Step into the raw, untamed early days of Guns N' Roses with their unvarnished debut music video.
The Song
"It's So Easy" is a hard rock track from Guns N' Roses' iconic 1987 debut album, Appetite for Destruction. Released as the band's first single in the UK on June 8, 1987, the song was co-written by bassist Duff McKagan and L.A. musician West Arkeen. It originated as an acoustic "Hippie Ya-Ya" song before Slash transformed it into a hard rock anthem, with McKagan crediting Arkeen for teaching him the open-E tuning that gave the song its distinctive sound.
Lyrically, "It's So Easy" reflects the band's experiences during their early days in Los Angeles. It captures a time when, despite a lack of money, the band members found life "so easy" due to numerous hangers-on and girls they could rely on. The song explores themes of emptiness and a sense of effortless living amidst the burgeoning rock scene.
The Artist
Guns N' Roses formed in Los Angeles in 1985, quickly building a local following with their raw energy and distinctive sound. The "classic" lineup featuring Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler signed with Geffen Records in 1986. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, initially struggled commercially upon its release in July 1987, before eventually becoming one of the best-selling debut albums in U.S. history, selling over 30 million copies worldwide.
The band's early image was one of dangerous rock and roll, a reputation solidified by their gritty live performances and uncompromising attitude. "It's So Easy" perfectly encapsulated this era, laying the groundwork for their explosive global success that would follow with later singles like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child o' Mine".
Chart Performance
As Guns N' Roses' first single, "It's So Easy" was initially released exclusively in the UK on June 8, 1987, as a double A-side with "Mr. Brownstone". It reached number 84 on the UK Singles Chart.
Notably, the single was never officially released in the United States. While Appetite for Destruction would later become a massive success, the initial singles, including "It's So Easy," did not achieve significant chart success, especially in comparison to the band's later chart-topping hits.
Cultural Impact
Despite its modest chart performance, "It's So Easy" holds significant cultural importance as Guns N' Roses' debut single and a foundational track from Appetite for Destruction. It quickly became a live staple for the band, often used as an opener in their sets, a tradition that continues to this day, including on their "Not in This Lifetime... Tour".
The song's raw energy and unapologetic lyrics helped define the band's early, rebellious image. The unreleased nature of its original video for decades only added to its mystique, allowing fans to uncover a piece of the band's history that was too edgy for mainstream television at the time. Its eventual public release in 2018 highlighted the band's early, unfiltered artistry.
Fun Facts
- The music video for "It's So Easy" was filmed live on October 10, 1989, at the Cathouse nightclub in Hollywood, a favorite haunt of Axl Rose.
- Before the band played, Axl Rose addressed the crowd, explaining they were making the video "for ourselves" rather than for MTV, despite knowing a "nice video" would sell more records.
- The original full-length video was never officially finished or released for nearly 30 years due to its explicit content, which MTV deemed unacceptable. It was eventually made available to the public in May 2018 as part of the Appetite for Destruction: Locked N' Loaded box set.
- The video features a cameo by Axl Rose's then-fiancée, Erin Everly, in some BDSM-style scenes.
- Directed by Nigel Dick, who had helmed many of their early videos like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child o' Mine," this was his last video for the band before a hiatus.
- The video is a compilation of different performances from the same show, leading to Axl Rose appearing in various outfits throughout the clip, including a kilt over leather pants and different shirts.