The Appetite for Destruction Tour was a tour by American

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...

band

Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 as a merger of local bands L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band's "classic" line-up consisted of vocalist Axl R ...

in 1987 and 1988 to promote their debut album ''

Appetite for Destruction ''Appetite for Destruction'' is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records. It initially received little mainstream attention, and it was not until the following year that ''App ...

'', which was released in July 1987. During the 16-month tour, the band opened for bands

The Cult The Cult are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Bradford in 1983. Before settling on their current name in January 1984, the band had performed under the name Death Cult, which was an evolution of the name of lead vocalist Ian Astbury ...

Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Hollywood, California, in 1981 by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, with guitarist Mick Mars and lead vocalist Vince Neil joining right after. The band has sol ...

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...

, and headlined shows across four continents. It is the only tour in which the classic lineup of

Axl Rose W. Axl Rose ( ; born William Bruce Rose Jr., February 6, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, and has been the band's sole constant member since its inception in ...

, Slash,

Izzy Stradlin Jeffrey Dean Isbell (born April 8, 1962), known professionally as Izzy Stradlin, is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and backing vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he re ...

Duff McKagan Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan (born February 5, 1964) is an American musician. He was the bassist of hard rock band Guns N' Roses for twelve years, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McKagan rejoined the b ...

, and

Steven Adler Steven Adler (born Michael Coletti; January 22, 1965) is an American musician. He was the drummer and co-songwriter of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s. Adler was fired from Guns N' R ...

performed together, aside from opening four shows in at

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (also known as the Los Angeles Coliseum or L.A. Coliseum) is a multi-purpose stadium in the Exposition Park, Los Angeles, Exposition Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. Conceived as a hal ...

for

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

in October 1989. "We started out as a hardcore band and we toured our fucking asses off,"

Slash Slash may refer to: * Slash (punctuation), the "/" character Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Slash (Marvel Comics) * Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'') Music * Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band * Nash th ...

recalled. "Next thing you know, we've turned into pop stars."

Background

On August 20, 1988,

performed at the

Monsters of Rock Monsters of Rock was a hard rock and heavy metal music festival. It was originally held annually in Castle Donington, England, from 1980 to 1996, taking place every year except 1989 and 1993. It later branched into other locations such as th ...

festival at

Donington Park Donington Park is a motorsport Race track, circuit located near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England. The circuit business is now owned by Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation, and the surrounding Donington Park Estate, sti ...

Castle Donington Castle Donington is a market town and civil parish in Leicestershire, England, on the edge of the National Forest and close to East Midlands Airport. Etymology The name 'Donington' means 'farm/settlement connected with Dunna'. Another su ...

, England. At the start of their set, the capacity crowd of over 100,000 began jumping and surging forward. Despite

's requests that the crowd move away from the stage, two fans were trampled to death. Media largely blamed the band for the tragedy, and reported that they continued playing despite the dangerous conditions. However, the venue's head of security noted that GN'R had not been aware of the extent of fan injuries, had immediately halted their set when requested to do so, and had attempted to calm the crowd. The band's show at

Texas Stadium Texas Stadium was an American football stadium located in Irving, Texas, a suburb west of Dallas. Opened on October 24, 1971, it was known for its distinctive hole in the roof, the result of abandoned plans to construct a retractable roof. Th ...

on September 17, 1988, is remembered by the band as one of their worst performances. "The band completely fell apart in front of this massive audience," recalled Slash. "It was desperate on stage, trying to keep everything together. I have nightmares about it."

Opening acts

Faster Pussycat Faster Pussycat is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1985 by vocalist Taime Downe, guitarists Greg Steele and Brent Muscat and bassist Kelly Nickels. The group has since gone through numerous lineup changes leaving Downe as ...

The Quireboys The Quireboys are an English rock band formed in 1984 in London, with strong ties to Newcastle. Originally known as The Choirboys, then The Queerboys, billed as The London Quireboys in the United States and Canada, settling at last with their ...

Ezo is the Japanese term historically used to refer to the people and the lands to the northeast of the Japanese island of Honshu. This included the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, which changed its name from "Ezo" to "Hokkaidō" in 1869, Nu ...

