Moshtalgia - Episode 04 - Guns N’ Roses - Appetite For Destruction

This is Moshtalgia. A podcast about albums we love, albums that were important to us growing up. 

In the summer of 1987, a seismic shift occurred in the world of rock music. A band of misfits from the streets of Los Angeles released an album that would become the soundtrack for a generation of rebels and dreamers. This band was none other than Guns N' Roses, and the album was Appetite for Destruction.

Our latest podcast episode takes you on a journey back to the days when rock was raw, unapologetic, and larger than life. We dissect the album track by track, sharing the stories and the mayhem that fueled the creation of songs like 'Welcome to the Jungle,' 'Sweet Child O' Mine,' and 'Paradise City.'

As two young men growing up on the east coast of Ireland, we found ourselves enthralled by the sheer power and emotion that bled from the speakers whenever we played Appetite for Destruction. It wasn't just music; it was a call to arms, an invitation to break free from the mundane and embrace the chaos of youth.

Throughout the episode, we explore the cultural impact of Guns N' Roses' debut album, how it redefined the rock genre, and why, after 30 million copies sold worldwide, it continues to resonate with fans old and new. We dive into the band's tumultuous history, the genius of Slash's guitar riffs, Axl Rose's distinctive vocal range, and with Izzy, Steven, and Duff, the rhythm section's relentless drive that gave the album its backbone.

We also share personal anecdotes, reflecting on how this album influenced our lives and the way we viewed the world. From the reckless abandon of our teenage years to the moshtalgia we feel now, Appetite for Destruction remains a timeless piece of art that continues to inspire.

This episode is more than just a review; it's a tribute to an album that dared to be different, to a band that refused to conform, and to the enduring spirit of rock 'n' roll. So whether you're a lifelong fan or a newcomer to the legend of Guns N' Roses, we invite you to join us in celebrating one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

There's absurdity, snark, and blistering twin-microphone facts from Taylor and Bourney, fully harmonised with double-tracked wailing and complaining. We men do play on ten, to Valhalla and back.

Best served with beer and a side of silliness. Lie back and enjoy it. Come join us on a review of those now-vintage LPs we loved in the 1980s from the bands that parted us from our money.

It isn't just two friends chatting in front of microphone about their long-haired heavy metal days. Well it is, but also it's much more.

Dive deep into the spurious subconsious of two middle-aged metallers regaling the days of their youth with squirming stories, analogue anectodes, and antsy accusations from the east coast of Ireland. We name and shame, mostly ourselves. 

Remember that first metal album? First concert? The rock ballad you first copped off to on a disco dancefloor with nervous hands and dry lips? Yeah, you do. 

We let the hair on down the back, steal tapes, photocopy covers, and even buy a bullet-belt. We deftly sew patches on our denim jackets, and pilfer magazines in the shop.

Offering our metal heroes no quarter. We praise and prosletyse, we ridicule and rile. We spar with each other and the teenage illusions we had when hearing these masterpieces.

Armed with a sonic scalpel, we cleave our way through track by track, appraise hits and filler a generation on. Who dared battle the Saracen? Who gave love a bad name? Who danced on glass? Listen and find out.

Tune in to rock radio again, hear it as it was, all entombed by fat and freckled guitar segues brought to you by our resident riffer, that man from Annamoe; Pat 'The Fingerer' Shaughnessy! 

We rifle through the pages of once-mighty UK rock organ Kerrang for hot takes of the late Eighties. Hear the words of Malcolm Dome, Dante Bonutto