At what age would you let your kids listen to GN'R?

[seely]

Saw this thread on mygnrforum.com, thought it was really interesting, how old would you want your kids to be before you let them first listen to GN'R? Namely AFD and the illusion albums

I myself listened to AFD when i was 14, didnt do me any harm, heard One In A Million when i was 15, along with the rest of the GN'R albums, im 19 now, GN'R never did me any harm!
Some people think though that GN'R records are too 'mature' for people ages 15 or below, given many of the words of the songs (e.g. One in a million lyrics, pretty tied up lyrics, anything goes lyrics e.t.c.)

what do you guys think?

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

If they ever do discover GN'R, I hope they do it later on in their adolescence.

Some GN'R songs still make me blush.

[GypsySoul]

Some people think though that GN'R records are too 'mature' for people ages 15 or below, given many of the words of the songs

No matter what the subject matter, it's NOT a question of how 'mature' someone age 15 or below is.  'Maturity' is as unique as each individual.   The real question is how mature and responsible the parent(s) are when deciding what and when to expose their child to certain things.  And, of course, to encourage an atmosphere of trust and open communication at home to discuss whatever their child will be exposed to outside the home.

If as a parent you have to ask on a message board if your 15 year old is mature enough to listen to certain GNR songs then you've been spending way too much time online and not enough time with your family.


Last tour, someone on HTGTH (I don't know their age) asked if we thought it would be okay to bring his/her mom along to a GNR show.  The question was NOT about whether it would be 'cool' or 'uncool' ... the question was more about did we think the mom would enjoy the show.  That person's mom should get an award.   

[cineater]

She started at birth.  I had to transport her places 

Lyrics don't always mean the same thing to everybody and mean different things to a person at different times in their life.  Lyrics aren't responsible for people's actions and thoughts.  For example, The Beatles were not sending Manson a message in a song.  He would have found what he was looking for in some other song if that one hadn't been there.

When she was younger, she perfered Barney songs.  I can tell you they had a strange effect on this adult.  It's children's music you have to watch out for!

[jacdaniel]

Ok, my dad let me listen to Guns when i was like 9 years old and i loved it!!!  He had UYI2.

I hadn't got a clue what the "pretty tied up" lyrics actually meant but i thought the music and singing was awesome.
Then he played me "Get in the ring" and again, i had no idea what Axl meant by "Your just pissed off cos your dad gets more pussy than you do"

In ireland, being a pussy also means you have no balls or you are a bottler so the lyric made no sense to me but i loved the cursing!  All the references to drugs i also didn't understand until a few years later.

So there you have it!  I loved Guns even though i had no idea what the songs were about or what the lyrics were reffering to.

So to summarise, it does no harm if the kids don't know what it means!  lol  

And a new GNR fan was born!

PS: my mate and I let his son listen to GNR at 4 years old!!!  He loved Appetite so much that he now owns his own copy!  He loves WTTJ and My Michelle.

[Albert S Miller]

Well I can remember this pretty clearly, 2004 or so my girls were 13 and 14.  I was actually preparing our evening meal while watching "Welcome to the video's".  Once my girls entered into the kitchen and began randomly watching, the questions soon began, not to mention they adored Axl and Slashes appearance probably more than the music at that point, the music came in second.

Since that day my girls had the opportunity to travel with our family to see them for their first time at Rio 06, they were by this time quite familiar with the band and their music, and then again in December or January in our hometown.

Now at 18 and 19 they certainly enjoy and very much appreciate original line-up and also current.  I wouldn't say that it is their favorite band, but definately in their top 5 each of them.

If at a younger age my children had heard any of this music, it certainly wouldn't have made any type of impact on them, because what they are actually involved in at that age prevails, they would not have been interested, besides I really wouldn't want to expose my toddlers to music with such lyrics, and have them going around singing foul things wouldn't be a very smart teaching now would it?

As a parent I say save the introduction until the child is old enough to understand and enjoy what this great band is really about .

[GNRreunioneventually]

If they ever do discover GN'R, I hope they do it later on in their adolescence.

Some GN'R songs still make me blush.

wow your cool!

if i ever have kids they'll listen to what i listen too strait outa the womb.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

If they ever do discover GN'R, I hope they do it later on in their adolescence.

Some GN'R songs still make me blush.

wow your cool!

if i ever have kids they'll listen to what i listen too strait outa the womb.

I beg your pardon?

[BlowUpYourVideo]

if i ever have kids they'll listen to what i listen too strait outa the womb.

Isn't that an NWA album??

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

if i ever have kids they'll listen to what i listen too strait outa the womb.

Isn't that an NWA album??

A brilliant masterpiece, if I do say so myself.

[sixgnr]

I think that the Music have to let listen without any restriction... exception for some kind of noise that someone call music!
Of course the lyrics of GNR songs are very explicit, but Jerry Lee Lewis had have the same problem with his songs.
The first time that I listened a GNR song I was 14 but I've understood some lyrics years later... ok I'm Italian and the American slang it's difficult to understand.

[seely]

i suppose if you dont speak english, its not a problem as such though......

[Koskenkorvasieni]

Well, my two-year old daughter has been watching GNR videos with me and she was absolutely mesmerized by Guns stage presence. She started clapping her hands when the audience in the video was clapping

[GNRreunioneventually]

if i ever have kids they'll listen to what i listen too strait outa the womb.

Isn't that an NWA album??

i must admit i don't know what the fuck your talking about

who the fuck is NWA?

[AdZ]

i must admit i don't know what the fuck your talking about

who the fuck is NWA?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro08bILEvqc

[mrlee]

i doubt a kid could understand Axls voice at a young age (unless its deep singin axl). I couldnt understand high range singers when i was very young.

[AtariLegend]

i doubt a kid could understand Axls voice at a young age (unless its deep singin axl). I couldnt understand high range singers when i was very young.

Aren't you still very young...?

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

In fact, I wouldn't want my children to listen to GN'R.

I would not introduce them to it, that's for sure.

[GNRreunioneventually]

i must admit i don't know what the fuck your talking about

who the fuck is NWA?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro08bILEvqc

lol FUCK THA POLICE

i thought yall were refering to some underground metal band not old school rap

[_Mezz_]

I started at either 12 or 13, I can't remember haha.
I was really into Aerosmith and reading their bio and they mentioned GNR. I actually got into it by just going to the Guns N' Roses folder on my iPod and listening for hours - I have a 30Gig so I can have pretty much whatever I want on it. I got totally hooked.
I learned everything about sex, drugs, and rock n' roll from this band - they corrupted me in the best way possible

SO to answer the original question, I'd let my kids listen to the less risque GNR songs until they're maybe 13 or 14.