Estranged: Guns N' Roses & Use Your Illusion

By Geoff Harkness

How do you follow the biggest debut album of all time? That was the task Guns N' Roses faced in 1989 as the L.A. quintet gathered in Chicago to begin work on their epic sophomore effort. Estranged: Guns N' Roses & Use Your Illusion chronicles the world's most dangerous band - led by mercurial vocalist Axl Rose and virtuoso axeman Slash - in the studio and onstage during their multiyear pursuit of musical greatness. This is GNR at the height of their artistry, ambition, and excess.

Guns N' Roses shattered sales records with Use Your Illusion, two complete albums released on the same day that topped the charts. Illusion spawned the groundbreaking trilogy "Don't Cry," "November Rain," and "Estranged," which remain some of the most creative - and expensive - music videos ever produced. The two-and-a-half year Illusion trek was the longest tour in rock history, with GNR traveling by private jet to perform nearly 200 concerts for 7 million fans in 28 countries. Along the way, the group faced the departure of founding members, mental-health issues, record-company battles, overdoses, riots, arrests, lawsuits, and a charismatic singer whose untamed volatility meant no one knew what would happen next.

Estranged: Guns N' Roses & Use Your Illusion tells the entire, incredible tale in vivid detail, offering new insights into the writing and recording of Illusion, behind-the-scenes looks at every music video, and unearthed details about the Illusion tour. Going beyond stereotypes, Estranged is a meticulously researched, unforgettable deep dive into every aspect of the Use Your Illusion era.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GQ3W8Q83
• ISBN13: 9798988717065
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Carol Press
• Length: 404 Pages
• Weight: 1.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"