In 1968, The Rolling Stones recorded ‘Sympathy for the Devil’. 26 years later, it helped tear Guns N’ Roses apart

Guns N’ Roses’ 1994 recording of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ became a breaking point for guitarist Slash, who said the session showed the band was falling apart. The dispute reflected wider tensions with Axl Rose and helped push Slash towards leaving the group.

The band had recently toured extensively and recorded the covers album “The Spaghetti Incident?” in 1993, before their label asked them to record the song for the film Interview with a Vampire. Slash said the session lacked any sense of unity and objected to Rose bringing in guitarist Paul Huge and layering his part over Slash’s. The recording was released in 1996, two years after it was made; Slash later said he was no longer in the band because he and Rose had incompatible visions for it.