As a reunited Guns N’ Roses gather acclaim on their Not In This Lifetime tour, let’s remember that it was on 19th June 1987 that they became the latest names in the distinguished list of artists who cut their teeth internationally at London’s famous Marquee Club. Paying a princely admission fee of £4, early followers of the up-and-coming band went to the celebrated Wardour Street location to see G N’ R’s first-ever gig outside the US.
The show took place in the very week that Guns N’ Roses first flickered on the UK sales charts, but still very much below the radar. The published singles chart was a top 75, so their new release ‘It’s So Easy’ was largely hidden from view as it entered the 20th June listings at No. 84. That turned out to be its peak, with two further showings at 96 and 88.
The band’s debut album Appetite For Destruction also made a slow start, debuting in the UK at No. 68 in early August. It didn’t really hit its stride until well into 1989, but in the meantime, that London visit was helping to fuel the fire.
“We did three shows [the second on June 22nd], and they were just awesome,” Slash remembered in an interview with the Sunday Times in 2014. “It was great to be part of that history. We were one of the last rock ‘n’ roll bands to come along and break out of that club. It had a great history, it was sort of London’s equivalent to the Troubadour. Everybody fantastic came to that club, and we had two great nights.
“I’ll never forget that week building up to it,” Slash continued. “We were [in London] rehearsing at John Henry’s and just scrounging around Soho, meeting people, getting drunk and picking up girls, and so on. It culminated in these two night, really sweaty nights, at the Marquee.
“I have a video for one of those evenings, someone was walking around with a camera, and videotaped the entire day, from before soundcheck all the way through the show. I have it on DVD, I don’t even remember who shot it, but someone gave it to me in the last couple of years. I’m sitting there with it, I don’t know what to do with it. It was packed to the rafters, and it was a real proper rock ‘n’ roll kind of thing.”
The Band
Axl Rose (Vocals) Slash (Lead Guitar) Izzy Stradlin (Rhythm Guitar) Duff McKagan (Bass) Steven Adler (Drums)
The Setlist
Shadow Of Your Love
Out Ta Get Me
Anything Goes
It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Nightrain
My Michelle
Welcome To The Jungle
You’re Crazy
Paradise City
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Move To The City
Nice Boys
The Fat Angel Sings 