Latest news with #AppetiteforDestruction
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Guns N' Roses' former manager recalls harrowing stories, calls Mötley Crüe ‘brutish entertainers'
As the manager of Guns N' Roses during the band's debauched heyday, Alan Niven has no shortage of colorful stories. The LAPD fetching Axl Rose from his West Hollywood condo and bringing him directly to the stage so Guns N' Roses could open for the Rolling Stones at the L.A. Coliseum. Slash going off script and taking a Winnebago for a joyride — and then standing in rush hour traffic and brandishing a bottle of Jack Daniels — while filming the 'Welcome to the Jungle' music video. Guitarist Izzy Stradlin carrying a $750,000 cashier's check that Niven had to take from him and hide in his own shoe for safekeeping during a raucous trip to New Orleans. About 15 minutes into a thoughtful Zoom conversation, the garrulous Niven poses a question of his own: 'Why was I managing Guns N' Roses?' Given what he describes, it is a good question. 'Because nobody else would do it,' he says, noting that the band's former management firm 'could not get away fast enough' from the group. 'No one else would deal with them. Literally, I was not bottom of the barrel, darling — I was underneath the barrel. It was desperation.' Case in point: his very first Guns N' Roses band meeting. On the way into the house, Niven says, he passed by a broken toilet and 'one of the better-known strippers from [the] Sunset Strip.' Stradlin and Slash were the only ones who'd shown up. Once the meeting started, Stradlin nodded out at the table and Slash fed 'a little white bunny rabbit' to a massive pet python. 'And I'm sitting there going, 'Keep your cool. This may be a test. Just go with it and get through it.' But that was my first GNR meeting.' These kinds of stranger-than-fiction anecdotes dominate Niven's wildly entertaining (and occasionally jaw-dropping) new book, 'Sound N' Fury: Rock N' Roll Stories.' With brutal honesty and vivid imagery, he describes the challenges of wrangling Guns N' Roses before and after the band's 1987 debut, 'Appetite for Destruction.' These include mundane business matters (like shooting music videos on a budget) and more stressful moments, such as navigating Rose's mercurial moods and ensuring that band members didn't take drugs on international flights. But 'Sound N' Fury' also focuses extensively on Niven's time managing the bluesy hard rock band Great White, whose lead singer, the late Jack Russell, had his own struggles with severe addiction. To complicate the entanglement, Niven also produced and co-wrote dozens of the band's songs, including hits 'Rock Me' and 'House of Broken Love.' Niven mixes delightful bits of insider gossip into these harrowing moments: firing for bad behavior future superstar director Michael Bay from filming Great White's 'Call It Rock 'n' Roll' music video; Berlin's Terri Nunn sending President Reagan an 8-by-10 photo with a saucy message; clandestinely buying Ozzy Osbourne drinks on an airplane behind Sharon Osbourne's back. And his lifelong passion for championing promising artists also comes through, including his recent advocacy for guitarist Chris Buck of Cardinal Black. Unsurprisingly, Niven says people had been asking him for 'decades' to write a book ('If I had $1 for every time somebody asked me that, I'd be living in a castle in Scotland'). He resisted because of his disdain for rock 'n' roll books: 'To me, they all have the same story arc and only the names change.' A magazine editor paid him such a huge compliment that he finally felt compelled to write one. 'He said, 'I wish I could write like you,' ' Niven says. 'When he said that, it put an obligation on me that I couldn't shake. Now I had to be intelligent about it and go, 'Well, you hate rock 'n' roll books, so what are you going to do?' ' Niven's solution was to eschew the 'usual boring, chronological history' and structure 'Sound N' Fury' more like a collection of vignettes, all told with his usual dry sense of humor and razor-sharp wit. 'If you tell the stories well enough, they might be illuminating,' he says. 'I saw it more as a record than I did a book. And you hope that somebody will drop the needle in at the beginning of the record and stay with the record until it's over. 'For me, dialogue was key — and, fortunately, they were all more f— up than I was,' he adds. 'So my memory of the dialogue is pretty good. … There's some dialogue exchanges in there that imprinted themselves for as long as I live.' One of the artists that doesn't get much ink in 'Sound N' Fury' is another group known for its hedonistic rock 'n' roll behavior, Mötley Crüe. Niven promoted and facilitated distribution of the independent release of the band's 1981 debut, 'Too Fast for Love' and helped connect Mötley Crüe with Elektra Records. He doesn't mince words in the book or in conversation about the band, saying he feels 'very ambivalent about the small role I played in the progression of Mötley Crüe because I know who they are. I know what they've done to various people. I know how they've treated certain numbers of women. And I am not proud of contributing to that. 