Here’s Why Guns N’ Roses Had Dolphins in the ‘Estranged’ Video

If “November Rain” is Guns N’ Roses’ hottest video of all time, “Estranged” is actually the weirdest. In case you’ve got ever puzzled, ‘What the f–k is up with the dolphins?’ we now have the reply for you.

The movies for “Don’t Cry,” “November Rain” and “Estranged” have been meant to tie collectively and inform a narrative — that story is predicated on the literal quick story Without You, which was written by Del James, who was buddy of the band, significantly Axl Rose. James wrote Without You based mostly on Rose’s relationship with Erin Everly, whom he was married to in 1990.

When it got here time to make the movies, Rose and James determined to solid mannequin Stephanie Seymour to play the feminine lead, and he or she and the vocalist ended up romantically concerned. She starred in “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain,” however by the time they went to report the video for “Estranged” — which was going to proceed the story informed in Without You — the couple had damaged up.

So, they needed to improvise, and through one scene in the video, Rose jumps off a tanker boat in the Gulf of Mexico, and swims with dolphins — all in a Charles Manson shirt.

“Axl had split up with Stephanie Seymour, and he was like, ‘I don’t want any more beautiful girls in my videos; I’d rather have a dolphin,’” director Andy Morahan later explained to Kerrang!. “We knew that we were deliberately doing that so people would go, ‘What’s all that about?!’ There was a sense that it was throwing up a lot more questions than answers, and that suited everybody – it created a myth and intrigue around the whole trilogy.”

“The dolphins was to assimilate a state of peace or state of grace. It was not originally intended, but in the next scene I will be drowned and go to heaven, and I really didn’t want to shoot a heaven scene,” Rose stated throughout the “Estranged” half of Makin’ F@*!Ing Videos, which was launched on VHS in 1994.

“The music in the song always reminded us of whales at that particular point, and so dolphins showed up and it kind of brings all that together,” he added.

The “Estranged” video was meant to be a continuation of the occasions in “November Rain,” so if Seymour and Rose hadn’t damaged up, the age-old query as to how her character died would’ve been answered. But, if you wish to discover out for your self, you’ll be able to learn Without You.

Oh, and the video value them over $4 million to make.

Guns N’ Roses – ‘Estranged’