Guns N' Roses are known for their infectious hard rock sound that has captivated fans worldwide for more than 30 years. Photo Courtesy: Guns N' Roses/AFP
Welcome To The Jungle
Ask any Guns N' Roses fan and they will definitely recommend listening to 'Welcome To The Jungle', one of their earliest singles from the first album 'Appetite for Destruction' in 1987. While it did not instantly become a hit, today the song is anthem with Slash's signature guitar rifts for the song written by Axl Rose. As the story goes, the lead vocalist wrote the song while visiting a friend in Seattle, and compares it to Los Angeles. More than 30 years later, we are happy that the song continues to be a favourite among everybody
Paradise City
Another song from their debut album, 'Paradise City' is showcases the band at their best, and has become a staple at almost every live concert they have played over the years. Indian fans will remember that the band played the song towards the end of their concert in 2012 and fans screamed their hearts out as they sang along. The song, which was released in January 1989, and even peaked at number 5 on Billboard Hot 100. Interestingly, the band's iconic guitarist Slash says the song was written in the back of a rental van on their way back from a gig in San Francisco
'Sweet Child o' Mine'
This Top 5 list may sound askewed towards the first album but it has also produced some of the most popular songs that defined the band's career, and 'Sweet Child o' Mine' is one of them. The song was released in June 1988 and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, thus becoming the band's only US number one single. While band members Steven Adler, Slash and Izzy Stradlin came up with the music, Axl Rose wrote the words that were inspired by Erin Everly, who was his girlfriend at the time. If there is one song you sing along to, it has to be this one all the way, apart from the others, so save your voice for it
Patience
While it is hard to narrow the list down, even their 1988 song 'Patience' deserves a mention, as it may have come around the time that 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Paradise City' released, it is a completely different vibe that will showcase the American band's versatility
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Even though this is a 1991 version of the original 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' by Bob Dylan, it became hugely popular because of how they add their rock riffs to the song, while also showcasing Rose's raspy voice that gave it a different touch
November Rain
Soon after, the band also released 'November Rain' in 1991 as a part of their fourth album 'Use Your Illusion II' and it peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. At 8 minutes and 57 seconds, it was also the longest song to enter the list. Interestingly, the power ballad was written in 1986 with an 18-minute version, even before they released their first album. To truly love the song, you have to listen or watch the song being played on stage in Tokyo 1992 as Axl Rose guides it through with the piano
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