The Roots of Guns N' Roses

Lore & Background

The album was produced by Chris Weber, the ex-guitarist of Hollywood Rose. Cleopatra Records bought the five tracks from Weber, who originally paid for the recordings in 1984. The album contains three sets of five demos: the first five are original versions, the following five have been remixed by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, and the last five have been remixed by Fred Coury, the drummer of Cinderella, who took part in a tour with Guns N' Roses when Steven Adler broke his wrist. The 'Shadow of Your Love' and 'Reckless Life' remixes by Gilby Clarke were recorded with the first guitarist of Guns N' Roses, Tracii Guns.

Reader's Guide

The Roots of Guns N' Roses is significant as a historical document of the early songwriting that preceded Guns N' Roses. The songs 'Anything Goes' and 'Reckless Life' were later recorded again by Guns N' Roses and released on the albums Appetite for Destruction and G N' R Lies, respectively. The album credits Slash, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler, together with Axl Rose, Chris Weber, and Izzy Stradlin, as composers of 'Anything Goes', 'Shadow of Your Love', and 'Reckless Life', even though these songs were originally performed by Hollywood Rose and composed before those musicians were in touch. Before the album's release, Axl Rose sued Cleopatra Records for trademark infringement and other claims, but a judge denied the motion to block the release. The album thus stands as a legally contested but ultimately released compilation that preserves the raw demos of a band that evolved into one of rock's most famous acts.

Did You Know?

• Gilby Clarke and Fred Coury each remixed five of the demos on the album.
• Axl Rose sued Cleopatra Records to block the album's release, but a judge denied the motion.
• The Japanese version, released on January 18, 2005, included a bonus DVD.