"Knockin' On Heaven's Door" was originally recorded by Bob Dylan for the
Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid
soundtrack in 1973. It was released as a single two months after the film was released and it reached #5 on the Adult Contemporary chart as well as #12 on the Hot 100.
Guns N Roses frontman, Axl Rose, said he wanted a whole new generation to experience the song so GNR started performing it in 1987. They recorded it in 1990 for their 1991 record
Use Your Illusion II.
They took the song to #18 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. They often performed the song in memory of lost friends. They performed it in 1992 for 72,000 fans in England at a Freddie Mercury tribute show.
Guns N Roses "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" 1990