Number 25: Appetite for Destruction by Guns 'n' Roses
Release: July 21st, 1987
Genre: Hard Rock
Favorite Tracks: Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone, Nightrain
Where I heard it:
I'm not exaggerating when I say that Appetite for Destruction defined my identity throughout middle school. This more or less was an extension of my obsession with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, which prominently features rock icon Slash of Guns 'n' Roses as a playable character. This would also be the first instance I ever heard Welcome to the Jungle, a song that's become so closely synonymous with Guns 'n' Roses that it feels foreign to imagine a time where I was none the wiser. Seemingly overnight, I was transformed into a child of the late 80's rock and roll scene. Everything from my music taste to my fashion sense revolved around this band. I viewed myself as the foremost authority on anything and everything classic rock. I bought the 20th Anniversary collector's edition vinyl of Appetite for Destruction from a Hot Topic, despite never having even seen a phonograph in my life. I wore my graphic T-shirt that displayed the album's art proudly until it was completely tattered and torn, maybe even longer. I grew my hair out all the way down to my shoulders (not sure how I got my mom to let me see that one through). In hindsight, it must have been insufferable as an adult to listen to a tween's ramblings over a band and era that they themselves were likely well-versed on already, because they lived through it. Regardless, that didn't stop me from spreading the Guns 'n' Roses gospel just about everywhere I went. Somewhere in the year 2008, I remember perusing the electronics section of Wal-Mart and discovering a copy of Appetite for Destruction on CD. Even though I already loved this album so much, I admittedly hadn't given their most notable work a proper listen yet. I was set on correcting that mistake immediately, extracting the mp3s onto my iPod so I could play these new songs over and over again. Hell, I'm still jonesing for my Guns 'n' Roses fix all these years later.
Well I'm a west coast struttin', one bad mother
Got a rattlesnake suitcase under my arm
Say I'm a mean machine, been drinking gasoline
And honey, you can make my motor hum
I got one chance left in a nine live cat
I've got a dog eat dog sly smile
I got a Molotov cocktail with a match to go
I smoke my cigarette with style
And I can tell you honey, you can make my money tonight
~ Nightrain
What to expect:
Throughout the tenure of the 80's, the state of rock music adhered to one almighty mantra: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. There are several bands like Mötley Crüe and Van Halen that embody that phrase to a tee, but pale in comparison to the outrageous antics that Guns 'n' Roses became infamous for during the height of their storied careers. Although each of the band's five members participated in this frivolous lifestyle, the two main conspirators in these nefarious activities were lead guitarist Saul "Slash" Hudson and frontman Axl Rose. These two exuberant rockstar idols are the heart and soul of Guns 'n' Roses, flaunting their glamorous habits with illustrious tales of sexual escapades and late-night debauchery. Appetite for Destruction is the culmination of these events into a living, breathing entity that showcases the band's wheeling and dealing ways. Axl is quick to establish himself as the ultimate cock of the walk, stealing the spotlight with a howling vocal register that has been revered as one of the most recognizable and respected among rock musicians. His bad-boy image and pompous attitude are on full display throughout Appetite for Destruction, whether detailing his daily drug itinerary on Mr. Brownstone or sharing braggadocious acts of promiscuity in Anything Goes. Meanwhile, Slash patiently waits in the wings between verses in anticipation of delivering a nasty riff or face-melting solo for the ages. Axl Rose is certainly a tough act to follow, but Slash's effortless fretwork makes Axl look like a sideshow to the main attraction. Like King Midas, every note from Slash's iconic 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar rings like gold. Appetite for Destruction is lauded for the inclusion of some of rock and roll's greatest riffs ever written, from the legendary lick on Sweet Child O' Mine to the epic intro that leads off Welcome to the Jungle. Apart from these mainstays of the band, even the album's B-sides like My Michele and You're Crazy put forth remarkable effort from a musical standpoint. Truly, the unsung heroes that make Guns 'n' Roses a total success are their remaining members: Izzy Stradlin on rhythm guitar, Duff McKagan on bass, and Steve Adler on drums. Still popular in their own right, these guys hardly get the recognition they deserve for the integral accompaniment they provide on an album chock full of talent. These three are the workhorses that lay down the solid foundation for their two superstars to shine through the brightest, and do they ever. Appetite for Destruction is the pinnacle of rock and roll in the 80's, and I don't think the competition is even close.
As if they thought of rain
I'd hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm, safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder and the rain
To quietly pass me by
~ Sweet Child O' Mine
Why it's my favorite:
During my early childhood, my appeal to music was pretty much whatever was popular at the time for one reason or another. There'd be a song featured in a children's movie that'd make a surge on the charts, and of course I always had top 40 radio to fall back on. The emergence of Guitar Hero would then set the trajectory of my music taste for the next decade, and Appetite for Destruction would be my primary takeaway from the experience. It's quite clear this album left a lasting impression on me as a kid with its electrifying performance and explicit platform. I recall this album being my first instance hearing the word 'fuck' uncensored in a song, specifically the F-bomb in Out Ta Get Me. The ferocity of Axl's annunciation with the long 'f' in the line, "for so fucking long"...gets me pumped every time. This characteristic appears quite frequently in Axl's singing, abusing his vocal chords beyond their limits to create shrieks and growls that few can emulate. However, Axl's history of violent outbursts and unwavering ego have since overshadowed his remarkable abilities. Constant in-fighting and unpredictable behavior at live shows would ultimately be the downfall of Guns 'n' Roses in the 90's, but the band continued on with Axl as the frontman. Predictably, these releases weren't received anywhere near as warmly as entries like Appetite for Destruction. The absence of Slash completely ruined the flow of the band. Unlike Axl, Slash never lost a step in his musical career, forming superbands with acts like Buckethead and Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland. Slash's on-stage persona has transcended rock and roll, making him a pop culture celebrity throughout the 2000's. This man was my role model throughout my early teens. While I never learned guitar proper, Slash made it a childhood dream of mine to be a rockstar. My relationship with music would have never taken such a serious turn had it not been for Appetite for Destruction. I'm honestly not sure of the person I'd be today without it.
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