In February 1988, Guns N' Roses—riding the wave of Appetite for Destruction, the album that by then had sold millions and became the best-selling debut in US history—delivered a legendary club show at The Ritz in New York, a 1,500-capacity venue that hosted Ramones, U2, and Metallica in the 80s. Recorded by MTV and later released as the cult VHS Live at the Ritz, the 80-minute set captured the band in raw street form: Axl Rose in leather, Slash with cigarette in mouth, Duff McKagan and Izzy Stradlin on backing vocals, Steven Adler on drums. Tracks like "Welcome to the Jungle", "Sweet Child o' Mine", and "Paradise City" showcased them on the cusp of global breakthrough—one year before stadium tours. As one of their last club-format gigs, this performance became a manifesto of their 80s hard-rock dominance.