The Enduring Appeal of Guns N’ Roses

It is around three and a half decades since Guns N’ Roses hit their peak and, yet, it is a name that still has currency in the world of pop culture. This, we can see, in the buzz around their concert in Mumbai on May 17. They might not evoke the frenzy of a Coldplay but remember this is now a band made up of men mostly in their 60s churning out repeats.

The question then is what makes some cultural icons, while others, who might have been just as successful, fade away and leave no stamp on time. More than one element is necessary. They must be at the right time. Guns N’ Roses came at a particular moment of rebellious zeitgeist in the United States, mixing hard rock and heavy metal to echo that mood. A few immortal songs—November Rain, Sweet Child O Mine, etc— provided the engine to keep the story going even as the vehicle itself was becoming spent.  In India, they became a rage with a subset of youths increasingly tuning into western music.

Another factor was the brand they built. Look at the way Slash, the lead guitarist, appeared with his face always hidden behind his hat and hair. Imploding was part of the mystique. The ever-increasing unpredictability of Axl Rose translating into delayed concerts. The infighting and the drugs. It didn’t make for sustained success, but myths were being solidified and etched beyond just music. Some part of their impact must also go to burning out too soon. The devotees never got their fill. When they regrouped, they brought with them the draw of nostalgia.

They return to India after 12 years. The concert will be full and much of it will be middle-aged men with grey hair and paunches. But there will also be many are still as young as those middle-aged men were when they first proudly flaunted black T-shirts with the band’s name on it. Once anything becomes part of an ongoing cultural memory, who doesn’t want a slice of it?

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