Friday, November 17: Tig’s Rock Birthdays

Happy Birthday today (Nov. 17) to Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus. He's 51. Also celebrating is former Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre (71).

Guitarist Richard Fortus has been a member of Guns N' Roses since 2001 and recorded with the band on the 2008 album Chinese Democracy. Guns N’ Roses reunited with the classic lineup featuring Axl Rose on vocals along with Slash on guitar and Duff McKagan on bass in early 2016. The band also features longtime G n’R keyboardist Dizzy Reed, along with Richard Fortus on rhythm guitar, drummer Frank Ferrer, and newcomer Melissa Reese as a second keyboardist.

One of my favorite bands of all time, Guns N’ Roses formed in 1985 and the band had great success in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Their first album Appetite for Destruction is the best-selling debut album in U.S. with sales of 18 million. The album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. The successful Use Your Illusion albums were released in 1991. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. As a die hard Guns fan, seeing Guns N' Roses several times on the Not in This Lifetime... Tour  2016/2017 has been something I will never forget. I'm glad Richard Fortus is still with the band since he is a kick ass guitarist. Cheers to Richard Fortus on his birthday today!