‘Paradise City’ follows ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ which follows ‘Welcome To The Jungle’. After these three blistering tracks, you’re literally picking yourself up off the floor. Apart from their sonic power, what these videos share in common is a director: Nigel Dick. Now Dick is an obvious fan of the band’s music, therefore, in these and the later ‘Patience’, we either see the band performing live, rehearsing or in the studio.

The problem with Dick’s plan of action is that people who don’t especially like GN’R will be alienated. One can always avoid flipping the remote control if a video is an aesthetic treat, which perhaps explains the decision to ditch Dick and go with the more arthouse Andy Morahan, so the epic ‘Don’t Cry’ gets a suitably grandiose video.

Yet that’s nothing compared to 1993’s ‘Estranged’, the penultimate video on the DVD. Here Morahan takes us from Germany to the Sunset Strip by way of Texas and the Bahamas – you’re giddy by the end.

Dick’s (mini) flicks remind us what a great band the first incarnation of Guns N’Roses were, especially live. They also serve to show just why lead guitarist Slash earned comparison to Led Zep’s legendary Jimmy Page. Morahan’s videos are more ambitious and celebrate the genre of the music video, an art form borne largely out of the creation of MTV. End result? This DVD will please both Guns N’Roses fans and their detractors alike.
(3½/5)

Release Date: 22 December 2003

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