It's All about Guns N Roses

Guns N' Roses (GNR) adalah kelompok musik hard rock dari Amerika Serikat yang berdiri pada tahun 1984 dan resmi pada Maret tahun 1985 . Anggota pendiri GNR adalah Axl Rose yang merupakan eks vokalis Hollywood Rose lan Tracii Guns yang juga eks gitaris L.A Guns. Grup yang didirikan di Los Angeles, Amerika Serikat ini sempat berganti-ganti personel bahkan Tracii Guns pun hengkang dari grup ini. Bermula Pada tahun 1983, ketika itu setelah gagal bergabung dengan Poison bersama teman masa kecilnya, Steven Adler, mereka bersama membentuk Road Crew. Slash menempatkan iklan di sehelai koran untuk bassis, dan setelah itu ia menerima jawaban dari Duff McKagan. Ketika Road Crew bubar, Slash bergabung dengan band lokal, Black Sheep. Diketuai oleh Willie Bass, band ini kemudian saling berbagi seorang agen dengan band lainnya, yang dikenal sebagai Hollywod Rose.

Pada 1984, kedua band tersebut membuka untuk band Christian Metal Stryper. Setelah pertunjukan tersebut, Slash dan lead singer Axl Rose diperkenalkan kepada satu sama lain oleh seorang teman. Keduanya dengan cepat menjadi teman, dan setelah beberapa bulan, Slash dan Steven Adler diundang bergabung dengan Axl Rose, Duff McKagan dan Izzy Stradlin sebagai personel band, Guns N Roses.

Band ini sangat top dan terkenal di era 80-an dan 90-an. Mereka pertama melejit lewat album 1987 Appetite for Destruction Dengan hits Sweet Child O'Mine,Paradise City, dan Welcome To The Jungle dan kemudian merilis album akustik yang di beri nama G N' R Lies dengan hits manis Patience dan kemudian menerbitkan dua album berbarengan Use Your Illusion I dan Use Your Illusion II yang juga melejit dan meledak dengan beberapa hits fenomenal seperti Don't Cry,November Rain,Civil War,Knockin' on Heaven's Door, dan Estranged. Album The Spaghetti Incident? yang mereka lepas tahun 1993 nampaknya adalah pertanda berakhirnya kejayaan GN'R. Album yang berisi lagu-lagu daur ulang dari artis lain ini tak bisa meraup keuntungan seperti album-album sebelumnya. GN'R berada di puncak kejayaan mereka dengan formasi : Axl Rose - lead vocal, Slash - guitar, Izzy Stradlin - rythm guitar, Duff McKagan - bass, Dizzy Reed - keyboard, dan Matt Sorum - drums.

Dengan personel yang paling terkenal Axl Rose - lead vocal,piano (1985-sekarang), Slash - lead guitar (1985-1996), Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar (1985-1991), Duff McKagan - bass (1985-1998), dan Steven Adler - drums (1985-1990).

Biografi

Guns N Roses menjadi band rock terbesar di dunia pada tahun 1991-1992 saat double album mereka “Use Your Illusion” meledak di pasaran. Dengan formasinya saat itu Axl Rose (Lead Vocal),Slash (Guitar),Izzy Stradlin (Rhythm Guitar), Duff McKagan (Bass), Dizzy Reed (Keyboard), dan Matt Sorum (Drum). Pada tengah malam 17 September 1991 GNR menjadi band terhebat di dunia. Ratusan toko dibuka sampai pagi untuk menjual album Appetite For Destruction dan Use Your Illusion yang terdiri dari dua album. Untuk pertama kalinya dalam sejarah, kedua album Use Your Illusion itu berada di peringkat pertama dan kedua album terlaris versi Billboard di AS.

Namun kebesaran dan kesuksesan GNR pada masa itu tidak serta merta menjadikan personel mereka lebih solid. Yang terjadi adalah ketika Izzy Stradlin secara mengejutkan mengundurkan diri dari GNR di pertengahan konser keliling dunia album Use Your Illusions (Use Your Illusion World Tours). Izzy digantikan oleh Gilby Clarke di pertengahan konser keliling dunia. Dapat dilihat pula dalam video klip “Don’t Cry”, di klip itu terselip gambar ketika salah seorang fans menempelkan sebuah tulisan di punggungnya “Where’s Izzy???” dan juga di video klip Live And Let Die di klip itu juga terselip poster yang bergambar Izzy Stradlin dan bertuliskan “Missing!!”. Atau kejadian lainnya saat menjelang konser di Tokyo, ada poster juga bertuliskan “Who’s Gilby??”(Gitaris yang menggantikan Izzy). Membuktikan bahwa fans GNR sangat kehilangan sosok Izzy.