'And on top of that, someone needs to turn around and say, 'It's a thin catalog that they produced,' in terms of what they produced as music,' he continues. 'There's not much there and it's certainly not intellectually or spiritually illuminating in any way, shape or form. They are brutish entertainers, and that's it.' Still, Niven says he didn't hesitate to include the stories that he did in 'Sound N' Fury,' and by explanation notes a conversation he had with journalist Mick Wall. 'He sent me an email the other day saying, 'Welcome to the club of authors,' ' he recalls. 'And I'm going, 'Yeah, right. You've been doing it all your life. I'm just an enthusiastic amateur.' And he said, 'Welcome to the club — and by the way, it's cursed.'' Niven pondered what that meant. 'A little light bulb went on in my head, and I went, 'Ah, yes, the curse is truth,' because a lot of people don't want to hear the truth and don't want to hear what truly happened. 'There are people in the Axl cult who won't be happy. There will be one or two other people who won't be happy, but there's no point in recording anything unless it's got a truth to it.' Niven says when the book was done, he didn't necessarily gain any surprising insights or new perspectives on what he had documented. 'The fact that people are still interested in what you've got to say about things that happened 30 years ago is almost unimaginable,' he says. 'I never used to do interviews back in the day. But at this point, it would just be graceless and rank bad manners not to respond. 'Occasionally people go, 'Oh, he's bitter,'' Niven continues. 'No, I am not. I don't think the book comes off as bitter. Many times I've said it was actually a privilege to go through that period of time because I didn't have to spend my life saying to myself, 'I wonder what it would have been like to have had a No. 1. To have had a successful band.' Well, I found out firsthand.' Niven stresses firmly that management was more than a job to him. 'It was my way of life,' he says. 'People who go into management and think it's a job that starts maybe at about half past 10 in the morning once you've had your coffee and then you check out at six, they're not true managers. 'They're not in management for the right reasons,' he adds. 'Rock 'n' roll is a way of f— life. It's 24/7, 365. And that was my approach to it.'
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Metallica's Album Is About To Make History
Metallica's self-titled album has now spent 999 weeks on the U.K.'s Official Rock & Metal Albums ... More chart, nearing a historic 1,000-week milestone. (MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/) Metallica in photo session at a hotel, Tokyo, November 1986. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/) Metallica — the self-titled album from the legendary heavy metal band — certainly ranks among the most commercially successful hard rock projects ever released. At the time of its debut, the collection was recognized as a genre-defining masterpiece. Decades later, it has proved its staying power, and both the project as a whole and numerous singles from the effort are still celebrated today. The full-length continues to sell around the world and is now inching closer to making history on one specific list where it has already held on for years. The album, named after the band, reappears on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart this week. It stands as Metallica's only title currently featured on the U.K.-based ranking, which tracks the bestselling full-lengths and EPs within the rock and metal genres in that country. This frame is a particularly special one for the band's blockbuster effort. Metallica has now spent 999 weeks on the list as it reappears. If it can remain for just one more frame — or even disappear and return, as is often the case for the title — it will become Metallica's first release to reach 1,000 weeks on the tally. The self-titled album is already Metallica's longest-charting success on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart by a wide margin. Only one other Metallica release, Master of Puppets, has spent triple-digit frames on the tally. That set is now up to 144 appearances. While Metallica may soon become the group's first release to notch 1,000 weeks on the ranking, it won't be the first to hit that landmark on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart when looking at all acts. Three other studio efforts have already achieved that feat, and are still present this frame. Nirvana's Nevermind leads with 1,450 weeks, followed by Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses with 1,220. Linkin Park's debut full-length Hybrid Theory recently passed the 1,000-week threshold as well. Metallica — the band's fifth full-length — was released in August 1991. The sound featured on the set marked a shift for the group, slowing things down and embracing a more commercially-viable approach. The album features smashes like 'Enter Sandman' and 'Nothing Else Matters,' which remain two of the Grammy winners' most beloved tunes. In fact, 'Enter Sandman' is still taking up space on the rankings to this day. The single dips a few spots on the Official Rock & Metal Singles chart this frame, settling at No. 17.
