Axl Rose set out to combine the two types of music that were part of the LA music scene during the 80’s; punk and heavy metal. He played with a number of different bands including Hollywood Rose with friend Izzy Stradlin. They then brought in Tracii Guns and formed Guns N’ Roses in 1985. Guns was soon replaced by Slash on guitar and joined by Duff McKagan on bass, and Steven Adler on drums. They had a record contract signed in 1986 and released their first album in 1987. Songs like Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet Child o’ Mine rocketed them to the top.

But while the band was the center of attention because of its music, their behavior also landed them in the spotlight. The group was unstable due to the wild life and use of drugs and soon, most of the original members were fired by Rose or quit. Rose disappeared from music until 1999, when he put together a new Guns N’ Roses lineup.