Appetite for Destruction Tour


The Appetite for Destruction Tour was a tour by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses in 1987 and 1988 to promote their debut album Appetite for Destruction, which was released in July 1987. During the 16-month tour, the band opened for bands The Cult, Mötley Crüe, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, and headlined shows across four continents.
It is the only tour in which the classic lineup of Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler performed together, aside from opening four shows in at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for The Rolling Stones in October 1989.
"We started out as a hardcore band and we toured our fucking asses off," Slash recalled. "Next thing you know, we've turned into pop stars."

Background

On August 20, 1988, Guns N' Roses performed at the Monsters of Rock festival at Donington Park in Castle Donington, England. At the start of their set, the capacity crowd of over 100,000 began jumping and surging forward. Despite Axl Rose's requests that the crowd move away from the stage, two fans were trampled to death. Media largely blamed the band for the tragedy, and reported that they continued playing despite the dangerous conditions. However, the venue's head of security noted that GN'R had not been aware of the extent of fan injuries, had immediately halted their set when requested to do so, and had attempted to calm the crowd.
The band's show at Texas Stadium on September 17, 1988, is remembered by the band as one of their worst performances. "The band completely fell apart in front of this massive audience," recalled Slash. "It was desperate on stage, trying to keep everything together. I have nightmares about it."

Opening acts

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
January 5, 1988Santa MonicaUnited StatesSanta Monica Civic Auditorium
January 14, 1988Los AngelesUnited StatesCoconut Teaszer
January 21, 1988Los AngelesUnited StatesThe Cathouse
January 31, 1988New York CityUnited StatesThe Limelight
February 2, 1988New York CityUnited StatesThe Ritz
February 4, 1988SacramentoUnited StatesCrest Theatre
February 5, 1988San FranciscoUnited StatesThe Warfield
February 6, 1988FresnoUnited StatesWarnors Theatre
February 8, 1988San DiegoUnited StatesMontezuma Hall
February 9, 1988AnaheimUnited StatesThe Celebrity Theater
February 10, 1988AnaheimUnited StatesThe Celebrity Theater
February 12, 1988PhoenixUnited StatesCelebrity Theatre
April 26, 1988BurlingtonUnited StatesBurlington Memorial Auditorium
April 27, 1988OshkoshUnited StatesOshkosh Conference Hall
April 29, 1988RockfordUnited StatesCoronado Theatre
April 30, 1988DanvilleUnited StatesDanville Civic Center
May 1, 1988ToledoUnited StatesToledo Sports Arena
May 3, 1988Grand RapidsUnited StatesDeVos Performance Hall
May 5, 1988ClevelandUnited StatesCleveland Music Hall
May 6, 1988SaginawUnited StatesWendler Arena
May 7, 1988DetroitUnited StatesState Theatre
May 9, 1988New York CityUnited StatesFelt Forum
May 10, 1988Upper Darby TownshipUnited StatesTower Theater
May 11, 1988BostonUnited StatesOrpheum Theatre
May 13, 1988MonctonCanadaMoncton Coliseum
May 14, 1988HalifaxCanadaHalifax Metro Centre
May 16, 1988Quebec CityCanadaQuebec Coliseum
May 17, 1988MontrealCanadaMontreal Forum
May 18, 1988OttawaCanadaOttawa Civic Arena
May 20, 1988TorontoCanadaCNE Stadium
May 23, 1988WinnipegCanadaWinnipeg Arena
May 25, 1988EdmontonCanadaNorthlands Coliseum
May 27, 1988CalgaryCanadaThe Saddledome
May 30, 1988VancouverCanadaPacific Coliseum
May 31, 1988SpokaneUnited StatesSpokane Coliseum
June 1, 1988SeattleUnited StatesSeattle Coliseum
June 3, 1988Salt Lake CityUnited StatesSalt Palace
June 5, 1988Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre
June 6, 1988SacramentoUnited StatesCal Expo Amphitheatre
July 9, 1988PhoenixUnited StatesCelebrity Theatre
July 10, 1988PhoenixUnited StatesCelebrity Theatre
July 17, 1988Hoffman EstatesUnited StatesPoplar Creek Music Theater
July 19, 1988RichfieldUnited StatesRichfield Coliseum
July 20, 1988WheelingUnited StatesWheeling Civic Center
July 22, 1988Cape GirardeauUnited StatesShow Me Center
July 24, 1988DallasUnited StatesStarplex Amphitheater
July 26, 1988Bonner SpringsUnited StatesSandstone Amphitheater
July 27, 1988AmesUnited StatesHilton Coliseum
July 29, 1988East TroyUnited StatesAlpine Valley Music Theatre
July 30, 1988MearsUnited StatesVal-Du-Lakes Amphitheater
August 1, 1988CincinnatiUnited StatesRiverbend Music Center
August 2, 1988IndianapolisUnited StatesMarket Square Arena
August 4, 1988PhiladelphiaUnited StatesThe Spectrum
August 5, 1988PhiladelphiaUnited StatesThe Spectrum
August 6, 1988Saratoga SpringsUnited StatesSaratoga Performing Arts Center
August 7, 1988MiddletownUnited StatesOrange County Fairgrounds Stadium
August 9, 1988WeedsportUnited StatesWeedsport Speedway
August 11, 1988ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
August 12, 1988ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
August 13, 1988ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
August 16, 1988East RutherfordUnited StatesGiants Stadium
August 17, 1988ColumbiaUnited StatesMerriweather Post Pavilion
August 20, 1988Castle DoningtonEnglandDonington Park
August 24, 1988MansfieldUnited StatesGreat Woods Amphitheater
August 25, 1988MansfieldUnited StatesGreat Woods Amphitheater
August 26, 1988MansfieldUnited StatesGreat Woods Amphitheater
August 28, 1988ThornvilleUnited StatesBuckeye Lake Music Center
August 30, 1988Wilkes-BarreUnited StatesPocono Downs
August 31, 1988PittsburghUnited StatesCivic Arena
September 2, 1988NashvilleUnited StatesStarwood Amphitheatre
September 3, 1988St. LouisUnited StatesSt. Louis Arena
September 8, 1988ConcordUnited StatesConcord Pavilion
September 9, 1988SacramentoUnited StatesCal Expo Amphitheater
September 10, 1988Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheater
September 12, 1988ChandlerUnited StatesCompton Terrace
September 14, 1988Costa MesaUnited StatesPacific Amphitheatre
September 15, 1988Costa MesaUnited StatesPacific Amphitheatre
September 17, 1988IrvingUnited StatesTexas Stadium
December 4, 1988TokyoJapanNHK Hall
December 5, 1988OsakaJapanOsaka Festival Hall
December 7, 1988TokyoJapanNakano Sun Plaza Hall
December 9, 1988TokyoJapanNHK Hall
December 10, 1988TokyoJapanBudokan
December 14, 1988MelbourneAustraliaMelbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre
December 15, 1988MelbourneAustraliaMelbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre
December 17, 1988SydneyAustraliaSydney Entertainment Centre
December 19, 1988AucklandNew ZealandMount Smart Stadium

Personnel

;Classic "Appetite for Destruction" line-up
;Substitute musicians