when the album as released in 1987, it was not popular. next year, in 1988, it became very successful after the band had toured and radio stations played the singles "welcome to the jungle", "paradise city" and "sweet child o' mine". it was first on "billboard" 200 and became the best-selling debut album of all time, as well as the eleventh best-selling album of all time in the united states. with more than 30 million copies sold worldwide, it is also one of the best-selling records of all time.