For many diehard Guns N’ Roses fans, the unreleased Chinese Democracy-era song “The General” has gained mythical status. Its origins date back 16 years and have been the topic of discussion ever since. At the band’s final U.S. show of the year at the Hollywood Bowl last month, they performed it for the first time live. The slow-building hard rocker has finally arrived in a proper studio version as the b-side to “Perhaps,” which was released digitally in August.
In 2007, Sebastian Bach told Metal Edge that the song is “by far the heaviest metal tune I think I’ve ever heard Axl do.”
Although guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan rejoined Guns N’ Roses in 2016, it took the band five years two release any new material in the form of “Absurd” and “Hard Skool.”
As of now, GNR haven’t announced any tour dates for 2024. However, McKagan just released his latest solo album, Lighthouse, and we spoke with him last month about its creation. Slash will also tour with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators starting next month.
