New Illusion - Revisiting Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion Releases

After setting the world of music on fire with their infectious debut, Appetite For Destruction, in 1987, Guns N' Roses released of the most ambitious collections ever in the form of Use Your Illusion I & II in 1991. The collections, which were two separate releases as opposed to a double album, had a combined 30 songs clocking in at 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 48 seconds. With these albums, as one collective appeared to this listener to be missing a common theme and sounded disjointed. As the band was trying to sonically grow, some songs sounded self-indulgent, while others seemed to be "phoning it in" to appease those who wanted more of the Appetite-era fare. This is where I come in.

Upon listening, I took it upon myself to attempt to make the Illusion a single cohesive release, one that may be more fitting to following up their debut and their EP, GNR Lies. I did not think the single release of this album, done to get some of these songs into chain department store afraid to carrying the two albums due to language, was a fitting barometer of the music that represented the band. Another issue with these releases were there were songs in added to fill space. Many bands have done this over time, but with GNR having such credibility of musical quality, I have decided to remove these.

The lineup in the band had changed over the course of four years as well. While adding keyboard player, Dizzy Reed, the band replaced drummer Steven Adler with Matt Sorum, formerly of The Cult, due to Alder's excessive substance abuse (which must've been substantial considering this band was known for their excesses). While Matt is technically a fantastic drummer, Steven had a pulse that drove AFD, and Sorum's contributions often came off as "typical". As a hired member of the band, I can surmise he was probably not given much leeway to make suggestions, so this isn't to besmirch his additions.

This is what many of the grooves sounded like to me.

While researching my previous GNR post, I found a few songs that made it to this collection that were written before AFD. I decided in doing this, I had to set some ground rules to help with making this a comprehensive set.

• Studio recording of the GNR Lies live songs would be allowed here due to never being released in that form.
• Any cover, including anything on The Spaghetti Incident?, would be permitted, as I believe we can safely assume the band played many of these in rehearsals even during this time, and were recorded during these studio sessions.
• Since both albums clocked in at 75 minutes, I set that as my hard time limit for how long this could be so that I stay in the parameters of the physical releases. 
• The track order was done with the idea of "two sides", as these albums have been released on cassette and LP.
• Just because a song was released as a single did not mean it had to be included as it just didn't fit my vision for this.
• I did not pick songs to placate any egos, but only pick the best material available. If it fits, it sticks.

In making this, I also planned on marketing an EP to be released a short time after containing a few songs missing in the collection, as many bands at the time (including GNR) would hold out certain tracks for future releases and soundtrack releases (which I did not hold songs for, but there were enough leftover for such).

Here is the track-by-track rundown, and you can listen along while you read:

1. "Back Off Bitch" (Rose, Tobias) - The leadoff track was written leading up to AFD, and sets the tone for this ensemble, picking up where AFD left off. Equipped with a signature Slash lead, killer riff, and the "take no prisoners" style GNR fans expect, this was an easy choice.
2. "Pretty Tied Up" (Stradlin) - Loaded with a Rolling Stones-esque swagger, this tune allows for the expansion of taste later in the assembly. The lyrics are reak of Hollywood streets, and Duff's great running bass lines, it also shows the band didn't venture too far from what fans would expect.
3. "You Could Be Mine" (Rose, Stradlin) - Also written during the AFD demo sessions, the original lead off single featured for the release of the movie "Terminator 2". I would also pick it as the lead off single, as it is the first taste for fans to know what to expect.
4. "Don't Damn Me" (Rose, Slash, Lank) - This often forgotten tune from UYI I keeps the ball rolling along with an infusion of unadulterated rock.
5. "Perfect Crime" (Rose, Slash, Stradlin) - This high speed rocker sets up as an apex on the first side that allows the next two songs to bring you down leading into side two.
6. "Hair Of The Dog" (McCafferty, Agnew, Charlton, Sweet) - GNR released their take on this Nazereth classic on TSI?, and I have always found this to be the perfect cover song for the band, as the musical style and vocals were as if the band wrote it themselves.
7. "Civil War" (Rose, Slash, McKagan) - As the only song including drums by Steven Adler, this song slides into the "Paradise City" position that was set on AFD. This mature song shows the band in branching out and is a needed change of pace for the songs before it on side one, closing out the side.
8. "November Rain" (Rose) - The first ballad on this release, this song was also originally a single and I see no reason why it shouldn't be here as well. Eloquent piano, soaring guitar leads, and poignant lyrics show a softer side first displayed by "Sweet Child O' Mine" from AFD and "Patience" from GNR Lies. 
9. "Double Talkin' Jive" (Stradlin) - Strapped with an undeniable groove, this song, sung by Izzy, gives a take back into reality into the GNR world. The only issue I would point out is to trim out the extended spanish-flavored acoustic lead by Slash in the end. Albeit tasteful, it is unnecessary here, as the gist of the song covers what needs to be done.
10. "The Garden" (Rose, Arkeen, James) - Equipped with a guest vocal from the legendary Alice Cooper, I also chose this song as another step in allowing the band to spread their wings.
11. "Dust N' Bones" (Slash, Stradlin. McKagan) - While Izzy takes lead on this song, this song is steeped in a very classic rock variety. 
12. "Don't Cry (Alt. Lyrics)" (Rose, Stradlin) - Originally a single, this song features Shannon Hoon of the band Blind Melon on backing vocals. I chose the "alternate lyric" version found on UYI II, as I have plans for the other version later in the blog.
13. "Locomotive" (Rose, Slash) - To me, this is the hidden gem on the album, with a relentless guitar riff played by Slash. Clocking in at 8:42, this is the perfect ending to the compilation.

