On this day (July 21) in 1987, Guns N‘ Roses released their debut album, Appetite for Destruction. The LP introduced the world to hard rock classics like “It’s So Easy,” “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” and “Mr. Brownstone.” Although it took time for the album to gain traction, it later became one of the best-selling albums in the world and set a longstanding sales record in the United States.
Appetite for Destruction didn’t get much attention from the press. At the same time, the LP’s singles and videos weren’t getting played on radio stations or MTV. Then, after much lobbying, a Geffen Records executive convinced MTV to play the “Welcome to the Jungle” video once a night for three nights. Soon, it was MTV’s most requested video. The success of the music video gave the label leverage to get the album’s singles played on rock radio.
Less than a month after releasing their debut album, Guns N’ Roses embarked on their Appetite for Destruction Tour. The trek saw them opening for the likes of Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, and Motley Crue, and headlining shows around the world. The tour also included the Monsters of Rock Festival at Castle Donington in the United Kingdom.
Between the success of the singles and music videos and their extensive tour, Appetite for Destruction became a massive success.
Guns N’ Roses Set a Record with Appetite for Destruction
After more than a year of hard work from Guns N’ Roses and their label, Appetite for Destruction topped the Billboard 200 albums chart on August 6, 1988. It spent five nonconsecutive weeks at the top. However, that was only the beginning for the album.
Sales of Appetite for Destruction exploded during its second year on the market. The album received 2x Platinum status before it topped the chart. Before it left the No. 1 spot for the final time, it had reached 4x Platinum status. By September 2008, the album had received 18 Platinum certifications from the RIAA. This made it the best-selling debut album in the United States.
Guns N’ Roses would hold that record until 2018, when Cracked Rear View, the debut record from Hootie & the Blowfish, was certified 21x Platinum.
