14 Years Explained

14 Years
Cover:GNR_14Years.jpg
Type:Promotional single
Artist:Guns N' Roses
Album:Use Your Illusion II
Released:1991
Genre:Hard rock, blues rock, heavy metal
Length:4:16
Label:Geffen
Producer:

"14 Years" is a song by the American rock band Guns N' Roses, released in 1991 on their album Use Your Illusion II.[1]

Background

The song is one of the few Guns N' Roses tunes sung almost entirely by Izzy Stradlin with Axl Rose singing the chorus.[2]

"14 Years" was only performed live when Stradlin was still in the band.[2] According to fan-site GNRsource, the song is about Rose's and Stradlin's friendship, with people pointing out that they had known each other for 14 years by the time the song was supposedly written.[2]

An earlier demo had different lyrics with the first verse and the chorus slightly modified, while the second and third verses were given a complete makeover. Parts of the demo's second verse would be used in the third verse of the final version, while the third verse is a slightly modified version of the demo's first verse. Stradlin would sometimes change the lyrics a bit when singing the song live.

The song was part of the set list at a few live concerts in 2012 featuring Izzy Stradlin.[3]

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Use Your Illusion II - Guns N' Roses | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic. June 1, 2021.
  2. Web site: 14 Years | GN'R Source. https://archive.today/20130413183506/http://www.gnrsource.net/discography/use-your-illusion-ii/14-years/. dead. April 13, 2013. June 1, 2021.
  3. Web site: Guns N' Roses Setlist at The O2 Arena, London. Setlist.fm. June 1, 2021.