There’s no denying the influence Guns N’ Roses has had on hard rock and heavy metal music. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, being one of the biggest, highest selling albums of all time. While the band has had a career that’s been going on since the late 80’s, they’ve managed to only release six studio albums, the last album, Chinese Democracy taking 17 years to be completed and released and it was mediocre at best.

Lineup changes, kiss and make up and finally piecing themselves back together with three of the OG members, Guns N’ Roses tried in the past few years to release some new songs here and there.

In 2020, when they reissued their Greatest Hits, it included “Shadow of Your Love”. The song was written when they were still known as Hollywood Rose and was used as a B-Side back in 1987.  It should have stayed a B-side. It was not a great song.

Then, in August of 2021, they dropped “Absurd“, their first new material since 2008. Let’s just say the title said everything you need to know. They followed that up with “Hard Skool” in September. Both of these were “reworkings” ie: leftovers, from Chinese Democracy. I expected better. I mean it took 17 years to make that album and 13 years for these two songs to come from its ashes? Disappointing to say the least.

Now here we are in 2023 and another “new” GNR song is bestowed upon us. “Perhaps” was another of those leftover/throwaway songs from the Chinese Democracy sessions. Recorded in 2000, but hidden away apparently until around 2019 when it “leaked” online, around the same time as “Absurd” and “Hard Skool”

It’s been 10 days, but the internet is buzzing about it. My thoughts are mixed. I mean, again, I am disappointed to know that they are digging up old material. Why? Is this their attempt to stay relevant and try to maintain the sound that blew us away in 1987?

If my memory serves, “November Rain” was kind of the beginning of the end. All that piano and Axl Rose going overboard perfectionist was why it took 17 years to finish the album. So when “Perhaps” starts with a bold piano, it’s like “Oh of course this is leftover from Chinese Democracy, as it seemed that was the direction they were headed. Or at least the direction Axl was headed. Instead of making blistering, sassy rock n roll songs, he was suddenly trying to compose opuses.

I will say that of the three leftover tracks that have surfaced from Chinese Democracy, “Perhaps” is the best of the three.

GNR is not in their prime anymore. Hell, most of us aren’t. And while I appreciate them putting aside their differences to reunite for the love of playing live (and the paycheck that goes with it) and doing these massive stadium tours all around the world for the last three years, it would be nice if they could actually give us something new. Leftovers are for mom’s meatloaf.