by the robot sex scene, then the riffs, and swearing I was hooked! I love this channel. It takes me down memory lane.

[@desiguy55]

not into hard rock but loved sweet child of mine, I think it appeals to all kinds of audiences.

[@Mose2305]

Oh my god, Guns N Roses was so big I remember them being the first band ever to play with the Philharmonic on NPR … what a shock to hear this on public radio. Those were the days!

[@johnshields6852]

I was 26 when sweet child O mine was released, that's an amazing song, I grew up with the iconic bands and thought that era had passed by, but their music definitely recharged rock and roll, this particular song was infectious, thank you for giving me flashbacks.

[@mikethinks]

This is one of those albums that you didn't want to skip any of the tracks (which was a very good thing for a cars tape deck )

[@robertcronin6603]

Those who weren't there can't imagine just how HUGE this tune was....me, along with every other kid blasted this in our cars on the way to and from school....and everywhere else, lol....this album was and is one of the greatest of all time....an undying classic 🔥

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I wasn’t there and even I understand. My middle school used to play this song at the arena all the time in anticipation of an epic game. Teachers tell me countless stories about their encounters with the song.

[@sazonsongs]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980t came out when I was in Japan in the military. You could not get away from this song and deservedly so.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@sazonsongs It’s been in the public lexicon for 35 years, and I don’t see it going away anytime soon.

[@Royboyproductions]

My friend Micajah Ryan was an assistant engineer on Appetite, he has so many fun stories from that project and others. It made the downtime in our studio sessions more like a hidden history of rock class than down time.

[@Frosenborg]

Duff talked about the time when Sweet Child O' Mine started playing in the radio. They were still playing clubs at that point, 100 fans at the show the first evening, 150 on the second evening, 250 on the third, next week all nights sold out, then couple of weeks later they were playing for full arenas. Crazy how quick they rose to the top.

[@kennethturner8290]

I was born in 1971 and was lucky enough to live my teenage years in the 1980s. G'N'R is still my favorite band to this day. All the drama and controversy I guess was just par for the course. 'Welcome to the Jungle' is my pick for greatest rock song of all time. For me, that was the pinnacle of hard rock. Rock couldn't go any higher, so it all went alternative.

[@majanem7726]

I saw GnR open for The Cult. They had so much raw energy. I was totally blown away. I had never heard of them before the concert. Two weeks later they were blowing up the radio and the charts.

[@pariahpokemonwesbragg2904]

I remember slash and the other guys talking about how the album was recorded without a click track to count them into the beginning of the songs...saying that it was hard as hell to get their parts recorded right, lol. Sweet child of mine is a masterpiece, as is the entire album. It does bring back memories of my childhood..when I would just set and listen to it, or sing-along, driving and jamming it, all kinds of moments.

[@ProfessorofRock]

It's a once in a lifetime album.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It is a journey. A journey through the JUNGLE! Yes, pun intended there. 😝

[@pariahpokemonwesbragg2904]

@@ProfessorofRock yup!! Nirvana's Nevermind was my real quintisential, coming of age album..but Appetite helped get me there, along with alot of other rock albums/songs you've covered, Prof!! Thanks for the awesome content!!!

[@chaddesrosiers1107]

Its crazy when you realize some of the most insane albums ever recorded could so easily almost be forgotten. Its hard to imagine anyone listening to Appetite for the first time and not instantly realizing its one of the best albums ever recorded. Knowing how close it came to being a forgotten album most people would never hear is mind blowing. There isn't one miss on that Album that is so very rare. Anyone of the songs on AFD could be the career hit for any other band.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

From beginning to end, Appetite sounds like a smash hit. There is no filler.

[@chaddesrosiers1107]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/onusoJt7bLySnbc

[@jameswampler4073]

Was able to witness the birth of GNR in LA. One of the hottest tickets at the time. Before social media it was all word on the street. Went to several of their concerts through the 90's but nothing as cool as their early days.

[@robertgreen1282]

Before G&R I pretty much exclusively listened to pop and new wave. It opened me up to rock, especially hair metal. Such a great song, band, and album.

[@johnpaulgarrett1]

Whenever i want to have a smile on my face i watch The Professor Of Rock...because you never let me down.