Nasib GNR berubah pada tahun 1994. mereka ribut satu sama lain, sering masuk pusat rehabilitasi ketergantungan narkotika, dan album The Spaghetti Incident? Gagal di pasaran. Keretakan mereka dimulai dari sini.

Setelah itu mereka sempat berkumpul di sebuah studio di Los Angeles untuk merekam album baru yang rencananya dirilis tahun 1995. namun, tak lama kemudian mereka dihinggapi penyakit yang sudah biasa diderita band-band lainnya: kebosanan. Mereka sudah terlalu kaya sehingga mereka berpikir tidak perlu melakukan apapun.

Axl Rose mengangkat dirinya sendiri sebagai pemimpin proyek pembuatan album itu, tetapi dia jelas tidak bisa memimpin. Kebetulan pihak Geffen Records juga memanjakan GNR. Berkat hasil penjualan album yang mendatangkan keuntungan luar biasa besar, mereka memberikan keleluasaan yang istimewa kepada GNR untuk menulis dan merekam. Saat itu GNR sempat merilis single Sympathy for the Devil yang merupakan soundtrack dari sebuah film (Interview With the Vampire).

Pada tahun 1996 Slash meninggalkan GNR, diikuti oleh Matt Sorum (drum) dan Duff Mckagan (Bass). karena perencanaan album yang tidak kunjung kelar tersebut para personel GNR melepaskan diri. Dari para personel orisinal GNR (The Original Guns), tinggallah Axl Rose seorang diri.

Axl Rose tetap mempertahankan merek GNR dan merekrut personel-personel baru, suatu tindakan yang tidak bisa dicegah oleh Geffen Record. Bahkan Geffen Record masih percaya bahwa GNR wajah baru ini akan tetap diminati oleh para penggemar.

Robin Finck Cabut Dari Guns n Roses:Menjelang tur konsernya yang akan digelar pertengahan tahun 2008 ini, grup band Guns n Roses merasa panik. Pasalnya, tanpa ada sebab yang pasti, gitaris mereka Robin Finck hengkang. Seperti yang dilaporkan di situs resmi Grup band tersebut, kabarnya, Robin kembali bergabung dengan bandnya dahulu Nine Inch Nails (NIN) untuk menggelar turnya pada musim panas mendatang. Akibat keluarnya Robin itu, salah satu punggawa Guns n Roses, AXL merasa gusar. “Saat Robin keluar semua jadi kacau. Bukan hanya kami yang bingung, para fans kami juga menjadi bingung, dan mereka merasa agak kesal, “tutur AXL dalam situs resminya. Bukan hanya kali ini Robin membuat ulah tersebut. Dirinya memang kerap keluar masuk dari Guns n Roses dan NIN. Seperti pada tahun 2000 silam, dirinya pernah keluar dari Guns n Roses untuk bergabung dengan NIN, dan ikut tur ke beberapa negara. Setelah tur konser tersebut berakhir pada tahun 2001, dirinya kembali lagi bergabung dengan Guns n Roses. Untuk kemudian menjalani rangkaian tur bersama Guns n Roses dibeberapa negara Asia dan Eropa.

Sepeninggal para personil lawasnya Axl mencoba untuk membangun band GNR kembali. Dari sini GNR mulai kehilangan ciri khas-nya, hal ini dikarenakan input dari anggota baru dan sesuatu yang ingin dicoba oleh Axl yaitu unsur techno. Sebenarnya sample lagunya sudah muncul pada album Use Your Illusion II yaitu 'My World'. Pada tahun 1999 mereka merilis single 'Oh My God' yang merupakan soundtrack film End Of Days, dan pada tahun 2001 GNR mengumumkan secara resmi formasi baru mereka.

Berbagai spekulasi muncul tentang album terbaru, dan Axl beberapa kali pula menjanjikan bahkan menentukan tanggal rilis. Dari tahun ke tahun cerita selalu sama dan fans mulai tampak kecewa karena perilisan album yang diberi judul Chinese Democracy terus ditunda. Namun Axl berasama GNR-nya benar-benar merilis album tersebut pada tahun 2008. Dari sini timbul pro dan kontra, sebagian memuji sebagian lagi memandang negatif terhadap peluncuran album tersebut. Namun GNR tetap berjalan dan akan melanjutkan kisahnya dalam lagu-lagu dan tur-tur berikutnya.

