Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records. The album was recorded from January 18 to June 23 in 1987, and was produced by Mike Clink. Most of the album's themes reflect the band's personal experiences and daily life, including their youth. The cover of the album depicts a Celtic cross and skulls representing each of the five band members: Izzy Stradlin as the top skull, Steven Adler as the left skull, Axl Rose as the center skull, Duff McKagan as the right skull, and Slash as the bottom skull.