The True Story Behind Guns n’ Roses ‘Bad Apples’

The True Story Behind Guns n’ Roses ‘Bad Apples’ | Society Of Rock Videos

via Guns N' Roses/YouTube

Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea

Even the most ardent fans of Guns N’ Roses are divided when it comes to “Bad Apples”. The band had one of the most stunning debuts in rock, but they began to fell apart during the next few years. However, despite the substance abuse, personal issues, and massive egos, the members rarely outsourced songwriters.

“Bad Apples” was credited to Slash, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin and Axl Rose. At the time, they were fighting over the songwriting credits. According to Slash, Rose also insisted getting a cut from drummer Steven Adler’s share. They spent so much time trying to figure how to split everything.

“The days of band members getting a straight 20 percent were long gone because there were so many outsider writers this go-round,” Slash explained, “especially on the old songs that existed before Guns that were now in the equation, such as ‘Back Off Bitch’. We also had to factor in [new drummer] Matt [Sorum], who wasn’t a full-fledged member: He hadn’t been around during the writing of the songs, though he’d played on all of them.”

They spent two months in Chicago in 1989 for songwriting sessions, but Rose barely made it. Slash called that particular time a “huge waste”, but he admitted that they managed to write “a few good tunes” such as “Estranged,” “Garden of Eden” and “Bad Apples.”

There was so much chaos during the making of “Bad Apples”. It’s been largely forgotten too, and GnR played it only twice in concert.

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