# Appetite for Destruction Tour

The Appetite for Destruction Tour was a tour by 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

* Faster Pussycat
* The Quireboys
* Ezo
* Funhouse
* Junkyard
* L.A. Guns
* T.S.O.L.
* U.D.O.
* Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction
* Kings of the Sun
* The Angels (Angel City)
* Knightshade

## Setlists
### Songs played overall

| Song | Artist | Album |
| "Welcome to the Jungle" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Nightrain" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Out Ta Get Me" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Mr. Brownstone" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "It's So Easy" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Anything Goes" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "You're Crazy" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "My Michelle" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Rocket Queen" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Sweet Child O' Mine" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Paradise City" | Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction |
| "You're Crazy" | Guns N' Roses | GN'R Lies |
| "Move to the City" | Guns N' Roses | GN'R Lies |
| "Patience" | Guns N' Roses | GN'R Lies |
| "Used to Love Her" | Guns N' Roses | GN'R Lies |
| "Reckless Life" | Guns N' Roses | GN'R Lies |
| "One in a Million" | Guns N' Roses | GN'R Lies |
| "Mama Kin" | Aerosmith | GN'R Lies |
| "Nice Boys" | Rose Tattoo | GN'R Lies |
| "Scarred for Life" | Rose Tattoo | Unreleased |
| "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | Bob Dylan | Use Your Illusion II |
| "Yesterdays" | Guns N' Roses | Use Your Illusion II |
| "Civil War" | Guns N' Roses | Use Your Illusion II |
| "Don't Cry" | Guns N' Roses | Use Your Illusion I |
| "Hair of the Dog" | Nazareth | Spaghetti Incident |
| "Down on the Farm" | U.K. Subs | Spaghetti Incident |
| "It Tastes Good, Don't It?" | Guns N' Roses | Unreleased |
| "Sentimental Movie" | Guns N' Roses | Unreleased |
| "Shadow of Your Love" | Hollywood Rose | Unreleased |
| "Whole Lotta Rosie" | AC/DC | Unreleased |
| "Communication Breakdown" | Led Zeppelin | Unreleased |
| "Rock & Roll" | Led Zeppelin | Unreleased |
| "You Shook Me" | Willie Dixon | Unreleased |
| "Honky Tonk Women" | The Rolling Stones | Unreleased |
| "Born to Be Wild" | Mars Bonfire | Unreleased |
| "Wishing Well" | Free | Unreleased |
| "I Got a Line on You" | Spirit | Unreleased |
| "Corn Shucker" | The Mentors | Unreleased |
| "Not Fade Away" | The Crickets | Unreleased |
| "Marseilles" | The Angels | Unreleased |
| "Only Women Bleed" (Intro) | Alice Cooper | Unreleased |
| "Mother" (Intro) | Danzig | Unreleased |
| "I Was Only Joking" (Intro) | Rod Stewart | Unreleased |
| "Bad Time" (Intro) | Grand Funk Railroad | Unreleased |
| "Drift Away" (Intro) | Mentor Williams | Unreleased |
| Total (44) |||

### Typical setlist

* "It's So Easy"
* "Mr. Brownstone"
* "Out Ta Get Me"
* "Move to the City"
* "You're Crazy"
* "My Michelle"
* "Rocket Queen"
* "Sweet Child O' Mine"
* "Welcome to the Jungle"
* "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover) [Encore]
* "Nightrain"
* "Paradise City"

