GNR's 'Hits' Coming Before New Album

By Jonathan Cohen
Billboard

While work continues on Guns N' Roses' endlessly delayed album "Chinese Democracy," Geffen has set a March 23 release date for "Greatest Hits," compiling 14 of the hard rock act's best-known tracks. The album boasts such favorites as "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Patience," "Paradise City" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" from the "Interview With a Vampire" soundtrack.

This is the third archival Guns N' Roses release since last fall, when Geffen issued DVDs of the home videos "Welcome to the Videos" and the two-volume "Use Your Illusion."

However, according to sources, the band did not give its consent for "Greatest Hits" to move forward and may pursue legal action to block its release.

As previously reported, the Axl Rose-led group will return to the live stage May 30 at the Rock in Rio-Lisbon festival in Lisbon, Portugal. It will be GNR's first live appearance since a disastrous 2002 comeback tour, which was canceled with 13 dates remaining.

As for "Chinese Democracy," it is unknown when the album will be released. Bassist Tommy Stinson told Billboard.com last year that finishing touches were being applied to the set before it would be sent off for mixing.

Here is the track list for "Greatest Hits":

"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Sweet Child O' Mine"
"Patience"
"Paradise City"
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
"Civil War"
"You Could Be Mine"
"Don't Cry"
"November Rain"
"Live and Let Die"
"Yesterdays"
"Ain't It Fun"
"Since I Don't Have You"
"Sympathy for the Devil"

what's the point of suing? A GNR GH will be a great seller. Has Axl forgotten how well the Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Poison GH albums (since these are GNR's rivals IMO) have sold since they came out? I think a younger person wanting to try GNR out would be more willing to try out a Greatest Hits album, than to buy Appetite or Use Your Illusion, and plus there are a lot of "old times sake" people who were teens when they were big and would wanna own ONE GNR album, they don't wanna upgrade all 5 albums, would rather just have one with all the classics on it.

Axl is such a stupid businessman

plus there are a lot of "old times sake" people who were teens when they were big and would wanna own ONE GNR album, they don't wanna upgrade all 5 albums, would rather just have one with all the classics on it.

I agree. I was never a GnR fan, and only like a few songs anyway. So I would definitely buy a Greatest Hits album. But if he prevents it from being released, he's going to lose a lot of money from people like myself who just don't care enough to get their entire discography. Big mistake on his part.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79


Axl is such a stupid businessman

Seems he always was, even back in the 80's...

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
plus there are a lot of "old times sake" people who were teens when they were big and would wanna own ONE GNR album, they don't wanna upgrade all 5 albums, would rather just have one with all the classics on it.

"I used to love her" isn't on it :(

It's a waste of money IMO. If you're a true G n' R fan, you probably have all the friggin' albums anyway. I would rather buy the album where hardcore/metalcore bands cover G n' R. :D

Originally posted by Silver Bullet
It's a waste of money IMO. If you're a true G n' R fan, you probably have all the friggin' albums anyway. I would rather buy the album where hardcore/metalcore bands cover G n' R. :D

well, for $8-10 it is a good deal.

my biggest beef with it was the inclusion of the Spaghetti Incident tracks when Estranged should've been on there instead. I understand why Sympathy For The Devil was on it tho.... to lure in the diehard fans who didn't buy the cd single in the day.

GH albums DO fulfill a niche, a lot of people don't realize the purpose of them.