Music
In this episode, we have Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose. At the time of this interview in 1987, Rose was 25 years old and was promoting an upcoming tour of Japan. Appetite for Destruction hadn’t even cracked the top-selling 50 albums, and it would be at least another seven months before the band really took off. In the interview, Rose talks about growing up in Indiana, the making of Appetite for Destruction, whether he murdered a dog, and which band is the biggest sellout. The interview is conducted by Steve Harris. To learn more about Steve, who is new to The Tapes Archive team, please check out our podcast-only interview with him which is out now.In the interview, Rose talks about:Going back home to IndianaHow closed off Indiana isWhat he draws from conservatismHow he left home at age 16Whether he murdered a dogGuns N’ Roses’ early success in EnglandHow the crowds are different in the United States Gaining more confidence as a live bandFred Coury, Cinderella, playing for Steven AdlerHow he stays fit for concertsWhether he’s ready for a long tourPeople he aspires to beMötley CrüeThe recording process for Appetite for DestructionWhat would he change on the albumProducers who were considered before Mike ClinkPaul Stanley of KISS as a potential producerHis vision for the recordWhat success means to himWhether it bothers him to be compared with Faster Pussycat and PoisonHow long it took to get the right lineup for Guns N’ RosesThe tepid response so far to Appetite for DestructionThe limited radio and video play the band was gettingWhat happens if Appetite for Destruction sells poorlySlash drinking and drivingWhat he will do if he leaves the music bizWorking with Izzy StradlinWhen he is happiestWhen he is most frustratedWhy he feels Guns N’ Roses is not getting played on the radioWhat band he thinks is the biggest selloutHis hopes that Sweet Child O’ MIne will be a hitWhether he objects to being labeled as heavy metal His love for the band QueenRobert Plant, Jimmy Page and Pete TownshendHis thoughts on fellow Hoosier John MellencampHow he and Izzy cannot wait to play JapanSome ‘80’s racist comments that were not considered racist at the time See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.