[@mikehosken4328]

Its a kick arse song that you sing the epic bass intro. The whole album was fantastic, I really liked rocket queen. Listening to Slash made in stoke brought back an appreciation for this album. It’s such a pity that they imploded, they weren’t the same band when Izzy left.

[@cassietherainbowsend722]

Rocket Queen! Yes!

[@NorkelFjols]

GnR takes me back to the early 90's, growing up in Norway. My older brother probably introduced me to them and we and a couple of friends would listen to the four GnR albums available back then a bunch. I also remember the song "You could be mine" being a Terminator 2 tie-in song (and googling the release date of that movie made me realize I would have been only 10 years old at the time, lol.)

[@ProfessorofRock]

I remember that vividly. Thanks for sharing.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Wow.

[@Whisper_292]

This song blew me away. Definitely unusual for GNR, but that just makes it more epic. I would love to hear some of those covers. R.I.P. Jeff Beck

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

So iconic.

[@roxannemoser]

Haven't watched the whole video, but if you're talking about the Spaghetti Incident, stay away from it. While GNR did some great covers, that album isn't worth the time.

[@metalhex1861]

If anyone still needs evidence of the genius production supporting this album, listen to the guitar work during Welcome to the Jungle when Axl sings the lyric "You learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play." ...absolute brilliance.

[@tnrodgers]

Yeah GNR carried the water with Appetite. Sweet Child has the rhythm guitar and lead solo with lyrics that draw you in. The album was loaded with hits and this was sweet icing on the cake.

[@ChefClary60]

I love the fact that you keep RnR alive with the HISTORY which is so important! Wish you’d do a piece on the recent RnR HOF inductee Todd Rundgren. And how, after scoring massive hits from Something Anything, and with the record company asking for more, he gave them the middle finger and came out with A Wizard A True Star. A record which was so unique for its time, it hardly sold. But he went on to be one of the best known producers (Bat Out of Hell) and still wrote hits like Bang the Drum. His story is unique AF and deserves to be given the POR treatment!

[@treff9226]

Todd's a musical genius and miles above most musical artists....was just listening to A Wizard A True Star last week (blown away by the variety and musicianship) and a bunch of Utopia as well! Rundgren is fookin' brilliant! Cheers!

[@rochelleesser7961]

Ever since the first time I heard that opening riff, it’s always brought tears to my eyes and a musical jolt like no others ☺️ Day or night, all it would take was for that riff to begin on the radio, and it didn’t matter how long the drive was; I was wide awake and electrified ☺️ As a drummer, it’s one of my favorite songs to play ☺️

[@melaniedawn4256]

Still remember the first time I heard this album. It was 1988. I was 17 and was riding the bus. Must have had my car taken for some transgression that I don't even remember, but a buddy convinced the bus driver to play this tape. Blew my mind! Bought my own copy. Played it all summer. Still keep a cd copy in my car to this day. My 8 year old loves it 😁

[@KabobHope]

This song is deserving of the label classic. I am not a big GNR fan, but at the time this song was ubiquitous and wonderful.

[@majamintoft5821]

Sweet Child of Mine! Every time I hear a snippet of this masterpiece, I have to hear the entire song immediately! That guitar--Slash and Axel's voice....a sublime 80s anti-ballad!

[@bronzeagekid8223]

I've never been a GnR fan all through the years, but this song is the exception. It's so timeless and melodic that I never really get tired of it. They really captured lightning in a bottle with this one. All of its parts are interesting and memorable and the performances are excellent. I actually remember the first time I ever heard it which was seeing the video on MTV at my friend's house and we both commented how they had a kind of Cult vibe, although that comparison probably ended with this track.

[@TheAnticorporatist]

I had a friend, since sadly passed, who came back from L.A. with a copy of “Appetite” from the release party…what a summer. Of course, by the time it exploded, we were damn near sick of it!

[@tag1462]

One of the easiest and at the same time hardest to play acoustic. Thank you Slash for such a wonderful riff :)

[@Old_B52H_Gunner]

Such a great year, I had just gotten out of the Air Force and began my hard partying phase of my life, I enlisted at 17 so missed the fun ages as my friends tell me anyway, so I saw many concerts including Guns N Roses.

[@johncrafton8319]

In recent interviews, Slash has actually pushed back against the idea that it was a training exercise, or that he even hated it. It might be an interesting opportunity to interview him and get him to correct the record.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Maybe that would be a great Revelations episode.