Formasi band

Personil	Album studio	Single
Original lineup (Maret–Mei 1985) Axl Rose – lead vocals Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar Tracii Guns – lead guitar Ole Beich – bass Rob Gardner – drums	—	—
'Classic' lineup (Juni 1985–Februari 1990) W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, synthesizers, percussion, whistle, whistling Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion Slash – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, talkbox, acoustic guitar, slide guitar Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals, acoustic guitar Steven Adler – drums, backing vocals	Appetite for Destruction, Juli 1987 G N' R Lies, November 1988	"It's So Easy", June 1987 "Welcome to the Jungle", Oktober 1987 "Sweet Child o' Mine", Agustus 1988 "Paradise City", November 1988 "Patience", April 1989 "Nightrain", July 1989
Februari 1990–Juli 1990 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, whistling Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Slash – lead guitar, acoustic guitar Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Steven Adler – drums Dizzy Reed – piano, backing vocals	—	"Civil War", Mei 1993
'Classic' lineup II (Juli 1990–November 1991) W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, piano, choir, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals, sound effects Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, sitar Slash – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, dobro, talkbox, six-string bass, backing vocals, banjo Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, co-lead vocals, percussion Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals, tambourine, clavinet, organ Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, backing vocals, choir	Use Your Illusion I, September 1991 Use Your Illusion II, September 1991	"You Could Be Mine", Juni 1991 "Dead Horse", September 1991 "Don't Cry", September 1991 "Live and Let Die", Desember 1991 "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", Mei 1992 "November Rain", Juni 1992 "The Garden", 1992 "Yesterdays", November 1992 "Estranged", Januari 1994
November 1991–Juni 1994 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, kazoo Slash – lead guitar, co-lead vocals, talkbox, backing vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals, drums, acoustic guitar Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, percussion, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, backing vocals Gilby Clarke – rhythm guitar	The Spaghetti Incident?, November 1993	"Ain't It Fun", November 1993 "Since I Don't Have You", Mei 1994 "Hair of the Dog", 1994
Juni 1994–Oktober 1994 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Slash – lead guitar Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano Matt Sorum – drums, percussion	—	—
Oktober 1994–Oktober 1996 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards Slash – lead guitar Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – piano, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar	—	"Sympathy for the Devil", Desember 1994
Oktober 1996–Mei 1997 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar	—	—
Mei–Juni 1997 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar Robin Finck – lead guitar	—	—
Juni 1997–Agustus 1997 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar Robin Finck – lead guitar	—	—
Agustus 1997–Maret 1998 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar Robin Finck – lead guitar	—	—
Maret–Mei 1998 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar Robin Finck – lead guitar Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Josh Freese – drums, percussion	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	—
Mei 1998–Agustus 1999 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, synthesizer Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar Robin Finck – lead guitar Tommy Stinson – bass Josh Freese – drums, percussion Chris Pitman – keyboards, synthesizer	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Oh My God", November 1999
Agustus 1999–Maret 2000 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, sub-bass, backing vocals, synthesizer, programming	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Chinese Democracy ", Oktober 2008 "Better", November 2008 "Street of Dreams", Maret 2009
Maret–Oktober 2000 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, sub-bass, backing vocals, synthesizer, programming Buckethead – lead guitar	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Chinese Democracy", Oktober 2008 "Better", November 2008 "Street of Dreams", Maret 2009
Oktober 2000–Juli 2002 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, sub-bass, backing vocals, synthesizer, programming Buckethead – lead guitar Robin Finck – lead guitar, keyboards Bryan Mantia – drums	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Chinese Democracy", Oktober 2008 "Better", November 2008 "Street of Dreams", Maret 2009
Juli 2002–Maret 2004 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, sub-bass, backing vocals, synthesizer, programming Buckethead – lead guitar Robin Finck – lead guitar, keyboards Bryan Mantia – drums Richard Fortus – rhythm guitar	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Chinese Democracy", Oktober 2008 "Better", November 2008 "Street of Dreams", Maret 2009
Maret 2004–Mei 2006 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, sub-bass, backing vocals, synthesizer, programming Robin Finck – lead guitar, keyboards Bryan Mantia – drums Richard Fortus – rhythm guitar	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Chinese Democracy", Oktober 2008 "Better", November 2008 "Street of Dreams", Maret 2009
Mei–Juni 2006 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, sub-bass, backing vocals, synthesizer, programming Robin Finck – lead guitar, keyboards Bryan Mantia – drums Richard Fortus – rhythm guitar Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal – lead guitar	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Chinese Democracy", Oktober 2008 "Better", November 2008 "Street of Dreams", Maret 2009
Juli 2006–April 2008 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, sub-bass, backing vocals Robin Finck – lead guitar, keyboards Richard Fortus – rhythm guitar Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal – lead guitar Frank Ferrer – drums	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	"Chinese Democracy", Oktober 2008 "Better", November 2008
April 2008–Maret 2009 W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal – lead and rhythm guitar Frank Ferrer – drums	Chinese Democracy, November 2008	—
Current lineup (Maret 2009–sekarang) W. Axl Rose – lead vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, percussion, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Richard Fortus – rhythm guitar Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal – lead guitar Frank Ferrer – drums DJ Ashba – lead guitar	—	—