*Funhouse * Junkyard *

L.A. Guns L.A. Guns are an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineup currently consists of Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Phil Lewis (musician), Phil Lewis (lead vocals), Ace Von Johnson (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Johnny Mar ...

T.S.O.L. T.S.O.L. (True Sounds of Liberty) is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Huntington Beach, California. Although most commonly associated with hardcore punk, T.S.O.L.'s music has varied on each release, including such styles as deathro ...

U.D.O. U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider in 1987. History Following Dirkschneider's departure from Accept in 1987, he formed his own band called U.D.O. The first line-up consisted of guitarists Mathias ...

Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction were a British hard rock group, which was formed in 1985. Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction play a sleazy style of commercial hard rock featuring big riffs and choruses, as was the trend in the band's ...

*Kings of the Sun * The Angels (Angel City) *

Knightshade Knightshade is a New Zealand rock/hardrock group. They formed in Te Puke in 1982. The band based themselves in Hamilton in the mid-1980s when the lineup changed. The lineup then consisted of Wayne Elliott (vocals), Alan Grady (drums), Rik Berna ...

Setlists

Songs played overall

Typical setlist

#"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Move to the City" #"You're Crazy" #"My Michelle" #"Rocket Queen" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover)
ncore#"Nightrain" #"Paradise City"

3 Nights @ "The Marquee"

;June 19, 1987 #"Reckless Life" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Anything Goes" #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Nightrain" #"My Michelle" #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) ncore#"Move to the City" #"Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) ;June 22, 1987 #"Shadow of Your Love" (Hollywood Rose cover) #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Anything Goes" #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Nightrain" #"My Michelle" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) ncore#"Move to the City" #"Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover) ;June 28, 1987 #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Rocket Queen" #"Nightrain" #"My Michelle" #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Don't Cry" #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" #"Whole Lotta Rosie" (AC/DC cover) #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) ncore#"Move to the City" #"Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover)

North America (1st leg)

#"It's So Easy" #"Anything Goes" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Nightrain" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"My Michelle" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover)

Europe

#"It's So Easy" #"Move to the City" #"Anything Goes" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"My Michelle" #"Rocket Queen" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Nightrain" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" ncore#"Reckless Life" #"Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) #"Whole Lotta Rosie" (AC/DC over)

North America (2nd leg)

;Headliner #"It's So Easy" #"Move to the City" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"My Michelle" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Rocket Queen" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" ncore#"Nightrain" #"Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) #"Whole Lotta Rosie" (AC/DC cover) ;The Ritz #"It's So Easy" #"Move to the City" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"My Michelle" #"Don't Cry" #"Rocket Queen" #"Nightrain" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" ncore#"Reckless Life" #"Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) ;CBGB's #"You're Crazy" #"One in a Million" #"Used to Love Her" #"Patience" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Move to the City" ;The Omni #"Communication Breakdown" (Led Zeppelin cover) #"Honky Tonk Women"
(The Rolling Stones cover) #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam"
;Supporting "

" #"It's So Easy" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Anything Goes" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"My Michelle" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Don't Cry" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Paradise City" ncore#"Nightrain" #"Mama Kin" ;Supporting "

" #"It's So Easy" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"My Michelle" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Nightrain" #"Paradise City"

North America (3rd leg)

;Typical setlist #"It's So Easy" #"Move to the City" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Used to Love Her" #"My Michelle" #"Rocket Queen" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper cover) ntroand "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"You're Crazy" #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"Nightrain" #"Paradise City" st encore#"Patience" #"Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) nd encore#"Don't Cry" #"Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover) inal encore#"Whole Lotta Rosie" (AC/DCcover) ;The Coconut Teaszer #"I Got a Line on You" (Spirit cover) #"Wishing Well" (Free cover) #"Communication Breakdown' (Led Zeppelin cover) #"Scarred for Life" (Rose Tattoo cover) #"Sentimental Movie" #"Yesterdays" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Born to Be Wild" (Mars Bonfire cover) #"Honky Tonk Women" (The Rolling Stones cover) ;The Limelight #"One in a Million" #"Patience" #"Corn Shucker" (Mentors cover) #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Used to Love Her" #"Don't Cry" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"It's So Easy" #"Not Fade Away" (The Crickets cover) #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Born to Be Wild" (Mars Bonfire cover) #"Rocket Queen" #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"You Shook Me" (Willie Dixon cover) #"Rock & Roll" (Led Zeppelin cover) ;MTV Live @ The Ritz #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"My Michelle" #"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Nightrain" #"Paradise City" ncore#"Mama Kin" (Aerosmithcover) #"Rocket Queen"

