History Music / AppetiteForDestruction

* RadioFriendliness: The band had a curious relationship with this trope, picking lyrics at times specifically to write "something that would get played on the radio" (particularly "Paradise City") but responded poorly to [[ExecutiveMeddling changes from without]], leading to CreatorBacklash against "Sweet Child O' Mine", whose single cut lost a solo. This, combined with Axl's sense that the then-emerging classic rock format cheapened songs by overplay, probably led to the rash of radio-unfriendly [[EpicRocking marathon ballads]] on the ''[[Music/UseYourIllusion Illusion]]'' twins.

* BigRockEnding:

* TheImmodestOrgasm: For the moans in "Rocket Queen", Axl banged one of his girlfriends on tape. Slash notes in his autobiography that she was loud enough during sex [[RightThroughTheWall that he couldn't sleep]].
* OdeToIntoxication: "Nightrain", for alcohol. "Mr. Brownstone" and "Think About You", for heroin.

* PowerBallad: Album closer "Rocket Queen" inverts the typical structure, starting off as a heavy rock song about propositioning an older woman and winding its way down into a sensitive ballad.
* PrecisionFStrike: "It's So Easy"

* SkullForAHead: The band members on the album cover.

* [[AlbumCoverDesigners Album Cover Designer]] : The original album cover was a painting by Creator/RobertWilliams. The replacement cover is by Billy White Jr.

* DesignStudentsOrgasm: The original controversial album cover by Robert Williams.

-->Axl: 'Bout five or six years ago, I hitchhiked here and ended up stuck out in the middle of this place. Climbed up out of the freeway, this little old black man comes up to me and my friend with our backpacks and about ten bucks between us, and he goes, "You know where you are? You in the jungle, baby! You gonna die!" That's a true story, that ain't no lie! So, welcome to the jungle, Ritz!

[[caption-width-right:300:The replacement cover, which has gone on to become iconic.]]

[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/appetite-for-destruction-original_3080.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:320:The original cover, which was rejected for being too controversial.]]

* Duff McKagen - bass, vocals

[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/appetite_3954.jpg]]

The [[Creator/GeffenRecords major-label]] debut of American HardRock band Music/GunsNRoses, ''Appetite For Destruction'' entered the Billboard charts at the modest 182nd position upon release in 1988. A modest critical success at the time, the album began to creep up the charts thanks to strong word of mouth. Aided by a successful - [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes and still in-demand]] - appearance on MTV's "Live At The Ritz" series and the release of number-one hit "Sweet Child O' Mine", ''Appetite'' reached the number one slot in August 1988 and would remain on the charts for 147 weeks. Contemporary pop culture critics noted that shock value made up much of the Gunners' appeal, cynically exploiting taboo subject matter for more press; [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity this censure presumably only helped matters.]]

* BigRottenApple: "Welcome To The Jungle", [[WordOfGod as explained during the Ritz show.]]

* DrugsAreBad:
** In the music video of "Welcome To The Jungle" Axl Rose is offered drugs by a dealer, but he rejects it.
** Subverted by "Mr. Brownstone", about heroin addiction.

* AlbumFiller: In an extremely rare case, intended filler track "Sweet Child O' Mine" became the band's single most famous song. The last minute even features Izzy Stradlin repeatedly asking "Where do we go?" - [[ObviousBeta the band never even bothered completing the lyrics.]] In spite of all that, a signature riff, an emotional vocal and a series of famous solos have made an iconic song out of a bit of "circus music" the band publicly bashed.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: ''It's So Easy'', [[VictoryIsBoring about the emptiness of getting everything you want and living an easy life.]]
* BigRottenApple: ''Welcome To The Jungle'', [[WordOfGod as explained during the Ritz show.]]

* DrugsAreBad: In the music video of ''Welcome To The Jungle'' Axl Rose is offered drugs by a dealer, but he rejects it.
** Subverted by ''Mr. Brownstone'' about heroin addiction.

* OneWomanSong: ''My Michelle'', ''Rocket Queen''.
* PowerBallad: Album closer ''"Rocket Queen"'' inverts the typical structure, starting off as a heavy rock song about propositioning an older woman and winding its way down into a sensitive ballad.
* PrecisionFStrike: ''"It's So Easy"''

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: ''My Michelle'' about a friend of the band, a girl named Michelle Young, whose father indeed worked in the pornography industry, whose mother had died and who had suffered through a drug addiction.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: ''Nightrain'' is a homage to a cheap Californian wine brand named ''Night Train Express'', deliberately spelled wrong in the song's title.

