Former Guns N’ Roses members gathered Saturday night in Cleveland for their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
GNR’s original lineup - Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, along with later additions Matt Sorum and Dizzy Reed - were honored as part of the Class Of 2012.
Following their induction by Green Day, bassist Duff McKagan kicked off the band's induction speech.
"I'm so honored to have met these guys in the back alleys of Hollywood,” said Duff. “We learned how to write songs together. We created the brutality, beauty and total truth all at once, but we were writing songs for ourselves. We had no audience. We played our first gigs with very few fans. And as we progressed, more and more fans came and they were relating to these songs. I don't know if they were relating to us so much or the songs. They spoke to them. I don't know if it matters who's here tonight, because it's about the music that that band created."
"We have new fans who have never seen the original lineup,” said Slash, “and they're pulling for us."
Drummer Steven Adler quoted Queen's “We Are the Champions": "You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, and I thank you all."
Slash, Duff, Steven and Matt were joined by guitarist Gilby Clarke and singer Myles Kennedy on stage to perform three "Appetite For Destruction" songs: "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City", with "Use Your Illusion"-era member Sorum sitting behind the drum kit on "Brownstone" and the man he replaced, Adler, rocking the drums for the last two songs.
Guns N' Roses Guns N’ Roses – Mr. Brownstone
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame – Cleveland, OH – April 14, 2012
Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame – Cleveland, OH – April 14, 2012
Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame – Cleveland, OH – April 14, 2012
Guns N’ Roses – acceptance speech / Mr. Brownstone / Sweet Child O’ Mine
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame – Cleveland, OH – April 14, 2012
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