Patience (Guns N' Roses song)

"Patience"
Standard artwork (U.S. vinyl pictured)
Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album G N' R Lies
B-side"Rocket Queen"
ReleasedMarch 31, 1989[1]
Recorded1988
Genre
Length5:56
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Guns N' Roses singles chronology
"Paradise City"
(1989) 		"Patience"
(1989) 		"Nightrain"
(1989)
Music video
Patience on YouTube

"Patience" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses from their second studio album, G N' R Lies (1988), released as a single in March 1989. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.[4] The song is a ballad,[5] played using three acoustic guitars and was recorded in a single session by producer Mike Clink. A music video of the song was shot and appears on the band's music video DVD, Welcome to the Videos.

The motivation for the track is generally accepted to be the troublesome relationship between Axl Rose and his now ex-wife Erin Everly, though this was never stated in the album or interviews. According to bass guitarist Duff McKagan, "Axl came up with a great lyric, seemingly out of nowhere, that of course became the story and melody of that song."[6]

Drummer Steven Adler did not record on the track, although in some live performances prior to release of the album, such as their performance at the Orange County Fair in New York in the summer of 1988, percussion (and electric instruments) were used.

Music video

In the video, the band members are situated in a hotel where they are the only constant images, as all other people are present for a moment, then fade away. Directed by Nigel Dick, it was one of the numerous videos produced by the band. The video was filmed on Valentine's Day during 1989, some scenes being shot at the Record Plant. It was the last video in which Steven Adler appeared (even though he did not play on the recorded track) and the last before the Use Your Illusion videos. Mike Clink is also featured in the video, sitting at the mixing board. The video was shot in The Ambassador Hotel, made famous due to Bobby Kennedy's assassination in 1968. The hotel was inoperative and scheduled for demolition, but was not demolished until 2006.

Legacy and covers

[7][8]

Rock musician Chris Cornell recorded a cover of the song, which was released posthumously on July 20, 2020.[5]

Live performances

"Patience" has been a staple in Guns N' Roses' setlists on all tours since the song was released. When performed live, electric guitars are often used instead of acoustic. Despite the album version of the song featuring no drumming, the drummers make active use of their drum kits during performances, and keyboardist Dizzy Reed makes use of his keyboard as well. In the 21st century, the band's lead guitarist (Slash or DJ Ashba) would play electric guitar, while the second guitarist (Buckethead, Paul Tobias, Richard Fortus, Bumblefoot or Duff McKagan) would play acoustic. Live performances are available on Appetite for Democracy 3D and Made in Stoke 24/7/11.

  • The band performed the song live at the American Music Awards filmed at the Shrine Auditorium. Steven Adler was in rehab at the time of filming, and Don Henley filled in for him during the taping.

Track listings

All tracks are written by Guns N' Roses

US and UK 7-inch single (7-22996; GEF 56)
No.TitleLength
1."Patience" (LP version)5:56
2."Rocket Queen" (LP version)6:13
UK 12-inch and mini-CD single (GEF 56T; GEF 56CD)
No.TitleLength
1."Patience" (LP version)5:56
2."Rocket Queen" (LP version)6:13
3."Interview with W. Axl Rose" (recorded in Los Angeles 19 May 1989)7:44

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Gold 35,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[32] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[33] Gold 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States March 31, 1989
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Geffen [36]
United Kingdom June 19, 1989
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [37]

See also

References

  1. ^ "RIAA".
  2. ^ August 2019, Joe Bosso 23 (August 23, 2019). "The 25 best acoustic rock songs". guitarworld. Retrieved July 2, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Review: Guns N' Roses knocks it out of the park at Dodger Stadium". Orange County Register. August 19, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Allmusic (Guns N' Roses charts and awards) Billboard singles".
  5. ^ a b Blistein, Jon (July 20, 2020). "Hear Chris Cornell's Previously Unreleased Cover of Guns N' Roses' 'Patience'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  6. ^ London, Axl, and Continued "Patience" Archived October 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Bernstein, Scott (January 4, 2007). "THE B List: Favorite Hair-Metal Power Ballads". Glide Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "Every Rose Has Its Thorn: A Tribute to the Syrupy-Sweet Sounds of '80s Hair-Metal Ballads". SPIN. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "Guns N' Roses – Patience". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  10. ^ "Guns N' Roses – Patience" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  11. ^ Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. ISBN 951-1-21053-X
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guns N' Roses". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "Guns N' Roses – Patience" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  15. ^ "Guns N' Roses – Patience". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  16. ^ "Guns N' Roses – Patience". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  17. ^ "Guns N' Roses: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  18. ^ "Guns N' Roses Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  19. ^ "Guns N' Roses Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Guns N' Roses – Patience" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  22. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – 1989". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  24. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1989". Ultratop. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  25. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  26. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  27. ^ "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22.
  28. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1989".
  29. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  30. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1990 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  32. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Guns N' Roses – Patience" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  33. ^ "Italian single certifications – Guns N' Roses – Patience" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  34. ^ "British single certifications – Guns N' Roses – Patience". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  35. ^ "American single certifications – Guns N' Roses – Patience". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  36. ^ "RIAA".
  37. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. June 17, 1989. p. 35.