On This Day in 2018, Hootie & the Blowfish Shattered a Record Held by Guns N’ Roses

On this day (May 21) in 2018, Cracked Rear View, the debut album from Hootie & the Blowfish, was certified 21x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 21 million units. This made it the best-selling debut album in the United States. Until then, Guns N’ Roses’ 18x Platinum debut album, Appetite for Destruction, held the title.

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Hootie & The Blowfish released their debut album, Cracked Rear View, on July 5, 1994. The album entered the Billboard 200 albums chart on July 23. Nine months later, on May 27, 1995, it started an 8-week run at No. 1. However, before it topped the chart, the album had already reached a major sales milestone. The RIAA certified the album 4x Platinum on May 24, three days before it went to No. 1. By the end of 1995, the band’s debut received Diamond certification from the RIAA, the equivalent of 10x Platinum or 10 million units sold.

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Hottie & the Blowfish Break the Record Held by Guns N’ Roses

Album sales slowed by 1996 but didn’t dry up. Cracked Rear View continued to bring Hootie & The Blowfish precious metal from the RIAA. On May 21, 2018, it received three new certifications: 19x Platinum, 21x Platinum, and 2x Diamond. This officially put their debut album ahead of Appetite for Destruction. After receiving another certification in June 2024, the album is currently 22x Platinum.

Guns N’ Roses saw similar growth with their debut album, Appetite for Destruction. They released the album on July 21, 1987. It debuted on the Billboard 200 on August 29. Nearly a year later, on August 8, 1988, it started a five-week run at the top of the chart.

Appetite for Destruction reached double Platinum status on July 12, 1988, roughly a month before topping the chart. It would receive a 4x Platinum certification before it left the top of the Billboard 200. The album reached Diamond status in March 1993. Sales of the album have slowed considerably. Its last certification from the RIAA came in September 2008, when it reached 18x Platinum.

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