FACT
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
Guns N' Roses to rock Abu Dhabi this May – and here's how to get tickets
Partner Content: The band is making a return to the capital. Abu Dhabi is turning up the volume this summer, and leading the charge is none other than Guns N' Roses. The legendary rock band is making a triumphant return to the capital for one night only — and it's shaping up to be a show for the ages. Set to take over Etihad Arena on Monday, 27 May 2025, the performance promises an evening of electrifying energy, head-banging hits, and the band's iconic stage presence. If you missed their sold-out performance in 2023, this is your shot at redemption. Formed in 1985, Guns N' Roses shook the music scene with their debut album Appetite for Destruction in 1987. Fast forward nearly four decades, and the band still holds its crown, boasting more than 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a resume that includes Coachella headliners and the record-breaking Not In This Lifetime… Tour. The current lineup — Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer and Melissa Reese — continues to carry the torch with unapologetic swagger. Expect an epic setlist stacked with fan favourites like Knockin' On Heaven's Door, November Rain, Sweet Child O' Mine and Welcome to the Jungle. Whether you've been a fan since day one or are just discovering the rock legends, this is a concert that demands your attention. If you're after cool concerts, there are big stars coming to the UAE. Upcoming concerts include Kygo at Coca-Cola Arena on 30 May, Mary J. Blige at Coca-Cola Arena on 24 June, Jennifer Lopez at Etihad Arena on 29 July, Enrique Iglesias at Etihad Arena on 1 November and Katy Perry at Etihad Park on 7 December. Tickets are now on sale, starting from AED 325 and reaching up to AED 1,095 for premium spots. Don't sleep on this — a night of pure rock nostalgia awaits. GO: Visit for tickets and more information.
What's On
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Guns N' Roses in Abu Dhabi: Discography, distortion, dis-chord?
The biggest rock band on the planet storms the capital this month… It's often believed that two years marks a full circle. Two-year plans, two-year transformations, two-year sentences. Whether that has anything to do with touring or not is anyone's guess – but right on cue, Axl Rose & Co. are back, bringing their bulletproof rock songbook to Abu Dhabi exactly two years since their last foot-stomping blowout in the desert. Yes, sweet child – it's happening again. On Tuesday, May 27, the Etihad Arena will trade air-conditioned civility for full-throttle chaos, as Guns N' Roses returns to unleash a no-holds-barred, riff-soaked set of their greatest hits. While Abu Dhabi's entertainment calendar has already served up its fair share of megawatt names this year, this just might be the capital's final massive gig before the city hits pause for the summer. But fret not, because GNR will be amping things up. Images: supplied, Getty What's All the Noise About? Formed in 1985 in the wild heart of Los Angeles, Guns N' Roses exploded onto the scene with a raw, turbo-charged fusion of hard rock, punk sneer and glam-metal swagger. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction , landed in 1987 like a Molotov cocktail – spawning timeless anthems like Welcome to the Jungle , Sweet Child O' Mine , and Paradise City . It became the best-selling debut album of all time in the US. At their core, Guns N' Roses have always embodied beautiful, brutal contradiction. The volatile genius of Axl Rose, the effortless cool of Slash, the tight, driving rhythm section – all wrapped in a storm of excess, ego and electricity. They didn't just play rock. They lived it – loudly, recklessly, and unapologetically. Through meteoric rises, infamous feuds, years-long silences, and a landmark 2016 reunion tour that broke global records, Guns N' Roses have carved their place in the rock pantheon. Not quite grunge, not just glam — they're the gritty, guitar-shredding outlaws that simply refuse to fade. Still the Real Thing So why does a Guns N' Roses concert remain bucket-list-worthy in 2025? Because when it comes to live music, they