Sometimes, there are just those songs which you can’t get enough of. As a huge Guns N’ Roses fan, they certainly had plenty of songs like that for Gunners all over the world making their mark on rock n’ roll.

Like everyone else, I only wish it could’ve lasted longer cause they flat out dominated from 1987 to 1992 putting out great hit after great hit, making ridiculous videos and selling out arenas wherever they played or didn’t due to Axl’s bizarre behavior.

The original act which featured Slash, Duff, Izzy and Steven Adler were totally amazing. They meshed well with Axl’s vocals to make it work despite all the band turmoil which became as much part of GNR as the music itself.

The question you ask is how great could they have been if they had stuck together? Who knows? Most awesome bands break up due to philosophical differences. The sad aspect is that I don’t ever see Axl and Slash getting back on a stage together. What happens when they get inducted?

Still, you can hear their outstanding music on radio stations and at arenas during sporting events, etc. Madison Square Garden plays WTTJ (Welcome To The Jungle) and You Could Be Mine during most Ranger games. I will usually just sit back and rock out to it. How could you not?

One of my faves has to be “Civil War“ off Illusion II. The most frequent track off that album is “You Could Be Mine” which was used well during Terminator II. The video in particular in which they used scenes from it featuring current California State Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator who protects John Connor from the evil Terminator looking to kill both him and mother Sarah. The video came out extremely well and became one of the most popular GNR songs.

Now as good as that is, I still feel Civil War is the best song on the album as it details so much from their childhood experiences with references to JFK’s assasination, MLK, civil rights and the Vietnam War. Every word has true meaning. And the way they play it is powerful enough to make you understand what was going on during that time.

There are two videos I like. One is from a live concert while the other is a really good video made showing the brutality of warfare.

Guns N’ Roses: “Civil War“-Live fea. Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child intro

Some observers on YouTube don’t care for how Slash played Jimi’s legendary Voodoo Child but I dig the slower version as it works making a solid transformation right into Civil War which is played unbelievably and sang by a sprinting Axl at a feverish pitch. You can see why this band was so great!

Guns N’ Roses: “Civil War”

There’s a noticeable difference in the intro but then you hear the quotes and that Axl whistle which was also used back on hit Patience. The video itself is extremely good and explains how brutal war can be. So many sacrificed for us. R.I.P.