Video Drum cover – Guns n’ Roses – Since I Don’t Have You

When Guns N’ Roses decided to record “Since I Don’t Have You” for their 1993 album The Spaghetti Incident?, it took both critics and fans by surprise. Known for their thunderous riffs and raw energy, the band suddenly turned to a gentle doo-wop ballad first sung by the Skyliners in 1958. Yet for Axl Rose, this wasn’t a random choice—it was a chance to honor a classic piece of American music history while reshaping it with the emotional intensity only Guns N’ Roses could bring.

The recording began with Axl pushing the idea forward. He had always been drawn to the aching vulnerability of the Skyliners’ version and wanted to give it a new life. Slash and Duff layered in guitar parts that kept the melancholy but added a sharper, darker texture. Axl’s unmistakable voice gave the song a new drama, stretching the emotions into soaring highs and trembling lows. But the element that grounded everything was the drumming of Matt Sorum.

For drum fans, Sorum’s playing here is a quiet masterclass. Instead of turning the ballad into a hard rock track with big fills, he played with restraint and precision. His snare cracks just enough to give definition, while the bass drum sits deep in the background, adding weight without overwhelming the fragile melody. Cymbal touches arrive at just the right moments, like emotional sparks that lift the song higher. It’s drumming that doesn’t seek attention but gives the entire performance its backbone—a subtle strength that keeps the balance between fragility and power.

On stage in the mid-1990s, the song became an emotional highlight. In live versions, Sorum allowed himself a bit more punch, adding intensity to match the energy of the crowd, but always staying true to the ballad’s heart. His groove gave the audience something steady to hold onto while Axl poured out the lyrics with aching passion.

Today, “Since I Don’t Have You” stands as one of Guns N’ Roses’ most unexpected and memorable covers. For drumming enthusiasts, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful playing comes not from showing off, but from serving the song—knowing when to be delicate, when to add force, and how to let each beat carry the emotion forward.