Hard Skool

Hard Skool
Hard Skool
EP by Guns N' Roses
Released	January 28, 2022
Genre	Hard rock; alternative metal; punk rock; industrial rock;
Length	15:52
Label	Geffen; UMG;
Producer	Axl Rose; Caram Costanzo;
Guns N' Roses chronology
Audio
	"Hard Skool" on YouTube
Lyric Video
	"Hard Skool" on YouTube

Hard Skool is a single and the fourth extended play by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. The single was released on September 24, 2021, with the EP following on January 28, 2022.^[7] The EP consists of two singles and two live tracks, and is their first EP release with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan since they rejoined the band in 2016.

Background

Slash and McKagan left Guns N’ Roses in the late '90s, with Slash and vocalist Axl Rose having a longstanding public feud until repairing their relationship in 2015. A year later Slash and McKagan rejoined the band for the record-setting Not in This Lifetime… Tour, with the band stating they intended to make new music.

The tracks "Absurd" and "Hard Skool" were initially recorded during the Chinese Democracy sessions, although an earlier version of "Hard Skool" might have been written in 1996.^[8]^[9] "Absurd" (known previously as "Silkworms") was performed live four times in 2001, before two different studio recordings of it leaking online in 2018 and 2019, respectively.^[10]^[11]^[12] A snippet of "Hard Skool" was posted online in 2006 under the title "Checkmate". In 2008, Rose mentioned that the working title of the song was "Jackie Chan".^[13] The full version from the Chinese Democracy sessions, under the name "Hard School", leaked in 2019.^[4]^[14]

A reworked version of "Absurd" was performed live for the first time on August 3, 2021.^[15] It was released as a single three days later, marking the group's first release of new material since the release of Chinese Democracy in 2008.^[16]^[17] It was also the first new Guns N' Roses track to feature guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan since the release of 1994's "Sympathy for the Devil".^[18] "Hard Skool" was first performed by members of the band at soundcheck before the last concert of the canceled -- due to the COVID-19 pandemic -- tour on March 14, 2020, and then in August and September 2021.^[19]^[20]^[21] It was then released as a single on September 24.^[22] The track peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.^[23] The official lyric video of the song debuted on Good Morning Football on December 3, 2021.^[24]

The Hard Skool EP was announced on September 25, 2021 and slated for release on February 25, 2022.^[25] Exclusive to the band's online store, it features live versions of "You're Crazy" and "Don't Cry", songs originally released on 1987's Appetite for Destruction and 1991's Use Your Illusion I, respectively.^[26]^[27] The Hard Skool CD and cassette, as well as the 7-inch single featuring a live version of "Absurd" as B-side, eventually became available earlier than originally announced, on January 28, 2022. A second 7-inch vinyl version was released June 2022 to the Nightrain fan club. It features "Hard Skool" and a new live version of "Shadow of Your Love".^[28]

Reception

Classic Rock's Stephen Hill gave "Absurd" a positive review, noting how the track makes the band "sound genuinely pumped up, aggressive and full of boisterous energy".^[29] However, Loudwire noted a divide among audiences, with some "digging the track" while others "don't seem so into it".^[30] "Hard Skool" was more well received, with several publications describing it as "vintage" Guns N' Roses.^[4]^[31]^[32]

Track listing

CD, cassette
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hard Skool"	Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Robin Finck, Josh Freese, Tommy Stinson, Paul Tobias^[33]	3:41
2.	"Absurd"	Rose, Dizzy Reed, Slash, McKagan	3:23
3.	"Don't Cry" (live)	Rose, Izzy Stradlin	4:24
4.	"You're Crazy" (live)	Guns N' Roses	4:24
Total length:			15:52

7-inch vinyl
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hard Skool"	Rose, Slash, McKagan, Finck, Freese, Stinson, Tobias	3:41
2.	"Absurd" (live)	Rose, Reed, Slash, McKagan	3:40

Transparent vinyl
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hard Skool"	Rose, Slash, McKagan, Finck, Freese, Stinson, Tobias	3:41
2.	"Absurd" (live)	Rose, Reed, Slash, McKagan	3:40
3.	"Shadow of Your Love" (live)	Rose, Stradlin, Tobias	2:55

