In 1989 Guns N' Roses was banished to Chicago to get down to work on another album. "Why do you think we sent them to the Midwest? They couldn't get (expletive) done in L.A.," the band's manager told the Tribune at the time. But you can't take the rock out of the band. That summer was the scene of a rich rock tradition of GNR and the Windy City. Here's a 10-point tour.

Read more: The time Guns N' Roses squatted in Chicago

Guns N' Roses with Alice Cooper and band at the UIC Pavillion in 1987. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

1. Dec. 18, 1987, UIC Pavilion

First Chicago performance

"We've been waiting to get into (expletive) Chicago for a while now. We got our last gig canceled. And this one was about this (expletive) close to getting canceled," Slash says during a forty-six minute audio recording of this night's performance posted to YouTube.

After canceling an earlier Aragon Ballroom opening show for The Cult on Aug. 22, 1987, this show was almost canceled as well — drummer Adler broke his hand as the band was getting on the bus to head to the UIC Pavilion show. Fred Coury from the band Cinderella sits in on drums.

"We're the support band — the jock strap," Rose says of the band's role as opening act for Alice Cooper.

Rose comments on assault charges filed against him following an Atlanta show where he allegedly assaulted a security guard: "You know, I've got nothing against (expletive) security, you're out doing your job. But you don't need to (expletive) push kids." He also dedicates "Sweet Child O' Mine" to all the ladies at the show.

Location: 525 S. Racine Ave.

Guns N' Roses at the Poplar Creek Music Theatre, 1988. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

2. July 17, 1988, Poplar Creek Music Theatre

Second performance in Chicago area

Opening for Aerosmith, Rose thanks the crowd, as heard in an audio recording from this show posted to YouTube for making the band "double platinum last week." He's referring to the album "Appetite for Destruction," which the band released in 1987. "This next song we'll dedicate to the people who have helped us out by spreading (expletive) lies and rumors about us all the time. I think I've died about 12 times in the last two months. That's OK," Rose says at the end of "Mr. Brownstone."

Location: The Hoffman Estates concert venue closed in 1994.

3. Summer 1989, Top Note Theatre

Practice, practice, practice

According to an April 12, 1991, Tribune article, the fourth-floor space was used for rehearsals and as a theater over the years. Smart Bar was located on this level in the mid-1980s, before it was moved to the basement of this building. It opened as the Top Note Theatre in 1991 with a performance by Minneapolis band Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner and Dan Murphy.

McKagan talks about the band's Chicago rehearsal space in his memoir "It's so easy and other lies,": "For our rehearsal spot, we rented an empty old theater -- Top Note Theater -- above the rock club Metro. Unbeknownst to me then, some regulars at the Metro were also tightly linked into the city’s drug chain."

Location: Fourth floor of 3730 N. Clark St.

4. Summer 1989, apartments

They had to live somewhere

A Tribune reader reached out to say the band stayed in an apartment near DePaul University, "Some or all of Guns N' Roses 'flopped' in a flat across the street from St. Vincent's (St. Vincent de Paul Parish)," Kevin Garvey wrote in an email. "We lived a block west with our little kids and definitely noticed the GNR fans who seemed to be sitting on the church steps/fence/grass across the street around the clock hoping to see any GNR's. GNR being there seemed odd, but I figured they followed their own rules."

McKagan talks about the band's accomodations in his memoir "It's so easy and other lies,": "The first thing we had to do was find a place for the whole band and a couple of our techs to live. We also had a security guy -- in our management's eyes, it was probably to protect the public from our antics and not the other way around. Then we had to find a place where we could rehearse and write. We found two apartments above an Italian restaurant across the street from a church off Clark Street."

Location: Webster and Sheffield avenues

The building at 3730 N. Clark St., which houses Metro, Smart Bar and Top Note Theatre. (Chicago Tribune)

5. Summer 1989, (Cabaret) Metro/Smart Bar

Band hangout

According to a June 26, 1989, Tribune article, the band arrived in Chicago that summer in attempt to plan their follow-up album to "Appetite for Destruction" and "GN'R Lies."

As part of that story, Joe Shanahan, co-owner of Metro, confirmed that the band had been seen at the Smart Bar:

"But they're not recording here or practicing," Shanahan said, dispelling reports to the contrary.

But several Metro employees said practice sessions took place in the empty rooms above Metro, the former home of the Smart Bar.

"All I know is that they've been downstairs, having a good time in the bar," Shanahan said. "They seem to like the atmosphere."

Location: Metro and Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St.

