Hard Skool
{{Short description | Guns N' Roses EP with new singles}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Hard Skool
| type = EP
| longtype = and Single (music)
| artist = Guns N' Roses
| cover = GNR hardskool.jpg
| alt =
| released = January 28, 2022
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = * Hard rock{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/guns-n-roses-release-explosive-new-track-absurd-3012768 |title=Guns N' Roses release explosive new track 'Absurd' |last=Reilly |first=Nick |website=NME |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=August 13, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guns-n-roses-absurd-single |title=Guns N' Roses release high-octane new single, Absurd |last=Horsley |first=Jonathan |website=MusicRadar |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=August 13, 2021}}
- alternative metal{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/our-first-reaction-to-the-new-guns-n-roses-single-absuyad |title= Our first reaction to the new Guns N' Roses single ABSUЯD |last=Hill |first=Stephen |work=Classic Rock |publisher=Louder |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=August 7, 2021}}
- punk rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guns-roses-hard-skool|title=The 'new' Guns N' Roses song Hard Skool is a rocking return|author1=Guitars|date=September 24, 2021|website=MusicRadar}}
- industrial rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.wearethepit.com/2021/09/guns-n-roses-release-new-song-hard-skool/|title=Guns N' Roses Release New Song "Hard Skool"|date=September 24, 2021}}
| length = 15:52
| label = * Geffen
| producer = * Axl Rose
- Caram Costanzo
| prev_title = Appetite for Destruction: Locked N' Loaded
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Use Your Illusion Super Deluxe
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist =Guns N' Roses
| type = single
| prev_title = Absurd
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Hard Skool
| year = 2021
| next_title = Perhaps
| next_year = 2023
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|NdBsMBaqnME|"Hard Skool"}}|header=Audio|type=EP}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|TszMUuJG-t8|"Hard Skool"}}|header=Lyric Video|type=EP}}
}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://gnrmerch.com/products/hard-skool-cd |title=Hard Skool CD |website=GN'R Merch |url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126175610/https://gnrmerch.com/products/hard-skool-cd |archive-date=January 26, 2022}} 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, as well as the first works to feature new keyboardist Melissa Reese.
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/guns-n-roses-release-new-single-absuyad |title= Guns N' Roses release new single ABSUЯD |last=Lewry |first=Fraser |work=Classic Rock |publisher=Louder |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=September 27, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.a-4-d.com/t4135-hard-skool|title=Hard Skool|website=Appetite For Discussion|access-date=September 26, 2023}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.a-4-d.com/t4135-hard-skool|title=Hard Skool|website=Appetite For Discussion|access-date=September 26, 2023}} The full version from the Chinese Democracy sessions, under the name "Hard School", leaked in 2019.{{cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/guns-n-roses-hard-skool/ |title= Watch Guns N' Roses Play 'Hard Skool' Live for the First Time |last=Rolli |first=Bryan |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=September 26, 2021 |access-date=September 27, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/guns-n-roses-return-with-new-song-hard-skool-3054124 |title= Guns N' Roses return with new song 'Hard Skool' |last=Richards
|first=Will |website=NME |date=September 24, 2021 |access-date=September 27, 2021}}
"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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.a-4-d.com/t4326-2020-03-14-vive-latino-festival-mexico-city-mexico|title=2020.03.14 - Vive Latino Festival, Mexico City, Mexico|website=Appetite For Discussion|access-date=October 12, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.a-4-d.com/t6270-2021-08-27-allegiant-stadium-las-vegas-nv-usa|title=2021.08.27 - Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV, USA|website=Appetite For Discussion|access-date=October 12, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://loudwire.com/video-guns-n-roses-rehearsing-hard-school-slash-tiktok/ |title=See Video of Guns N' Roses Rehearsing 'Hard School' Before Show |last=Schaffner |first=Lauryn |website=Loudwire |date=September 17, 2021 |access-date=September 27, 2021}} It was then released as a single on September 24.{{Cite web| url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-officially-drops-new-song-hard-skool/ | title= Guns N' Roses Officially Drops New Song 'Hard Skool' | website=Blabbermouth.net | date=September 24, 2021 | access-date=September 27, 2021}} The track peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.{{cite magazine |title=Mainstream Rock Airplay – The Week of November 27, 2021 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/2021-11-27|magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 23, 2021}} The official lyric video of the song debuted on Good Morning Football on December 3, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-shares-official-lyric-video-for-new-song-hard-skool/|title=GUNS N' ROSES Shares Official Lyric Video For New Song 'Hard Skool'|date=December 3, 2021|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}
