3 of the Best First No. 1 Hits of 80s Classic Rock
This American Songwriter piece looks back at three classic rock anthems from the 1980s that each marked the first time their respective bands topped the Billboard Hot 100, exploring the stories behind their creation. It highlights how these tracks became defining moments for Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi and Foreigner, cementing their status as arena-rock staples decades on.
The songs featured are Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine", born from a jam session where Slash improvised a melody he insists was not a warm-up exercise; Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name", written by Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child and Richie Sambora in a basement and released from 1986's Slippery When Wet; and Foreigner's power ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is", officially credited to Mick Jones alone, though former bandmate Lou Gramm has disputed this, claiming he contributed but received only 5% credit.
– Three 1980s rock classics that gave their bands their first US No. 1 hit
– – "Sweet Child O' Mine" (Guns N' Roses), "You Give Love A Bad Name" (Bon Jovi), "I Want To Know What Love Is" (Foreigner)
– Foreigner's Lou Gramm disputes sole songwriting credit given to Mick Jones
- Three major rock bands—Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, and Foreigner—achieved their first Billboard #1 singles during the 1980s
- Each song emerged through different creative processes: solo composition, collaborative basement writing, and contested group effort
- Disputes over songwriting credit arose years later, particularly around the full contributors to Foreigner's ballad