Guns N’ Roses are releasing a reissue of their third and fourth albums. On November 11, 2022, Use Your Illusion I+II will be re-released in a variety of formats. Fans can look forward to numerous live versions — what is missing, however, are demos and outtakes, as with the previous reissue “Appetite for Destruction”, except for the new version of “November Rain”, see below. The releases can be pre-ordered exclusively from the Guns N’ Roses shop from Tuesday, September 20th, and also in regular stores from Thursday, September 22nd. In typical GN’R self-confidence, the most expensive edition in the band shop costs almost 500 euros.
The two albums were originally released simultaneously on September 17, 1991. They are considered a musical turning point for the band and are influenced by blues and classic rock, among other things. The nine-minute single “November Rain” was the longest song to reach the top ten on the Billboard charts at the time.
The basis is formed by the original albums remixed from the analogue master tapes, which can also be purchased separately as 1 CD or 2 LP versions. The exception is the track “November Rain”: The song can be heard in a previously unreleased form as “November Rain (2022 Version)” – including a 50-piece orchestra conducted by Christopher Lennertz.
The “Super Deluxe Box Set” versions also contain numerous live recordings, so that including the 30 album songs there are a total of 97 titles. There is also a 100-page book with numerous photos, some of which have never been published before, and other archive material.
The live footage is from the official tour for both albums, including one of the May 16, 1991 warm-up shows at the Ritz Theater in New York. Here guitarist Izzy Stradlin was still there, who left the band shortly afterwards. There are also recordings of the show in Las Vegas, where Gilby Clarke has already replaced Stradlin. Video recordings from the Ritz Theater are also included on Blu-ray.
The deluxe versions of the albums each contain a second CD with previously unreleased live recordings from the “Use Your Illusion” tour in 1991/92 – including London, New York and Rio de Janeiro. The Use Your Illusion I add-on also features Always On The Run with Lenny Kravitz, Use Your Illusion II features Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry on Mama Kin & Train Kept A Rollin ” included.
Here you can listen to a live recording of “You Could Be Mine” (Live In New York, Ritz Theater – May 16, 1991) as a preview.
Here is an overview of the formats:
- Super Deluxe 7 CD Edition + Blu-ray
- Super Deluxe 12LP Edition + Blu-ray
- 2-CD Deluxe Edition (each of “Use Your Illusion I” & “Use Your Illusion II”)
- Standard 1 CD Edition (respectively of “Use Your Illusion I” & “Use Your Illusion II”)
- Standard 2LP Edition (respectively from “Use Your Illusion I” & “Use Your Illusion II”)
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