The singles:

• "You Could Be Mine"
• "Don't Cry"
• "November Rain"
• "Hair Of The Dog"
• "Pretty Tied Up"

This collection has 13 songs and comes in at around 71 minutes.

There have been websites that have written about doing the same as I have (1, 2, & 3)but other than searching them out, I tried to not study them so so that they don't influence my decision. 

As I stated before, some songs were reserved for later, and during the cycle for this album, there was a trilogy of videos that fans loved as the stories intertwined while allowing the band a great deal of artistic freedom. I will use these three and another track as a video EP to be sold between releases for the next album. The track listing is:

1. "Don't Cry (Original)" (Rose, Stradlin)
2. "November Rain" (Rose)
3. "Estranged" (Rose)
4. "My World" (Rose)

There are other personal or fan favorites I left off of this collection such as "Coma", "Yesterdays", the cover songs, among others. These songs can be used for soundtracks or future CD releases.

So there you have it. This is how I would rework the Use Your Illusion albums into what I deem as a strong follow up to the mammoth Appetite For Destruction, which is a daunting task. I have always heard "you have your whole life to write your first album, and six months to write your second", which very true here.

If you get a chance, and have Spotify (it's free), give this a listen and let me know what you think.

I have added a demo here as a bonus song that I found during my research. Note that it has strong language, but I found it to be a riot.

Until we meet again...

30 YEARS OF DESTRUCTION: RECONSTRUCTING APPETITE

I'm going into this writing knowing there is very little I am going to say that hasn't already been said. "Appetite For Destruction" is considered by many to be the greatest debut album of all time, and sales of the album are a great indication of this fact. It seems in the western civilization that more people like something off of this album more than those who don't like any of it. The first time I heard it, I didn't like it at all.

As a 15-year-old know-it-all in 1987 (I'm old now), and loved hard rock music. I was really into Ozzy Osbourne, Stryper, Motley Crue, and Poison. I had just recently discovered the excellence that was the debut album by Faster Pussycat, a very raw and abrasive album full of hooks.

Hanging out for the day at my girlfriend's house to listen to music, which was (believe it or not) very sweet and innocent, she had a new cassette for me to check out. She really loved Appetite, and thought I would love it too. In my advanced wisdom, music was a competition and confrontational. There was no way in my mind I could take the album for what it was, and I was too busy comparing it to other albums than to actually realize what I was listening to. With sales as an indicator, I was right for the better part of the year. Label support seemed to agree with me.

We were all really fucking wrong

Let's make this very clear before I go much farther: grunge did not kill 80's metal; this album did. This set the bar that other albums of the genre could not reach for whatever reason, and even the band could not follow up with as much quality and execution this album had. The songwriting was not just songs, but were "crafted". Performance wise, everyone was on point, and there has been very little I recall of an entire album that consisted of attitude from beginning to end. When you listen to this album, you fucking know right where these guys are coming from. A few albums have come close, but no album since can truly touch this opus. You can literally smell the smudge, grime, cigarettes, leather, and whiskey when you listen to it.

Brought together by a couple of different Los Angeles bands, vocalist W. Axl Rose, guitarist Izzy Stradlin, and bassist Duff McKagan added guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler (whom Duff had played with before) a group that was as many parts productive as they were destructive. The band was a ticking time bomb of caricatures of personalities fueled by the excesses only the "City Of Angels" could afford for the young, misfit band.

The world was their oyster and they were hellbent to claim it.

