2003: Steven Adler reveals the name of his new band, Suki Jones, which would perform an all-cover set including songs from Appetite for Destruction, Thin Lizzy, and AC/DC. The band has since changed its name to Adler’s Appetite.
1992: The final of three shows at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. This show was recorded and officially released as a two-disc set named after the band’s albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II. Consequently, footage of the show is remarkably easy to find. Highlights include Rocket Queen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXsvpzwyU4o), Sweet Child O’ Mine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZShaEmM0-8&feature=related), and Paradise City (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1QNd9L26TA).
2007: An announcement that all of the recording for Chinese Democracy has been finished and mixing has begun is posted on the GN’R website. Additionally, the Japanese promoter announces a five date Japanese tour to take place in April.
1992: Show at The Summit in Houston, Texas. Soundgarden opens. It is the second of two shows, the first of which was on the previous night.
1993: The band (and their 80-person entourage) are on their way to Tokyo from Los Angeles. They land in Tokyo the next morning.
2000: Rolling Stone publishes an interview with Axl, in which he reveals the titles of new songs “Catcher in the Rye,” “I.R.S,” “The Blues,” and “TWAT”.
1982: Axl leaves Indiana for good, moving into “some shit hole” at 1921 Whitley Avenue in Hollywood with girlfriend Gina Siler.
1988: Show at Big Top in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the last show of the “Appetite for Destruction” tour. Knightshade opens the show. Attendance is about 10,000. After “Out Ta Get Me,” Axl throws buckets of water on some crowd members who were spitting at the stage, threatening to leave the stage if the spitting continued.
1989: Axl and Izzy join the Rolling Stones for the song “Salt of the Earth” in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is their second out of three times joining the Stones on the song, having performed it on the 17th and appearing again on the 20th. This particular show is broadcast on Pay-Per-View and FM radio stations. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxN81VSbOrc
2006: Show at the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal CityWalk in Universal City, California.
2009: Show at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It is the longest show in Guns N’ Roses history, lasting 3 hours and 37 minutes.
1987: GN’R makes an infamous appearance on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. When jokingly asked to “redecorate” the studio, the band completely destroys the show’s set. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oLhlcJgasU
1986: The band opens for Alice Cooper at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, CA. Axl arrives so late that he is not allowed into the venue, so the rest of the band goes on without him. Izzy and Duff share lead vocals throughout the show. This gig notably contains the first-ever live performance of “It’s So Easy,” with Duff on vocals.
1989: The fourth and final show opening for the Rolling Stones at the LA Coliseum. Full recording: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WD7-K8GT8g&feature=channel_video_title
2008: The title track and first single from Chinese Democracy is released to radio stations around the world. Later in the day, the album’s official release date is announced: November 23, 2008.
2010: Show at Pabellón Príncipe Felipe in Zaragoza, Spain. Notable recordings: Intro/Chinese Democracy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK3rAOElQIw&feature=related), Don’t Cry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61GJJUUEjag&feature=related).
1989: The third out of four drama-filled shows opening for the Rolling Stones at the LA Coliseum. Frustrated by the rampant drug use within the band, Axl had been very reluctant to perform the shows at all. When the band took the stage on the first night, Axl addressed the audience, saying: “I hate to do this on stage, but I tried every other fucking way. And unless certain people in this band get their shit together, these will be the last Guns N’ Roses shows you’ll fucking ever see. ‘Cause I’m tired of too many people in this organization dancing with Mr. Goddamn Brownstone.” According to Slash’s autobiography, the rest of the first show was a train wreck. Axl agreed to perform the rest of the Stones shows on the condition that Slash apologize onstage for his drug habits. Slash obliged, making a speech about heroin during a long intro to “Mr. Brownstone.” The situation improved after this personal business was settled. Slash writes: “That second show was fine, and the third was even better… The fourth show was fucking amazing.”
Recordings: Complete first show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqGU5j7EA3I&feature=channel_video_title), Complete second show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ_TW3k9OoE&feature=channel_video_title), Complete fourth show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WD7-K8GT8g&feature=channel_video_title)
1993: Axl reaches an out-of-court settlement with William Stephenson, a fan who claimed to be hurt in the incident that triggered the 1991 riot in St. Louis.
Video of the incident: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pomIFCkmHX8
2010: Show at the LG Arena in Birmingham, UK. Sebastian Bach opens the show. GN’R goes onstage at 10:00 PM and plays until 12:15 AM. At the end of the show, Axl gives a brief speech about having a cold, although his performance showed no signs of any sickness.
1986: Show at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood. This show marks the first live performances ever of “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Mr. Brownstone,” and “Ain’t Going Down.”
1993: Axl testifies against Steven Adler in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
2002: Guns plays at the Leeds Festival in England. The band goes onstage an hour late, due to technical problems. Before “November Rain,” Axl says: “Well, it appears that we’re gonna have an interesting evening. You see the… the city council and the promoters say we have to like end the show. And they’ll say that I’m… they could say maybe I’m enciting a riot. Now I’m not ‘cuz I don’t want anyone to get arrested or anyone to get in trouble or anything like that. But I think we got a good 7 or 8 fucking songs left at least to play for you. And I didn’t fucking come all the way to fucking England to be told to go back home by some fucking asshole! All I’ve got for the last 8 years is shit after shit after shit in the fucking press and Axl’s this, Axl’s that - I’m here to play a fucking show and we wanna play! So… if you wanna stay, I wanna stay and we’ll see what happens. Everybody - nobody try to get in trouble or anything and try to have a good time.” Axl temporary stops during the breakdown of the song to say that the issue had been resolved and they had more time. During “Patience,” Axl addresses a fan wearing a “Where’s Slash?” shirt, saying: “He’s in my ass! That’s where Slash is! Fuckhead! Go home!” At the end of “Paradise City,” Axl hurls his microphone into the crowd.
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