The definitive Guns N' Roses playlist

Guns N' Roses fans might forget that this was the first single from the band's smash debut, Appetite for Destruction. One of the many "reality" songs that fill Appetite, "It's So Easy" is about the group being so poor and downtrodden during its early days that members survived thanks to female fans buying them food and alcohol and offering a place to crash. It's long been a staple during live sets. 

Another gem from Appetite for Destruction. Over the years, singer Axl Rose has stated that the band didn't always know what song it planned to open live shows with but that "Mr. Brownstone" would always be played second.

Released from Appetite in the United Kingdom in Fall 1987, then in the United States more than a year later. "Welcome to the Jungle" was the band's first top-10 hit, peaking at No. 7 on Billboard's Hot 100. Much of the song's success can also be attributed to the music video (complete with Alx Rose's teased glam metal hair) that was in heavy rotation on MTV. The song highlights Rose's depiction of the seedy parts of Hollywood, contrasting what he was used to growing up in the rural Midwest. The song continues to be used in sports arenas and stadiums to excite the home crowd.

As G N' R fans awaited new music from the band in the wake of Appetite for Destruction and half-live/half-acoustic G N' R Lies (1988), "Civil War" was released in 1990 ahead of its inclusion on the Use Your Illusion II album, which was released in tandem with Use Your Illusion I on September 1991. This is the Guns' "protest" song of all wars. While it reached No. 4 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, "Civil War" never achieved the level of commercial success as other songs on the album. 

In the band's early days, members would spend the little cash they had on booze. They were particularly fond of "Night Train Express" — the fortified wine that's cheap but also has an alcohol content of 17.5 percent. This song celebrates the drink and those lean years before striking it big with Appetite for Destruction. Though the tune barely cracked the Hot 100, it's been a live favorite over the years. 

One of the shorter Guns N' Roses tracks on Use Your Illusion II. It's one of those "look back" or "recollection" songs. It's also a bit of a musical respite from the over-indulgence, opus-type material that filled up a good chunk of UYI II. It's a solid rock song that has been part of Guns N' Roses live sets since the band reunited in 2016. 

"You Could Be Mine" earned mainstream success from its inclusion on the Terminator 2: Judgment Day soundtrack. It was also the first single officially released from the Use Your Illusion II record and arguably the most popular number from that project. Complete with its memorable drum and guitar intro, the track was co-written by Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin before the release of Appetite for Destruction but never found a home on the band's smash debut album.

The first of two covers on this list. Guns' version of the Paul McCartney and Wings classic doesn't veer too much from the original release. Of course, Axl Rose's trademark wailing made it popular with mainstream rock fans. Off the Use Your Illusion I album, the band earned a Grammy Award nomination for this version, and it became a live staple during the reunion tour.

One of several underrated tracks off Appetite for Destruction. Axl Rose penned the lyrics about the rather hard life of a longtime female friend of Slash, who also befriended the band. And just like the harsh lyrics, the real Michelle was dealing with drug addiction and the loss of her mother and father. "My Michelle" was never released as a single but is one of G N' R's best deep cuts. 

The opening track to Use Your Illusion I, "Right Next Door to Hell" begins with a grunge-like Duff McKagan bass riff and tears into gear from there. Though never released as a single, it's a solid G N' R deep cut that is in the spirit of the edgier, grittier Appetite for Destruction. Of the two Use Your Illusion records, I is by far the harder and faster record. This is a good start to a seven-times-platinum album that debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

Among a handful of super-sized tracks found on the Use Your Illusion albums. "Estranged" has a running time of 9 minutes, 23 seconds and is part of a song/music video "trilogy" (more to come about that) inspired by the short story Without You by writer/musician Del James. It's one of the band's most emotional songs and somewhat pretentious, especially considering Axl Rose's penchant for drawing attention to himself. While it might seem like a jump-the-shark moment for the band, "Estranged" remains one of Guns' most recognizable songs. 

Nothing better than starting a fight through song, or at least challenging music critics and magazine founders to one. "Get in the Ring" is an obscenity-laden whine fest from Rose aimed at those who seemingly wronged the band through print. Complete with boxing-like introductions, crowd noise, and a round bell, it's one of the band's more animated offerings and an underrated presence on the Use Your Illusion II album.