From the opening strains of "Welcome To The Jungle" to the sex-crazed moans in "Rocket Queen", this collection recalls times of love, abuse, hope, abandonment, happiness, and sadness. It is an audio roller coaster that takes you through a portrait of their life that lacks in any filler (ironically, lead guitarist Slash thought "Sweet Child O' Mine" was just a filler song when they first wrote it, and it was a HUGE hit, and ultimately saved the album from disappearing with making a very minimal mark). The overall sequence of these songs flow in a way that you are on an alcohol-fueled journey that they are escorting you on.

The songs are chock full of soaring vocals, melodic yet scorching solos, tight rhythms, immaculate hooks, hard-hitting riffs, and transitions within the songs (that are often ignored) that transcends many genre labels and crosses barriers that have very rarely been crossed before or since its release.Almost everyone can connect to something in this collection. My personal favorites have always been "Paradise City", "Rocket Queen", "Out Ta Get Me", and "My Michelle", which I have connected to each in one way or another. Ask someone else their four favorites on this album, and they will differ (I would like to see yours in the comments below) for various reasons.

(Instead of doing a track-by-track critique which has been overdone numerous times, I decided I will do a review of the songs that didn't make the album, and possibilities why they didn't make the album).

To follow this up, the band released a half-live, half-acoustic EP entitled "GNR Lies", then a very ambitious two album collection (which many think should have just been one sole release) called "Use Your Illusions I & II", (along with later released covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?", the live collection "Live Era 87-93", and a release in which Axl Rose was the only sole member "Chinese Democracy", including solo releases and compilations) yet none came close to reaching the landmark proportions this album hit.

Numerous lineup changes along the way has not helped their recreation causes either, as part of what made this work was that the energy the band had together was also what would rip them apart. The drummer, Steven Adler, was the first to go due to his addictions. The rigors of touring, along with the hedonistic circus of their lifestyles, made newly sober guitarist Izzy Stradlin the next to depart. After gaining control of the primary trademarks of the band and completing the Illusions tour, Axl Rose fired the remaining original members, Slash and Duff McKagan, with rumors that the material they were bringing to the next CD not as Axl envisioned them to be.

Only Metallica's self-titled CD, Led Zeppelin's "IV", and AC/DC's "Back In Black" have sold more than "Appetite For Destruction" in the genre of hard rock, and none of these releases were debuts, making this auspicious collection a "once in a lifetime" collaboration.

"You're in the jungle, baby
You're gonna die!"

In doing my due diligence in researching and revisiting this album (I can't trust everything to memory), I wanted to find songs that were considered for AFD, and thought it would be fun to speculate as to why they were not included, with my only knowledge being my opinion and what I had read in interviews by those in the GNR circle at the time. They could almost make a second album themselves.

November Rain -

Later released on Use Your Illusion I, this is a sweeping tale of the pendulum that is relationships soared into many high school proms when it was released, and housewives everywhere claimed their love and obsession to Axl Rose once viewing the video. The song, however, didn't fit the bite that AFD delivered, with "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Think About You" being considered the albums ballads, this piano-tinged epic does not fit the overall vibe.

Shadow Of Your Love -

Having been written prior to Slash and Adler's joining of the group, Axl and Izzy (along with future member of Chinese Democracy-era GNR, Paul Tobias) wrote this song for their band Hollywood Rose, which featured Tracii Guns of LA Guns fame on lead guitar. This "four-on-the-floor" rocker was pretty straight forward, which didn't include many of the trademark transitions AFD displayed. Also, this song's energy was not something that would have helped the collective of songs released and came acrossed written as very basic. Hear for yourself:

It Tastes Good, Don't It -

This song was a challenge to Axl vocally, this rap-infused (!) rocker has the kind of groove that would've easily fit AFD, but without a catchy chorus or hook, along with the juvenile lyrics, it's exclusion was written on first listen. Musically, I wish the song would've been given proper attention as the rhythm hits all the right places:

Goodnight Tonight -

Apparently written to be their set closer, that seems to be the only destiny this song possessed. A very standard fare which featured the title repeated with very little in the way of lyrics. This is just the band having a good time on stage and ending with a crescendo:

Move To The City -

GNR Lies live side featured two original songs that recorded in the studio (along with two covers) that they later added crowd noise to sound as if the band was playing a performance. This songs a very GNR-type groove and riff, and may have fit very well on AFD, but the question would've been where, and while "Paradise City" had synthesizers, the horns on this song would've most likely stood out like a fart in church.