### North America (Aerosmith leg)
## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| Warm Up ||||
| June 19, 1987 | London | England | Marquee Club |
| June 22, 1987 | London | England | Marquee Club |
| June 28, 1987 | London | England | Marquee Club |
| Leg 1 – North America ||||
| August 14, 1987 | Halifax | Canada | Halifax Metro Centre |
| August 15, 1987 | Moncton | Canada | Moncton Coliseum |
| August 17, 1987 | Montreal | Canada | Verdun Auditorium |
| August 18, 1987 | Waterloo | Canada | Super Skate 7 |
| August 19, 1987 | Toronto | Canada | CNE Stadium |
| August 21, 1987 | Detroit | United States | State Theatre |
| August 25, 1987 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena |
| August 26, 1987 | Edmonton | Canada | Edmonton Convention Centre |
| August 27, 1987 | Calgary | Canada | Max Bell Centre |
| August 29, 1987 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum |
| August 30, 1987 | Seattle | United States | Paramount Theatre |
| September 2, 1987 | San Francisco | United States | The Warfield |
| September 3, 1987 | Santa Cruz | United States | Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium |
| September 4, 1987 | San Diego | United States | SDSU Open Air Theater |
| September 5, 1987 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena |
| September 6, 1987 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Garden |
| September 7, 1987 | Phoenix | United States | The Mason Jar |
| September 8, 1987 | El Paso | United States | El Paso County Coliseum |
| September 11, 1987 | San Antonio | United States | The Sunken Gardens |
| September 12, 1987 | Austin | United States | Palmer Auditorium |
| September 13, 1987 | Dallas | United States | Bronco Bowl Auditorium |
| September 16, 1987 | Houston | United States | Houston Music Hall |
| September 17, 1987 | New Orleans | United States | Saenger Theatre |
| Leg 2 – Europe ||||
| September 29, 1987 | Hamburg | West Germany | Markthalle |
| September 30, 1987 | Düsseldorf | West Germany | Gate 3 |
| October 2, 1987 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Paradiso |
| October 4, 1987 | Newcastle | England | Newcastle City Hall |
| October 5, 1987 | Nottingham | England | Nottingham Rock City |
| October 6, 1987 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo Theatre |
| October 7, 1987 | Bristol | England | Colston Hall |
| October 8, 1987 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon |
| Leg 3 – United States ||||
| October 16, 1987 | Bay Shore | United States | The Sundance |
| October 17, 1987 | Allentown | United States | Airport Road Music Hall |
| October 18, 1987 | Baltimore | United States | Hammerjack's |
| October 20, 1987 | Philadelphia | United States | Trocadero Theatre |
| October 21, 1987 | Albany | United States | Palace Theatre |
| October 23, 1987 | New York City | United States | The Ritz |
| October 25, 1987 | Poughkeepsie | United States | The Chance |
| October 26, 1987 | Providence | United States | The Living Room |
| October 27, 1987 | Boston | United States | Paradise Rock Club |
| October 29, 1987 | New York City | United States | L'Amour |
| October 30, 1987 | New York City | United States | CBGB's |
| October 31, 1987 | Syracuse | United States | The Lost Horizon |
| November 1, 1987 | Washington, D.C. | United States | The Bayou |
| November 3, 1987 | Mobile | United States | Mobile Municipal Auditorium |
| November 4, 1987 | Albany | United States | Albany Civic Center |
| November 6, 1987 | Lafayette | United States | Cajundome |
| November 7, 1987 | New Orleans | United States | Lakefront Arena |
| November 8, 1987 | Jackson | United States | Mississippi Coliseum |
| November 10, 1987 | Huntsville | United States | Von Braun Civic Center |
| November 11, 1987 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum |
| November 13, 1987 | Savannah | United States | Savannah Civic Center |
| November 14, 1987 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum |
| November 15, 1987 | Greensboro | United States | Greensboro Coliseum |
| November 17, 1987 | Knoxville | United States | Knoxville Civic Coliseum |
| November 18, 1987 | Birmingham | United States | Jefferson Civic Center |
| November 20, 1987 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum |
| November 21, 1987 | Chattanooga | United States | UTC Arena |
