Happy Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Weekend!

Today, The Excellent 80's is honoring a few of the bands being inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland tomorrow. We have the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, and Guns N Roses to name three of the biggest acts being inducted tomorrow.

Let's kick off The Excellent 80's party today with the Chili Peppers...

I realize this is not an 80's song, but it's pretty dang close considering this song came out 21 years ago in 1991 and was probably the group's most popular album. From the Chili's fifth studio album, "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," here is "Give It Away"...




Lyrics | Red Hot Chili Peppers lyrics - Give It Away lyrics

"Give It Away"

Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik
B-side "Search and Destroy"
"Soul to Squeeze"
Released September, 1991
Format CD, cassette, 7", 12"
Recorded April–June 1991 at The Mansion in Los Angeles, California
Genre Funk rock, rap rock
Length 4:43 (album version)
3:47 (edit)
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith
Producer Rick Rubin


Now, onto Guns N Roses, which is an interesting story in itself because Axl Rose has declined his invitation into the Hall of Fame for personal reasons. So, there will be no reunion, and as best I can tell it is mostly due to his personal issues with Slash. Anyway, they made some awesome music for many years in the late 80's and early 90's. Here is their 1989 hit "Patience"...




Lyrics | Guns N' Roses lyrics - Patience lyrics

"Patience"

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album G N' R Lies
A-side "Patience" (LP Version)
B-side "Rocket Queen" (LP Version)
Released April 1989 (US),
June 1989 (UK)[1]
Format Vinyl, cassette
Recorded 1988
Genre Folk rock, blues rock
Length 5:56
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Izzy Stradlin and Axl Rose
Producer Guns N' Roses, Mike Clink

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4


Finally, it's those lovable crazy Brooklyn kids that are now all in their 40's but still pumping out music. It's the Beastie Boys with the first single from their debut album "Licensed to Ill," here is "Hold It Now, Hit It"...




Lyrics | Beastie Boys lyrics - Hold It Now - Hit It! lyrics

"Hold It, Now Hit It"

Single by Beastie Boys
from the album Licensed to Ill
Released April 15, 1986
Format 7", 12"
Recorded Spring 1986
Genre Hip hop
Length 3:27
Label Def Jam/Columbia Records
Writer(s) Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin
Producer Rick Rubin

Loaded Like a Freight Train

For you G&R fans, here is a live performance from The Ritz of Axl and the boys including one hairy half beast known as Slash. Voted one of the best all-time drinking songs, from their debut album, here is a good Friday song/video for you - "Night Train"...




Lyrics | Guns N' Roses lyrics - Night Train lyrics

"Nightrain"

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Appetite for Destruction
A-side "Nightrain" (LP Version)
B-side "Reckless Life" (LP Version)
Released July 29, 1989
Format Vinyl
Cassette
CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Heavy metal, hard rock
Length 4:26
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Axl Rose
Duff McKagan
Slash
Izzy Stradlin
Producer Mike Clink

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #93

Oh, Won't You Please Take Me Home

Another great song from a great album for you all today. Said to be Slash's favorite GNR song, this song was suposedly conceived in the back of a rental van after a gig in San Francisco. This band caught lightening in a bottle and truly rode the top of the hard rock scene for a good five or six years before the band took a hiatus and Axl seemed to screw everything up. Here is GNR with "Paradise City"...




Lyrics | Guns N' Roses lyrics - Paradise City lyrics

"Paradise City"
Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Appetite for Destruction
B-side "Used to Love Her", "Anything Goes", "Sweet Child o' Mine" (UK), "Move to the City" (USA)
Released November 30, 1988
Format 7" vinyl, 10" vinyl, 12" vinyl, cassette, CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 6:46
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Axl Rose
Slash
Izzy Stradlin
Duff McKagan
Producer Mike Clink

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5

#48

I was heading into my senior year in high school when these guys took the rock world by storm. No make-up, no hair spray, just five bad-asses intent on rocking the world. And rock they did for a good five or six year stretch as there was no bigger rock group during the late 80's and early 90's than Guns N' Roses. The guitar riff for this song from the top-hatted one apparently started off as a joke and not anything that Slash is particularly fond of, but once it all came together and with the sincere vocals of Axl Rose it became a huge hit reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard charts.

#48 "Sweet Child O' Mine"
by Guns N' Roses


Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O Mine
Uploaded by hushhush112. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.


Lyrics | Guns N' Roses lyrics - Sweet Child O' Mine lyrics

You Know Where You Are? You in a Chinese Democracy, baby. You Gonna Die!

Like how I combined old and new GNR in the title today? Sure you do. In a special Sunday post celebrating the release of the album that was like 30 years in the making, "Chinese Democracy", Axl and the old GNR crew are back in The Excellent 80's today with the song that rocked a nation and gave hundreds of high schools a theme song at sporting events... here is Guns N' Roses and "Welcome To the Jungle"...

Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Uploaded by hushhush112

Lyrics | Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle lyrics

“Welcome to the Jungle”

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Appetite for Destruction
Released 1987
Format Vinyl single (7", 12")
Cassette
CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock
Length 04:33
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Axl Rose
Slash
Producer Mike Clink

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

Where Do We Go Now?

Attention all you snake-dancing Axl wannebes, it's GNR making their first appearance on The Excellent 80's, and I'm sure they are just thrilled... everybody now, Whoooa... "Sweet Child o' Mine"...




Sweet Child O' Mine Lyrics

"Sweet Child o' Mine"

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Appetite for Destruction
Released 1988
Format Vinyl single (7", 12")
Cassette
CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock
Length 5:56
Label Geffen
Writer Axl Rose
Slash
Izzy Stradlin
Duff McKagan
Steven Adler
Producer Mike Clink

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1


And, in case you've never seen the 80's hair band tribute band called Metal Skool, you can check out their version of the G&R version from above with a little extra bonus of Tony Romo and a wasted Jessica Simpson "helping" out (note: there is some r-rated language)...