Guns N' Roses

USA, 1985–now

Axl Rose and Slash's Los Angeles band. Appetite for Destruction (1987) is one of the best-selling debut albums in rock history.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Guns N' Roses and 2 artists Guns N' Roses influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Guns N' Roses?

• Aerosmith — Slash has called Rocks the album that changed his life; GN'R took the opening slot on Aerosmith's 1988 tour as an act of homage.
• Queen — Axl Rose has named Queen his favourite band and Freddie Mercury his greatest hero; GN'R performed at the Mercury tribute concert.

Which artists did Guns N' Roses influence?

• Avenged Sevenfold — M. Shadows named Guns N' Roses the model of rock-and-roll identity and melodic hard rock.
• Manic Street Preachers — Guns N' Roses' glam-metal firepower shaped the Manics' early sound — big riffs and eyeliner over punk politics.