Greatest Hits

The hair metal behemoths have had their legend sullied by constant line-up changes (Buckethead, I ask you!), accusations of homophobia and a perpetually delayed new album (Chinese Democracy). Just the right time then to remind the world what a great band they once were.

This ‘Greatest Hits’ package includes everything you’ll ever need to hear from the mighty L.A. band. Taking tracks from all their albums (including the much-maligned ‘Spaghetti Incident’) this is a pant-wettingly great retrospective. ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ kicks things off with a riff that could destroy buildings and Axl’s screeching, majestic vocal. Next up is ‘Sweet Child O’Mine’, probably the group’s finest song it towers proudly over everything else on show here. Elsewhere we get memorable re-interpretations: ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’, ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘Sympathy For The Devil’; classic ballads like ‘November Rain’ and full on cock-rock bluster ‘Paradise City’.

No matter what happens next on the whirlwind Gunners roadshow nothing can detract from the magnitude of the oeuvre so far. ‘Greatest Hits’ reiterates just why they were once the biggest band in the world. We can only pray that they can regain that kind of form again.