Get in the Ring

{{Infobox song

| name = Get in the Ring

| cover =

| alt =

| type =

| artist = Guns N' Roses

| album = Use Your Illusion II

| released = September 17, 1991

| format =

| recorded = June 9–10, 1991

| studio = Metalworks Recording Studios

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Hard rock|heavy metal}}

| length = 5:41

| label = Geffen

| writer = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = {{flatlist|

Mike Clink
Guns N' Roses

}}

"Get in the Ring" is the fifth song on the Guns N' Roses album Use Your Illusion II. Written by Axl Rose, Duff McKagan and Slash,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Guns-N-Roses-Use-Your-Illusion-II/release/370013|title=Guns N' Roses – Use Your Illusion II|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2017-05-05}} it is a diss track directed at music critics.{{Cite news|url=http://uproxx.com/music/guns-n-roses-get-in-the-ring-back-story-spin-magazine/5/|title=The Fascinating Backstory Behind Guns N' Roses Epic Diss Track, 'Get in the Ring'|date=2015-09-18|work=UPROXX|access-date=2017-05-05|language=en-US}} Mentioned by name are critics from Hit Parader (Andy Secher), Circus, Kerrang! (Mick Wall) and Spin (Bob Guccione, Jr.).{{Cite AV media|people=Guns N' Roses|date=September 17, 1991|title=Get in the Ring|type=Song|language=English|publisher=Geffen Records|quote="That means you, Andy Secher at Hit Parader, Circus magazine, Mick Wall at Kerrang!/Bob Guccione Jr. at Spin, what you pissed off 'cause your dad gets more pussy than you?"}}

Background

The song was originally written by McKagan as "Why Do You Look at Me When You Hate Me?", which is its first line.{{Cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=10632|title=Get in the Ring by Guns N' Roses Songfacts|website=www.songfacts.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-30}} In the interview that precipitated Mick Wall's mention in the song (see below), Rose said: "I've brought in an album. Duff brought in one song. It's called 'Why Do You Look At Me When You Hate Me?' and it's just bad-assed. And I wrote a bunch of words to that."{{cite magazine|first=Mick|last=Wall|author-link=Mick Wall|title=Eve of destruction|magazine=Classic Rock #36|date=January 2002|page=92}} The song was then going to be titled "Get in the Ring Motherfucker" but that was changed too.{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}

At the time of the song's release, Mick Wall of Kerrang! was thought to have been mentioned because of his book Guns N' Roses: The Most Dangerous Band in the World, which was a no holds barred collection of interviews and stories about the band. Wall denies this, and claims the real reason was an interview he conducted in early 1990 for Kerrang! that included Rose's threat to harm Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe after an incident involving Neil's then-wife and Izzy Stradlin.The Best of Classic Rock: 10 Years Of Wit & Wisdom From Rocks Biggest Stars presented free with November 2008 issue of Classic Rock

The song suggests that Bob Guccione, Jr.'s father (founder of Penthouse magazine) "gets more pussy" than Guccione Jr. The younger Guccione responded in a letter to Rose, saying he accepted the challenge to a fight and could use the promotion to help sell magazines.{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Harrington |title=Guns N' Roses, Back in Fighting Form |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74736811.html?dids=74736811:74736811&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=SEP+15%2C+1991&author=Richard+Harrington&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Guns+N%27Roses%2C+Back+in+Fighting+Form&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131175208/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74736811.html?dids=74736811:74736811&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=SEP+15,+1991&author=Richard+Harrington&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Guns+N'Roses,+Back+in+Fighting+Form&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=G1 |date=1991-09-15 |access-date=2008-10-24 }}{{cite news |title=Names 'n' faces |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4D1C6AE161673&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=The Miami Herald |page=2A |date=1995-04-23 |access-date=2008-10-24}}

"Get in the Ring" is notorious for its amount of swearing.

Recording

The chants of "Guns. And. Roses" and "Get in the ring" were recorded with the audience at a Saratoga Springs concert on June 10, 1991.{{Cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=10632|title=Get in the Ring by Guns N' Roses Songfacts|website=www.songfacts.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-05}}

Personnel

W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, production
Slash – lead guitar, production
Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, production
Duff McKagan – bass, co-lead vocals, production
Matt Sorum – drums, production
Dizzy Reed – piano, production

References

Category:Guns N' Roses songs

Category:1991 songs

Category:Songs written by Axl Rose

Category:Songs written by Duff McKagan

Category:Songs written by Slash (musician)