Anggota

Anggota Awal / Asli

• Axl Rose - lead vocals, piano (1985-present)
• Slash - lead guitar (1985-1997)
• Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar (1985-1991)
• Duff McKagan - bass (1985-1998)
• Steven Adler - drums (1985-1990)

Sekarang

• Axl Rose - lead vocals, piano (1985-present)
• Bumblefoot - lead guitar (2006-present)
• DJ Ashba - lead guitar (2009-present)
• Richard Fortus - rhythm guitar (2002-present)
• Tommy Stinson - bass guitar (1998-present)
• Frank Ferrer - drums (2006-present)
• Dizzy Reed - keyboards, piano (1990-present)
• Chris Pitman - keyboards, programming (1998-present)

Mantan

• Ole Beich - bass (1985)
• Rob Gardner - drums (1985)
• Tracii Guns - lead guitar (1985)
• Steven Adler - drums (1985-1990)
• Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar (1985-1991)
• Gilby Clarke - rhythm guitar (1991-1994)
• Slash - lead guitar (1985-1996)
• Matt Sorum - drums (1990-1997)
• Duff McKagan - bass (1985-1998)
• Josh Freese - drums (1997-2000)
• Paul Tobias - rhythm guitar (1994-2002)
• Buckethead - lead guitar (2000-2004)
• Brian Mantia - drums (2000-2006)
• Robin Finck - lead guitar (1998-2009)

Touring members

• Tracey Amos - backing vocals (1991-1993)
• Teddy Andreadis - harmonica, keyboards, backing vocals (1991-1993)
• Roberta Freeman - backing vocals (1991-1993)
• Diane Jones - backing vocals (1991-1993)
• Anne King - horns (1991-1993)
• Lisa Maxwell - horns (1991-1993)
• Cece Worrall - horns (1991-1993)

Touring substitutes

• Fred Coury - drums (1987-1988 - eight performances)
• Stephen Harris - bass (1988 - one performance)
• Don Henley - drums (1989 - one performance)
• Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar (1993 - five performances)

Touring guests

• Vince Neil - vocals (1988 - one performance)
• Matt McKagan - horns (1989 - four performances)
• Shannon Hoon - bongos, vocals (1991-1993 - nine performances)
• Sebastian Bach - vocals (1991, 2006, 2012 - thirty seven performances)
• Lenny Kravitz - guitar, vocals (1992 - one performance)
• Steven Tyler - vocals (1992 - one performance)
• Joe Perry - guitar (1992 - one performance)
• Brian May - guitar (1992-1993 - two performances)
• Elton John - piano (1992 - one performance)
• Ronnie Wood - guitar (1993 - two performances)
• Tom Doyle - bongos (1993 - four performances)
• Michael Monroe - vocals (1993 - one performance)
• Blake Stanton - vocals (1993 - one performance)
• Kid Rock - vocals (2006 - one performance)
• Del James - vocals (2006 - two performances)
• Lars Ulrich - drums (2006 - one performance)
• Trailer Park Boys - vocals (2006 - one performance)
• Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, lead vocals (2006, 2012 - twenty six performances)
• Angry Anderson - vocals (2007 - three performances)
• Bubbles - acoustic guitar (2006, 2007, 2011 - six performances)
• Duff McKagan - bass, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine (2010, 2011 - three performances)
• Zakk Wylde - guitar (2011 - three performances)
• Bryan Mantia - bongos (2012 - one performance)
• Robin Finck - guitar (2012 - one performance)

Album

Tahun	Album	US	UK	US Sales	RIAA Certification
1986	Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide (EP)	-	-	10,000	-
1987	Appetite for Destruction	1	5	18,000,000	15x Platinum
1988	G N' R Lies (EP)	2	22	5,000,000	5x Platinum
1991	Use Your Illusion I	2	2	5,355,985	7x Platinum
1991	Use Your Illusion II	1	1	5,435,447	7x Platinum
1993	The Spaghetti Incident?	4	2	1,290,849	Platinum
1998	Use Your Illusion	-	-	430,912	-
1999	Live Era: '87-'93	45	45	729,370	Gold
2004	Greatest Hits	3	1	3,132,000	3x Platinum
2008	Chinese Democracy	-3	-2	-	3x Platinum

Referensi

www.wikipedia.com

^ GUNS N' ROSES NAMES DJ ASHBA AS BAND'S NEWEST AXEMAN