By STEVE MASCORD
QUESTION: How can I get a mention on the next Guns N’Roses album? Answer: Easy. By writing a scathing review of this one, If any doubt remained as to Axi Rose’s extreme paranoia, one need look no further than a passage on a song called “Get in The Ring”, from Use Your Illusion II which was finally released yesterday. The song was to be called “Why Do You Look At Me When You Hate Me?” but with the current spirit of rock star fisticuffs, it was changed.
The words go something like this;
“And that goes for all you punks in the press/That want to start shit by printin’ lies/ Instead of the things we said/ That means you/ Andy Secher at Hit Parader/ Circus Magazine/Mick Wall at Kerrang/Bob Guccione jr at Spin/ What, you pissed off because your old man gets more pussy than you? Fuck You/ Suck my fuckin’ dick.”
I’m choking on my morning cornflakes as I hear this for the first time, so imagine how Mick Wall must feel! Those three guys deserve an award. Perhaps being bucketed on record by Axl Rose will soon surpass the Pulitzer prize as a reward for ethical journalism. This record shows, above all else, that Axl Roses takes everything too personally. He has no comprehension of the mechanics of stardom, he deals with everyone on a one-to-one basis and, in turn, sings about them as parts of his life just as a country and western singer in Tamworth might make up a song about the bloke behind the bar.
But UYII is not about journalists, or barmen. Its almost Axl’s solo record, and its overwhelmingly about Erin Everley, his former wife. In the oldest song here, “You Could Be Mine”, he shrieks: “Five years is forever and you haven’t grown up yet.”
Erin, is a school sweetheart, “You Could Be Mine” is an old song, and five years has turned to 14.
“It’s been 14 years of pain/It’s been 14 years that are gone forever/ And I’ll never have again” (“14 years”).
UYI2 is lyrically spellbinding. Musically, it is sparse – there’s two or three real heavy metal/rock songs on offer.
But as a writer, Axl has his finest moment in the haunting and rather moving “Estranged”. Axi flits from being desperately in love to being desperately trying to break free, but in this 9min 20sec lament he realises he is both – and must choose the latter anyway.
“Old at heart but I’m only 28/ And I’m much too young/ To let love break my heart.”
So superb are Axl’s moments with the pen that it would be tempting to ignore the Gunners HAVE mellowed, musically. “Shotgun Blues”, “Pretty Tied Up” and “Locomotive” are the only other real rock songs, along with “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”, “Get In the Ring”, and “You Could Be Mine”.
Some, therefore, will no doubt say they’ve wimped out that this isn’t a real Guns N’Roses album.
My judgement of a Gunners album, however, is not based on its affect on my hearing but on its affect to my temperament.
UYI2 has made me feel just as depressed and helpless as Appetite for Destruction made me angry and thirsty.
Get Use Your Illusion II on CD
This review first appeared in On The Street on September 18, 1991
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