"Civil War" is a sprawling anti-war epic from Guns N' Roses' 1991 album Use Your Illusion II, written by Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan. Opening with a sample from the film Cool Hand Luke and a stirring guitar melody, the track addresses themes of political corruption and social division over a slow, deliberate rock groove at approximately 70 BPM in E-flat minor. The recording features two distinct guitar solos from Slash, each showcasing his ability to craft emotionally resonant melodic statements within an expansive song structure. The first solo emerges midway through the track with a searing, sustained tone, while the second arrives near the song's climax with even greater intensity. The performance demonstrates the band's ambition to move beyond the raw street-level energy of their debut toward a more musically and lyrically complex form of hard rock. The rhythm section of Duff McKagan on bass and Matt Sorum on drums provides a powerful, martial foundation that underscores the song's thematic weight. Civil War was first performed live in 1990 and appeared on the Nobody's Child benefit album before its inclusion on Use Your Illusion II, where it serves as one of the album's most powerful and socially conscious statements.
