Their 279 Best Friends

I have no quarrel with Robert Hilburn’s review of the new Guns N’ Roses albums (Sept. 15) or with Hilburn generally. I bought “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” partially on the strength of the review and the fact that in the past Hilburn’s tastes in popular music have paralleled my own. (OK, I’m also an unabashed GNR fan, so sue me.)

However, the “Illusion” liner notes contain a “thank you” to a Bob Hilburn, among others. If this is the same person, I’m disappointed that The Times would allow someone who is thanked in advance by an artist to review that artist’s work. At the very least, the review should have contained a disclaimer.

WILLIAM K. TOMLINSON

Santa Barbara

Yes, it is the same Bob Hilburn. For the record, GNR singled out another 278 people, animals, organizations and other entities for thanks, among them Don Henley, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Studio City Pet Hospital and the West Hollywood sheriff’s station.