The 1987 song Slash always resented until it sold 22,000,000 copies
Slash initially resented Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” because he felt its upbeat ballad style conflicted with the band’s harder, AC/DC-influenced identity. He also disliked the hair-metal scene, which he viewed as prioritising image and catchy choruses over substance, and feared the song would undermine the group’s musical ambitions.
Despite his early concerns, the song became one of Guns N’ Roses’ defining hits and a major factor in the band’s success. Selling around 22 million copies, it is now a central part of their live performances, and Slash has come to appreciate how strongly it connects with audiences and contributed financially to the band.
- Slash initially disliked the song’s ballad-like style.
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” became a defining Guns N’ Roses hit.
- Its success helped sell 22 million copies.