American hard rock group Guns N’ Roses was founded in 1985 and is based in Los Angeles, California.
The band’s original members were vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler when they signed with Geffen Records in 1986.
Rose, Slash, McKagan, Richard Fortus on guitar, Frank Ferrer on drums, and Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese on keyboards make up the current line-up.
Why is it called Guns and Roses?
Although Guns N’ Roses may seem like the ideal moniker for a rock band from Los Angeles, the name actually happened entirely by accident. In actuality, GNR is the result of the merger of two earlier bands, Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns.
Izzy Stradlin, a member of Hollywood Rose, shared a home with Tracii Guns, a member of L.A. Guns, in 1984. Axl Rose of Hollywood Rose was recommended by Stradlin as the replacement vocalist for the L.A. Guns. Rose, rhythm guitarist Stradlin, lead guitarist Guns, drummer Rob Gardner, and bassist Ole Beich then came together to form Guns N’ Roses in March 1985.
