The emergence of Guns N’ Roses on the music scene decades ago shook the industry in ways few could predict. Known for their wild lifestyle, chaotic tours, and gritty beginnings—including sharing a cramped room without a bathroom—the band also broke a trend that threatened guitar-driven music. Gene Simmons of Kiss takes it a step further, claiming that one legendary album by Axl Rose and company saved rock & roll from “a horrible era.”
Simmons, Kiss’s frontman and bassist, reflected on the conservative mindset dominating the music scene at the time, likening it to being “pushed into the deep end of the pool, whether you could swim or not.” He recalled Kiss’s early struggles: “Our first years weren’t glamorous. We traveled hundreds of miles daily in a station wagon, taking turns driving and sleeping in the back.”
The rock landscape faced another challenge: the overwhelming use of synthesizers and drum machines. For some, these techniques symbolized evolution; for others, they marked a loss of rock’s raw essence. Simmons told The Quietus that this latter view was accurate—until one band arrived to turn things around: “The ’80s were a horrible time when guitars didn’t sound like guitars, and drum machines were everywhere. Then Guns N’ Roses came along. They plugged in their guitars and didn’t hold back.”
According to Simmons, the album that saved rock was Appetite for Destruction. “It had an honesty that rock & roll had been missing,” he said. He went further, comparing Axl Rose’s high-pitched vocals to legendary rock singer Robert Plant. “’Welcome To The Jungle’ is as undeniable as ‘Satisfaction.’ That voice—it brought back a singing style we hadn’t heard in a long time.”
Whether or not Guns N’ Roses single-handedly “saved” rock during a period of major transformation is debatable, but they undoubtedly reignited a raw, rebellious spirit reminiscent of rock’s early days. With their mix of searing riffs and unfiltered vocals, the band injected danger and excitement into a scene increasingly dominated by polished, pop-oriented sounds.
Guns N’ Roses are far from finished. Recently, they announced a concert in Barcelona as part of their world tour, with Rival Sons as their supporting act. The show is set for June 9 at the Estadi Olímpic in the Catalan capital. Tickets are available via Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and El Corte Inglés.
