The other night I Tivo’ed “When Metal Ruled The World” off VH1 and watched it over the weekend. I don’t think anyone has actually forgotten about Appetite so perhaps this is more of a “raving about Appetite” post.

It’s hard to believe Appetite will turn 20 years old in ‘07. After 19 years, the album is still relevant. Interestingly, while Appetite has sold over 15 million copies, and is an RIAA Certified Diamond album, it was a slow starter, selling only 500,000 copies in it’s first year. Also, while the album credits the entire band for songwriting, the truth is many songs were written by Duff McKagan before the formation of Guns N’ Roses. The album continually appears in magazine and television shows “greatest rock albums ever” and “greatest albums of all time” lists.  Appetite has withstood the test of time better than any record from the hair metal era. While GnR is always associated with hair metal, I think it’s just bad timing. While the hair and glam bands were pumping out power ballads and pop rock, GnR came upon the scene with a grittier and heavier version of rock. Sadly, Appetite was the peak of GnR, and swelling heads led to the Use Your Illusion disasters and the eventual demise of a great band. So, raise your rock fist, make a devil horn, and pump that bitch to some classic GnR.

Guns and Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Guns and Roses - Nightrain
Guns and Roses - My Michelle
Guns and Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine

Guns and Roses on Wiki, Buy Appetite for Destruction

Now we have Axl fronting the most talked about cover band of all time, and Chinese Democracy is slated to come out in March of 2007. Slash and Duff are in Velvet Revolver and are currently recording the follow-up to their disappointing debut. Any hopes for a reunion are routinely put to rest by the band members.

 

As quoted from wiki:

Guns N’ Roses will be eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame beginning in 2012. Critics and fans alike view this as an opportunity for the band’s original lineup to reunite. On the VH1 special Behind the Music, Slash was questioned about a reunion and stated 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.”

I saw them twice before the implosion. Once prior to Use Your Illusion and once post when they were on tour with Metallica and Soundgarden. They were balls out and freaking awesome the first time, and the second time got blown off the stage by Soundgarden and Metallica. I am glad I got to see them though.

So, I raise a glass to Appetite! Awesomeness to spare.