The most controversial song ever recorded - Guns And Roses – Look At Your Game Girl

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Presented on the 1993 album, The Spaghetti Incident? this has to be the greatest folly of any rock band. It is the most controversial unlisted track for being a cover version of a 1967 recording by its composer, the murderous cult leader, Charles Manson. Lead artist, the bandana wearing, Axl Rose was adamant about recording it, though most of the band members refused to have any truck with it. The resulting dispute and poor album sales led to the band dissolving soon after its release before their brief largely unsuccessful 2008 reunion. Only Axl’s drummer, Dizzy Reed stayed with the recording, with acoustic guitarist Carlos Booey being brought in specially to compensate for the absent band members. The track was not publicised for the very Manson association that would anger listeners, as once it was heard it was quickly picked up on when critics reported its presence to legal and victim support agencies. Manson, as the composer, was entitled to royalties from the song. That created a great deal of backlash for Axl and everyone associated with the recording. Axl backtracked and apologized for what he had seen as dark humour in recording the song and money from sales was donated to the relatives of Wojciech Frykowski, a screenwriter who was killed at the Sharon Tate house by Manson’s followers. It is an odd song, betraying its 1960’s roots on a 1993 covers album. Even Manson’s own cringe-worthy embarrassing version (deservedly) failed to spark a recording career, and for Axl, it virtually ended one. Arthur Chappell