| November 22, 1987 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum |
| November 24, 1987 | Lakeland | United States | Lakeland Civic Center |
| November 25, 1987 | Lakeland | United States | Lakeland Civic Center |
| November 27, 1987 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Coliseum |
| November 28, 1987 | Fort Myers | United States | Lee County Civic Center |
| November 29, 1987 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| December 3, 1987 | McAllen | United States | La Villa Real Convention Center |
| December 4, 1987 | Dallas | United States | Fair Park Coliseum |
| December 5, 1987 | Houston | United States | Sam Houston Coliseum |
| December 7, 1987 | San Antonio | United States | Cameo Theater |
| December 8, 1987 | Midland | United States | Chaparral Center |
| December 11, 1987 | Cape Girardeau | United States | Show Me Center |
| December 12, 1987 | Louisville | United States | Louisville Gardens |
| December 17, 1987 | Saint Paul | United States | Roy Wilkins Auditorium |
| December 18, 1987 | Chicago | United States | UIC Pavilion |
| December 19, 1987 | Madison | United States | Dane County Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| December 26, 1987 | Pasadena | United States | Perkins Palace |
| December 27, 1987 | Pasadena | United States | Perkins Palace |
| December 28, 1987 | Pasadena | United States | Perkins Palace |
| December 30, 1987 | Pasadena | United States | Perkins Palace |
| December 31, 1987 | Los Angeles | United States | The Glamour |
| January 5, 1988 | Santa Monica | United States | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium |
| January 14, 1988 | Los Angeles | United States | Coconut Teaszer |
| January 21, 1988 | Los Angeles | United States | The Cathouse |
| January 31, 1988 | New York City | United States | The Limelight |
| February 2, 1988 | New York City | United States | The Ritz |
| February 4, 1988 | Sacramento | United States | Crest Theatre |
| February 5, 1988 | San Francisco | United States | The Warfield |
| February 6, 1988 | Fresno | United States | Warnors Theatre |
| February 8, 1988 | San Diego | United States | Montezuma Hall |
| February 9, 1988 | Anaheim | United States | The Celebrity Theater |
| February 10, 1988 | Anaheim | United States | The Celebrity Theater |
| February 12, 1988 | Phoenix | United States | Celebrity Theatre |
| Leg 4 – North America ||||
| April 26, 1988 | Burlington | United States | Burlington Memorial Auditorium |
| April 27, 1988 | Oshkosh | United States | Oshkosh Conference Hall |
| April 29, 1988 | Rockford | United States | Coronado Theatre |
| April 30, 1988 | Danville | United States | Danville Civic Center |
| May 1, 1988 | Toledo | United States | Toledo Sports Arena |
| May 3, 1988 | Grand Rapids | United States | DeVos Performance Hall |
| May 5, 1988 | Cleveland | United States | Cleveland Music Hall |
| May 6, 1988 | Saginaw | United States | Wendler Arena |
| May 7, 1988 | Detroit | United States | State Theatre |
| May 9, 1988 | New York City | United States | Felt Forum |
| May 10, 1988 | Upper Darby Township | United States | Tower Theater |
| May 11, 1988 | Boston | United States | Orpheum Theatre |
| May 13, 1988 | Moncton | Canada | Moncton Coliseum |
| May 14, 1988 | Halifax | Canada | Halifax Metro Centre |
| May 16, 1988 | Quebec City | Canada | Quebec Coliseum |
| May 17, 1988 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum |
| May 18, 1988 | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Civic Arena |
| May 20, 1988 | Toronto | Canada | CNE Stadium |
| May 23, 1988 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena |
| May 25, 1988 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum |
| May 27, 1988 | Calgary | Canada | The Saddledome |
| May 30, 1988 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum |
| May 31, 1988 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Coliseum |
| June 1, 1988 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Coliseum |
| June 3, 1988 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace |
| June 5, 1988 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| June 6, 1988 | Sacramento | United States | Cal Expo Amphitheatre |
| Warm Up ||||
| July 9, 1988 | Phoenix | United States | Celebrity Theatre |
| July 10, 1988 | Phoenix | United States | Celebrity Theatre |
| Leg 5 – United States ||||
| July 17, 1988 | Hoffman Estates | United States | Poplar Creek Music Theater |
