The history of GN'R as told by GN'R (A4D)

[SoulMonster]

Hi all,

I have been revising the history section at Appetite for Discussion and thought I should give you a heads up about this.

If this is new to you here's some background: I am currently in the process (and have been so these last years) of writing the history of Guns N' Roses based on what the band members themselves have said. The idea was to get a bit away from conjecture and biases and assumptions and instead handle each topic in the band's history from what they themselves have said. The good thing about this is of course that it at least tells their story from their perspective (not necessarily the truth, of course, but hopefully also not exaggerated stories to sell a book or to display a bias), the drawback is that it will be less informative on things the band members haven't wanted to talk about, or be biased towards band members who were more vocal than other.

I expect this work to result in the most comprehensive source on the history of Guns N' Roses, ever and wherever. The format (or my prose) doesn't necessarily make it very entertaining as a long-read, but hopefully it can serve as a reference source whenever people want to go back and check up on something or to fact check statements. It should also be a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to write their own version of the history of the band. Pick and choose quotes and you can basically write whatever narrative you want.

The way I go about doing this work is plowing through articles and interviews from the beginning of the band's history and forward in time. This means that the history section won't be finished until I have gone through everything ever written about the band (which is a lot). I update the older sections of the history whenever I come over newer articles that shed light on those periods. So it is a living document that is constantly refined and expanded. I am currently working on articles from 2002.

To do something like this having access to a large repository of articles and interviews is crucial. Thankfully we have just that over at A4D, much to @Blackstar's credit (who we all know is awesome). In addition to having a memory and overview that is mindboggling to someone like me, she is also a skilled researcher and scholar. Currently, our database contains in excess of 2,500 unique articles and interviews, but it is growing day by day. I have copied all the articles into a word document and to give you an idea of how massive this database is, the document is currently comprised of 138 pages (font size 9) containing 1,836,917 words. Trust me, there is no book on Guns N' Roses that is anywhere as comprehensive as this, and what authors have done is start with a much smaller set of articles to basically create the story they wanted to tell. What we have is the real deal. The unabridged, unshortened, ultimate collection with its warts and all. If you want to browse this section and read contemporary articles from the band's history, this is the link to the index https://www.a-4-d.com/t2861-interview-and-article-index (By looking around you will also find that the site contains more articles that have simply not been indexed yet (this happens as I write the history.)

My history writing is currently focused on the year 2002, but most of this work takes place in a hidden section of the site. As soon as I feel a section is finished (it never is, though) I move it to the open area. Currently the open area only covers the time period 1984-July 1987 (I recently moved everything else in anticipation of the revision work). I expect to quickly add more sections to this area over the next weeks so that it will contain the history from 1984-2001. The new revised edition contains more chapters, images, and more quotes. You can browse this area here: https://www.a-4-d.com/f1-the-history-of-guns-n-roses-as-told-by-guns-n-roses

This is all free for everyone to browse and read. registration shouldn't be required (except perhaps to see images). Keep in mind that no section of the history is finished until I have gone through all articles. Currently there are almost no quotes from after 2002. Still, I hope you will all find this valuable and appreciate the work that we have done to get where we are. This will only get better and better.

[Voodoochild]

Awesome work guys. I wonder if you would be willing to provide some format for e-readers like Kindle. 

Also, don't you think you could use an attachment document with @zombux tables of the recording sessions? Just a suggestion, of course.

55 minutes ago, SoulMonster said:

the document is currently comprised of 138 pages (font size 9)

Dude, how can you use such a tiny font size? I'm old hahaha

[zombux]

what you're doing and have done so far easily dwarfs my own research (which I initially just had to made for myself to clear out my own confusion in all the studio sessions, so that's why the sheet covers only those)

that sheet I made and the table (shit, I forgot to update that one, I have to fix that) are of course free to use for anyone, and as always everyone is welcome to suggest fixes and additions.

now that Marc Canter hopefully reveals some more information about the super old era years, us all could be happy to bring some new pieces of information into our particular info collections  

let me say a huge thank you for your effort!

[Blackstar]

We have a sticky thread with @zombux 's tables (with a link to his thread here) in the songs section:

https://www.a-4-d.com/f8-gn-r-song-archive

I'd like to add that, besides the about 2,500 articles (so far) in the articles/interviews database @SoulMonster mentioned, there are additional sources that are or will be consulted for the writing of the history section:

- The concert database which contains many reviews and articles related to the shows (maybe we'll create an index of it in the future so that it can be more easily browsed)

https://www.a-4-d.com/f13-gn-r-concert-archive

- Books by people involved or associated with the band: band members' autobiographies (not fully included yet), of course Marc Canter's book, the books by Raz Cue, Vicky Hamilton, Craig Duswalt etc.

- Related quotes from interviews with other bands/artists who have crossed paths with GnR or excerpts from their autobiographies (these, when not included in the interviews database are usually posted in this thread: https://www.a-4-d.com/t3130-xx-notes )

So it's really a huge amount of sources  

Edited June 1, 2020 by Blackstar

[©GnrPersia]

Worths 100x more than AFD Box Set and yet it's for free.

Well done.

