Rebel rockers Guns n' Roses won over legions of white male rock fans in the late '80s with their gritty punk-meets-heavy-metal sound and bad boy antics (domestic assault, public indecency, property destruction, inciting riots) that often bordered on rock 'n' roll parody.

The band formed in Hollywood in 1985 when Indiana transplants Axl Rose (b. William Bailey) and Izzy Stradlin (b. Jeff Isbell) hooked up with guitarist Slash (Saul Hudson), bassist Duff McKagen (Michael McKagen) and drummer Steve Adler. They took their name from two former bands Axl and Izzy had played in -- the L.A. Guns and the Hollywood Roses. After paying their dues in the gritty rock clubs of Hollywood, Guns n' Roses self-released an EP, 1985's Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide, that caught the attention of Geffen A&R exec Tom Zutaut.