Classic Rock magazine names the greatest Guns N' Roses song of all time

Guns N Roses in 1988 — (Image credit: Ross Marino/Getty Images)

Inside the new issue of Classic Rock magazine is a special cover feature that'll have Guns N' Roses fans salivating - as we give you the 50 greatest Gn'R songs of all time, and the crazy, strange and fascinating stories behind them.

Decided upon by a combination of fan votes, industry polling and input from Classic Rock's own intrepid team of writers and editors, it gives you the definitive guide to the songs that have shaped Guns N' Roses' whirlwind career, from the scene-shaking majesty of Appetite For Destruction to the divisive, Axl Rose-led Chinese Democracy.

But what topped them all, you ask? We'll tell you: the song named as the single greatest Guns N' Roses song of them all is none other than the track that introduced millions of people to Gn'R in the first place: Welcome To The Jungle, the ferocious, instant-classic banger that kicks off Appetite.

"It’s just one of their hardest tracks ever, you know?" says rising Seattle guitar hero Ayron Jones, one of the names who picked Welcome To The Jungle as his favourite Guns song. "Everything about it. It’s equal parts hard classic rock with elements of, like, pop. You know what I’m trying to say? There’s a little sprinkle of pop on there. Not in the sense of like modern pop, but like [sings] ‘nananananana-knees!’ That’s really poppy shit, you know? That’s why I like that song so much. I love that song."

For the ten greatest Guns N' Roses songs as decided by the writers, readers and friends of Classic Rock, cast your eyes below. For the list of the full 50, pick up the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine, on sale now and available to order here.

Classic Rock 315 - Guns N' Roses cover — (Image credit: Future)

Classic Rock magazine's 10 greatest Guns N' Roses songs of all time

1. Welcome To The Jungle
2. Sweet Child O' Mine
3. Estranged
4. November Rain
5. Rocket Queen
6. Paradise City
7. Civil War
8. You Could Be Mine
9. Patience
10. It's So Easy

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Merlin was promoted to Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has written for Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.