28 years ago today (8/17/88). Guns N’ Roses released “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” the third single from their debut album “Appetite For Destruction.” It has become the group’s only U.S. #1 single and features one of the most dominant opening guitar riff and mid song solo of any rock composition. Lead guitarist Slash has been quoted as having an initial disdain for the song due to its roots as simply a “string skipping” exercise and a joke at the time. Watch the original band in all their sin and glory perform “Sweet Child O’ Mine” live in 1988 at the Ritz in NYC.
