2021.08.03 - Fenway Park, Boston, MA, USA

Watch Guns N’ Roses Debut New Song ‘Absurd’

Corey Irwin

Guns N' Roses debuted what Axl Rose described as "a new Guns N' Roses song" tonight in Boston.

"Some of you might have heard this under another name,” the iconic frontman noted. “But this is really kind of absurd for us to try this,” Rose then joked, earning a rimshot from drummer Frank Ferrer. “Wasn’t that funny? And they don’t even know the joke yet. Ok, this is called ‘Absurd.’”

From there, Guns N’ Roses launched into what (arguably) sounds like one of the hardest tracks in their arsenal. Blistering drums and a frantic, punk rock pace propeled the song, as Rose unleashed his aggressive vocals in a Rage Against the Machine-style delivery.

“Listen motherfuckers to this song that should be heard / Dragged down in the gutters, it's more than you deserve / Screaming fucking banshee, you know that's what you are / Pussy full of maggots, isn't that absurd.”

Videos from the performance can be found below.

The track bears a significant resemblance to "Silkworms," a song from the Chinese Democracy sessions (also embedded below). According to Setlist.fm, GNR performed “Silkworms” on four different occasions in 2001, the last taking place during a New Years Eve concert at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. It has not been played in concert since.

Unlike “Silkworms,” “Absurd” features wailing guitar parts courtesy of Slash. The iconic axe-wielder offered up mind-blowing riffs at various moments throughout the Boston performance. "Absurd" also appears to lack the broader electronic elements found in "Silkworms."

While it may not be an entirely new composition, “Absurd” marks the closest thing to new material from GNR since the classic lineup reunited in 2016. In April 2020, Susan Holmes McKagan, wife of bassist Duff McKagan, revealed the band had been “working fastidiously on some killer new stuff.” Her statement echoed a similar comment from Slash, who had said months earlier that “stuff (was) happening” within the band.

Guns N' Roses' current tour is scheduled to stretch through October, with stops across America.

Watch Guns N’ Roses Perform Reworked, Rare ‘Silkworms’ During Boston Show

Band debut song newly named “Absurd” at Fenway Park on Tuesday

By Althea Legaspi

Gun N’ Roses performed at Boston’s Fenway Park on Tuesday, and during their set they delivered a reworking of a previously unreleased song they penned called “Silkworms.” It is now titled “Absurd.”

“Some of you might have heard this under another name, but this is really kind of absurd to try this,” Axl Rose joked to a drum sting from Frank Ferrer as he introduced the propulsive song. It’s aptly renamed given the lyrics that include Rose sneeringly singing the song’s title throughout.

“Listen motherfuckers to this song that should be heard/Dragged down in the gutters/It’s more than you deserve,” Rose sings. “Screaming fucking banshee/You know that’s what you are/Pussy full of maggots, isn’t that absurd.”

“See? I never run out of love songs,” Rose quipped afterwards to another drum sting. “That was fun. So you heard it here first, a new Guns N’ Roses song.”

Guns N’ Roses have performed the original “Silkworms” as early as 2001 and it appears they have not played it since, as Ultimate Classic Rock points out. The track was reportedly written during the Chinese Democracy sessions.

Soulmonster wrote:
Of all the songs the band could have reworked with Slash, they decided to dig up this oddity.

Guns N' Roses Debut 'Absurd' New Version of Old Song In Boston

By Gil Kaufman
8/4/2021

Fans attending Guns N' Roses' Fenway Park show in Boston on Tuesday night (August 3) got a special surprise when the veteran hard-rockers uncorked a surprising new song during their 22-track set of mostly greatest hits.

“Some of you might have heard this under another name, but this is... it's really kind of absurd to try this,” singer Axl Rose joked as drummer Frank Ferrer added in a rimshot. "Wasn't that funny? And they don't even know the joke yet. Okay, this is called 'Absurd.'" Slipped in just after a Duff McKagan vocal on the Stooges cover "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and the epic "Civil War," the fiery song appears to be a revamped version of the previously unreleased Chinese Democracy-era song "Silkworms."

“Listen motherf---ers to this song that should be heard/ Dragged down in the gutters/It’s more than you deserve,” Rose bellowed over rampaging drums while Slash added an ominous wash of guitar as a green slime-spitting Medusa floated on the screen behind them. “Screaming f---ing banshee/You know that’s what you are/P--y full of maggots, isn’t that absurd.” The song, then dubbed "Silkworms," was first performed live in 2001, most recently at a New Year's Eve concert at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas according to setlist.FM.

GNR are slated to be on the road in North America through an Oct. 3 show at the Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida, before moving on to shows in Mexico, Australia and New Zealand to round out the year.