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The Rise and Fall of Guns N' Roses: A Cautionary Tale
In 1991, Guns N' Roses made headlines by signing a record contract worth a staggering $1.4 million per band member, marking it as the largest recording contract in music history at that time. This monumental deal positioned them as one of the wealthiest rock bands globally. However, just three years later, the same band found itself in dire financial straits, with frontman Axl Rose sleeping on a studio mattress and guitarist Slash selling his beloved guitars to pay bills. The empire they had built, worth approximately $100 million, crumbled almost overnight. This article chronicles the dizzying ascent and the catastrophic fall of one of rock's most iconic bands, illustrating how their fortune slipped through their fingers.