Guns N' Roses release new single ABSUЯD

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By ( Classic Rock ) last updated

Guns N' Roses release ABSUЯD, their first new studio recording since the band reformed

Guns N' Roses have released a new studio recording, ABSUЯD. The release comes days after they performed the song - originally a Chinese Democracy outtake called Silkworms - at their show at Boston's Fenway Park, the second date of their We're F'N Back! tour. The band also performed ABSUЯD at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, last night. 

Silkworms was originally written during the sessions for Chinese Democracy by keyboardists Chris Pitman and Dizzy Reed. The song was first performed by the band two decades ago during a New Year show at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, and reprised a couple of weeks later at the Rock In Rio festival. 

It's also been recorded as a demo previously by the band, with the Guns N' Roses fan wiki listing several versions including the "2006 Bumblefoot Version" the "2000 Demo Version", the "2010 Evader's Version" and the "2013 Catcher In The Rye Version."

The latest version is produced by Axl Rose, while other credits include Caram Costanzo (producer, studio personnel, mixer) - who worked with the band on Chinese Democracy - Brain Mantia (associated performer, drums), while the composer/lyricist is listed as Guns N' Roses.   

The revived ABSUЯD removes many of the industrial elements that featured in the original, with a churning Slash riff and a furious vocal from Axl Rose suggesting that the Guns N' Roses of 2021 probably have more in common with the original line-up than the one that produced Chinese Democracy.

Ladies and gentlemen, it would appear that Guns N' Roses are back.  

Fraser Lewry
Fraser Lewry
Online Editor, Classic Rock

Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 40 years in music industry, online for 27. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.