North America (4th leg)

;Headliner #"It's So Easy" #"Move to the City" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"My Michelle" #"Rocket Queen" #"Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper cover) ntroand "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #Slash guitar solo #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"You're Crazy" #"Used to Love Her" #"Nightrain" st encore#"Mama Kin" (Aerosmithcover) #"Patience" nd encore#"Reckless Life" #"Don't Cry" inal encore#"Paradise City" ;Supporting "Iron Maiden" #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"My Michelle" #"Hair of the Dog" (Nazareth cover) #"It Tastes Good, Don't It?" #"Rocket Queen" #"Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper cover) ntroand "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylancover) #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Nightrain" #Slash guitar solo #"Used to Love Her" #"Paradise City" ;Irvine Meadows #"Marseilles" (The Angels cover) #"It's So Easy"

North America (Aerosmith leg)

;5th Leg #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Move to the City" #"I Was Only Joking" (Rod Stewart cover) ntroand "Patience" #"Rocket Queen" #Slash guitar solo #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"Paradise City" #"You're Crazy" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Used to Love Her" #"Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper cover) ntroand "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"It Tastes Good, Don't It?" ncore ;Final leg #"You're Crazy" #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Move to the City" #"Rocket Queen" #"My Michelle" #"I Was Only Joking" (Rod Stewart cover) ntroand "Patience" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Nightrain" #Slash guitar solo #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"Used to Love Her" #"Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper cover) and Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover) #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Paradise City"

Monsters of Rock England

#"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"You're Crazy" #"Paradise City" #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Patience" #"Sweet Child O' Mine"

4 Nights @ LA Coliseum

#"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"Move to the City" #"I Was Only Joking" (Rod Stewart cover) ntroand "Patience" #"My Michelle" #Slash guitar solo #"Rocket Queen" #"Sweet Child O' Mine" #"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper cover) and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Paradise City" ncore

Farm Aid IV

#"Civil War" #"Down on the Farm" (U.K. Subs cover)

Pacific leg

#"You're Crazy" #"It's So Easy" #"Mr. Brownstone" #"Move to the City" #"Out Ta Get Me" #"I Was Only Joking" (Rod Stewart cover) ntroand "Patience" #"Rocket Queen" #"My Michelle" #Slash guitar solo #"Guns N' Roses Instrumental Band Jam" #"Used to Love Her" #"Only Women Bleed" (Alice Cooper cover) ntro "Mother" (Danzig cover) ntroand "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) #"Nightrain" st encore#"Welcome to the Jungle" #"Bad Time" (Grand Funk Railroad cover) ntroand "Sweet Child O' Mine" nd encore#"Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) #"Paradise City" inal encore#"Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover)

Tour dates

Personnel

;Classic "Appetite for Destruction" line-up *

–

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

–

lead guitar Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...

talkbox A talk box (also spelled talkbox and talk-box) is an effects unit that allows musicians to modify the sound of a musical instrument by shaping the frequency content of the sound and to apply speech sounds (in the same way as singing) onto the so ...

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...

–

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a guitar technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse (music), pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., d ...

, backing vocals *

–

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

, backing vocals *

–

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

, backing vocals ;Substitute musicians *

Fred Coury Fred Coury (born October 20, 1967) is an American musician best known as the drummer for the glam metal band Cinderella. Coury lists Neil Peart, Peter Criss, Bobby Blotzer, John Bonham, Eric Carr, Tommy Lee and Tommy Aldridge as his drumming i ...

– drums (December 17, 1987 – January 5, 1988) * Kid "Haggis" Chaos – bass, backing vocals (May 27, 1988)

References

{{Guns N' Roses 1987 concert tours 1988 concert tours Guns N' Roses concert tours