Rare Guns N' Roses RIAA 13x Multi-Platinum album award for their debut album Appetite For Destruction presented to Steven Adler, original drummer of Guns N' Roses. This award was also signed in black felt pen over the section containing the CD by Adler although the autograph is somewhat faded (see more in description below). Appetite was released on July 21, 1987 and certified 13x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA on September 10, 1995 for an amazing 13 million copies sold, which this award marks.
Appetite topped the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and became the best-selling debut album of all time in the U.S. One could argue that "Welcome To The Jungle" changed music, ushering out "hair metal" and in a new, harder-edged strain of rock into the mainstream. The melodic guitar lines of "Sweet Child o' Mine" and anthemic "Paradise City" also helped power the album's success. By 2008, the album was certified 18x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. See image above for the RIAA sales certification data of this album*.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA "R hologram" 13x Multi-Platinum album award with platinum disc, CD, cassette and album miniatures
- In VG condition
- First presentation award from 1995
- Rare presentation to Steven Adler of Guns N' Roses
- Signed in black felt pen by Adler on the plexi over the CD (autograph is faded)
- All original components unaltered with original back paper and manufacturer label
- Award was donated by Steven Adler for a silent auction and comes with letter of provenance from previous music industry owner
- Award measures approx. 17" x 27"
- "R hologram" awards were made from 1990-97
- Awesome collector's item for any Guns N' Roses fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation, rarely seen RIAA 13x Multi-Platinum award presented to original Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler, who played on this classic album along with G N' R Lies and the track "Civil War" on Use Your Illusion II before leaving the band under difficult circumstances in 1991. He was, however, inducted along with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and has sat in with GNR on numerous occasions in recent years.
This award was acquired from a sale of items owned by L.A.-based music industry limo company owner Al Bowman and comes with his letter of provenance. He worked for Motley Crue, Poison, Cinderella and others. Bowman, who also was involved in creating the L.A. Music Awards, indicates that this award was donated by Steven Adler for a silent auction benefiting a L.A. Music Awards event held in 2000 at the Beverly Hilton. Adler also served as a presenter of an award at the event and signed his donated RIAA award with his name and the words “To the biggest bidder” while there. The autograph and inscription are fairly faded but still visible (see images).
The award is in completely original condition including back with manufacturer's sticker from Milestone Awards. In Very Good condition despite it being 25 years old although it does have a minor tear or two on its backing paper and a small nail that has been inserted into one of the top back corners (see image). It is hardly noticeable and does not take away from the award's spectacular appearance. The nail could easily be removed and the corner glued but this has not been done to preserve the originality of this award that was owned by band member.
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Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good' wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.
As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.
Finally, a word on photos: Our photos are zoomable so you can get a very good look. Do let us know if you want photos of any other details on our pieces and we'll be happy to provide.
*RIAA sales data source: RIAA.com