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Hard Skool"
Chart (2021–2022)	Peak position
Hungary (Single Top 40)^[34]	25
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)^[35]	13
Japan (Oricon)^[36]	18
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[37]	9

Personnel

Guns N' Roses

Axl Rose – lead vocals, piano, production, programming
Slash – lead guitar
Duff McKagan – bass guitar, backing vocals
Dizzy Reed – piano, keyboards, backing vocals, programming
Richard Fortus – rhythm guitar
Brain – drums, percussion (studio tracks only)^[38]
Frank Ferrer - drums, percussion (live tracks only)
Melissa Reese – keyboards, sub-bass, percussion, backing vocals

Additional credits

Caram Costanzo – production, mixing, engineer
Sean Beavan, Eric Caudieux – additional engineering

References

^ Reilly, Nick (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses release explosive new track 'Absurd'". NME. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ Horsley, Jonathan (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses release high-octane new single, Absurd". MusicRadar. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Hill, Stephen (August 6, 2021). "Our first reaction to the new Guns N' Roses single ABSUЯD". Classic Rock. Louder. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rolli, Bryan (September 26, 2021). "Watch Guns N' Roses Play 'Hard Skool' Live for the First Time". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ Guitars (September 24, 2021). "The 'new' Guns N' Roses song Hard Skool is a rocking return". MusicRadar.
^ "Guns N' Roses Release New Song "Hard Skool"". September 24, 2021.
^ "Hard Skool CD". GN'R Merch. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Lewry, Fraser (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses release new single ABSUЯD". Classic Rock. Louder. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "Hard Skool". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
^ Irwin, Corey (August 3, 2021). "Watch Guns N' Roses Debut New Song 'Absurd'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ Buchanan, Brett (June 11, 2018). "Newly Leaked Guns N' Roses Song Sounds Like Nine Inch Nails & Linkin Park". Alternative Nation. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "Absuɿd (Silkworms)". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
^ "Hard Skool". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
^ Richards, Will (September 24, 2021). "Guns N' Roses return with new song 'Hard Skool'". NME. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "Guns N' Roses Performs 'New' Song 'Absurd' At Boston's Fenway Park (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. August 3, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "Guns N' Roses Officially Releases Studio Version Of New Song 'Absurd'". Blabbermouth.net. August 6, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ Kohn, Daniel (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses Release First New Song in 13 Years". Spin. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ DiVita, Joe (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses Release Official Studio Version of New Song 'Absurd'". Loudwire. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "2020.03.14 - Vive Latino Festival, Mexico City, Mexico". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
^ "2021.08.27 - Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV, USA". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
^ Schaffner, Lauryn (September 17, 2021). "See Video of Guns N' Roses Rehearsing 'Hard School' Before Show". Loudwire. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "Guns N' Roses Officially Drops New Song 'Hard Skool'". Blabbermouth.net. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay – The Week of November 27, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
^ "GUNS N' ROSES Shares Official Lyric Video For New Song 'Hard Skool'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. December 3, 2021.
^ "Guns N' Roses To Release 'Hard Skool' Four-Song EP In February". Blabbermouth.net. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ Richardson, Jake (September 26, 2021). "Guns N' Roses to Release New EP 'Hard Skool' in 2022". Loudwire. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ Triscari, Caleb (September 28, 2021). "Guns N' Roses announce new four-song EP 'Hard Skool'". NME. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
^ "Guns N' Roses - Limited Edition Vinyl Available With 2022 Nightrain Fan Club Memberships". BraveWords. January 10, 2022.
^ Hill, Stephen (August 6, 2021). "Our first reaction to the new Guns N' Roses single ABSUЯD". Classic Rock. Louder. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^ Trapp, Philip (August 6, 2021). "Fans React to Guns N' Roses' New Studio Recording of 'Absurd'". Loudwire. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^ Peacock, Tim (September 24, 2021). "Listen To Guns N' Roses Exhilarating New Track, 'Hard Skool'". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "The 'new' Guns N' Roses song Hard Skool is a rocking return". MusicRadar. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
^ "Hard Skool". umusicpub.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 24, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
^ "週間シングルランキング 2022年08月29日付". Oricon. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^ "Guns N Roses Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
^ mel bio