The Hard Skool EP was announced on September 25, 2021 and slated for release on February 25, 2022.{{cite web|date=September 25, 2021|title=Guns N' Roses To Release 'Hard Skool' Four-Song EP In February|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-to-release-hard-skool-four-song-ep-in-february/|access-date=September 27, 2021|website=Blabbermouth.net}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://loudwire.com/guns-n-roses-ep-hard-skool-2022/ |title=Guns N' Roses to Release New EP 'Hard Skool' in 2022 |last=Richardson |first=Jake |website=Loudwire |date=September 26, 2021 |access-date=September 27, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/guns-n-roses-announce-new-four-song-ep-hard-skool-3056487 |title= Guns N' Roses announce new four-song EP 'Hard Skool'|last=Triscari|first=Caleb|website=NME|date=September 28, 2021|access-date=September 28, 2021}} 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".{{cite web |url=https://bravewords.com/news/guns-n-roses-limited-edition-vinyl-available-with-2022-nightrain-fan-club-memberships |title= Guns N' Roses - Limited Edition Vinyl Available With 2022 Nightrain Fan Club Memberships|website=BraveWords|date=January 10, 2022}}
Reception
"Hard Skool" was well received, with several publications describing it as "vintage" Guns N' Roses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/listen-guns-n-roses-exhilarating-092412512.html|title=Listen To Guns N' Roses Exhilarating New Track, 'Hard Skool'|website=Yahoo!|last=Peacock|first=Tim|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=September 27, 2021|archive-date=March 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315143917/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/listen-guns-n-roses-exhilarating-092412512.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guns-roses-hard-skool|title=The 'new' Guns N' Roses song Hard Skool is a rocking return|website=MusicRadar|date=September 24, 2021 |access-date=September 27, 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = CD, cassette
| title1 = Hard Skool
| writer1 = Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Robin Finck, Josh Freese, Tommy Stinson, Paul Tobias{{cite web | website=umusicpub.com|title=Hard Skool|url=https://www.umusicpub.com/us/Digital-Music-Library/song/483002/guns-n-roses-hard-skool | access-date=24 May 2023}}
| length1 = 3:41
| title2 = Absurd
| writer2 = Rose, Dizzy Reed, Slash, McKagan
| length2 = 3:23
| title3 = Don't Cry
| note3 = live
| writer3 = Rose, Izzy Stradlin
| length3 = 4:24
| title4 = You're Crazy
| note4 = live
| writer4 = Guns N' Roses
| length4 = 4:24
| total_length = 15:52
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 7-inch vinyl
| title1 = Hard Skool
| writer1 = Rose, Slash, McKagan, Finck, Freese, Stinson, Tobias
| length1 = 3:41
| title2 = Absurd
| note2 = live
| writer2 = Rose, Reed, Slash, McKagan
| length2 = 3:40
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Transparent vinyl
| title1 = Hard Skool
| writer1 = Rose, Slash, McKagan, Finck, Freese, Stinson, Tobias
| length1 = 3:41
| title2 = Absurd
| note2 = live
| writer2 = Rose, Reed, Slash, McKagan
| length2 = 3:40
| title3 = Shadow of Your Love
| note3 = live
| writer3 = Rose, Stradlin, Tobias
| length3 = 2:55
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Hard Skool" ! scope="col" | Chart (2021–2022) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| {{single chart|Hungarysingle|25|year=2021|week=39|rowheader=true|access-date=October 7, 2021}} |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan){{cite web|title=Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 24, 2022|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2022&month=08&day=29|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|date=August 24, 2022|access-date=August 24, 2022}}
| 13 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japan (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2022-08-29/p/2/|title=週間 シングルランキング 2022年08月29日付|publisher=Oricon|access-date=January 29, 2023}}
| 18 |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|9|year=2021|artist=Guns N Roses|rowheader=true|access-date=November 3, 2021}} |
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)[https://www.melissareesemusic.com/about mel bio]
- 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
{{reflist}}
{{Guns N' Roses}}
{{Authority control}}