** ChekhovsGun: A studio version of the latter would eventually appear on the followup ''Use Your Illusion II''

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: ''It's So Easy'', about the emptiness of getting everything you want and living an easy life.
* BigRottenApple: ''Welcome To The Jungle''.

''Appetite For Destruction'' continues to draw praise for its successful blend of BluesRock riffage, PunkRock intensity, [[{{Pop}} accessible melodies]], and [[{{Deconstruction}} its warts-and-all take on the band's journey to]] [[TheRockStar rock stardom.]] While an occasional source of HypeBacklash - some consider it over-derivative of Music/{{Aerosmith}}, in particular - ''Appetite'' frequently scores at or near the top of any listing of rock's greatest albums.

* LevelAte: ''Paradise City'' describes a wonderful place, ''where the grass is green and the girls are pretty''.

* DesignerStudentOrgasm: The original controversial album cover by Robert Williams.

* DesignStudentOrgasm: The original controversial album cover by Robert Williams.

The [[Creator/GeffenRecords major-label]] debut of American HardRock band Music/GunsNRoses, ''Appetite For Destruction'' entered the Billboard charts at the modest 182nd position upon release. A modest critical success at the time, the album began to creep up the charts thanks to strong word of mouth. Aided by a successful - [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes and still in-demand]] - appearance on MTV's "Live At The Ritz" series and the release of number-one hit "Sweet Child O' Mine", ''Appetite'' reached the number one slot in August 1988 and would remain on the charts for 147 weeks. Contemporary pop culture critics noted that shock value made up much of the Gunners' appeal, cynically exploiting taboo subject matter for more press; [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity this censure presumably only helped matters.]]

''Appetite For Destruction'' continues to draw praise for its successful blend of BluesRock riffage, PunkRock intensity, [[{{Pop}} accessible melodies]], and [[{{Deconstruction}} its warts-and-all take on the band's journey to]] [[TheRockStar rock stardom.]] While an occasional source of HypeBacklash - some consider it over-derivative of Music/{{Aerosmith}}, in particular - ''Appetite'' frequently scores at or near the top of "greatest rock album" lists across several subgenres.

* PowerBallad: Album closer "Rocket Queen" inverts the typical structure, starting off as a heavy rock song about propositioning an older woman and winding its way down into a sensitive ballad.
* PrecisionFStrike: "It's So Easy"
-->"I see you standin' there/You think you're so cool/Why don't you just/Fuck off!"

''Appetite For Destruction'' continues to draw praise for its successful blend of BluesRock riffage, PunkRock intensity, [[{{Pop}} accessible melodies]], and [[{{Deconstruction}} its warts-and-all take on the band's journey to]] [[TheRockStar rock stardom.]] While an occasional source of HypeBacklash - some consider it over-derivative of Music/{{Aerosmith}}, in particular - ''Appetite'' frequently scores at or near the top of any listing of rock's greatest albums.

* BSide: Live covers of "[[Music/ACDC Whole Lotta Rosie]]" and "[[Music/BobDylan Knockin On Heaven's Door]]" made it onto the back of ''Appetite'' singles.
** ChekhovsGun: A studio version of the latter would eventually appear on the followup ''[[Music/UseYourIllusion Use Your Illusion II]]''

-->"I see you standin' there/You think you're so cool/Why don't you just/Fuck off!"

[[quoteright:333:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/appetite_cover_464.jpg]]

--> -'''[[WebVideo/YachtRock "Hollywood" Steve Huey]]''', ''All Music Guide''

--> -'''Chuck Eddy''', ''Spin''

The [[Creator/GeffenRecords major-label]] debut of American HardRock band GunsNRoses, ''Appetite For Destruction'' entered the Billboard charts at the modest 182nd position upon release. A modest critical success at the time, the album began to creep up the charts thanks to strong word of mouth. Aided by a successful - [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes and still in-demand]] - appearance on MTV's "Live At The Ritz" series and the release of number-one hit "Sweet Child O' Mine", ''Appetite'' reached the number one slot in August 1988 and would remain on the charts for 147 weeks. Contemporary pop culture critics noted that shock value made up much of the Gunners' appeal, cynically exploiting taboo subject matter for more press; [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity this censure presumably only helped matters.]]

''Appetite For Destruction'' continues to draw praise for its successful blend of BluesRock riffage, PunkRock intensity, [[{{Pop}} accessible melodies]], and [[{{Deconstruction}} its warts-and-all take on the band's journey to]] [[TheRockStar rock stardom.]] While an occasional source of HypeBacklash - some consider it over-derivative of Music/{{Aerosmith}}, in particular - ''Appetite'' frequently scores at or near the top of any listing of the great albums in rock

* OdeToInebriation: "Nightrain"