Mr. Brownstone

"Mr. Brownstone"
Song by Guns N' Roses from the album Appetite for Destruction
Released	July 21, 1987
A-side	"It's So Easy" (UK, double A-side) "Welcome to the Jungle" (USA)
Recorded	Rumbo Studios, Canoga Park, California; Take One Studio, Burbank, California; Can Am Studio, Tarzana, California
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	3:49
Label	Geffen Records
Writer	Izzy Stradlin, Slash
Producer	Mike Clink
Appetite for Destruction track listing "Out Ta Get Me" (4) "Mr. Brownstone" (5) "Paradise City" (6)

"Mr. Brownstone" is a song written by American rock band Guns N' Roses. It appears on their 1987 album Appetite for Destruction. Slash relates that the song was written by him and Izzy Stradlin while they were at Izzy and his girlfriend Desi's apartment. He states that they were sitting around, complaining about being heroin addicts, when they started improvising lyrics and music ("Brownstone" is a slang term for heroin). The lyrics make a clear reference to the tolerance that the drug causes in the verse that says:"I used to do a little, but a little wouldn't do, so the little got more and more. I just keep trying to get a little better, said a little better than before". When they had the lyrics all together, they wrote it down on the back of a grocery bag and brought it to Axl. Slash said the lyrics describe a typical day in the life of Slash and Izzy. He also states that it was the first song the band wrote after being signed by Geffen Records.^[1]

Mr. Brownstone was the first Guns N' Roses single in the United Kingdom, appearing as a double A-Side, alongside "It's So Easy".

This song exhibits the Bo-Diddley beat originally created by Bo Diddley. This beat is often-used in many rock songs starting from the 1960s.^[2]

Single Release

"Mr. Brownstone" was not released as a single worldwide like all the other singles from Appetite for Destruction, it was released as a single only in the UK but was rather known as a B-Side to "It's So Easy" and "Welcome to the Jungle" around other parts in the world, it was neglected from their Greatest Hits album possibly due to the fact it was a UK only single.

Live

Although it was never released as a worldwide single, "Mr. Brownstone" is a staple at Guns N' Roses shows. It has been on the setlist at nearly every show since 1986 and is usually played early during the set. Velvet Revolver have also played this song live with Izzy Stradlin making a guest appearance on one occasion. Steven Adler's solo band Adler's Appetite performs this song on their set list.

References

1. ^ Bozza, Anthony, & Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York. pp. 142
2. ^ [1]