Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Axl Rose

Public opinion and media debates around Axl Rose—discover key moments of controversy.

Axl Rose is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is the only consistent member of the band since its formation in 1985. Recognized for his powerful and wide-ranging voice, Rose has received acclaim as one of the greatest singers of all time from prominent media outlets.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1985: Axl Rose and Slash face statutory rape charges

In 1985, Axl Rose and Slash were charged with statutory rape after an encounter with a 15-year-old girl named Michelle. The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence after Rose and Slash spent several weeks being fugitives hiding from the police.

November 1987: Axl Rose arrested for assaulting a security guard onstage

In November 1987, Axl Rose was arrested onstage after assaulting a security guard during a show. He refused to apologize and was taken into custody.

November 1988: Release of G N' R Lies and Controversy

In November 1988, Guns N' Roses released "G N' R Lies", which faced controversy due to racist and homophobic attitudes expressed in the song "One in a Million".

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1988: Release of 'G N' R Lies'

In 1988, Guns N' Roses released 'G N' R Lies'. However, the album release was followed by controversy due to the inclusion of slurs on the song "One in a Million".

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1989: Alleged sexual assault by Axl Rose

In 1989, Axl Rose allegedly sexually assaulted Sheila Kennedy in his hotel room after they met at a New York nightclub, according to a lawsuit filed in 2023.

1990: Axl Rose arrested for assault with a deadly weapon

In 1990, Axl Rose was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly hitting his next-door neighbor on the head with an empty wine bottle, following disputes over loud music. This incident inspired the lyrics to the song "Right Next Door To Hell".

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July 1991: Riverport Riot

In July 1991, during a concert at the Riverport Amphitheater, Axl Rose dived into the crowd to seize a fan's video camera. He left the stage, prompting a riot that caused significant damages.

August 1992: Riot at Montreal's Olympic Stadium

In August 1992, a riot occurred at Montreal's Olympic Stadium during a tour with Metallica. Metallica's set was cut short due to an accident with James Hetfield, and Guns N' Roses was late to take the stage due to Axl Rose's tardiness. Rose complained of voice problems and walked off stage an hour into the show, triggering a riot that resulted in $400,000 in damages.

1992: Rose's Reflection on Controversy

In 1992, Axl Rose conceded that the song 'One in a Million' reflected his initial perspective when he first arrived in Los Angeles and wanted to insult black people who were trying to rob him. He also blamed the attitude on bad experiences with gay men.

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1992: Axl Rose found guilty for his role in the Riverport Riot

In 1992, Axl Rose was found guilty of property damage and assault for his role in the Riverport Riot, which occurred the previous year. As a result, he was fined $50,000 and given two years probation.

1992: Axl Rose sued by Riverport Riot attendee

In 1992, Axl Rose was sued for $210,000 in damages by an audience member who he attacked during the Riverport Riot and settled out of court for $160,000.

1992: Christmas party assault claim

In 1992, Stephanie Seymour allegedly assaulted Axl Rose at a Christmas party, leading to legal battles after their separation.

July 5, 1993: Ultimatum for bandmates to sign over rights to the Guns N' Roses name

Before the July 5, 1993 show in Barcelona, Spain, Axl Rose allegedly delivered an ultimatum to his bandmates: they had to sign the rights to the Guns N' Roses name over to him or he would not perform.

1993: Axl Rose sues Stephanie Seymour after separation

In 1993, after separating from Stephanie Seymour, Axl Rose sued her claiming assault at a 1992 Christmas Party. Seymour filed a countersuit, both lawsuits were eventually settled out of court.

1994: Erin Everly sues Axl Rose for abuse

In 1994, Axl Rose's ex-wife, Erin Everly, filed a lawsuit accusing him of physical and emotional abuse throughout their relationship, which was eventually settled out of court.

1998: Axl Rose arrested at Sky Harbor Airport

In 1998, Axl Rose was arrested at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona for threatening an airport guard who was searching his luggage and was charged with a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

2002: Riot at Vancouver concert

In 2002, after a surprise appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards, a riot erupted at Vancouver's General Motors Place when Axl Rose failed to appear for a scheduled Guns N' Roses concert, resulting in $100,000 in damages.