| July 19, 1988 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum |
| July 20, 1988 | Wheeling | United States | Wheeling Civic Center |
| July 22, 1988 | Cape Girardeau | United States | Show Me Center |
| July 24, 1988 | Dallas | United States | Starplex Amphitheater |
| July 26, 1988 | Bonner Springs | United States | Sandstone Amphitheater |
| July 27, 1988 | Ames | United States | Hilton Coliseum |
| July 29, 1988 | East Troy | United States | Alpine Valley Music Theatre |
| July 30, 1988 | Mears | United States | Val-Du-Lakes Amphitheater |
| August 1, 1988 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverbend Music Center |
| August 2, 1988 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| August 4, 1988 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| August 5, 1988 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| August 6, 1988 | Saratoga Springs | United States | Saratoga Performing Arts Center |
| August 7, 1988 | Middletown | United States | Orange County Fairgrounds Stadium (Westwood 1/Pepsi Concert Series 1988 (#5)) |
| August 9, 1988 | Weedsport | United States | Weedsport Speedway |
| August 11, 1988 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| August 12, 1988 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| August 13, 1988 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| August 16, 1988 | East Rutherford | United States | Giants Stadium |
| August 17, 1988 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| Monsters of Rock 1988 ||||
| August 20, 1988 | Castle Donington | England | Donington Park |
| Leg 6 – United States ||||
| August 24, 1988 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods Amphitheater |
| August 25, 1988 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods Amphitheater |
| August 26, 1988 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods Amphitheater |
| August 28, 1988 | Thornville | United States | Buckeye Lake Music Center |
| August 30, 1988 | Wilkes-Barre | United States | Pocono Downs |
| August 31, 1988 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| September 2, 1988 | Nashville | United States | Starwood Amphitheatre |
| September 3, 1988 | St. Louis | United States | St. Louis Arena |
| September 8, 1988 | Concord | United States | Concord Pavilion |
| September 9, 1988 | Sacramento | United States | Cal Expo Amphitheater |
| September 10, 1988 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheater |
| September 12, 1988 | Chandler | United States | Compton Terrace |
| September 14, 1988 | Costa Mesa | United States | Pacific Amphitheatre |
| September 15, 1988 | Costa Mesa | United States | Pacific Amphitheatre |
| September 17, 1988 | Irving | United States | Texas Stadium (Survival of the Fittest 1988) |
| Leg 7 – Asia ||||
| December 4, 1988 | Tokyo | Japan | NHK Hall |
| December 5, 1988 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka Festival Hall |
| December 7, 1988 | Tokyo | Japan | Nakano Sun Plaza Hall |
| December 9, 1988 | Tokyo | Japan | NHK Hall |
| December 10, 1988 | Tokyo | Japan | Budokan |
| Leg 8 – Oceania ||||
| December 14, 1988 | Melbourne | Australia | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre |
| December 15, 1988 | Melbourne | Australia | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre |
| December 17, 1988 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| December 19, 1988 | Auckland | New Zealand | Mount Smart Stadium |
| Post Tour ||||
| October 18, 1989 | Los Angeles | United States | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| October 19, 1989 | Los Angeles | United States | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| October 21, 1989 | Los Angeles | United States | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| October 22, 1989 | Los Angeles | United States | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| April 7, 1990 | Indianapolis | United States | Hoosier Dome (Farm Aid IV) |

## Personnel
### Classic "Appetite for Destruction" line-up

* Axl Rose – lead vocals
* Slash – lead guitar, talkbox, slide guitar, backing vocals
* Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
* Steven Adler – drums, backing vocals

### Substitute musicians

* Fred Coury – drums (December 17, 1987 – January 5, 1988)
* Kid "Haggis" Chaos – bass, backing vocals (May 27, 1988)