GUNS N’ ROSES has unveiled a fresh single titled “The General” through Geffen Records, now available for streaming below
This track serves as the B-side for the limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single “Perhaps,” which opened up for pre-orders back in August.
The live debut of “The General” took place on November 2 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Introduced by vocalist Axl Rose as a song the band hadn’t previously played, he hinted at its potential interest.
Much like “Perhaps,” “The General” originated from the sessions for GUNS N’ ROSES‘ “Chinese Democracy” album. Ex-GN’R drummer Bryan “Brain” Mantia and former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach had previously discussed the song, with Mantia credited for some of its music and title.
Bach spoke about the tune back in a 2008 interview with Rolling Stone, saying that Axl Rose told him that “The General” is the sequel to “Use Your Illusion II”‘s “Estranged”.
Bach earlier had told Metal Edge magazine in 2007: “One of my favorite songs is this song called ‘The General’, which is so… it’s by far the heaviest metal tune I think I’ve ever heard Axl do, this slow, grinding riff with these high, piercing vocals, screaming vocals.”
Similar to GUNS N’ ROSES‘ 2021 singles “Hard Skool“, “Absurd” and “Perhaps“, “The General” was initially written and recorded during the “Chinese Democracy” album sessions.
In February 2022, GUNS N’ ROSES released a four-song EP, “Hard Skool,” available exclusively through the band’s official store. The EP featured the two new songs from 2021, “Hard Skool” and “Absurd” (stylized as “ABSUЯD”), along with live versions of “Don’t Cry” and “You’re Crazy.”
The anticipated new GUNS N’ ROSES studio album, the first under the GUNS banner since “Chinese Democracy,” and the first to include Slash, Rose, and bassist Duff McKagan since 1993, remains eagerly awaited.