November Rain

The Zoo Crew is spinning the epic "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses, a track from their 1991 album Use Your Illusion I, and the Zoo Freaks are surely soaking in its sweeping melodies! This nearly nine-minute power ballad, written by lead singer Axl Rose, is a masterpiece of love and loss, with a story that began in 1983. Axl started crafting the song on piano, and according to guitarist Slash’s 2007 biography, an early 1986 version stretched over 18 minutes, recorded with Nazareth’s Manny Charlton. Axl once told Rolling Stone in 1988, “Someday this song is gonna be really cool,” a prediction that proved spot-on as it hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the longest song to reach the top 10 at the time. The song’s lush orchestration, inspired by Elton John’s "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," was a point of contention for Slash and drummer Matt Sorum, who initially resisted its grandiose departure from the band’s raw hard rock roots. Yet, as Slash later admitted, “What [Rose] ended up with was fucking brilliant.”

The iconic music video, directed by Andy Morahan and costing a record-breaking $1.5 million, is just as legendary, starring Axl’s then-girlfriend Stephanie Seymour as a bride whose mysterious death leaves fans puzzled to this day. Based loosely on Del James’ short story “Without You,” the video’s cryptic imagery—like a guest diving into a wedding cake and Slash’s desert guitar solo—sparked endless debate. One fan on Reddit called it “the definition of GnR: first half is pure Hard Rock, like Guns, then the second half is soft just like Roses.” The video’s cultural impact endures, surpassing 1.9 billion YouTube views and earning the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 1992. Fun fact: in 2022, a re-released version with a 50-piece orchestra, arranged by Christopher Lennertz, was included in the Use Your Illusion box set, giving the song a fresh symphonic glow.

Guns N' Roses formed in Los Angeles in 1985, born from the fusion of Hollywood Rose (featuring Axl Rose and rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin) and L.A. Guns (led by guitarist Tracii Guns). The classic lineup—Axl on vocals, Slash on lead guitar, Stradlin on rhythm, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler—gelled quickly, embodying the gritty underbelly of the Sunset Strip. Their raw energy and Axl’s serpentine charisma fueled early gigs that built a cult following. By 1986, they signed with Geffen Records, releasing their debut EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide. Their 1987 album Appetite for Destruction was a slow burner until MTV’s heavy rotation of “Sweet Child o’ Mine” catapulted them to superstardom, hitting number one and selling over 30 million copies worldwide. The band’s blend of hard rock, blues, and punk, paired with Axl’s volatile yet romantic persona, made them a defining force in rock history.

Connect with Guns N' Roses on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates. Fans can dive deeper into the GNR community through fan sites like GNR Evolution or join vibrant discussions on the r/GunsNRoses subreddit, with over 48,000 members. The Guns N’ Roses Fans Facebook group is another hotspot for Zoo Freaks to share their love for the band’s timeless anthems. Keep rocking, Zoo Crew!