Guns N’ Roses: What to know about the band
Guns N’ Roses is heading back on tour in the U.S.
On Tuesday, the band announced its return to the stage – and 14 new tour dates in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and even two dates in Atlantic City, New Jersey, among others.
The band's current lineup includes its biggest stars, lead singer Axl Rose and guitarist Slash. Opening the shows will be Mammoth WVH, the band led by Van Halen bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen.
Tickets go on sale Friday at noon, although fan club and other presales will begin before that.
GUNS N’ ROSES, FOO FIGHTERS RETURNING TO THE STAGE
Whether you’re planning to attend one of their shows this summer or not, here are five things to know about Guns N’ Roses.
The band was founded in 1985
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Guns N’ Roses was formed in 1985 in Los Angeles and signed a record deal with Geffen Records the following year.
The band’s first album was "Appetite for Destruction," which it released in 1987.
Guns N’ Roses was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
They have 13 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 list
According to Guns N’ Roses’ Billboard chart history, the band has 13 songs on the Hot 100 list, including "Sweet Child O’ Mine," which peaked at No. 1 on Sept. 10, 1988.
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Some other songs that have made it on the list include "November Rain," which peaked at No. 3 in 1992, "Welcome To The Jungle," which peaked at No. 7 in 1988, and "Chinese Democracy," which peaked at No. 34 in 2008.
Their album ‘Chinese Democracy’ cost more than $13M to produce
Gun N’ Roses’ album "Chinese Democracy" was finally released in 2008, after decades of waiting and millions in production costs.
In fact, according to a 2005 article by The New York Times, production costs exceeded $13 million, making "Chinese Democracy" one of the most expensive rock albums ever made.
Lead singer Axl Rose reportedly started working on the album as early as 1994, The Times reported. According to Rolling Stone, the album was recorded and re-recorded in 15 different studios and with several producers.
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The band made $44 million in 2019
In 2019, Forbes put Guns N’ Roses in 71st place on its "2019 Celebrity 100 Earnings" list. According to the magazine, the band made $44 million that year by playing 29 shows on its "Not in This Lifetime... Tour." The band reportedly made more than $4 million per show, the magazine reported.
The band’s earnings were also particularly notable because Guns N’ Roses "still stayed in eight-figure territory without any major endorsements," Forbes wrote.
Bassist Duff McKagan was a financial planner
Duff McKagan, the bassist for Guns N’ Roses, opened a wealth management firm in 2011, according to an article by Rolling Stone at the time.
After years of alcohol and drug abuse, McKagan’s pancreas ruptured in 1994 and during his recovery, he realized he didn’t understand the band’s finances, Rolling Stone reported.
McKagan decided to take a basic finance course at Santa Monica Community College and went on to study at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business, according to Rolling Stone.
After that, McKagan founded Meridian Rock to help other musicians.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.