14 Years

The lead vocals on 14 Years are not performed by Axl Rose, but by Izzy Stradlin, which is unusual in the Guns N’ Roses catalog. Only the chorus is sung by Axl Rose, while the rest of the song relies on Stradlin’s raspy and direct delivery, giving it a more intimate and confessional tone. According to fans, the lyrics refer to the friendship between the two musicians, a bond that had lasted fourteen years when the song was released. The track was recorded in September 1990 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, just before the band released their double album Use Your Illusion II, where it was included.

The initial demo featured significant changes in the lyrics: the first verse and the chorus were different, and the second and third verses were completely rewritten. Part of the second verse from the demo was later integrated into the third verse of the final version, while the third verse of the demo became a modified version of the first verse. Stradlin even adjusted some lines when performing it live. The song was part of the Use Your Illusion Tour, but only while he remained in the band. In 2012, Stradlin performed it again at some concerts, decades after his departure from Guns N’ Roses.