Guns N' Roses at 40
Published on 17. June 2025
192 pages
978-0-7603-9400-7 (ISBN)
Description
Celebrate four exhilarating and rebellious decades of Guns N' Roses with this lushly illustrated journey through the band's biggest moments.
Formed on Los Angeles' famed Sunset Strip in 1985, Guns N' Roses worked their way up from the club scene in less than three years to become a best-selling recording act and a top tour draw. Along the way, there was no shortage of controversy to accompany the accolades. In Guns N' Roses at 40, prolific rock biographer Martin Popoff curates 40 key touchstones in GN'R's career, charting their formation and early history, key concert appearances, groundbreaking releases, notable collaborations, business challenges, personal difficulties, band quarrels, and more. This beautifully produced tribute features:
Stunning photography, both on and off the stage
Images of band memorabilia
Guns N' Roses timeline
Complete studio discography
Popoff covers it all:
A history of the band's scruffy early days on Hollywood's Sunset Strip club scene
Backgrounds of founding members Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler
Rundowns of the key studio albums and the processes behind them
Analyses of the infamous incidents and controversies that seemed to follow the band
The departures (and sometimes the returns) of key members
First-person interviews with bassists Duff McKagan and Tommy Stinson
In examining 40 key pivot points in GN'R's now-forty-year history, Guns N' Roses at 40 provides a concise documentary-like view of the band that as much as any other helped drive a spike through the heart of hair metal. Combine this unique perspective with a gorgeous package and you have an indispensable addition to the collection of every fan.
Formed on Los Angeles' famed Sunset Strip in 1985, Guns N' Roses worked their way up from the club scene in less than three years to become a best-selling recording act and a top tour draw. Along the way, there was no shortage of controversy to accompany the accolades. In Guns N' Roses at 40, prolific rock biographer Martin Popoff curates 40 key touchstones in GN'R's career, charting their formation and early history, key concert appearances, groundbreaking releases, notable collaborations, business challenges, personal difficulties, band quarrels, and more. This beautifully produced tribute features:
Stunning photography, both on and off the stage
Images of band memorabilia
Guns N' Roses timeline
Complete studio discography
Popoff covers it all:
A history of the band's scruffy early days on Hollywood's Sunset Strip club scene
Backgrounds of founding members Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler
Rundowns of the key studio albums and the processes behind them
Analyses of the infamous incidents and controversies that seemed to follow the band
The departures (and sometimes the returns) of key members
First-person interviews with bassists Duff McKagan and Tommy Stinson
In examining 40 key pivot points in GN'R's now-forty-year history, Guns N' Roses at 40 provides a concise documentary-like view of the band that as much as any other helped drive a spike through the heart of hair metal. Combine this unique perspective with a gorgeous package and you have an indispensable addition to the collection of every fan.
Reviews / Votes
"Accompanied by vintage images and impressive concert photography...in keeping with Guns N' Roses' explosive energy and dramatic presences, the chapters are organised in playful fashion. Popoff documents it all with aplomb." * Record Collector * "I'm really digging these 'At 40/50/75' books. The good folks at Quarto/Motorbooks (with able assistance from Martin Popoff) have been publishing this series into something quite impressive. This 40th Anniversary book is a very well done and entertaining look...It's a great overview and a fun read." * Metal-Rules.com *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Beverly
United States
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
250 color & b-w photos
ISBN-13
978-0-7603-9400-7 (9780760394007)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Working out of Toronto, Canada, Martin Popoff (martinpopoff.com) has penned more than 100 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, and record collecting, including Rush: The Illustrated History, The Clash: All the Albums, All the Songs, Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs, Pink Floyd: Album by Album, Bowie at 75, AC/DC at 50, and Kiss at 50. In addition, he has appeared in Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, RecordCollector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com, and hardradio.com. Martin also worked on the award-winning documentaries Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage and ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas for Banger Films.
