In 1987, the Simpsons debuted on the “Tracy Ullman Show,” Canada introduced the Loonie into circulation, the Dusty Seaside Sparrow became extinct and the face of rock and roll was changed forever. Let’s back up just a hair. Nineteen eighty-six saw the formation of a new rock supergroup, built around members of two L.A. staples, Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns. They combined parts of each band name (and the last name of founding members Axl Rose and Tracii Guns) to become Guns and Roses (G N’ R), a band that would go on to be infinitely more famous than either of the groups it was spawned from. The next year saw the release of their debut album, a little record titled “Appetite For Destruction.” Full of hard rock anthems, yowling vocals and guitar riffs both powerful and recognizable, it would go on to sell more than 28 million copies, be certified platinum 18 times over and become a staple of nostalgic rock lists the world over. Over the next five years, G N’ R dominated the airwaves, radio and television alike. It was impossible to go anywhere without hearing someone whistling Patience over and over and over again (usually off key). The music videos from the Use Your Illusion duo were nothing less than short films when they were released. “Civil War” renewed interest in “Cool Hand Luke” by making a meme out of “what we have here… is a failure to communicate” before anyone knew what a meme was. In short, Axl Rose and company were everywhere. Then “The Spaghetti Incident” touched down. The album of covers wasn’t accepted well, partially due to the inclusion of a Charles Manson song. Shortly afterward, the band started struggling and went on hiatus. After reforming the group, Axl Rose struggled to keep the band together and stay relevant in the quickly changing musical landscape. Now, 15 years later, G N’ R is back with a new studio album (“Chinese Democracy”) and they’re ready to make you remember why you love them so much. They are performing at the Covelli Centre on December 7, and you can rest assured knowing they’ll play a lot of their old standards along with the new tracks. Photo by Edvill