Guns N' Roses | Signed and inscribed bass drumhead

Guns N' Roses

Signed and Inscribed Bass Drumhead

Pictorial drum head (584 mm in diameter). Featuring heart with red rose and wings insignia with hole (114 mm in diameter) to left of scroll logo, signed ("Slash") and additionally inscribed ("Rockwood 88") below heart; remnants of previous adhesive along inner edges and outer edge of drum hole, some soiling and minor scratches along surface, minor soiling. [With:] A color photograph (298 x 415 mm) of the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards performance depicting the drumhead in use on stage.

The original drum head used in Guns N' Roses' live performance at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards.

The present drum head emerges from an era that featured the original Guns N' Roses quintet—vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Tracii Guns, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Ole Beich, and drummer Rob Gardner—and marks the beginning of the group's successful relationship with MTV. Following their performance, the group took home the award for Best New Artist in a Video for "Welcome to the Jungle." It was to the first of many VMA awards and performances for the group, who took the stage again in 1991, 1992, and 2002. Other VMA winners and performers from that night included Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, and Elton John.