deliver the full package – lock, headstock and barrel . Axl may not sprint like he used to, but the voice still cuts through the noise. Slash still rips like a man possessed. And the atmosphere? It's pure electricity. No gimmicks, no backing tracks – just a wall of sound and a crowd ready to scream along to every word. It's an experience that transcends generations. Whether you've been air-guitaring to November Rain since the '90s or just discovered Don't Cry on a vintage playlist, there's something unmistakably epic about watching these songs come to life on stage. Expect two hours of face-melting solos, cathartic singalongs, and raw, unfiltered rock – the kind that rattles your chest and reminds you why this genre will never die. Know before you go Whether you're brushing up or starting fresh, here are five must-know tracks to get you primed for May 27: Welcome to the Jungle ( Appetite for Destruction , 1987) Feral, iconic, instantly recognisable. The song that announces: 'You're not in Kansas anymore.' Sweet Child O' Mine ( Appetite for Destruction , 1987) The singalong. The solo. The moment the entire arena becomes one voice. Paradise City ( Appetite for Destruction , 1987) It starts like a sunset drive, ends like a fistfight in a dive bar. Rock perfection. Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover, 1990) Covered by many, owned by GNR. The kind of slow-burn anthem that hits different live. Don't Cry ( Use Your Illusion I , 1991) Every rock band has one heartbreaker that fans hold close – this is theirs. Guns N' Roses, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Tue May 27, 8pm, from Dhs380.
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Pink Floyd's Blockbuster Album Gives The Band A Very Special First
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon reenters the top 10 on the U.K.'s rock chart and hits a ... More milestone 650 weeks — the band's longest chart run yet. UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01: Photo of PINK FLOYD; L-R: Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett, Rick Wright - posed, group shot, standing behind mixing desk in recording studio control room (Photo by Andrew Whittuck/Redferns) Pink Floyd may have released The Dark Side of the Moon more than 50 years ago, but somehow, the iconic rock album remains a bestseller to this day. The band's masterpiece has long been viewed as one of the most significant and bestselling albums in music history, and it proves its commercial power over and over and over on the United Kingdom's charts. This week, the project manages another standout showing, fueled entirely by ongoing sales. On the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, The Dark Side of the Moon bolts from No. 14 to No. 6. The collection has topped the genre-specific tally before, so this frame is important for another reason. The Dark Side of the Moon has now spent 650 weeks on the ranking of the bestselling rock and metal titles in the U.K. That's a major milestone, even for a group as legendary as Pink Floyd. That 650-week achievement is more than just a huge number. It makes The Dark Side of the Moon the first Pink Floyd title to reach that mark on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. The band has a handful of other releases that have performed extremely well on the tally, including Wish You Were Here and The Wall, which have racked up 544 and 503 appearances, respectively. Neither of those collections ranks on the chart this time around, but they do return with some regularity — just not quite as consistently as The Dark Side of the Moon. While 650 weeks on a chart is undeniably impressive, The Dark Side of the Moon isn't alone at that level. In fact, it's far from the longest-running release on the Official Rock & Metal Albums tally. A number of other iconic titles have nearly doubled or even exceeded that figure. Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction currently stands at 1,213 total frames on the list. Nirvana's Nevermind has managed an even greater sum, with 1,444 appearances to its credit. Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory isn't too far behind, as it has now lived on the ranking for 1,023 weeks.
