The meaning of "Guns N' Roses"

[Mattman]

Don't laugh at this thread, because after all, this IS the same message board where people have talked about Axl's dental records.  This is about the meaning of the band's very name.  Now, we all know the real story of why the band is called Guns N' Roses.  It's an amalgram of two bands - LA Guns and Hollywood Rose - that band members were in before they banded together.  But I think their name is much more symbolic than that.  All this is just personal opinion, of course.

The name "Guns N' Roses" perfectly exemplifies what makes GN'R so great - the contrast in their music.  Guns are symbols of hate, roses are symbols of love.  And the band has both.  There's angry songs railing against city crime, women, rock critics, general injustice, or pure emotional distress ("Welcome to the Jungle", "Back Off Bitch"), but also tender love songs and emotionally vulnerable ballads ("Sweet Child O' Mine", "November Rain").  It's the contrast between happy and sad, angry and loving, that makes GN'R such an interesting band.  Few bands have such a wide emotional range.

To top it all off, although a minor point, the fact that it's "Guns N' Roses" as opposed to "Guns and Roses" says that these guys are punks that don't give a fuck about writing the entire word.  Beautiful.

[HoldenCaulfield]

I was gonna say about the same thing, about the contrast in what the band can do. A gun is one of the harshest things in the world, killing people, but a rose is one of the world's most beautiful things, representing love, and the band is a melting pot with all of those things...

[Mattman]

I was gonna say about the same thing, about the contrast in what the band can do. A gun is one of the harshest things in the world, killing people, but a rose is one of the world's most beautiful things, representing love, and the band is a melting pot with all of those things...

Yeah, but don't forget, every rose has its thorn.  

[Mr Cowbell ?]

Yeah, but don't forget, every rose has its thorn.  

Don't bring Bret Micheals into this. Although they had a very serious and dealy name POSION . I dont take them serious or think they are deadly. (ie Unskinny Bop) Songs like that are just fruity. It just goes to show some bands pick names that fit. (GnR) and other dont pick a prior name (Posion)

[Walapino]

I was always under the impression it was Poison and not Posion  

[Mr Cowbell ?]

I was always under the impression it was Poison and not Posion  

You got me.   But they still aren't as serious as there name would make them to be

[justynius]

But I think their name is much more symbolic than that.  All this is just personal opinion, of course. The name "Guns N' Roses" perfectly exemplifies what makes GN'R so great - the contrast in their music.  Guns are symbols of hate, roses are symbols of love.  And the band has both.  There's angry songs railing against city crime, women, rock critics, general injustice, or pure emotional distress ("Welcome to the Jungle", "Back Off Bitch"), but also tender love songs and emotionally vulnerable ballads ("Sweet Child O' Mine", "November Rain").

Close, but not quite complete. Guns and roses are also sexual metaphors; I'll leave it up to you to connect which is which. Velvet Revolver is basically the same thing, only with alternative words and the order flip-flopped.

[SlashFan]

Well I think that Guns N' Rose is just a name,and when they came up with the name Tracii Guns was in the band,it doesn't mean anything other than what it is,I guess people just like to read more into band names than what it is,wishful think,or whatever.

[matt88]

GUNS N' ROSES means 5 guys can put their feelings and anger into music and make the audience understand it better than any other band in the world ever has

[Izzy]

GUNS N' ROSES means 5 guys can put their feelings and anger into music and make the audience understand it better than any other band in the world ever has

5 guys?

The last time i checked GNR has had 19 members

[ClintroN]

Guns n' Roses  

I dont blame Axl for wanting to continue a band with THE coolest fuckin'  name around.
knowing GUNS N' FUCKIN' ROSES still exist's is great, they just wont release anything

[matt88]

GUNS N' ROSES means 5 guys can put their feelings and anger into music and make the audience understand it better than any other band in the world ever has

5 guys?

The last time i checked GNR has had 19 members

Well AFD era then smartass

[badapple81]

I dont think the guys would have thought about it like that when deciding on their name.. but what Mattman is true.. kinda cool.

[Neemo]

I was always under the impression that 'Guns' was Tracii and 'Roses' was Axl Rose and Duff 'Rose' MacKagan. and the name sounded cool so they kept it. Simple as that. no metaphors or anything deep. Just five doped up, drunk fucks sayin' "Yeah man, Guns 'N' Fuckin' Roses man, thats cool, heh heh heh, lets go with it. Guns 'N' Roses"  

But his has been discussed before, I believe...

[Dave_Rose]

You I realized things about the name I never thought of b4

[Dizzy]

I was always under the impression that 'Guns' was Tracii and 'Roses' was Axl Rose and Duff 'Rose' MacKagan. and the name sounded cool so they kept it.

This is true, and it was actually Tracii Guns' idea to name the band Guns N Roses.

But well all like to read deeper into the name of our favorite band.  

[Mattman]

I was always under the impression that 'Guns' was Tracii and 'Roses' was Axl Rose and Duff 'Rose' MacKagan. and the name sounded cool so they kept it. Simple as that. no metaphors or anything deep. Just five doped up, drunk fucks sayin' "Yeah man, Guns 'N' Fuckin' Roses man, thats cool, heh heh heh, lets go with it. Guns 'N' Roses"  

But his has been discussed before, I believe...

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's how it did happen actually.  But I'm just saying that the name is very symbolic of GN'R's music, whether they planned it that way or not.

[Mr Cowbell ?]

I'm sure Axl being the perfectionist put "some" thought into it.

[Walk]

You guys aren't catching the joke of the name of the band. You're being fooled by the 'N. It's actually Guns IN Roses. Picture a gun being rammed into a rose. It's a hilarious sexual innuendo in the name!  

Oh yeah, Axl Rose is oral sex rearranged. It takes a while for people to realize the little touches put into the names.