25 years ago today (9/16/91), record stores opened at midnight as Guns N’ Roses released two album in one day – Use Your Illusion I & Use Your Illusion II. Spanning 30-songs and two-and-a-half-hours over two albums, the “You Could Be Mine” (from the “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” soundtrack) lead the way, followed by a cover of Paul McCartney & Wing’s “Live and Let Die.” MTV had a big part as the humongous rock ballads “Don’t Cry,” “November Rain” and “Estranged” were in regular rotation and spawned high budget videos, one even featuring the late Shannon Hoon. Also of note, Matt Sorum replaced Steven Adler on drums and Dizzy Reed was added on keyboards augmenting the Appetite for Destruction lineup from a ragged hard rockers to a more versatile and slick machine.
Use Your Illusions went on to sell more than 14 million copies combined. “There’s a ton of material we want to get out, and the problem is, how does one release all of it?” Slash said of the unusual twin-disc offering. “You don’t make some kid go out and buy a record for $70 if it’s your second record.” Ironically Nirvana’s Nevermind would be released a week later, as “Alterrnative nation”: would dethrone hard rock as the 90’s wore on.
Check out the official video for “Garden of Eden” from Use Your Illusion I.