(Chicago Tribune)

6. Summer 1989, Leona's

Pizza party

According to a June 26, 1989, Tribune article, the band arrived in Chicago that summer to plan their follow-up album to "Appetite for Destruction" and "GN'R Lies."

As part of that story, a man named Chuck Kouri claims to have seen the band chowing down on pizza and pasta at the Lakeview restaurant Leona's on June 15, 1989:

"When they walked in, one of the waitresses looked at them and said, 'Righteous metal dudes -- you could be in Guns N` Roses,'" Kouri said.

"When she came back and someone told her that they actually were, the guys in the band laughed, introduced themselves and gave her a pretty hard time about it.

"They sat at a table in the front window and even joined in when another table started singing happy birthday. The were singing off-key on purpose, hamming it up.

"Actually, it was kind of disappointing. They were pretty quiet, not at all what you`d expect from their reputation. No one bothered them and they just ate, paid their bill and left."

Limousines? "They all got into a Ford Aerostar and took off. Like I said, pretty disappointing."

After changing hands, the restaurant now has a different owner and name.

Location: Now a Home Run Inn Pizza, 3215 N. Sheffield Ave.

(Chicago Tribune)

7. Summer 1989, Kingston Mines

Slash drops in, slays

Metro/Smart Bar owner Shanahan says he and Slash would get together late at night and visit music clubs. One night at the blues bar Shanahan recalls Slash sitting in with a band for a "blistering solo" of the classic blues track, "Stormy Monday." About the experience Shanahan says, "There was a lot of Jack Daniels involved that night, but (his solo) was wicked."

Location: 2548 N. Halsted St.

8. May 24-25, 1991, Alpine Valley Music Theatre

First shows on "Use Your Illusion" tour

Tribune critic Greg Kot caught the opening night of the band's two concert stop in southern Wisconsin, which attracted some 40,000 fans. The band's original drummer, Stephen Adler, was replaced with Matt Sorum and Dizzy Reed was added on keyboards. Also, lead singer Axl Rose's left leg was in a cast due to a torn ligament suffered during a show in New York. Here's an excerpt of Kot's review from the May 26, 1991, Tribune:





Throughout the show, the Gunners evoked a host of '60s and '70s rockers —(Paul) McCartney, (Bob) Dylan, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones , Aerosmith.



This is the "classic rock" foundation on which Guns N' Roses constructs its music. Melodies build until they're ready to burst from tension, which is invariably released by Slash's long, "guitar hero" solos. Then, as in "Patience," "Dust and Bones" and "Sweet Child O' Mine," the band joins in for a big, anthemic finish.



There's nothing particularly innovative about this approach. In fact, the bands that Rose advertised on his cap and T-shirt-rappers N.W.A. and industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails are, stylistically at least, far more daring.



But even if the Gunners are "old-school," they're also a rock 'n' roll juggernaut. They invest proven formulas with fresh passion and sensuality.



When Rose sways from the hips and rocks his shoulders, he embodies those emotions. And his voice, a develish rasp prone to startling leaps into falsetto, is this band's wickedest instrument.



At show's end, his injured foot throbbing, Rose was grimacing but triumphant.



"It has blisters and it hurts like hell," he said backstage, "but we're still rockin'."

Location: Elkhorn, Wis.

9. July 4, 1991, World Music Theatre

Cancelled show, after St. Louis riot

It wasn't the first Chicago area show the band canceled over the years, but this show at the then-named World Music Theatre had to be postponed after the lead singer incited a riot at a St. Louis show two nights earlier, which injured 64 people and caused $200,000 in damage to the theater. This show wasn't canceled due to police fears of another riot, however, but because the band didn't have enough undamaged equipment to perform, according to a July 4, 1991, Tribune article.

Tinley Park

10. April 9, 1992, Rosemont Horizon

Last Chicago performance with three original members

The band received a priceless introduction: "Chicago! Of all the bands in the world, this is definitely one of them! From Hollywood -- Guns N' Roses!"

Video from the entire concert is widely available on YouTube. "Now we're going to do a medley of Barry Manilow covers for you," Rose says before the band played "Estranged." Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon, who was also from Rose's hometown of Lafayette, Ind., sits in on "Don't Cry." Slash plays Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" to begin "Patience." The biggest surprise of this show? A pre-"Siamese Dream" Smashing Pumpkins was the opener.

A show the following night was canceled since Rose skipped town -- the Cook County sheriff`s office planned to arrest and extradite him to St. Louis to enforce a bench warrant obtained by the St Louis prosecutor's office.

Rosemont

SOURCES: Tribune archives, Metro/Smart Bar owner Joe Shanahan