2004: Axl Rose sues to prevent release of The Roots of Guns N' Roses and Greatest Hits albums

In 2004, Axl Rose unsuccessfully sued to prevent the release of "The Roots of Guns N' Roses". Later that year, Rose joined former bandmates Slash and Duff McKagan in an unsuccessful lawsuit to prevent the release of "Greatest Hits".

June 2006: Axl Rose arrested for biting a security guard in Sweden

In June 2006, Axl Rose was arrested in Sweden for biting a security guard in the leg after the guard confronted Rose who was arguing with a woman in a hotel lobby. He was fined $5,500 for the incident and ordered to pay $1,360 in damages to the guard.

2006: Slash and McKagan sue Axl Rose over publishing credits

In 2006, Slash and Duff McKagan sued Axl Rose over publishing and songwriting credits, which Rose attributed to a clerical error when switching publishers.

October 2007: Release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

In October 2007, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was released, which led to the lawsuit from Axl Rose in 2010.

2008: Rose denies alleged coercion in rights contract

In 2008, Axl Rose disputed claims by Slash that he had coerced bandmates into signing over rights to the Guns N' Roses name, stating that such coercion would have rendered the contract legally untenable.

November 2010: Axl Rose sues Activision over Guitar Hero III

In November 2010, Axl Rose sued Activision, the publishers of the video game "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock", for $20 million, claiming that they violated an agreement by including references to Slash and his band Velvet Revolver in the game. Rose argued that Activision had promised to exclude any mention of Slash in return for licensing the song "Welcome to the Jungle."

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2010: Irving Azoff sues Axl Rose for unpaid fees

In 2010, former band manager Irving Azoff sued Axl Rose, seeking $1.87 million in unpaid fees related to touring. Rose counter-sued, alleging mismanagement and sabotage to force a reunion tour.

February 2013: Axl Rose's claim against Activision dismissed

In February 2013, Axl Rose's claim against Activision was summarily dismissed. The judge ruled that Rose had not brought suit on the contract, which relied on oral promises, within the two-year statute of limitations that began with the game's October 2007 release.

2014: Axl Rose threatens legal action over Rapidfire recordings

In 2014, Axl Rose threatened legal action over the release of Rapidfire recordings, which are his pre-Hollywood Rose band recordings. This action kept them from digital storefronts for a period of time.

May 2016: Axl Rose issues DMCA takedown notices to suppress image

In May 2016, Axl Rose sent a series of DMCA takedown notices to Google, in an attempt to suppress a 2010 image of him that was taken by a Winnipeg Free Press photographer and reposted by Gauntlet, under the headline "OMFG Axl Rose is Fat.", leading to a Streisand effect.

August 2016: Chris Pitman sues Axl Rose for unpaid wages

In August 2016, former Guns N' Roses keyboardist Chris Pitman sued Axl Rose for $125,000 in unpaid wages.

November 2016: Axl Rose and Chris Pitman settle unpaid wages lawsuit

In November 2016, Axl Rose and former Guns N' Roses keyboardist Chris Pitman settled the lawsuit over unpaid wages.

2016: Sheila Kennedy mentions alleged assault in memoir

In 2016, Sheila Kennedy mentioned being assaulted by Axl Rose in her memoir "No One's Pet".

May 7, 2020: Axl Rose criticizes Steven Mnuchin on Twitter

On May 7, 2020, Axl Rose used Twitter to criticize Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for the Trump administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mnuchin responded.

2021: Sheila Kennedy discusses alleged assault in documentary

In 2021, Sheila Kennedy discussed being assaulted by Axl Rose in the documentary "Look Away", which covered women who claimed to be sexually abused in the music industry.

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November 22, 2023: Axl Rose sued by Sheila Kennedy for alleged sexual assault

On November 22, 2023, Axl Rose was sued by former Penthouse Pet Sheila Kennedy for allegedly sexually assaulting her in his hotel room after they met at a New York nightclub in 1989. The lawsuit was filed under the Adult Survivors Act.