Civil War

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "Civil War" by Guns N' Roses from the iconic album Use Your Illusion II, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it. This track, a powerful protest song, first appeared in 1990 on the charity compilation Nobody’s Child: Romanian Angel Appeal, aimed at raising funds for Romanian orphans, before landing as the opener on Use Your Illusion II in 1991. Written by Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan, the song began as an instrumental riff Slash crafted before the band’s Japanese tour for Appetite for Destruction. Axl added lyrics, and it came together during a soundcheck in Melbourne, Australia. Duff McKagan shared in a 1993 Rockline interview that the line about wearing a black armband for “the man who said ‘peace could last forever’” was inspired by a peace march he attended at age four with his mom for Martin Luther King Jr. The song also samples Strother Martin’s “failure to communicate” speech from the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke and a quote from a Peruvian Shining Path militant, adding layers of social commentary. It’s the only track on the Use Your Illusion albums featuring original drummer Steven Adler, who was fired shortly after its recording due to his struggles with addiction, requiring 20–30 takes to get the final cut.

Another cool tidbit: "Civil War" was first performed live at Farm Aid 1990, marking Adler’s last show with the band, and it was televised for all to see. The song peaked at number four on the US Mainstream Rock chart and hit number one in Poland when released worldwide in 1993. Kerrang! ranked it the 14th best Guns N' Roses song, and since 2019, it’s been a staple at their concerts, often with the Ukrainian flag displayed on screen since 2022 in solidarity with Ukraine. The track also features Axl whistling “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” a Civil War-era tune, tying it to historical themes. For Zoo Freaks digging deeper, the 1993 Civil War EP, released in the UK, included an exclusive Slash interview and tracks like “Garden of Eden” and “Dead Horse,” with each copy individually numbered.

Guns N' Roses formed in Los Angeles in 1985, born from the merger of two bands: Hollywood Rose, led by Axl Rose, and L.A. Guns, featuring guitarist Tracii Guns. Axl, born William Bruce Rose Jr. in Lafayette, Indiana, grew up in a turbulent household and found solace in music, singing in church choirs and later forming bands. Slash, born Saul Hudson in London and raised in LA, was influenced by his parents’ artistic circle and picked up the guitar as a teen. Duff McKagan, from Seattle’s punk scene, brought a gritty edge. The classic lineup—Axl, Slash, Duff, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler—gelled after relentless gigging in LA’s Sunset Strip clubs like the Whisky a Go Go. Their raw energy and rebellious vibe caught the attention of Geffen Records, who signed them in 1986. Their 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction, exploded with hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” selling over 30 million copies worldwide and cementing their status as rock legends.

Despite lineup changes and internal drama, Guns N' Roses have endured, with Axl, Slash, and Duff reuniting in 2016 for the Not in This Lifetime… Tour, one of the highest-grossing tours ever. They’ve released six studio albums, including Use Your Illusion I and II, which dropped simultaneously in 1991 and sold millions. Fans can stay connected through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates and throwbacks. Zoo Freaks can also join fan communities like the Guns N’ Roses Fan Club on Facebook or check out GNR Online, a fan-driven site with news and forums. For more fan vibes, MyGNRForum offers a space to geek out over the band’s legacy, from “Civil War” to their latest riffs.