Early Life and Education of Axl Rose: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Axl Rose. A timeline of key moments.

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. Rose is recognized for his distinctive, powerful, and wide-ranging vocal abilities, earning him accolades as one of the greatest singers of all time by prominent media sources like Rolling Stone, NME, and Billboard.

Sections (5)

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

February 6, 1962: William Bruce Rose Jr. was born

On February 6, 1962, William Bruce Rose Jr., who would later be known as W. Axl Rose, was born. He became an American singer and songwriter.

Others born on this day/year

1980: Izzy Stradlin moves to Los Angeles

In 1980, Izzy Stradlin, Axl Rose's childhood friend, moved to Los Angeles.

December 1982: Move to Los Angeles

In December 1982, Axl Rose moved to Los Angeles, California, to avoid being charged as a habitual criminal in Lafayette.

1984: Murder of William Rose Sr.

In 1984, William Rose Sr., Axl Rose's biological father, was murdered in Marion, Illinois.

1985: Felony statutory rape charges

In 1985, Axl Rose and Slash were charged with felony statutory rape after an alleged incident with 15-year-old Michelle Rhoades. The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.

March 1986: Name Change and Signing with Geffen Records

In March 1986, W. Axl Rose legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose prior to signing his contract with Geffen Records.

1986: Intentional Overdose on Painkillers

In 1986, Axl Rose intentionally overdosed on painkillers due to stress, resulting in hospitalization. This experience later inspired the lyrics to the Guns N' Roses song "Coma".

1986: Relationship with Erin Everly Begins

In early 1986, Axl Rose began a relationship with Erin Everly, the daughter of singer Don Everly of the Everly Brothers. He later wrote the song "Sweet Child o' Mine" for her.

August 1988: Monsters of Rock Tragedy

In August 1988, during Guns N' Roses' performance at the Monsters of Rock festival, two fans died, leading to Axl Rose becoming known for addressing disruptive fans and giving instructions to security.

1989: Alleged sexual assault of Sheila Kennedy

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

April 28, 1990: Marriage to Erin Everly

On April 28, 1990, Axl Rose married Erin Everly in Las Vegas, marking a significant event in their relationship.

October 1990: Everly Suffers Miscarriage

In October 1990, Erin Everly suffered a miscarriage, deeply affecting Axl Rose, who had wanted to start a family.

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. The incidents with his neighbor inspired the lyrics to "Right Next Door To Hell".

Loading Video...

January 1991: Marriage to Erin Everly Annulled

In January 1991, Axl Rose and Erin Everly annulled their marriage after Everly left Rose in November, ending their tumultuous relationship.

1991: Relationship with Stephanie Seymour Begins

In mid-1991, Axl Rose began a high-profile relationship with supermodel Stephanie Seymour. During their relationship, Seymour appeared in the music videos for "Don't Cry" and "November Rain".

1992: Rose's stance on security and disruptive fans

In 1992, Axl Rose explained his approach to dealing with disruptive fans at concerts, stating that he would confront them and have them removed.

February 1993: Engagement to Stephanie Seymour

In February 1993, Axl Rose and Stephanie Seymour became engaged, marking a significant step in their relationship.

1994: Disappearance from public eye

In 1994, after the Use Your Illusion Tour, Axl Rose disappeared from public view while Guns N' Roses stalled on making a new album.

2005: Failure to pay leased car payments

In 2005, Axl Rose failed to make payments on a leased car, leading to a lawsuit from the rental company in 2010 after the car was returned "severely damaged".

2010: Lawsuit from rental company

In 2010, Axl Rose was sued by a rental company after returning a leased car "severely damaged" and failing to make payments in 2005.

2014: Response to 'World's Greatest Singer' Title

In 2014, in response to an informal study that named him the 'World's Greatest Singer', Axl Rose shared his subjective views on who he thought the best singers were, listing a variety of rock singers, including Freddie Mercury and Elvis Presley.

April 28, 2015: Letter to Indonesian President Regarding Bali Nine

On April 28, 2015, Axl Rose sent a letter to Indonesian President Joko Widodo asking Widodo to remove the option of the death penalty in the case of the Bali Nine on grounds of humanitarianism. Rose then criticized Widodo for "ignoring the international outcry" after two were executed.

2016: Sheila Kennedy mentions assault in memoir

In 2016, Sheila Kennedy mentioned being assaulted by Axl Rose in her memoir "No One's Pet", detailing an alleged incident from 1989.

2019: Michelle Rhoades's mother's boyfriend confirms event.

In 2019, Rhoades's mother's boyfriend confirmed that he picked her up, got her dressed, and took her back to her mother's house afterwards.

2021: Sheila Kennedy details assault in documentary

In 2021, Sheila Kennedy discussed the alleged 1989 assault by Axl Rose in the documentary "Look Away", which covered women who claimed to be sexually abused in the music industry.

Loading Video...

November 22, 2023: Sheila Kennedy sues Axl Rose for sexual assault

On November 22, 2023, Sheila Kennedy sued Axl Rose, claiming he sexually assaulted her in his hotel room in 1989 after meeting him in a New York nightclub. The suit was filed in New York under the Adult Survivors Act.

2023: Performance at Lisa Marie Presley's memorial service

In 2023, Axl Rose performed the song "November Rain" at the memorial service for his close friend, Lisa Marie Presley.

Loading Video...

February 21, 2024: Rose files to dismiss Sheila Kennedy's lawsuit

On February 21, 2024, Axl Rose and his legal team filed to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Sheila Kennedy, who accused him of sexual assault.

December 2024: Axl Rose settles Sheila Kennedy's sexual assault lawsuit

In December 2024, Axl Rose and Sheila Kennedy privately settled her sexual assault lawsuit with prejudice, with Rose denying the allegations.

2024: Smoking study compensation equivalent

Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin smoked cigarettes for a scientific study at UCLA for the reported wages of $8 per hour, equivalent to $24 in 2024.

2024: Michelle Rhoades comes forward with more details

In 2024, Michelle Rhoades came forward with more details, claiming that she was in a relationship with Rose when he was 23 and she was 15 and miscarried their child, and when going to discuss this with him caught him sleeping with another woman in an outhouse outside the studio.