[@jamesg1974a]

One of the rare albums where every song is good. No skipping songs necessary

[@bigdaddy7119]

It’s an ultimate album. Period.

[@michaelwoodman8376]

I remember my mom & her friend driving me and several friends to Indiana dunes. The van had no cd player(friend brought portable cd player w/). Blasting it in van....mom & friend kept saying to turn it louder. Such a great album.

[@gtrgar4561]

Excellent episode. As a guitar player, hearing about warm up exercises leading to hit songs always makes me smile. My favourite one is about a Joe Walsh warm up exercise. One of Joe's exercises became the core riff to "Life In The Fast Lane" after Glenn Frey and Don Henley heard it while the band was warming up for a rehearsal. 🎸😎

[@anthonygraham2956]

Appetite was the first album I bought with my own money. It was in the summer of 88, and I was out with friends school shopping. I was going into grade 7

[@michaelrochester48]

I have seen them three or four times in concert. The First time was in 1993 in Boston, Axl Rose was over three hours late coming on stage. The show is fantastic. But when the show ended around 2 AM or so all the trains and subways in Boston were closed so thousands of people had to use taxis or walk home in February weather.

[@ProfessorofRock]

3 hours? whoa..

[@MF-ty2zn]

Saw them once. They were the first band to play at the new Charlotte coliseum. The crowd wanted Appetite for Destruction songs that they knew, and Axl Rose yelled at the audience saying they weren't doing those songs. It was the Use Your Illusion tour, but the album hadn't been out long, so no one in the crowd knew any lyrics to sing to. When they played November Rain, Axl left the stage for 30 minutes. It was instrumental filler until he returned. Supposedly, he was arguing with his girlfriend/wife over the phone during that 30 minutes. It was my least favorite concert. Def Leppard played at the old Charlotte coliseum right before it shut down for good. They put a rotating stage in the middle so everyone had an excellent view for their Hysteria tour. It was general admission and SRO on the floor. That was the best concert. Pour Some Sugar on Me was the big hit at the time.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Wow, that’s so wild!

[@toddwilson7895]

Another stellar episode Professor. Summer of '88 was phenomenal. Appetite was the soundtrack and Hysteria too. I was a young dude then. There were two of my homeboys who were step brothers. Both of their parents worked 2nd shift that Summer. Most of the neighborhood parents did work during the day. So, 2nd shift, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Their folks bein' gone provided the perfect time frame for 11 to 17 year Olds to party, as we were just wakin' up as they went to work. The kicker was they had a built in swimming pool with a privacy fence in the back yard. So like clockwork I would show up just after their folks left for work, around 10:30 a.m. Me bein' younger than the step bros, I would lag the subs out back to the patio and do other grunt detail work like get the leaves outta the pool, weedeat, whatever orders they barked out. We were attracting some older crew over by mid-Summer. It was cassettes back then. The visiting stepbro was always hip to what was happenin' involvin' all us youth. He was an athlete and a guitar player with a motorcycle. He was only 15, but even the older females liked him. We would have Appetite blarin' by 11:30 a.m. In between all the madness, I would have to flip the cassettes to, somewhat honin' my DJ skills. By the time Sweet Child O' Mine came on the party was jumpin'. We did this the whole Summer of '88. No cops were ever called because all the adults in the neighborhood were at work. It was bliss! Nirvana for a lad that loved hangin' out. I guess we listened to Appetite for Destruction in it's entirety at least 300 times that Summer. I was a Paradise City kid though. I would highlight Sweet Child and Paradise for a double play often though. We alternated Appetite For Destruction and Def Leppard's Hysteria album all Summer. Kinda like a gift from God! I got some respect from the older crew for bein' the first one to bust a flip off the slide into the pool. Legendary Summer of '88! I wish all youngsters were blessed with a Summer of '88! Rock On!

[@flavellinator]

I remember my friend went and saw GNR here in Anaheim at a small theater long before their debut album, and he wouldn't stop raving about them. My early 80s new wave mind was thinking at the time, "Who's ever gonna hear of Guns and Roses?" Wrong!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha. Thanks for sharing that. So cool.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

He was so psychic, wasn’t he?

[@ppernett1]

I remember seeing the debut of “Welcome to the jungle” at 5 am. We were like, wow, that’s a great song. Something we never said the first run through on a song. I knew they would be big. When people asked if I heard it, yup I heard it first. Now, I don’t even know if mtv even still exists. Do they? I would be shocked if they do. They stopped playing music, which is all I was there for.

