The Flashback: Sympathy for the Devil

[CherryGarcia]

The last Guns N' Roses song to feature Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, while the first to feature Paul "Huge" Tobias, Sympathy for the Devil thus marks a segue from the "old" band to the beginnings of the "new" band. A cover, the song was recorded in October 1994 and features Axl, Slash, Paul, Duff, Matt and Dizzy and it was released as a single in December 1994 as well as on the soundtrack of the popular film, "Interview with a Vampire." As the song is almost from a hybrid lineup of Guns, featuring the core of "new GN'R" (Axl, Paul, Dizzy) and the core of "old GN'R" (Axl, Slash, Duff), it's an interesting piece.

I'm interested to hear what your views were on the song back in 1994/early 1995 and how you feel about it now, 20 years later.

[Annie]

I loved it. Was a great version.  Loved the movie too.  Tom Cruise proved everybody wrong and he delivered a totally awesome performance of LESTAT!

[TheBaconman]

The movie was great.  Really wished there was a second one

As for the song.

When it was released.  I was like, meh..  Just another cover song from a band that already had officially released way to many covers to actual original music

As for now.

I would love to hear it played live

[Annie]

I would love to see it performed live as well.  Several years back I saw this goofy topless vampire show called BITE at the Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas that used the GNR version in the show.  Was kinda cool to hear it. The performance was live even though the music was a recording

[TheBaconman]

I would love to see it performed live as well.  Several years back I saw this goofy topless vampire show called BITE at the Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas that used the GNR version in the show.  Was kinda cool to hear it. The performance was live even though the music was a recording

haha, I don't that show sounds goofy at all.  A topless vampire show, actually sounds pretty hot.

[Annie]

I would love to see it performed live as well.  Several years back I saw this goofy topless vampire show called BITE at the Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas that used the GNR version in the show.  Was kinda cool to hear it. The performance was live even though the music was a recording

haha, I don't that show sounds goofy at all.  A topless vampire show, actually sounds pretty hot.

Boobs aside. It was just one of those shows that was so bad that it was good.

[GnR-NOW]

I really enjoyed the movie and glad to hear GNR at the end of it. As for the song, I like it better than the original version.

[Annie]

I really enjoyed the movie and glad to hear GNR at the end of it. As for the song, I like it better than the original version.

Me too !

[sky dog]

I will go with the Stones...hard to top that since it is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Like the Baconman, too many covers for my taste at the time....was jonesing for some original material in 1994.

[rebelhipi]

Great cover. I think its one of GNRs most underated tunes.

Im not sure is it even possible to top the original version.

Guns version sounds still fresh and they added some great things to it.
Matt did a great job in this one, regarding theres almost no drums on the original version, he arranged totally his own parts, and did it perfectly. I really like what he plays from 6:40 onwards, typical Matt simple powerful stuff. Great solo by Paul in that part too.

Axl is spot on, Dizzy is spot on. I actually think the guitar parts by Paul are really cool. The last 3 minutes sounds like a kegger.

Probably the first recording Duff did after his near death experience.

Great backing vocals by Duff and Paul


I have always like ending with ''thats my name''. ''give? us the boy'' ''dont forget to drink your milk''.
I wonder who said those last lines.

[LIGuns]

Yet another song I was introduced by due to a GN'R cover...Others include Mama Kin, Live and Let Die, Dead Flowers, Bad Time to Be in Love, Wild Horses, all of SI excluding Big Dumb Sex and SIDHY, Whole Lot of Rosie, "Sail away Sweet Sister", Dust in the Wind and any Rose Tatoo played fpduring CD tour..

[D-GenerationX]

I always really dug it. 

Love Axl's vocal and I think Slash really tears up that solo.  I still listen to it pretty often. 

But its hard not to think of all the bullshit that came with recording it.  So, sort of a bittersweet tune for me.

[EmilyGNR]

Jane's Addiction also did a decent cover of Sympathy, although I like the GNR version better.

[westcoast_junkie]

Love it. Better than Stones. This actually was the first Guns release I waited for before it was released. I got into Gn'R a year or so earlier. I was 9, and didn't realize it was a cover.

[Ringoturtle]

I thought it were Slashs parts and Paul "imitated" them because Axl said so.

great tune. Slash said you here the band breaking up and he wasn't into it because of the whole PAul Huge drama but I tinnk it's great. I also dig the question-answer soloing which Axl wanted. Slash didn't want to do it but fortunately he gave in and kept the f'n thing going...

EDIT:
I postet the same post in another thread. I don't know why!?

[DeN]

I like some parts, but the whole thing is too pompous.

[JAEBALL]

I always really dug it. 

Love Axl's vocal and I think Slash really tears up that solo.  I still listen to it pretty often. 

But its hard not to think of all the bullshit that came with recording it.  So, sort of a bittersweet tune for me.

Yup . I don't like it for that reason as well, plus I like the original a lot.

There's a couple of songs in the bands history, that I can't help but think of the BS drama when hearing it.

I loved the movie... and love when the song comes on at the end doe !

[CheapJon]

I was 4 years old in late 94.. The first time I heard the song was probably when I first listened to the Greatest Hits album in 2004. Thought it was awesome back then, still thinks it's pretty awesome but rarely listen to it. Got no problem with Paul's parts during the solo.

[GNRMTL]

Killer tune love Axls vocals but I concur with the above its bitter sweet knowing the baggage this song came with.   That being said I've always wanted to hear them do it live.  Be a stellar show opener.  Maybe it will all begin where it ended ✌

[JAEBALL]

I was 4 years old in late 94.. The first time I heard the song was probably when I first listened to the Greatest Hits album in 2004. Thought it was awesome back then, still thinks it's pretty awesome but rarely listen to it. Got no problem with Paul's parts during the solo.

No issue with the way his parts sound either. Just a bad situation.