|
Volume CXXXII, Number 4 |
 |
Three reasons why Guns N' Roses will never go out of style
MACAELA FLANAGAN
STAFF WRITER
As if you needed someone to tell you that Guns n' Roses is one of the best things ever to happen to the music industry. But just in case you did, read on. Here are three reasons, in no particular order, why we all need a little GNR in our lives….
Reason #1: Night Train. Everyone sings about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Not everyone sings about the cheapest wine available for purchase (about $3.50/750ml). Next time you're sheepishly carrying a bottle of boxed wine to the check out aisle, just think, "Hey, it could be a lot worse. I could be buying Night Train." Unfortunately, I have never tried the Train myself. However, if Axl's testimony of "been drinkin' gasoline" is at all accurate (Night Train is 17.5%), perhaps it is wisest to leave the Train to the masters.
Reason #2: Welcome to the Videos. If you've never seen Welcome to the Videos, I suggest you trot to Bull Moose right now and get yourself a copy. This VHS release includes a wide selection of GNR's videography, an impressive collection if I do say so myself. There are many reasons why to add this to your rotation, but one of the most convincing is the Gary Oldman look-alike in "Since I Don't Have You." How often do you get to see GNR and a devil-clad Gary Oldman? Never. This is pure magic. As if that wasn't enough to send you straight to the video store, Welcome allows us to watch the cake-diving scene in "November Rain" as many times as we please. And Axl adorers, never fear; there is enough big hair and skin tight spandex shorts for all.
Reason #3: Slash. As bad ass as Axl wants to be, he'll never quite live up to the enigma that is otherwise known as Slash. Perhaps this is why Axl tries to compensate by wearing such tight pants. Perhaps Slash's cool confidence was too much for Axl and led to the untimely demise of GNR. Part screaming guitar viciousness, part misunderstood loner - Slash is in a class of his own.
So you see, GNR are one of the late eighties/early nineties essentials. One of my first GNR memories is buying a copy of Use Your Illusion I and having my parents confiscate it because of that obnoxious "EXPLICIT LYRICS" sticker. Or of course there were all those times at the summer fairs, listening to hours of back to back GNR and Aerosmith. If you are from Maine, chances are you know what I am talking about. My fair of choice was the Union Fair; as other fairs it was fully equipped with lots of carnies, mullets, over excessive use of the butterfly clip, and homemade tattoos. And you simply cannot have these things without GNR.
GNR have influenced a generation with their bad boy style and energetic music. I would dare say that the opening of "Sweet Child O' Mine" is one of the most recognizable melodies in rock history. I would also bet that half of the Bowdoin College student body experienced their first kiss while listening to "November Rain" (or maybe Stairway, but that is another article in itself). Call them crude, call them a hair band, but it must be agreed that all of our lives would be missing a little something had GNR never invaded our radios.