I am writing this at the 1369 Coffeehouse in Central Square, Cambridge and they are playing this song. I realize that this song is to the young baristas behind the counter is what Led Zeppelin were to my generation. Although I cringe when I hear the words, classic rock, and Guns n Roses in the same sentence. I know that GNR deserve to be acknowledged among the greats.
GNR will always remind me of seventh grade at Woonsocket Junior High School in Woonsocket, RI. I was the only girl in the percussion section of the Jr. high school band, the only black girl on the field hockey team, and the only black girl who hung out with ‘The Metalheads.’ The Metalheads were the guys and girls who had long hair (for the girls amazingly teased up Aqua net –induced hair) wore tight jeans and rock t-shirts. Most of the ‘metalheads’ came from single parent or lower middle class incomes and in the mix were at least one or two ‘former’ preppy girls rebelling against their parents. For me the metalheads were my saving grace since most of the seventh grade metalheads were in my classes. I was the only black person in the college prep program. My classes were full of Guess jeans wearing, Espirit bag carrying, we only wear name brand clothing girls. And although some of them are really nice they didn’t really talk about things I was interested in. The metalheads I surrounded myself with were interested in art, music, and books. G introduced me to the Beat poets and wrote amazing poetry (and now songs). P I’d known since the fourth grade and I wrote my first poem about our friendship. I secretly admired her because she got to see Bon Jovi, Poison, and Motley Crue all before we got to junior high school. N introduced me to Ozzy Osbourne made me feel proud to be a smart chick, and ended up being the salutatorian of my graduating high school class. She even slipped an Ozzy quote into her graduation speech. I guess what also appealed to me was their attitude they didn’t care (or at least it seemed they didn’t care) about what others thought of them. They took pride in which they were even to the point of getting detention or suspended for refusing to take their ‘offensive’ rock t-shirt off. One of those offensive t-shirts was the inside cover of Appetite for Destruction that featured a robot rapist and a woman slumped to the ground with her panties around her ankles. I forget the kids name but he had been wearing the limited edition shirt and during fifth period band our teacher Mr. Kane walked over to the percussion section to go over a part of a song we were having difficulty with and he saw the shirt. He told the kid to stand up and turn the shirt inside out but the kid stood and said no and pointed out that none of the other instructors had a problem with it. Mr. Kane told him he didn’t care and to wear the shirt inside out or he’ll get attention. And in total badass metal fashion stood up gave Mr. Karen the finger and walked out.
“No ones gonna care about that band in few years anyway,” Mr. Kane said and returned to teaching the percussion section.
Well, of course, Mr. Kane was wrong. In the Art to Choke Hearts by Henry Rollins he describes how much he hates going to see a rock show at a university and he describes the opening band “The opening band called Guns ‘n Roses, and they blew the headliners off so hard it was pathetic.” Even as an opening band under the critical eyes and ears of Henry Rollins they were destined for greatness. So, sorry Mr. Kane you were wrong, GNR fucking rules.
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