Legendary American rock band Guns N’ Roses continues to build momentum in their post-pandemic resurgence, revealing plans to release a second new track titled *The General*. The song will appear as the B-side to the vinyl edition of their latest single *Perhaps*, which is slated for release on October 27. This announcement comes just as the band performed *Perhaps* live for the first time at their recent show in Pittsburgh, marking a significant moment in the band’s current tour.
*Perhaps* was officially released digitally on the same day as the live debut, with fans quickly recognizing its roots in the band’s *Chinese Democracy* recording sessions. The song was co-written by core members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan, and features a blend of old-school GNR attitude with a more introspective and experimental tone.
During the Pittsburgh performance at PNC Park, frontman Axl Rose addressed the crowd with his trademark honesty before launching into the track.
“Forgive me if I don’t run around and try to project as much because I’m gonna try to 
Following the performance, Rose, clearly moved by the experience, thanked the audience, saying: “Thank you. Now that was an experience.”
While *Perhaps* is a fresh release, it has long been known to dedicated fans, having leaked unofficially online years ago. However, its official release and performance signal that Guns N’ Roses is finally opening the vault on long-shelved material, reworking and releasing tracks with new life and purpose.
The announcement of *The General* has added further excitement among fans, as the song is another long-rumored outtake from the *Chinese Democracy* sessions. While details about the track are still limited, its inclusion as a B-side suggests it complements *Perhaps* thematically or stylistically.
Even more intriguing is the promise of additional new music on the horizon. According to the band’s longtime production manager, Tom Mayhue, Guns N’ Roses is deep into the process of creating new material, with much of it inspired by their iconic debut album, *Appetite For Destruction*.
“I know that the band’s gonna start working on new music,” Mayhue revealed in a recent interview. “They’ve got a bunch of stuff recorded already. So there will be new Guns N’ Roses music very soon. In fact, I think they’re trying to get a single out any day now, so you may hear something very, very soon.”
He continued, “It sounds great. It’s a lot more kind of Appetite-orientated.” That’s significant news for fans of the band’s early, gritty sound. *Appetite For Destruction*, released in 1987, remains one of the most successful and influential rock albums of all time, featuring timeless hits like *Sweet Child o’ Mine*, *Paradise City*, and *Welcome to the Jungle*.
Mayhue also hinted at a wealth of unreleased material from the band’s early days. “When the band went in originally and recorded *Appetite For Destruction*, I think they recorded, like, 29 songs. So there’s a bunch of other music that was left over that didn’t make the first record. I think there’s only 11 songs on the first record.”
This treasure trove of recordings, both from the *Appetite* and *Chinese Democracy* eras, could form the basis for several upcoming releases, giving fans a mix of vintage vibes and previously unheard ideas that span decades.
The news of new material follows a strong year for the band. In addition to their ongoing world tour, Guns N’ Roses made headlines with their headline slot at Glastonbury Festival, one of the UK’s most prestigious music events. Despite mixed reviews for the performance, their presence on the Glastonbury stage reaffirmed their relevance and influence in the modern rock scene.
The band’s current lineup—Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Richard Fortus, Dizzy Reed, and Frank Ferrer—has remained stable in recent years, allowing for a renewed sense of focus and creativity. Since Slash and McKagan rejoined the fold in 2016, Guns N’ Roses has embarked on several successful tours and started teasing the idea of recording new music together. While the full-length album fans have long hoped for has yet to materialize, singles like *Absurd*, *Hard Skool*, and now *Perhaps* signal that a larger project may not be far off.
For many fans, the real excitement lies in the possibility of hearing new music that taps into the raw energy and danger that defined the band in its early years. If *The General* and future songs truly echo the *Appetite* era, it could mark a powerful return to form.
As anticipation builds for the vinyl release of *Perhaps* and *The General*, one thing is clear: Guns N’ Roses is far from done. Whether mining their archives or creating new material, the band remains a force in rock music—still defiant, still evolving, and still ready to surprise.
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