You Could Be Mine - 

While lyrics for this song were used for the linear notes for AFD, this song was the leadoff single for the Use Your Illusions (next to the last song on II) and was used to promote the movie Terminator 2, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. This was the very first taste of what GNR was going to earnestly follow up with AFD. I'm speculating this was just a song that was not finished to a point they were happy with or the performance was a bit off and not worth then trouble at the time. It also seems fitting that it was not included as the song seems a bit "slicker" then the others which could've made the overall album seem "gimmicky". Good luck finding the demo played on, however.

Reckless Life -

Another song the pre-GNR band Hollywood Rose used that was written by the band along with sometimes co-writer and former Hollywood Rose bandmate Chris Webber, who helped write AFD's "Anything Goes", along with "Move To The City", and "Shadow Of Your Love". This tune, also from GNR Lies given the "live" treatment, is a blues based super charged rocker that features the band's signature transitions and catchy chorus. I assume the reason for its exclusion was not needing a song that fast and it wasn't as strong as some of the options.

Back Off Bitch -

Originally released (but written well before) its debut as the 5th track on Use Your Illusion I, this song's demo version is in its infant stages and you can hear what direction they were headed towards, but just wasn't there at the time (I'm pretty sure the hand clapping wouldn't have fit on AFD).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAWBQZTksUI

Don't Cry -

Released on both versions (with different lyrics) of Use Your Illusions, many are shocked to find out this huge single was written and demoed for AFD. Leaving this song out was done for much the same reasons as "November Rain" in that the album did not need another ballad. Also, record companies, in planning for a second album in advance, will have a band hold back a few songs to earmark as future releases so the band does not lose what it had from releases before. I feel this was one of those songs.

Ain't Goin' Down -

I feel this song could've been the most likely used for AFD had the chorus been a bit stronger. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised this song was never released anywhere as it fits with the overall feel of AFD. Also, this song's studio demo features what may have Axl's first use of his very bassy vocal, used in the backups. The solo breakdown does seem a bit reminiscent of the breakdown in "Think About You", which may have been the reason for it to be omitted. Check out this hidden gem for yourself:

 

The covers -

GNR demoed several songs written by other artists. Without going into details into each one, AFD did not need a cover to take away from the other songs on the LP. I will list them before and feel free to search them out yourself.

• "Jumpin' Jack Flash"
• "Knockin' On Heavens Door"
• "Mama Kin"
• "Nice Boys"
• "Heartbreak Hotel"
• "Whole Lotta Rosie"

Well, there you have it: my take on what may be the greatest debut album in hard rock history. I am curious what some of you think, so feel free to comment, share, etc.

Until we meet again...

Time travel to 2009

So I wrote this 8 years ago about one of my favorite people.

It seems like a lifetime ago.

https://web.archive.org/web/20090816212342/http://wrestlingupdateonline.com/blog/2009/08/11/happy-371st-birthday-old-man-the-roast-of-sheldon-goldberg/

Happy 371st Birthday, Old Man! The Roast of Sheldon Goldberg

By Casey Carnage
August 11, 2009
Many years ago, on this day, in a territory far, far away, Mom & Pop Goldberg welcomed a “human encyclopedia” into the world. I don’t suspect they knew it at the time, but I am positive they had high hopes for their 20 pound, 15 ½ oz. newborn boy (the head weighed 12 pounds, 10 pound and 3 ounces without the mustache). A doctor… A lawyer…whatever he was to become, I’m sure they just wanted him to be successful and happy at his choice…. that is until he decided on the performing arts. (Nine out of ten parents hate that.)
Somewhere along the road, the theater took the young man’s soul, and a desire to fail was born. The path to success to theater is bumpy, to say the least, yet their child was steadfast and was willing to take the journey so many fought for along the way with a penchant of wearing pink feathers in his Red Sox caps. By the courage of his convictions, he wrote a couple of plays that he produced to the stages. Unfortunately, they died faster than the actors could burn the scripts. Mr. Goldberg in leotards was a sight, though, many clamored to never see again. Did I mention he was a director/writer?
Along the way from his childhood, though, and after many attempts to join the Village People, professional wrestling was, at least, in the back of his mind. Professional Wrestling, you see, is the modern day “theater-in-the round”, meaning there is no obvious “fourth wall” (look it up on Wikipedia if you need more help the terminology).

Sheldon's Dream Job.

