Guns N’ Roses is one of the most influential hard rock bands to emerge from the late 1980s. In this article, we summarize which artists inspired Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, and the rest of the band.
Musical Influences of Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses’ influences come primarily from hard rock, with key references like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC. Other classic rock bands, such as The Who and Queen, are also among their main sound references.
Check out an overview of Guns N’ Roses’ influences in the following list:
The Who
The band led by Pete Townshend has been especially important for guitarist Slash. The Who has served as a model for their rock attitude and powerful guitar riffs. It’s no surprise that, as many later bands have highlighted, songs like I Can See for Miles (1967) contributed to the birth of hard rock and metal.
Queen
We can accurately say that the classic song November Rain (1991) was composed by Axl Rose with inspiration from Freddie Mercury. The orchestral arrangements and dramatic progression clearly draw from not only Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) but also several other tracks in Queen’s discography. Axl Rose has openly expressed admiration for both the band and its legendary singer.
If you want a deeper dive into this, you can check out our article about Freddie Mercury and Queen’s musical influences.
The Rolling Stones
Guns N’ Roses shares a general love for The Rolling Stones’ music. Slash, in particular, has explained that several of their albums are really important to him: Let It Bleed, Beggar’s Banquet, Exile on Main St., and Sticky Fingers. Between 1968 and 1972, according to Slash, the Stones produced the music he loves the most.
Sex Pistols
Where did Axl Rose’s band get such a provocative attitude? This spot definitely goes to the Sex Pistols, whose brief career still resonates today. According to bassist Duff McKagan, Guns N’ Roses wouldn’t exist without the Sex Pistols. Their confrontational and aggressive style, both musically and visually, owes a lot to Johnny Rotten’s band.
Aerosmith
Another key band that shaped Guns N’ Roses’ sound was Aerosmith. Rocks (1976) is one of Slash’s favorite albums. Aerosmith was central in defining a guitar-driven sound capable of both fast hard rock songs and big ballads.
Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses even shared a period of intense popularity from the late ’80s to the early ’90s, with both bands releasing tracks that are now classics.
AC/DC
Another major influence on Guns N’ Roses comes from Angus Young’s signature guitar riffs. AC/DC inspired Slash and Izzy Stradlin to forge an electrifying yet catchy sound. Powerage (1978) is Slash’s favorite AC/DC album.
Hanoi Rocks
Guns N’ Roses were avid promoters of Hanoi Rocks, whom they cite as a major influence. While the Finnish glam rock band did not achieve the success of some contemporaries, their musical style and image were a reference for Axl Rose’s band. In fact, Guns N’ Roses have collaborated several times with Hanoi Rocks’ singer Michael Monroe. The Guns have even stated that their classic track Paradise City is essentially a compilation of riffs from the Finnish band.
Other artists and bands that influenced Guns N’ Roses include Elton John, Electric Light Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, Mötley Crüe, T. Rex, and The New York Dolls.
Which Artists Have Been Influenced by Guns N’ Roses?
Since their emergence in the late 1980s, Guns N’ Roses became one of the most impactful bands of their era, influencing groups such as Pearl Jam, Halestorm, Manic Street Preachers, The Pretty Reckless, Blind Melon, The Strokes, Avenged Sevenfold, The Darkness, and Ghost.
Here’s a closer look at some bands influenced by Guns N’ Roses:
Halestorm
This is perhaps most noticeable in the band’s ballads, but Halestorm has clearly incorporated Guns N’ Roses’ guitar-driven sound into their catalog. Slower songs like Beautiful With You and Break In are good examples. Notably, Halestorm’s album The Strange Case of… (2012) features Slash on the final track, Here’s to Us. They have also covered Guns N’ Roses classics like Out ta Get Me and Sweet Child o’ Mine.
Manic Street Preachers
The Welsh band Manic Street Preachers took Guns N’ Roses’ guitar-driven sound into alternative rock. According to bassist Nicky Wire, Appetite for Destruction was the album that made rock challenging again. Considering the Manics’ lyrics and music opposed the frivolity of ’80s glam metal, this influence makes sense. Both Wire and guitarist/vocalist James Bradfield have named Guns N’ Roses among their favorite bands.
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold’s lead singer, M. Shadows, has openly discussed Guns N’ Roses as a key influence. The North American metalcore band, known for virtuosic and complex guitar work, clearly draws inspiration from Axl Rose and Slash. According to Shadows, Welcome to the Jungle is a defining track.
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder has said that Guns N’ Roses’ rebellious attitude saved rock from the continuation of Mötley Crüe’s glam. Guitarist Mike McCready also acknowledges being a fan. The debut album Ten contains riffs that continue the hard rock lineage started by Slash and Izzy Stradlin in Guns N’ Roses.
If you want to learn more about the legacy of Grunge, check out our article about Pearl Jam’s influences.
The Pretty Reckless
Taylor Momsen’s band is one of the most popular hard rock and heavy metal acts post-2010. Their electric style, driven by guitarist Ben Phillips—a Guns N’ Roses fan—is quite clear. Axl Rose’s band influence is most noticeable on Going to Hell (2014) and Who You Selling For (2016).
Blind Melon
Axl Rose was friends with Blind Melon’s singer Shannon Hoon, who even sang backing vocals on the classic Guns N’ Roses track Don’t Cry. Hoon’s vocal style was partially inspired by Axl, capable of soaring high notes and gritty screeches. <his influence was so fundamental that Hoon began as a singer performing Guns N’ Roses covers in a hair metal band before joining Blind Melon.
Ghost
Ghost’s leader Tobias Forge has blended heavy metal and pop seamlessly, but his inspiration comes more from Guns N’ Roses rather than glam metal. This influence is notable on albums like Meliora (2015) and Prequelle (2018), featuring guitar-driven heavy sounds while maintaining commercial appeal. Glam metal felt too “soft” for a band with Ghost’s questioning image, but Guns N’ Roses served as a strong reference.
Other artists influenced by Guns N’ Roses include The Darkness, The Black Crowes, The Strokes, Every Time I Die, Asking Alexandria, and Buckcherry.