Axl Rose

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9 Feb 2024

Axl Rose

W. Axl Rose, born William Bruce Rose Jr. on February 6, 1962, is renowned as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the iconic hard rock band Guns N' Roses. His powerful and distinctive voice has earned him recognition as one of the greatest singers of all time by various media outlets.
Originally from Lafayette, Indiana, Axl Rose relocated to Los Angeles, California, in the early 1980s, where he immersed himself in the local hard rock scene. He joined several bands, including Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns, before co-founding Guns N' Roses in 1985 alongside guitarist Izzy Stradlin.

Guns N' Roses achieved immense success and acclaim in the late 1980s and early 1990s, notably with their debut album "Appetite for Destruction" (1987), which remains one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. Rose's relationships with Erin Everly and Stephanie Seymour inspired hit songs such as "Sweet Child o' Mine." However, controversy arose over allegations of abuse and the inclusion of offensive language in the song "One in a Million" on the album "G N' R Lies" (1988).

The band's twin albums "Use Your Illusion I and II" (1991) were also major commercial successes but were followed by controversies during the subsequent tour, including riots and clashes with other artists. Following the tour, Rose withdrew from the public eye, leading to tensions within the band.

In 2001, Rose resurfaced with a new lineup of Guns N' Roses and embarked on the Chinese Democracy Tour (2008), promoting the long-awaited album "Chinese Democracy," which had been delayed for years.

Rose's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 marked a milestone, although he declined to attend the ceremony. His feud with Slash ended in 2016, leading to a reunion tour with Guns N' Roses. He also temporarily filled in as vocalist for AC/DC during their tour.
Despite the ups and downs, Guns N' Roses continues to captivate audiences with their music, occasionally releasing new singles and maintaining a strong presence in the rock music scene.

Axl Rose, originally named William Bruce Rose Jr., was born in Lafayette, Indiana, to Sharon Elizabeth and William Bruce Rose. His parents separated when he was young, and his mother remarried Stephen L. Bailey, changing Axl's name to William Bruce Bailey. Axl has two younger siblings, a sister named Amy and a half-brother named Stuart.

Raised in a religious household, Axl and his family attended a Pentecostal church where they were deeply involved in religious activities. However, Axl described his upbringing as oppressive, with strict rules and accusations of abuse from his stepfather, including physical and sexual abuse directed at Axl and his siblings.

Despite the turmoil at home, Axl found solace in music from an early age. He participated in the church choir, performed with his siblings in church services, and developed his musical skills. At Jefferson High School, he sang in the school chorus and began experimenting with different vocal styles.

At 17, Axl discovered the truth about his biological father and readopted his birth name. However, he referred to himself as W. Rose to avoid sharing a first name with his biological father. Axl's rebellious behavior led to numerous arrests in Lafayette, prompting him to move to Los Angeles in December 1982.

In Los Angeles, Axl became deeply involved in his band, eventually adopting the stage name Axl Rose at the suggestion of his friends. He legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose before signing with Geffen Records in March 1986, solidifying his identity as the enigmatic frontman of Guns N' Roses.

After arriving in Los Angeles, Axl Rose's musical journey took shape as he navigated through various bands and collaborations in the city's vibrant music scene. In March 1983, Rose joined guitarist Kevin Lawrence's band Rapidfire and recorded a demo at Telstar Studios. This demo, titled "Ready to Rumble," was released as an EP in 2014 after years of legal disputes.

Subsequently, Rose formed Hollywood Rose with childhood friend Izzy Stradlin and guitarist Chris Weber. They recorded a demo in January 1984, which featured tracks later released as "The Roots of Guns N' Roses." Slash and Steven Adler, future members of Guns N' Roses, joined Hollywood Rose before its breakup. Rose briefly joined L.A. Guns during this period.
Rose juggled multiple jobs while trying to establish himself in the music scene, including working as a night manager at Tower Records/Video on Sunset Boulevard. He and Stradlin also participated in a scientific study at UCLA for extra income.

Encouraged by their manager Raz Cue, Rose and Tracii Guns merged their bands to form Guns N' Roses in March 1985. The initial lineup included Rose, Slash, Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler. The band gained popularity playing in Los Angeles clubs and caught the attention of major record labels, eventually signing with Geffen Records in March 1986. Later that year, they released the EP "Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide" on Geffen's imprint UZI Suicide, marking the beginning of Guns N' Roses' rise to fame.

Guns N' Roses' debut album, "Appetite for Destruction," was released in July 1987. Initially, the album had a modest commercial performance, selling around 500,000 copies in its first year. However, due to the band's extensive touring and the mainstream success of the single "Sweet Child o' Mine," which was Rose's tribute to his then-girlfriend Erin Everly, the album eventually climbed to the No. 1 position on the charts.

"Appetite for Destruction" received critical acclaim and went on to become a massive commercial success. It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, with 18 million of those sales in the United States alone. This makes it the best-selling debut album of all time in the U.S.

During Guns N' Roses' performance at the Monsters of Rock festival in Castle Donington, England, in August 1988, tragedy struck when two fans were crushed to death in the crowd of 107,000 people during the band's set, particularly during the song "It's So Easy." Rose had stopped the show multiple times in an attempt to calm the audience. Following this incident, Rose became known for directly addressing disruptive fans and giving instructions to security personnel from the stage, even stopping concerts to deal with crowd issues.

Reflecting on the incident in 1992, Rose stated that he preferred to confront disruptive individuals himself rather than delegating to security quietly. As a result of the fatalities at the Monsters of Rock festival, the event was canceled the following year.