[@neillm4012]

You do a great job - professor!

[@recordman555]

Sorry - I came up on the Cali music scene - late 80s, early 90s. I guess I was more rooted in straightforward hard Rock, Metal bands . . . and then come this . . . eh . . . singer who sounds like a coked-up Katherine Hepburn (once you hear it, you can never un-hear it); singing textbook "How To Write a Song" lyrics. This band reminds me a James Cameron movie: the first time - you love it, but after that, it just sucks more and more. That's my official review of Guns n Roses (whatever) - the most over-hyped; over-played 'band' of the current era. How can my car radio station get changed? I hear another tune by Guns & Roses - or whatever they call themselves . . . . They suck. w

[@MyName-pl7zn]

Great information and facts on the song that definitely kicked down the door for G&R. I remember hearing Welcome to the Jungle first and bought the album then they released Sweet Child of Mine and I instantly thought alright they invited girls to this rock and roll party of appetite for destruction.G&R definitely proved they had the chops too with the next few albums. I saw the tour when they warmed up for Aerosmith and honestly thought they were a bit sloppy but when I saw them again they definitely got it together. Great episode professor this should get a ton of views and you did a great job on it

[@ProfessorofRock]

Welcome to the Jungle opened it right up...

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Welcome to the Jungle is a song that just makes you stop what you’re doing and be in awe at the sheer rock and roll rapture it brings to your soul.

[@toddritchie9137]

Boston 1st Album was great, Styx song Babe is my all time favorite love ballad. And Cheap Trick song Surrender has to be one of my all time favorite songs growing up in High School with Styx Babe and Kiss song Beth. Boston's More than a Feeling and Don't Look back is what got me into listening to Rock. Then Van Halen, REO Speedwagon, April Wine, and a host of other Rock Bands. Was never into Pop that was for the sissies! LOL That's that 1970s into the early 1980s thinking we had back then!

[@W1NGXER0]

This was the song that convinced me to pursue guitar. It was such an iconic riff. It's funny. The thing that took you a decade of your life force is eclipsed by the thing that took you literally 3 minutes to write.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s amazing! 🎸

[@phil4208]

Appetite for destruction is an album that you can't play just 1 song, each song is great , next thing you know you played the whole album again, Erin Everly went on to marry again and have 3 kids and they all have names beginning with an e , she's 57 now , me and my air force buds all bought Appetite and subsequent albums, use your illusion 1,2 also kicked ass , but that debut album absolute magic, geffen was the man , and came through for the boys, Neil Young and geffen had problems in court but I have to hand it to David geffen, they settled and geffen apologized

[@TheSlowoldman]

My favorite GNR song by far, and they have many great songs. That opening riff, even if Slash thinks it sounds like circus music, brings goosebumps. You KNOW exactly what song it is. I also love the building solo...... into the crescendo and vocal finale. Just musical genius. Small world part of my comment, I used to race mountain bikes in the '90s. I toed the line at the local race in Riverside county and the guy next to me taps my shoulder and asks me, "Who do you think will win?" I look over and I realize it's Duff McKagan!!!! I keep my composure, and point to the guy in front of me with the big calves..... funniest part, I ended up winning the race..... my folks, my wife and all my kids were there.... one of my life memories.........

[@BillGraper]

I once knew someone who thought Slash was a bad guitarist because of that riff. They thought the high notes were a mistake. He was like, "Listen to it! That's horrible!" I was like, "YOU try to play it! That's how it was written!" 😏

[@ProfessorofRock]

It's so ICONIC!

[@mrdraper4633]

That's a cool story

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It NEVER sounded like circus music to me.

[@ThirteenthDiget-lg3in]

I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar...just kidding. I was working at McDonald's and a coworker told me about G-N-R and they're like you're gonna love this album. They were right I did and still do.

[@ponzo1967]

Guns was the answer to some of the candy rock taking over at the time. The lyrics on Appetit for Destruction were revolutionary and the music was killer! These guys were a cut above, even my conservative Auntie loved Sweet Child and for me it stands the test of time. GNR 🤘 Back then tattoos and pierced nipples were as unusual as everything else about GNR lol

[@ProfessorofRock]

Yep they were most definitely a CUT above. Good call.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

GNR marked the emergence of a FAD.

