Considérant que nous sommes en quelque sorte coincés dans une bulle temporelle si je me réfère à la mode, la musique, les jeux vidéos, le cinéma etc. et compte tenu du succès des Guns en 2018 (ils ont généré des tonnes de cash avec leur tournée planétaire, un fait qui en général parle à nos contemporains), il ne me semble pas complètement absurde de revenir sur les accointances du groupe avec l’art. Tout d’abord en 1987, avec la pochette originale d’Appetite for Destruction qui est une œuvre de Robert Williams peinte en 1977, tellement controversée qu’elle fut cachée dans le booklet de l’album.
En 1988, la pochette de Lies s’avère être un hommage à l’album Some Time in New York City de John Lennon
1991, c’est Mark Kostabi qui est chargé des pochettes du double album Use Your Illusion
1993, The Spaghetti Incident? la magnifique photo des pates est l’oeuvre de Dennis Keeley, à noter au bas de la pochette, un code écrit à la manière du tueur du Zodiac et qui signifie fuck’em all
Dernier album en date estampillé GNR, Chinese Democracy (2008), la photo figurant sur la pochette officielle a été shootée par Terry Hardin dans la Citadelle de Kowloon tandis que la couverture alternative est à mettre au crédit de Shi Lifeng – Controlling No. 3
Au delà des pochettes d’album qui démontrent donc une certaine appétence pour l’art contemporain, les Guns sont au coeur d’une trilogie clipesque réalisée par Andy Morahan, débutée en 1991 Don’t Cry, poursuivit 1992 November Rain, achevée en 1993 Estranged. Et qui reste à ce jour une énigme pour un certain nombre de fans (Il était question initialement d’interconnexions entre les différentes vidéos mais les querelles au sein du groupe et du couple mythique formé par Axl et Stéphanie ont changé la donne). En tout état de cause ces clips conservent encore aujourd’hui une aura mystique, onirique, surréaliste. Comme le dit Man Ray et qui pourrait s’appliquer à chacune de ces vidéos : Pour moi, il n’y a pas de différence entre le rêve et la réalité. Je ne sais jamais si ce que je fais est le produit du rêve ou de l’éveil ..
Don’t Cry
If we could see tomorrow, what of your plans?
No one can live in sorrow, ask all your friends
Times that you took in stride, they’re back in demand
I was the one who was washing blood off your hands
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
I know the things you wanted, they’re not what you have
With all the people talking, it’s driving you mad
If I was standing by you, how would you feel
Knowing your love’s decided, and all love is real?
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
I thought I could live in your world
As years all went by, with all the voices I’ve heard
Something has died
And when you’re in need of someone, my heart won’t deny you
So many seem so lonely with no one left to cry to, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
Don’t you cry tonight
Don’t you cry tonight
There’s a heaven above you baby
And don’t you cry tonight
When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin’ when I hold you
Don’t you know I feel the same
Nothin’ lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it’s hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
We’ve been through this such a long long time
Just tryin’ to kill the pain, oo yeah
But love is always coming and love is always going
And no one’s really sure who’s lettin’ go today
Walking away
If we could take the time
To lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin’ that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
Then darlin’ don’t refrain
Or I’ll just end up walkin’
In the cold November rain
Do you need some time on your own
Do you need some time all alone
Everybody needs some time
On their own
Don’t you know you need some time all alone
I know it’s hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you
Sometimes I need some time on my
Own
Sometimes I need some time all alone
Everybody needs some time
On their own
Don’t you know you need some time all alone
And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, oh yeah
I know that you can love me
When there’s no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever
Even cold November rain
Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
Estranged
When you’re talkin’ to yourself
And nobody’s home
You can fool yourself
You came in this world alone
(Alone)
So nobody ever told you baby
How it was gonna be
So what’ll happen to you baby
Guess we’ll have to wait and see
One, two
Old at heart but I’m only twenty eight
And I’m much too young
To let love break my heart
Young at heart but it’s getting much too late
To find ourselves so far apart
I don’t know how you’re s’posed to find me lately
An what more could you ask from me
How could you say that I never needed you
When you took everything
Said you took everything from me
Young at heart an it gets so hard to wait
When no one I know can seem to help me now
Old at heart but I musn’t hesitate
If I’m to find my own way out
Still talkin’ to myself
And nobody’s home
(Alone)
So nobody ever told us baby
How it was gonna be
So what’ll happen to us baby
Guess we’ll have to wait and see
When I find out all the reasons
Maybe I’ll find another way
Find another day
With all the changing seasons of my life
Maybe I’ll get it right next time
An now that you’ve been broken down
Got your head out of the clouds
You’re back down on the ground
And you don’t talk so loud
An you don’t walk so proud
Any more, and what for
Well I jumped into the river
Too many times to make it home
I’m out here on my own, an drifting all alone
If it doesn’t show give it time
To read between the lines
‘Cause I see the storm getting closer
And the waves they get so high
Seems everything we’ve ever known’s here
Why must it drift away and die
I’ll never find anyone to replace you
Guess I’ll have to make it through, this time – oh this time
Without you
I knew the storm was getting closer
And all my friends said I was high
But everything we’ve ever known’s here
I never wanted it to die
Music video by Guns N’ Roses (C) Guns N’ Roses under exclusive license to Geffen Record