Is it the best rock album of all time? In my opinion…yes! Some will argue that, but there is no denying it is one of the best debut albums from any band in history. “Appetite for Destruction” didn’t come out of the gates guns(no pun intended) blazing however, it took a little while for it to get its footing. It debuted at No. 182 on the Billboard 200 dated Aug. 29, 1987, and hit No. 1 on Aug. 6, 1988, but non-stop touring and MTV airplay(yep MTV used to show videos) of now-ubiquitous hits “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Paradise City” furthered the buzz that GNR might actually be “the most dangerous band in the world.” And when all was said and done, they were also one of the best-selling: To date, “Appetite for Destruction” has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and at a cost of $365,000 to make, it is now certified 18-times platinum by the RIAA. Since 1991, when Nielsen Music began tracking sales data, the album has sold 5.6 million copies in the U.S. In addition to spending five nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, it spent a full year — 52 consecutive weeks — in the top 10, from the April 23, 1988-dated list through April 15, 1989. Check out the short documentary by Loudwire below.
Happy 30th Birthday “Appetite!”