Another somewhat hidden gem from Use Your Illusion I. It's one of the band's more creative musical compositions. Axl Rose wrote the opening acoustic guitar part before the "nutcracker" transition into a blistering rock journey that can hold its own with any other song on the album.

From Use Your Illusion II, "Breakdown" is among the deepest cuts within the Guns N' Roses catalog. The song is a likable, fast-paced romp with a Jim Steinman-Meat Loaf-type vibe. It's an example of how fans should expect the unexpected from Guns.

As we now, G N' R never shied away from controversy. Regarding its actual material, "One in a Million," off the Appetite follow-up G N' R Lies (1988), might be the group's most controversial tune. Axl Rose seemed to offend just about everyone. As usual, Rose claimed he was being honest and expressing his feelings about certain situations he found himself in at the time.

Izzy Stradlin contributed significantly to the Use Your Illusion albums, but he got sober and left the band before both records blew up. "Bad Obsession" was one of his stronger contributions. A bluesy tune about Stradlin's then-dependence on drugs is still played at current G N' R live shows. Hanoi Rocks frontman and longtime friend of the band Michael Monroe played harmonica and saxophone on this track.

Clocking in at 10 minutes, 14 seconds to close Use Your Illusion I, "Coma" is the longest song Guns N' Roses has ever recorded. Despite its epic duration, "Coma" is an intense listening experience that became a regular part of the group's live set during the reunion shows.

No, none of the members of Guns N' Roses tried to kill an old girlfriend or significant other. It was a bit of dark humor for a band with no problem pushing the envelope with its musical subject matter. Another acoustic cut off the Lies record, "Used to Love Her" was played on the band's reunion tour.

As most Guns fans know, there are two versions of "Don't Cry," which, in its original recorded form, failed to make the cut on Appetite for Destruction. Instead, the most recognized commercial version was released on Use Your Illusion I and peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's Hot 100. At the same time, a take with alternative lyrics was part of Use Your Illusion II. "Don't Cry," along with "Estranged" is part of the aforementioned song trilogy inspired by Del James' Without You.

"Sweet Child O' Mine" is the only No. 1 U.S. single in the band's history. This and "Welcome to the Jungle" are the band's two most recognizable songs and helped make Appetite for Destruction sell a reported 30 million copies. Axl Rose penned the lyrics to this rock ballad for model and then-girlfriend (and eventual wife) Erin Everly. Slash, initially, was not fond of the tune, but his guitar intro remains one of the most recognizable in music history.

One of the great album finales of all time, this Appetite closer is packed with hard-rock emotion that's like a musical roller coaster with a passionate climax. Though never released as a single, "Rocket Queen" has long been a fan favorite and a regular during live sets. The track is perhaps most infamously known for featuring the recording of an actual sex act on the studio version.

The only single released off G N' R Lies, "Patience" remains one of Guns N' Roses' most popular songs. It reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 and could be considered the start of hard rock/metal bands stripping down their sound with an acoustic track. The song still seemed more raw and honest than the power ballads coming out of the hair/glam metal scene. The version from Live Era '87–'93 should not be missed. 

Part of the so-called song trilogy with the predecessor "Don't Cry" and followed by "Estranged," "November Rain" is an example of how the band — specifically Axl Rose — was becoming more grandiose than desired. Hard rock ballads don't get more over-the-top than this nearly nine-minute piece that reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. The popular music video was even more dramatic (Remember the guy diving into the wedding cake?) featuring Rose's girlfriend at the time, model Stephanie Seymour. Rose's focus on writing and producing more high-brow tracks like this proved to be part of his growing riff with bandmates Slash and Duff McKagan, who preferred a more straightforward rock approach.

The other notable G N' R cover is from another music legend. The band does a strong job of amping up this Bob Dylan track, and most rock fans are probably more familiar with the latter than the former. While Guns' studio version can be found on the Days of Thunder soundtrack and an altered take on Use Your Illusion II, this cover always seems best when played live. Most notably during the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.

Slash came up with the famed intro and the driving guitar riff that runs throughout the song. He also considers this his favorite Guns N' Roses number. Reaching No. 5 on the Hot 100 chart, "Paradise City" was the third track off Appetite for Destruction to crack the top 10. It's also long been the closing number for the band's live sets. During the reunion tour, it was complete with pyrotechnics, confetti, and even fireworks at some outdoor stops.