Use Your Illusion II

The album Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses was released on September 17, 1991, the same day as its predecessor Use Your Illusion I. This work stands out for its more mature sound and a leaning toward political themes, something reflected in songs like "Civil War" and "Get in the Ring". The production, handled by Mike Clink and the band, took place in several Los Angeles studios, including A&M and Record Plant, spanning a recording period from January 1990 to August 1991. The album's total runtime is 75 minutes and 55 seconds, and its blend of hard rock and art rock makes it a unique offering within their discography.

Year: 1991
Songs: 14
Duration: 75 min 55 seg

Listen to the album ★

14 song|s

Song list

# Title Available ⏱

Civil War

7:42 02

14 Years

4:21 03

Yesterdays

3:16 04

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

Get in the Ring

Shotgun Blues

Breakdown

Pretty Tied Up

Locomotive

So Fine

Estranged

You Could Be Mine

Don’t Cry (alt. lyrics)

4:44 14

My World

1:24

Genres

aor arena rock art rock glam metal Hard rock

Details

Year: 1991
Songs: 14
Duration: 75 min 55 seg

About the album

Use Your Illusion II, according to DoReSol

One of the most iconic tracks is "You Could Be Mine", which was released as a single in June 1991 and is associated with the film Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The lyrics originally addressed Izzy Stradlin's failed relationship with Angela Nicoletti, but the video, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, adds an intriguing visual narrative. Another notable song is "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", a cover of Bob Dylan's track that had previously appeared on the Days of Thunder soundtrack nearly a year earlier. "Civil War", which was included as the B-side of "You Could Be Mine", was also performed at the 1990 Farm Aid concert, giving it an important social context.

The impact of Use Your Illusion II was significant, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling 770,000 copies in its first week, figures that surpassed those of its counterpart. Over the years, the album has been certified 7 times platinum in the United States, cementing its place in rock history. This album, along with Use Your Illusion I, marked the end of an era for Guns N' Roses, being the last to include original material until the release of Chinese Democracy in 2008. The combination of more reflective lyrics and a more elaborate sound makes this album a benchmark in their career.

Discography