A Lot Can Happen In 17 Years

We have nothing but respect for Axl Rose, and we have no quarrel with him taking 17 years to complete the new album. In fact, the mental image of Axl sitting behind the studio control board, perhaps muttering something like, “It still isn’t good enough for … for the fans!” is somewhat comforting, indicating there are still a few perfectionists in the world willing to commit time and effort to their art.

On the other hand, it’s difficult to put 17 years in perspective. After all, how long should it take to complete an album? We don’t have that answer. But we do have an idea of what has come to pass while Mr. Rose worked on his masterpiece.

For example …

If you were born on the day the band released the Use Your Illusion albums, you’re probably a high school junior today.

The Internet would not be opened for commerce until three years after Use Your Illusion I and II were issued. No Amazon, no eBay, no iTunes.

Needless to say, Napster creator Shawn Fanning was only 10 years old when the Use Your Illusion albums were released. We’re guessing that he probably bought one of the albums and shared it with a friend.

There was a joke going around during the past few years that by the time Axl Rose signed off on Chinese Democracy, China would actually have a democracy. Today, China is still a communist nation, but 17 years ago Russia was still the Soviet Union and there were still two Berlins.

George Bush Sr. was president 17 years ago. And William Jefferson Clinton was the governor of Arkansas.

When the Use Your Illusion albums were released, Billy Ray Cyrus had yet to hit stardom with “Achy Breaky Heart.” Daughter Miley wasn’t even a glimmer in Billy’s eyes.

When the Use Your Illusion albums were released, Britney Spears was only 9 years old and hadn’t yet joined Disney’s New Mickey Mouse Club.

Nirvana’s groundbreaking album, Nevermind, came out seven days after the twin releases of Use Your Illusion I and II.

During the first week of sales, Chinese Democracy was the third-best selling album. The No. 2 album during the same period was Taylor Swift’s Fearless. Taylor Swift was not quite 2 years old when the Use Your Illusion allbums were released.

Nicole Simpson was still alive when the Use Your Illusion albums were released in 1991. The murders of Simpson and Ron Goldman, for which Simpson’s ex-husband O.J. Simpson was tried and acquitted, would not occur until almost three years later. Ditto for the famous Ford Bronco chase on Los Angeles freeways.

Chances are, if you owned a cell phone in 1991 it was analog instead of digital, was very large and came with a battery that lasted only a few hours. And it cost more money than some people made in a week.

The “X-Files” would not premiere on Fox until 1993. NBC’s “Friends” did not debut until 1994. In other words, no one had ever heard of Rachel, Ross, Scully or Mulder when the Use Your Illusion albums were released.

When the Use Your Illusion albums were released 17 years ago, there were only three “Star Wars” films. And Jar Jar Binks did not exist.

Along the same lines, TV series “Seinfeld” was 1 year old in 1991 and was just beginning to build an audience.

Johnny Carson still hosted “The Tonight Show” in 1991, David Letterman was still on NBC, and Jimmy Kimmel was trying to make it in morning radio.

When Use Your Illusion I and II were released, Pamela Anderson had yet to join the cast of TV’s “Baywatch.”

But perhaps the biggest difference to occur since the 1991 release of Use Your Illusion I & II involves the band itself.  Back in ’91 Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan were still members of Guns N’ Roses.

Now it’s your turn. Step right up and tell us what you think has changed in the world since 1991 and the release of the Use Your Illusion albums.