'November Rain' Gets Orchestral Makeover

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Use Your Illusion albums, Guns n' Roses re-recorded "November Rain" with a 50-piece orchestra. I always love when bands do this, so it's right up my alley. Personally, I don't think the 2022 version (below) sounds all that different from the original. I think the orchestral parts could be more overt, but that's just me. What do you think?

November Rain (2022 Version) is here! Recorded with a first-ever real 50-piece orchestra conducted & arranged by Grammy® Award winner Christopher Lennertz. Listen now & get as part of the Box Set on November 11. https://t.co/6J7V8YPbhQ pic.twitter.com/QvcmGuY9Kb

— Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) November 4, 2022

The Best Videos Of 1989 - 'Patience'

One of my favorite Guns n' Roses songs is "Patience." It was released as a single in 1989 and the promotional video just immediately grabbed me. The first time I saw it, I knew I would have a life-long love for Guns n' Roses. "Patience" is on the G N'R Lies EP. I think the clip for "Patience" is when I noticed Axl Rose's signature hip swing for the first time. Iconic.

There's A New 'You Could Be Mine' Video

You read that title right - Guns n' Roses has released a new video for their song "You Could Be Mine." The song is on Use Your Illusion II (and it is also on the Terminator 2 soundtrack).

Both Use Your Illusion I and II are being re-released as a box set next month, along with 63 previously unreleased tracks -- and everything is completely remastered. To celebrate the remaster, Gn'R just released a new video for "You Could Be Mine" and the clip is below. It's a live video of the band performing the song at New York's Ritz Theatre back in 1991.

35 Years Ago Today

It was 35 years ago today that one of the most important rock albums of all time was released. July 21, 1987 saw Guns n' Roses unleash Appetite for Destruction on the world. Since that day, the album has remained a rock favorite and perennial big seller. From vinyl, to cassette, to CD, to digital downloads - most of us have owned several copies of Appetite over the years. Axl Rose sashaying all over the stage in the "Welcome to the Jungle" video was a moment for both the band and MTV. "Sweet Child 'O Mine" cemented the band's fame and "Paradise City" made them instant sports-stadium classics.

In some ways it feels like Guns n' Roses debut was released yesterday. The songs from Appetite have bene played into the ground around the world and yet they still feel fresh and timeless. That's because the album was one of those "lightning in a bottle" moments that happen once in a lifetime. I was so young when the album was first released that I didn't get to grasp the full importance of the band or the work. By the time the Use Your Illusion albums hit stores, I got it quite well. I was a full-on MTV addict by that point and everyone understood how important GnR was to MTV. These memories never get old.

35 years ago today, Guns N' Roses released their legendary debut, “Appetite For Destruction.” Click below to read the full story behind each track, in the words of Axl, Slash, Izzy, and Duff.https://t.co/URLuBJEW6z

— uDiscover Music (@uDiscoverMusic) July 21, 2022

Appetite For Destruction is 35 🔥 What's your favorite track off the album?https://t.co/8EgO4BsDoN pic.twitter.com/IIdrXUoFSY

— Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) July 21, 2022

My Happy Place In A 3 Minute Video Clip From 1989

Ah, the MTV Video Music Awards 1989. The zenith of that awards show and the music we love. Motley Crue presented the award for "Best Metal Music Video."

Note 1989 was the first year for the category. Vince Neil looked so good back then!

The nominees for the first ever Best Metal Music Video: Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Guns n' Roses, Metallica.

Guns n' Roses won for their "Sweet Child O' Mine" video. Duff McKagan and Steven Adler showed up to accept the award. Happiness ensues!

The awards show also featured the final live performance of guitarist Steve Clark with Def Leppard. He died in early 1991. My beloved George Michael won the Video Vanguard Award.

Madonna presents George Michael his big award. The footage is so old, Madonna and her backup dancers are smoking on stage as part of a planned "bit" - I'm sure that wouldn't be allowed these days!

The thing about this particular awards show was that it was so fun... and memorable. Like, everyone was talking about the show at school the next day. We all taped it (for real, on VHS!) and watched it back again and again. I am not exaggerating when I say I still think back to this particular awards show pretty regularly. It was just that good. The next year was hard to beat, too. The 1990 VMAs featured Madonna doing the best live performance of "Vogue" ever - and Motley Crue did "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" and Aerosmith did "Love In An Elevator." Just freaking great stuff.

Here's Madonna at the 1989 VMAs with an equally awesome performance:

I Always Love When Slash Talks Aerosmith

Slash and I have something big in common: we both love the Aerosmith album Rocks and have a special affection for the track "Nobody's Fault." In fact, Rocks is my favorite album and "Nobody's Fault" my fave Aerosmith tune. The song"Nobody's Fault" is nice, gritty and heavy and it had an immense impact on Slash and his guitar playing.

Slash recently gave a new interview with WMSC's Yaz Yilmaz where he discussed his new solo work and tour plus love for Aerosmith. A must-listen for fans of Guns n' Roses, Slash and Aerosmith.

90.3 WMSC FM · Interview with Slash

Sunday's Best: Week 7, 2022

Since nutbag Vladimir Putin seems hell bent on causing a war in Europe by invading Ukraine, I thought Sunday's Best this week should focus on conflict songs. You know, the best songs about war.

JUST IN: Lower-level Russian tactical commanders have been given orders consistent with orders to invade Ukraine, U.S. officials tell @ABC News.

LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/E4U08DZHy2

— ABC News (@ABC) February 20, 2022

Some of my choices:

War Pigs - Black Sabbath

Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Rooster - Alice In Chains

Us and Them - Pink Floyd

Civil War - Guns n' Roses

One - Metallica

Did I forget one of your favorite war-related songs? Let me know in the comments!