Content
Introduction
Act One: Squalor on Sunset Strip
01 New Rose: Hollywood Rose forms
02 Right Next Door to Hell: GN'R plays their first show
03 Nice Boys: Slash and Steven complete the classic lineup
04 Pretty Tied Up: GN'R signs with Geffen
Sidebar Razamanaz: Manny Charlton Recalls Producing the Appetite Demos
05 Perfect Crime: GN'R issues Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide
06 Get in the Ring: GN'R issues Appetite for Destruction
Act Two: Appetite for Domination
07 Anything Goes: GN'R's first North American tour
08 Paradise City: Appetite for Destruction hits No. 1 in the US
09 Down on the Farm: GN'R performs at Monsters of Rock
Sidebar Appetite for Destruction: A Deconstruction
10 November Rain: GNR' issues G N'R Lies
11 Shotgun Blues: Opening for the Rolling Stones
12 Reckless Life: Farm Aid IV, Steven's last show with the band
13 Out ta Get Me: "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" features Matt Sorum's GN'R debut
Act Three: Insanity
14 Breakdown: Axl leaves midshow in St. Louis, causing a riot
15 Welcome to the Jungle: GN'R issues Use Your Illusion I
16 Raw Power: GN'R issues Use Your Illusion II
17 One in a Million: Use Your Illusion II debuts at No. 1
18 Coma: Izzy's out, Gilby's in
19 Human Being: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
20 Civil War: Chaos at Metallica/Guns N' Roses show in Montreal
21 I.R.S.: Appetite for Destruction certified 10x platinum in US
22 Attitude: GN'R releases "The Spaghetti Incident?"
23 You Ain't the First: Axl announces that Slash has left
24 Garden of Eden: New GN'R song appears on End of Days soundtrack
25 Live and Let Die: GN'R issues Live Era '87 - '93
Sidebar GN'R versus Hair Metal
Act Four: Axl Goes Rogue
26 You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory: Geffen issues Greatest Hits
27 Absurd: Izzy rejoins (sort of)
28 Patience: Dr Pepper linked to release of Chinese Democracy
29 Mr. Brownstone: Steven records first episode of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
30 14 Years: GN'R releases Chinese Democracy
31 My World: GN'R embarks on first Chinese Democracy tour
32 You Could Be Mine: The Up Close and Personal Tour
33 Knockin' on Heaven's Door: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Sidebar Chinese Democracy Progress Report
Act Five: Legacy
34 Don't Damn Me: The first reunion-era tour
Sidebar The Solo Projects
35 This I Love: Axl is in AC/DC!
36 Used to Love Her: Appetite for Destruction subject of elaborate reissue
37 Dust N' Bones: Band embarks on We're F'N' back! Tour
38 Bad Apples: GN'R issues "Absurd" and "Hard Skool"
39 Yesterdays: Geffen issues Use Your Illusion expanded editions
40 Double Talkin' Jive: New single renews hope for new album
Discography
About the Author
Photo Credits
Index
Act One: Squalor on Sunset Strip
01 New Rose: Hollywood Rose forms
02 Right Next Door to Hell: GN'R plays their first show
03 Nice Boys: Slash and Steven complete the classic lineup
04 Pretty Tied Up: GN'R signs with Geffen
Sidebar Razamanaz: Manny Charlton Recalls Producing the Appetite Demos
05 Perfect Crime: GN'R issues Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide
06 Get in the Ring: GN'R issues Appetite for Destruction
Act Two: Appetite for Domination
07 Anything Goes: GN'R's first North American tour
08 Paradise City: Appetite for Destruction hits No. 1 in the US
09 Down on the Farm: GN'R performs at Monsters of Rock
Sidebar Appetite for Destruction: A Deconstruction
10 November Rain: GNR' issues G N'R Lies
11 Shotgun Blues: Opening for the Rolling Stones
12 Reckless Life: Farm Aid IV, Steven's last show with the band
13 Out ta Get Me: "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" features Matt Sorum's GN'R debut
Act Three: Insanity
14 Breakdown: Axl leaves midshow in St. Louis, causing a riot
15 Welcome to the Jungle: GN'R issues Use Your Illusion I
16 Raw Power: GN'R issues Use Your Illusion II
17 One in a Million: Use Your Illusion II debuts at No. 1
18 Coma: Izzy's out, Gilby's in
19 Human Being: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
20 Civil War: Chaos at Metallica/Guns N' Roses show in Montreal
21 I.R.S.: Appetite for Destruction certified 10x platinum in US
22 Attitude: GN'R releases "The Spaghetti Incident?"
23 You Ain't the First: Axl announces that Slash has left
24 Garden of Eden: New GN'R song appears on End of Days soundtrack
25 Live and Let Die: GN'R issues Live Era '87 - '93
Sidebar GN'R versus Hair Metal
Act Four: Axl Goes Rogue
26 You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory: Geffen issues Greatest Hits
27 Absurd: Izzy rejoins (sort of)
28 Patience: Dr Pepper linked to release of Chinese Democracy
29 Mr. Brownstone: Steven records first episode of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
30 14 Years: GN'R releases Chinese Democracy
31 My World: GN'R embarks on first Chinese Democracy tour
32 You Could Be Mine: The Up Close and Personal Tour
33 Knockin' on Heaven's Door: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Sidebar Chinese Democracy Progress Report
Act Five: Legacy
34 Don't Damn Me: The first reunion-era tour
Sidebar The Solo Projects
35 This I Love: Axl is in AC/DC!
36 Used to Love Her: Appetite for Destruction subject of elaborate reissue
37 Dust N' Bones: Band embarks on We're F'N' back! Tour
38 Bad Apples: GN'R issues "Absurd" and "Hard Skool"
39 Yesterdays: Geffen issues Use Your Illusion expanded editions
40 Double Talkin' Jive: New single renews hope for new album
Discography
About the Author
Photo Credits
Index