Edited June 1, 2020 by ©GnrPersia

[zombux]

just don't forget to do backups regularly. you never know who's lurking around and trying to get stuff taken down

[SoulMonster]

Thanks guys. I wish to export it to other formats in the future, but right now my focus is just to get it completed

I just added a new section covering August 1987-August 1988: https://www.a-4-d.com/t4956-viii-1987-1988-touring-and-success

[Georgina Arriaga]

Incredible work! Congratulations!

[Powderfinger]

What Soulmonster & Blackstar have put together is truly the definitive story of the band. It’s a great read and the labour of love it is, shines through while reading. 
 

Thank you both for all your efforts, it’s much appreciated. 

[DurhamGirl]

It is absolutely delightful to find such a cornacopia of material on GnR, you have both obviously worked so hard.  I wish you  luck with your book which I greatly look forward to.

[Lio]

5 hours ago, Voodoochild said:

Awesome work guys. I wonder if you would be willing to provide some format for e-readers like Kindle.

I would love it on Kindle too! I hope you can make that happen one day. Thank you for all the great work, @SoulMonster and @Blackstar

[Amaya]

Good luck

[MJ23]

Great stuff!

I can only guess how much time has went into this.
When I did It in the past the most embarrassing thing were interviews given by the same people and yet contradicting themselves.

[fantomas]

Can't stop reading this! Excellent job, mate!

[Sosso]

Duff badmouthing Tracii and Rob is problably my least favourite part. They are both great musicians in their own right. 

[Rovim]

commendable work. That site is a goldmine and very easy to navigate as well

[Sosso]

I think it's safe to say that the setlists from March 26 and June 6 were almost identical.

[SoulMonster]

5 hours ago, fantomas said:

Can't stop reading this! Excellent job, mate!

Thank you I will soon add more sections, just doing finishing work.

[smiley]

very cool - thanks!

 

[SoulMonster]

I just added a new chapter, LIES AND THE SPOTLIGHT. It deals with the period Aug-Dec 1988. In this rather short period the band released GN'R LIES, got increased popularity, ended extensive and successful touring. With all this success the band started to get a lot more attention from press and critics, and controversies erupted, over artwork to Appetite, lyrical content and allegations of racism and homophobia. The band members also had to deal with their rags to riches journey and coping with a new status as rock stars. Izzy was already starting to drift away.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.a-4-d.com/t4987-9-lies-and-the-spotlight#19252

And thanks to everyone for your kind words. I do this for myself, but it really motivates me when other people find some interest in my work.

[SoulMonster]

I am on a roll this morning. New chapter added, this one about 1989, annus horribilis. A year with no touring and little work on new music. Anathema to Slash who considered quitting the band three times (when getting an offer from Megadeth, after his fight with Axl in Chicago, and after the Mr. Brownstone speech). Drugs were breaking the band apart despite Izzy (and Slash at the end of the year) starting their processes of getting clean. Personal relationships were falling apart. Steven started rehabs and became the odd man out. Attempts at getting things on the right keel - trip to Chicago and shows with Rolling Stones - failed. Almost strange the band survived the year intact. 

Read it here: https://www.a-4-d.com/t4988-10-1989-things-unravel#19264

[Shackler's]

Always loved Appetite for Discussion! Was just visiting that section yesterday, I must say, it looks greater than ever. Great job @Blackstar & @SoulMonster! 

[SoulMonster]

I added a new chapter, this one covering 1990. After a terrible 1989 where the band was torn to pieces from drugs, separation, and fights, the band now started to put itself back together but realized that one piece didn't fit any more, Steven. Where other band members had managed to cut back on drugs, Steven was spiraling out of control. So in came Matt, and in addition Axl thrust Dizzy into the mix. The unity was broken and this would later make it easier for other members to leave. But with the changes also came more spirited work and this year would hear new music from the band (Civil War and KOHD). On the personal front, Axl had an absolutely terrible year with a divorce, miscarriage, fights and despressions. Still, at the end of the year thinks were looking much better for the band and they had started planning touring the new record(s), including two shows at Rock In Rio in January 1991.

Here's the chapter: https://www.a-4-d.com/t4989-11-1990-moving-forward-with-a-new-lineup

[Sydney Fan]

59 minutes ago, SoulMonster said:

I added a new chapter, this one covering 1990. After a terrible 1989 where the band was torn to pieces from drugs, separation, and fights, the band now started to put itself back together but realized that one piece didn't fit any more, Steven. Where other band members had managed to cut back on drugs, Steven was spiraling out of control. So in came Matt, and in addition Axl thrust Dizzy into the mix. The unity was broken and this would later make it easier for other members to leave. But with the changes also came more spirited work and this year would hear new music from the band (Civil War and KOHD). On the personal front, Axl had an absolutely terrible year with a divorce, miscarriage, fights and despressions. Still, at the end of the year thinks were looking much better for the band and they had started planning touring the new record(s), including two shows at Rock In Rio in January 1991.

Here's the chapter: https://www.a-4-d.com/t4989-11-1990-moving-forward-with-a-new-lineup

Didnt duff divorce mandy in 89/90?.

[SoulMonster]

14 minutes ago, Sydney Fan said:

Didnt duff divorce mandy in 89/90?.

https://www.a-4-d.com/t4989-11-1990-moving-forward-with-a-new-lineup#19364