Formed in Los Angeles in 1985, Guns N' Roses was the brainchild of vocalist Axl Rose and guitarist Slash. The band's early years were marked by a series of lineup changes, with Izzy Stradlin and Ole Beich eventually joining the duo. After a string of gigs on the Sunset Strip, Guns N' Roses caught the attention of Geffen Records, which signed them to a record deal in 1986.