Axl Rose, an American singer and songwriter, gained fame as the primary vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, remaining the sole consistent member since the band’s establishment in 1985.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 61 years
Height- 1.75 m
Weight- 79 kg
Born- 6 February 1962
Birthplace- Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Spouse- Erin Everly (m. 1990–1991)
Profession- American singer and songwriter
Nationality- American
Music groups- Guns N’ Roses (Since 1985), L.A. Guns (1984 – 1984), Hollywood Rose, Rapidfire
Family
Born to Sharon Elizabeth and William Bruce Rose, Axl Rose experienced parental separation at around two years old. Following the separation, Rose’s father allegedly abducted and molested him before disappearing from Lafayette. In the aftermath, his mother, Sharon, remarried Stephen L. Bailey, leading to a name change for her son to William Bruce Bailey. Axl Rose has two younger siblings, Amy and a half-brother named Stuart.
Wife
In the beginning of 1986, Axl Rose initiated a romantic involvement with Erin Everly, the daughter of singer Don Everly from The Everly Brothers. The couple tied the knot on April 28, 1990, in Las Vegas. However, they eventually went through a divorce.
Career
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Axl Rose encountered guitarist Kevin Lawrence outside The Troubadour in West Hollywood in March 1983 and joined his band, Rapidfire. They recorded a five-song demo in May 1983 at Telstar Studios in Burbank, which, after years of legal disputes, was eventually released as an EP titled “Ready to Rumble” in 2014.
In July 1987, Guns N’ Roses debuted their first album, “Appetite for Destruction.” Despite critical acclaim, the album had a modest commercial start, selling approximately 500,000 copies in its initial year. In early 1990, the band returned to the studio to work on the follow-up to “Appetite for Destruction.” However, recording sessions faced delays due to Steven Adler’s struggles with drug addiction.
In May 1991, without a new album to promote, Guns N’ Roses embarked on the Use Your Illusion Tour, spanning two and a half years. The tour gained notoriety for its financial success and numerous controversial incidents, including late starts, on-stage rants, and even riots. Axl Rose received criticism for tardiness at concerts.
The Use Your Illusion Tour concluded on July 17, 1993, marking Rose’s last live performance with the band for seven and a half years. In June 1994, without consulting his bandmates, Rose did not renew Gilby Clarke’s contract, citing him as a “hired hand.” In August 1995, Rose legally left the band and established a new partnership under the Guns N’ Roses name.
Slash departed in October 1996 due to differences with Rose, while Matt Sorum was fired in June 1997. Rose resurfaced with Guns N’ Roses at Rock in Rio 3 on January 14, 2001, starting the Chinese Democracy Tour, although many scheduled concerts were canceled. A riot erupted in Vancouver in November 2002 after Rose failed to show up for a scheduled concert.
In 2012, Guns N’ Roses, including Axl Rose, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rose did not attend the induction ceremony. He later joined his band for residencies in Las Vegas in 2012 and 2014. In 2016, Rose joined AC/DC for the Rock or Bust World Tour. In 2021, Guns N’ Roses released two singles, “Absurd” and “Hard Skool,” marking their first newly recorded material since 2008. The group continued touring with the Guns N’ Roses 2020 Tour.
Axl Rose Songs
- Sweet Child O’ Mine- Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door- Album: Use Your Illusion II (1991)
- Don’t Cry – Album: Use Your Illusion I (1991)
- November Rain – Album: Use Your Illusion I (1991)
- Paradise City – Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Welcome To The Jungle
- Patience- Album: G N’ R Lies (1988)
- Estranged- Album: Use Your Illusion II (1991)
- You Could Be Mine- Album: Use Your Illusion II (1991)
- This I Love – Album: Chinese Democracy (2008)
- Civil War- Album: Use Your Illusion II (1991)
- Since I Don’t Have You – Album: “The Spaghetti Incident?” (1993)
- It’s So Easy – Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Live And Let Die- Album: Use Your Illusion I (1991)
- Used to Love Her- Album: G N’ R Lies (1988)
- Brownstone – Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Yesterdays – Year: 1991
- Perhaps – Album: Perhaps (2023)
- Nightrain – Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- So Fine- Year: 1991
- Rocket Queen- Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Ballad of Jayne – Album: Cocked & Loaded (1989)
- My Michelle- Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- One in a Million- Album: G N’ R Lies (1988)
- Double Talkin’ Jive- Album: Maracana Stadium, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, January 23rd, 1991 (1991)
- You’re Crazy- Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Better- Album: Chinese Democracy (2008)
- Bohemian Rhapsody- Album: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992)
- Hard Skool- Album: Hard Skool (2022)
- Right Next Door to Hell- Album: Use Your Illusion I (1991)
- Out Ta Get Me – Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Coma – Album: Use Your Illusion I (1991)
Net Worth 2023
As of 2023, his wealth is approximated to be in the vicinity of $200 million in US dollars.
Sexual Assault Allegations
Axl Rose Faces Lawsuit from 1989 Penthouse Model
On Wednesday, Axl Rose found himself facing a lawsuit wherein he is accused of sexually assaulting a Penthouse model in 1989. According to the complaint filed in a New York court by attorneys representing Sheila Kennedy, Rose allegedly utilized his celebrity status and influence in the music industry to exploit, dominate, and violently sexually assault her. The reported incident took place in a New York City hotel room in February 1989, leading Kennedy to endure significant emotional, physical, financial, and psychological distress since then.
Kennedy’s lawyers stated that the alleged assault has triggered symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress disorder, causing distress whenever she encounters Axl Rose’s name or listens to the music of Guns N’ Roses. In response, Rose’s attorney, Alan S. Gutman, vehemently denied the allegations, expressing confidence that the case would be resolved in his client’s favor. Gutman pointed out that the claims were filed on the eve of the New York State filing deadline, and Rose has no recollection of ever meeting or speaking to the plaintiff.
This lawsuit against Axl Rose adds to a recent surge in sexual misconduct cases within the music industry, implicating figures like L.A. Reid and Sean “Diddy” Combs. The increase in legal actions is attributed to the imminent expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which established a one-year window allowing survivors to pursue legal recourse for long-standing accusations that would typically be barred by the statute of limitations.
