Listen to Guns N’ Roses’ Heroic New Song, ‘The General’

2023-12-08

Guns N' Roses live photo

Guns N’ Roses – Author Anne Erickson, photo via Guns N’ Roses

The year is winding down, and Guns N’ Roses are celebrating with the release of a new single, “The General,” out on Geffen Records. By the way, I have to point out that it’s pretty mind-boggling to think that GN’R have stayed with Geffen for the majority of their career. Geffen’s two big bands in the ’90s were Nirvana and Guns N’ Roses. It’s funny that people often think of Nirvana and Guns N’ Roses as polar opposites and bands that didn’t get along, when they have always shared a label home. I get it, because Guns N’ Roses vocalist Axl Rose and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain didn’t get along and had a very public feud. But, other than that, these bands were of the same cloth, so to speak. Anyway, Guns N’ Roses’ “The General” is here, and if you’re a fan of ’80s rock, I don’t think you’ll be mad about it. You can listen to it below.

“The General” marks the group’s second release of 2023, following their earlier single, “Perhaps.” The band first debuted “The General” to a hometown crowd during their sold-out, two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. Now, the official studio version of “The General” is here.

“The General” is an epic ballad that swells into an arena-ready anthem, with super thick, warm guitars and Roses’ smooth, powerful tenor vocals. This song sounds like it comes straight out of the 1980s. Listening, it really sounds like Guns N’ Roses haven’t skipped a beat. “Can anybody tell me why the pain, it just won’t stop?” Rose sings in the song. “Can anybody help me? / This pain, it just won’t stop.” This song pulls at your heartstrings, and that makes it a new classic.

In other news, Guns N’ Roses wrapped up their 2023 world tour last month, which sold an incredible 1.3 million tickets. According to a press release, “The tour marked the band’s largest run to date and consisted of acclaimed performances across European stadiums and arenas. Their run included headlining festivals including Glastonbury and London’s Hyde Park.” GN’R’s North American leg included sold-out performances at historic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, plus co-headlining performance at Power Trip in Indio, California, with AC/DC and Metallica. Their tour wrapped up on Oct. 16 in Vancouver, BC at BC Place. To say the reunited Guns N’ Roses tour has been successful is a huge understatement. The reunion trek, called the Not In This Lifetime… Tour, ranked as the fourth-highest grossing concert tour of all time, selling 5 million-plus tickets.

What do you think is Guns N’ Roses’ greatest album of all time? Audio Ink Radio recently released a list of the greatest Guns N’ Roses albums of all time, and 1987’s “Appetite for Destruction” was at No. 1. “‘Appetite for Destruction’ marked Guns N’ Roses’ debut album and introduction to the music world,” the review reads. “It debuted at No. 182 on the Billboard Album chart, but boy, did it grow. Today, it’s one of the best-selling rock albums of all time.” I mean, who can beat “Paradise City” and “Mr. Brownstone?”

Catch up on all things Guns N’ Roses via their official website.

Anne Erickson
Posted by Anne Erickson | Music, Rock, Rock News

Related Posts