Rocktrospectiva: The Epic And Magnificent "Use Your Illusion I" Turns 35

Released on 17 September 17 1991, "Use Your Illusion I" was the third studio album—and the first of a pair of twin albums—by the US rock band Guns N' Roses. It was their second most successful release and propelled the band to global fame at a time when glam metal and heavy metal were beginning to fade; for them, however, the opposite occurred, as the record revitalized their career. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and achieved massive success in several countries such as Argentina, Canada, the UK, Germany, and Japan, the album spawned the singles "Don't Cry", "November Rain" & "Live And Let Die."

The album featured singles that become iconic, a bunch of timeless anthems—such as the epic "November Rain"—as well as another epic track, "Don't Cry," which remains popular to this day. The record showcased a shift in their sound without abandoning their hard rock roots; the band incorporated elements of blues, classical music, punk rock, and, of course, heavy metal. This departure from the glam metal trend helped them avoid the obscurity that befell many famous "hair bands" of the era. Another significant change was the arrival of drummer Matt Sorum, who replaced Steven Adler after the latter was unable to overcome his drug addiction. 

It is interesting because many of the tracks here were written during their early years; "Don't Cry," "November Rain," "The Garden," "Bad Obsession," and "Back Off Bitch" all belong to that batch. There was also a cover of Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die"—which was released as a single—and the epic "November Rain," which, along with "Coma," is one of the album's longest tracks. The songs have intriguing backstories, such as "Right Next Door to Hell"—referenced in the "Don't Cry" music video—which stemmed from an argument between Axl Rose and a neighbor at whom he threw a bottle. Then come "Dust N' Bones," featuring talk-box guitar; "Perfect Crime"; "You Ain't the First," which uses acoustic slide guitar; "Bad Obsession," about the drug problems that plagued the band before they found fame; "Back Off Bitch," one of the oldest tracks (rumored to have been played even before the Appetite for Destruction era); and the curious "Double Talkin' Jive," the story behind which involves Izzy Stradlin finding a severed head and a gun in a dumpster near the studio.

The final tracks were "Garden of Eden," written during rehearsals during a long stint in Chicago; "Don't Damn Me," created in response to the controversy surrounding their explicit lyrics—a song that has never been performed live; "Bad Apples," another track composed over a long period; "Dead Horse," featuring Axl Rose on acoustic guitar; and finally, the intriguing "Coma," which Rose said was written following a personal experience where he took a bottle of pills and ended up in the hospital.

As for the cover art, it is simply a detail from Raphael's fresco "The School of Athens", adapted by the famous artist Mark Kostabi (the artist was also referenced in the "Miami Vice" episode "The Lost Madonna" during the show's final season); this contrasts with the story often told that, when pieced together, they formed a... ...upside-down crucifix—which, as you can see, was nothing more than a lie. The album was released a week before the wave of alternative music records, but its high quality secured a special place for these two albums, which were released separately rather than as a single double album. It was a massive hit in these parts, too; radio stations played the singles constantly, and distributors couldn't keep up with the demand for the albums themselves.

Use Your Illusion I Track List:

1. Right Next Door To Hell
2. Dust N' Bones
3. Live And Let Die
4. Don't Cry
5. Perfect Crime
6. You Ain't The First
7. Bad Obsession
8. Back Off Bitch
9. Double Talkin' Jive
10. November Rain
11. The Garden
12. Garden Of Eden
13. Don't Damn Me
14. Bad Apples
15. Dead Horse
16. Coma