[1] Reilly, Nick (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses release explosive new track 'Absurd'". NME. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

[2] Horsley, Jonathan (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses release high-octane new single, Absurd". MusicRadar. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

[Louder2-3] Hill, Stephen (August 6, 2021). "Our first reaction to the new Guns N' Roses single ABSUЯD". Classic Rock. Louder. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

[Ultimate-4] Rolli, Bryan (September 26, 2021). "Watch Guns N' Roses Play 'Hard Skool' Live for the First Time". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[5] Guitars (September 24, 2021). "The 'new' Guns N' Roses song Hard Skool is a rocking return". MusicRadar.

[6] "Guns N' Roses Release New Song "Hard Skool"". September 24, 2021.

[7] "Hard Skool CD". GN'R Merch. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[8] Lewry, Fraser (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses release new single ABSUЯD". Classic Rock. Louder. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[9] "Hard Skool". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved September 26, 2023.

[10] Irwin, Corey (August 3, 2021). "Watch Guns N' Roses Debut New Song 'Absurd'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[11] Buchanan, Brett (June 11, 2018). "Newly Leaked Guns N' Roses Song Sounds Like Nine Inch Nails & Linkin Park". Alternative Nation. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[12] "Absuɿd (Silkworms)". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 12, 2023.

[13] "Hard Skool". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved September 26, 2023.

[14] Richards, Will (September 24, 2021). "Guns N' Roses return with new song 'Hard Skool'". NME. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[15] "Guns N' Roses Performs 'New' Song 'Absurd' At Boston's Fenway Park (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. August 3, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[16] "Guns N' Roses Officially Releases Studio Version Of New Song 'Absurd'". Blabbermouth.net. August 6, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[17] Kohn, Daniel (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses Release First New Song in 13 Years". Spin. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[18] DiVita, Joe (August 6, 2021). "Guns N' Roses Release Official Studio Version of New Song 'Absurd'". Loudwire. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[19] "2020.03.14 - Vive Latino Festival, Mexico City, Mexico". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 12, 2023.

[20] "2021.08.27 - Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV, USA". Appetite For Discussion. Retrieved October 12, 2023.

[21] Schaffner, Lauryn (September 17, 2021). "See Video of Guns N' Roses Rehearsing 'Hard School' Before Show". Loudwire. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[22] "Guns N' Roses Officially Drops New Song 'Hard Skool'". Blabbermouth.net. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[23] "Mainstream Rock Airplay – The Week of November 27, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2021.

[24] "GUNS N' ROSES Shares Official Lyric Video For New Song 'Hard Skool'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. December 3, 2021.

[Blabber-25] "Guns N' Roses To Release 'Hard Skool' Four-Song EP In February". Blabbermouth.net. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[26] Richardson, Jake (September 26, 2021). "Guns N' Roses to Release New EP 'Hard Skool' in 2022". Loudwire. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[27] Triscari, Caleb (September 28, 2021). "Guns N' Roses announce new four-song EP 'Hard Skool'". NME. Retrieved September 28, 2021.

[28] "Guns N' Roses - Limited Edition Vinyl Available With 2022 Nightrain Fan Club Memberships". BraveWords. January 10, 2022.

[29] Hill, Stephen (August 6, 2021). "Our first reaction to the new Guns N' Roses single ABSUЯD". Classic Rock. Louder. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

[30] Trapp, Philip (August 6, 2021). "Fans React to Guns N' Roses' New Studio Recording of 'Absurd'". Loudwire. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

[31] Peacock, Tim (September 24, 2021). "Listen To Guns N' Roses Exhilarating New Track, 'Hard Skool'". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[32] "The 'new' Guns N' Roses song Hard Skool is a rocking return". MusicRadar. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.

[33] "Hard Skool". umusicpub.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.

[sc_Hungarysingle_-34] "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 7, 2021.

[35] "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 24, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.

[36] "週間シングルランキング 2022年08月29日付". Oricon. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Guns_N_Roses-37] "Guns N Roses Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2021.

[MEL-38] ^ mel bio

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Hard Skool

Background

Reception

Track listing

Charts

Personnel

References

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