With wrestling through his heart, he partook in being writer and editor of “Mat Marketplace” (now, if I were to even act like I know what the hell that is, I would look like a bigger mark than I already may be. So to defend myself, I will say I don’t know). With this vehicle for his written word, the periodical, “World of Wrestling (WOW) (don’t blame me, I didn’t come up with the name) took notice and signed him up to write in its inaugural issue, and main feature, on, you guessed it, Bill Goldberg (no relation), the cool, snot-snorting former football player. This piece, although he never spoke to “the man who spit pyrotechnics” (it was the picture on the cover), stopped the space/time continuum in its tracks (not really). It also caught the attention of a couple of promoters (I doubt that too), Tony Rumble and Paul “The Check is in the Mail” Heyman.

Bill Goldberg after his pre-match meal of fireworks.

This motley crew set forth on bringing Japan’s Michinoku Pro to great success in the United States (if you are extremely lucky, video of their venture may be available on YouTube or eBay, but still highly unlikely).Unhappy with settling for obscurity, Heyman went back to focus on ECW, and the late Mr. Rumble (rest his soul) created a place for his promoting skills, New England-based Century Wrestling Alliance.
After the death of Mr. Rumble, Mr. Goldberg decided that his miring of obscurity and the lack of wrestling in the area was a combination to good to pass up. He decided to create and promote an obscure professional wrestling promotion, New England Championship Wrestling (NECW).

Have you seen this man? Public Enemy #1

(Now, before I go any further, I would like to say that none of his current or former employees will go on record stating a locker room meeting was held specifically where they voted that he not wear wrestling tights, although sources say such meeting did occur. This is also around the time the Mr. Goldberg became a full-fledged promoter, aka a dog… not a “dawg”, as in a cool, street-cred kind of way, but a “ruff, ruff” “flea-ridden” “scoundrel-of-the-earth” pooch.)

Police composite of Sheldon Goldberg.

As promoter, part-owner, and on-screen commissioner, Mr. Goldberg has worked his way around the Greater Boston area, selling his soul (no literal confirmation on this to date) to promote NECW, creating a place where wrestlers can turn to when there is nowhere else to go. Along this journey, he has used many media ventures to show how low some wrestlers sink to get work. One of these is NECW.tv website; a weekly show sent out over the internet, that, as far as I know, only women from Kansas watch while wearing ruby red slippers.

Must wear while viewing NECW.

Not to be stopped at just “webisodes”, and not happy with all the A&E reruns about wrestling days of lore when “kayfabe” meant something, Mr. Goldberg decided to further put himself over by creating the “Mouthpiece Wrestling Show”, played on Saturdays (ahem… pre-recorded) on 1510 AM “The Zone”, a show so dubious, none of the people he pays will even be on it (50,000 watts can’t make up for dignity). Although it may be the most listened to sports show in the Boston area, who listens to radio anymore? For that matter, the webcast version has a server made from rubber bands and bailing wires, hence crashes repeatedly (probably a contributor to the high ratings, and just the type of thing a wrestling promoter would pay for).
Nine years after in inception of wrestling’s epic failure, Mr. Goldberg has decided to add a new target for his “downward spiral of obscurity” on a national platform. On August 8^th, 2009, NECW (Mr. Goldberg is in the middle, and, trust me, it’s a good thing they didn’t show him from the waist down) announced that they will be shown on Comcast Sports Networks nationally, starting in early January (apparently the suicide rates around Christmas was too much for the company to compete with). Now we will all see his failures, making his momma proud!

NECW CSN Announcement

Success can be measured in many ways, and Mr. Goldberg is an example of what we should consider to be. Honestly, Sheldon Goldberg is a nice man (hell, he will even tell you that… ha!), and a very good friend, not only to myself, but to many in the Pro Wrestling community. One of a rare breed in a corner of the world considered lacking in moral fiber; he is a statue of what we should try to be. As I know I was roasting him, I consider this just as not meant to be as “factual”, and this is not truly meant to have ill intensions on anyone… even so much as I flubbed the timeline purposely, and is to be taken in jest; a “rib” on a man who I am honored to know, but truly blessed to have him as a friend, confidante, and mentor. Even though, I am positive that you, Sheldon, will not celebrate your day of birth, your mother should truly feel blessed that she has put on this earth a great, friendly person on this earth, and I hope that your future is full of many more great years.
Here are some links to know more about Sheldon Goldberg:

• NECW Wrestling
• Mouthpiece Wrestling Show
• NECW TV
• 1510 The Zone
• New_England_Championship_Wrestling on wikipedia
• Sheldon Goldberg Blogspot
• World Womens Wrestling

Sheldon Goldberg

–
Casey O.
aka Casey Carnage
Carnage Crew
Wrestlers Rescue