Guns N' Roses just spent all summer touring, and then headlined the fall festivals Aftershock and Power Trip. Now, they're closing out the year with a new song.
The hard-rock titans have released a newly recorded version of a rarity called "The General," which was initially released as the vinyl-only B-side to August's soulful single "Perhaps." GN'R played "The General" live for the first time during their recent two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Like "Perhaps," the stormy, slow-burning "The General" is one of several Chinese Democracy leftovers that GN'R have rolled out over the last couple years. In 2021, they dropped "ABSUЯD" and "Hard Skool," the latter of which allegedly dates back to 1999 and was leaked in 2006 under the name "Checkmate."
As Blabbermouth notes, former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach once heard "The General" back in the mid-2000s, and described it to Metal Edge as "by far the heaviest metal tune I think I've ever heard Axl [Rose] do. This slow, grinding riff with these high, piercing, screaming vocals."
Now, you can hear "The General" for yourself. Listen above via YouTube.
