So, here's my thoughts on GnR. It's not even a "you had to be there" because they have at least one (Welcome To The Jungle) of the most iconic hard rock songs of the 80's.
They came on in 1987 just as Hair Metal was taking off. They provided a great alternative to young hard rock fans that were not into Hair Metal. Hair metal very quickly became fraught with rip off bands and a lack of seeming integrity. When GnR showed up, they at least appeared to be the real deal. A sleaze style band born of the 70's Aerosmith mode with a little Hanoi Rocks. It was what you see is what you get. It actually felt like there was an honesty about them.
The band themselves provided some great imagery by themselves. Slash's look was instantly recognizable, as was Axl's style and voice, and Duff was the tall blond bass player who seemed really cool. A modern day, more outgoing Tom Hamilton.
Appetite For Destruction is an amazing album. It has all sorts of great LA imagery that just felt real. Plus as old friend Cozmo has always said, it's one of the great air drumming albums of all time. It's very exciting and easy to get into. I was lucky enough to catch them on October of '87 on their first East Coast club tour. They opened for both Aerosmith and Iron Maiden through most of 1988.
In 1991, they released the Illusion albums, which are both incredible. Musically, they matured and killed it. Very quickly they were headlining arenas for a couple of years. Saw them probably a half dozen times. The shows were fantastic. They were long shows with great setlists.
The stories started getting out that Axl was a douche. yes the shows started late. the opening band would come out and then like 2/2.5 hours later, GnR would come on, as if it were a club show.
Now should they be a RnR HOF band? Hell f'n no. Way too short of a career. But we have all these threads about bands and groups of albums, and you'd be hard pressed to find a band that had a better three album run during that time period.
I totally understand someone not like Axl's voice (which to my old ears has not aged well) or his douchiness. Maybe they're sick of Sweet Child, but those albums are filled with some amazing hard rock, and is deserving of most accolades they get.