Guns N’ Roses et al: Top 50 Songs

Guns N’ Roses et al Top 50 Songs

The rock band Guns N’ Roses formed in Los Angeles, Califirnia, in 1985. The original members consisted of Axl Rose (vocals: 1985-), Saul “Slash” Hudson (guitar: 1985-1996, 2016-), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar: 1985-1991), Duff McKagan (bass: 1985-1997, 2016-), and Steven Adler (drums: 1985-1990). Their first album, Appetite for Destruction, featured the #1 hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and top 10 hits “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City.” is the best-selling debut in U.S. history with 18 million copies sold (30 million worldwide). The follow-up release, G N’ R Lies, combined the group’s 1986 EP Live Like a Suicide with four new cuts and sold 10 milion copies worldwide fueled by the top 10 song “Patience.” They followed that up with the simultaneous releases of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II in 1991. The albums combined for 35 million copies worldwide and featured two more top-10 hits – “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain.” After the 1993 covers album The Spaghetti Incident?, all the members except Axl Rose left the band eventually as he spent fifteen years working on the follow-up, 2008’s Chinese Democracy. In the meantime, Slash, Gilby Clarke (guitar: 1991-1994), and Matt Sorum (drums: 1990-1997) worked together in Slash’s Snakepit. Slash and Sorum also worked with McKagan in Velvet Revolver (2003-2008). Slash and McKagan came back into the fold in 2016 for the Not in This Lifetime tour, which grossed more than half a billion dollars over the next three years, becoming the third highest-grossing concert tour on record. Other members over the years have included DJ Ashba (guitar: 2009-2015), Brain (drums: 2000-2006), Buckethead (guitar: 2000-2004), Frank Ferrer (drums: 2006-), Robin Finck (guitar: 1997-2008), Richard Fortus (guitar: 2002-), Josh Freese (drums: 1997-2000), Chris Pitman (keyboards: 1998-2016), Dizzy Reed (keyboards: 1990-), Melissa Reese (keyboards: 2016-), Tommy Stinson (bass: 1998-2014), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (guitar: 2006-2014), Paul Tobias (guitar: 1994-2002). For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry. Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. This list includes material by Velvet Revolver, Slash’s Snakepit, and Izzy Stradlin & the JuJu Hounds since they all featured former GNR members. Songs are by Guns N’ Roses unless noted otherwise. DMDB Top 1%: 1. Sweet Child O’ Mine (1987) 2. Welcome to the Jungle (1987) 3. November Rain (1991) 4. Paradise City (1987) DMDB Top 2%: 5. Patience (1988) DMDB Top 10%: 6. Don’t Cry (1991) 7. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1987) 8. Civil War (1990) 9. Live and Let Die (1991) DMDB Top 20%: 10. You Could Be Mine (1991) 11. Nightrain (1987) 12. Fall to Pieces (Velvet Revolver, 2004) 13. Mr. Brownstone (1987) 14. Estranged (1991) 15. Since I Don’t Have You (1993) 16. Yesterdays (1991) 17. Slither (Velvet Revolver, 2004) 18. Hair of the Dog (1993) 19. Sympathy for the Devil (1994) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 20. Rocket Queen (1987) 21. Chinese Democracy (2008) 22. It’s So Easy (1987) 23. Used to Love Her (1988) 24. Ain’t It Fun (1993) 25. The Last Fight (Velvet Revolver, 2007) 26. Better (2008) 27. One in a Million (1988) 28. Look at Your Game, Girl (1993) 29. Pretty Tied Up (1991) 30. Shadow of Your Love (1986) 31. Coma (1991) 32. I Will Not Go Quietly (Don Henley with Axl Rose, 1989) 33. So Fine (2008) 34. Shuffle It All (Izzy Stradlin & the JuJu Hounds, 1992) 35. Double Talkin’ Jive (1991) 36. My Michelle (1987) 37. She Builds Quick Machines (Velvet Revolver, 2007) 38. You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory (1993) 39. Move to the City (1986) 40. Out ta Get Me (1987) 41. Heartbreak Hotel (1986) 42. 14 Years (1991) 43. Garden of Eden (1991) 44. Set Me Free (Velvet Revolver, 2003) 45. Dirty Little Thing (Velvet Revolver, 2004) 46. Oh My God (1999) 47. Beggars & Hangers-On (Slash’s Snakepit, 1995) 48. Dead Horse (1991) 49. Dust N’ Bones (1991) 50. Street of Dreams (2008) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Guns N’ Roses DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Velvet Revolver Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 11/11/2022.