[@RansomeStoddard]

First time I saw GNR they were opening for Aerosmith. I think it was the Permanent Vacation tour. I remember GNR played Brownstone, Jungle, it’s So Easy, and Sweet Child o’ Mine. I left the concert and I could only talk about the opening act. Thanks for doing a video on this classic.

[@trinaq]

Who knew that this rocking song originally started life as a training exercise? Luckily, it became the hit that it was always supposed to be!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Right?

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I’m always surprised at stories like this.

[@RichardAkin-qj6xt]

I bought this cassette tape after seeing the "Welcome to the Jungle" video on MTV. I was like, "who the hell is this band that sounds like Led Zepplin". So I bought it and went on a double date. I had a pretty good stereo in my 76' Cougar, I played "Welcome to the Jungle" Loud as Hell!! and nobody knew the song or heard of this band. They all loved it and wanted me to play it again and again. I listened to the whole tape over and over, and it became clear, "Sweet child O' mine" was a masterpiece!!! So, before "Sweet child" was even popular I started jamming it in my ride and played it for everyone. They loved it and freaked out on how great it was. This song just did something to you after you heard it, cranked up as loud as you could stand it!! The Verses, the Chorus, the Solo...😮

[@michaelharrington75]

Hearing Appetite For Destruction the first time changed my life. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard! Every song was fantastic and the production was flawless! It's one of those albums that just hits you in the face, and keeps your attention from beginning to end. I became a massive GnR fan immediately when I heard the album at 12 years old, and still love the album.

[@deborahglover0112]

I really loved GNR but " Sweet Child Of Mine" wasn't a song that I really liked at the time.I didn't like the song because it was a ballad that I didn't think it did anything for the group. Was I wrong, it became a great hit. As time went by I grew to love the song.As far as the debut album, " Appetite For Destruction" was and is one of the greatest albums in all time

[@NITE_SHIFTING]

Great vid. Tracii Guns was still in the band when they became GUNS N' ROSES. Guns = Tracii Guns N' Roses = Axl Rose

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

You have to remember that Aerosmith, in the late 80s, was a comeback. Their real heyday was in the late 70s, with Toys in the Attic. I remembered them because I had siblings a decade my senior. When MY High School years came around (1984-1988), no one had heard from Aerosmith in YEARS. So they were attempting a second run in the limelight, something very few bands get and there were nowhere NEAR as good as they had been back in the 70s. GNR was phenomenal, but you had to have lived during that time to understand that it was not all that hard to blow the Aerosmith of the late 80s off of the stage. They just weren't that good anymore, by then.

[@kristentrep5038]

I went to a Metallica, GnR, and faith no more concert at giants stadium.. Axel got pissed off, and left the stage! Lmao! It was a great concert anyway!

[@bobablaw1298]

I saw GnR & Metallica, after an opening by Body Count. Ice T was the lead singer of that trash metal band, and they produced some quality music. That concert also excluded me as a Metallica fan. I was into Metallica until that concert, along with that self-titled black mess of songs. From there, I repeatedly saw photos of four adults making goofy, pissed-off faces for the camera, as their music became shit, so I was finished with them & Metallica became Menstraullica. Guns & Roses closed out the show like a boss, though. But I never understood why Metallica's following blew up while their music became shit.

[@1683clifton]

The song just came out and I was just a runty little kid. There was a flyer for a roller skate party at school, so I grabbed my fisher price skates, the ones made of plastic that only went forward😅, and headed to the thing. Little did I know the thing wasn't even going to be at the school, and before I knew it we were piled onto a bus and went to the real roller rink! Seeing I was basically lost and woefully prepared, a chaperone lady helped me pay and rented me some real skates. When the couples skate was announced, A real nice girl let me take her hand out there on that magic circle and sweet child came on! Skating in a circle with girl acquired while this monster track played was one of the most unforgettable moments of my early life! Gnr, thank you! ❤

[@simonauckerman4727]

I saw them in the summer of 88 at Giants Stadium. They opened for Aerosmith and Deep Purple. When the first notes of Sweet Child of Mine echoed across the stadium, thousands of kids started running from the upper decks to the floor. Security was way outnumbered. This can be seen in the Paradise City video. As close as I have come to being in the exact time and place of history in the making.