Axl Rose wrote Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain,” as a Tribute to Elton John

When Axl Rose wrote Guns N’ Roses’ song “November Rain,” he didn’t unintentionally create a clone of an Elton John song; he intentionally created it.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 04: Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses performs following the V8 Supercar Grand Finale at ANZ Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

GN’R drummer Matt Sorum, who joined the band shortly before the 1992 track was recorded, says Rose wanted the lavish track to pay homage to John.

“It was in Axl’s mindset to make this grandiose piece of music,” Sorum recalls. “For songs like ‘November Rain’ and ‘Don’t Cry’ and ‘Estranged’ — these big, sort of epic pieces — me and Axl sat, I believe over there on the floor, we ordered some Russian caviar, we had a bottle of vodka … and we listened to ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ by Elton John.”

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 31: Elton John performs on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015 on December 31, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for dcp)

It turns out Rose knew exactly what he was doing. “November Rain” ended up peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on the U.K. Singles Chart.

Source: Loudwire