Guns 'N Roses' debut album took a bit to catch on, but once it did, there was no turning back. They were the definitive hard rock band of the 1980s, fusing glam metal with the hard-nosed rock and roll many felt went extinct earlier in the decade.
Guns 'N Roses was spearheaded by frontman Axl Rose and guitarist Slash, but tensions between the two men have led to several disagreements over the years. Tensions that grew so bad, in fact, that the latter decided to leave the band in 1996.
Slash left over "personal and creative differences"
The band was already dwindling in popularity by the mid-90s, thanks to the arrival of grunge. Guns 'N Roses were seen by many as passe, and this did not help the in-fighting between Rose and the rest of the band members. Rose exerted control over the band to such an extent that Slash ultimately felt he could no longer tolerate his frontman's behavior.
"Axl and I have not been capable of seeing eye to eye on Guns N' Roses for some time," he told MTV. "We tried to collaborate, but at this point, I'm no longer in the band." Slash later cited the addition of band member Paul Tobias as another reason for his exit. He claimed he had "personal and creative" differences with the guitarist.
Slash went on to form the supergroup Slash's Snakepit with (other) members of Guns 'N Roses and Alice In Chains. The group released two albums, and their debut, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, was acclaimed by fans and critics. Slash was also a member of the group Velvet Revolver in the 2000s.
Slash rejoined Guns 'N Roses in 2016
The guitarist, born Saul Hudson, eventually made his way back to GNR. He reunited with Axl Rose to headline Coachella in 2016, and the duo have continued to tour ever since. Slash explained why he decided to return during an appearance on The Abe Kanan Show.
"There was that chemistry that happens that you sort of forget about," he said, regarding Axl Rose. "How intense that is when you get on stage together or just working together. It's really cool, and I'm really happy that we managed to get past all that."
Slash and Rose are two of the founding Guns 'N Roses members who are still part of the band. The other is bassist Duff McKagen. They haven't released an album since 2008's Chinese Democracy, an infamous release made without Slash or McKagen, but it's obvious these rock legends are having fun playing the hits.