History of Axl Rose in Timeline

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Axl Rose

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.

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.

March 1983: Joining Rapidfire

In March 1983, Axl Rose met guitarist Kevin Lawrence and joined his band Rapidfire.

May 1983: Recording Demo with Rapidfire

In May 1983, Axl Rose recorded a five-song demo with Rapidfire at Telstar Studios in Burbank, which was later released as the EP Ready to Rumble in 2014.

January 1984: Recording Demo with Hollywood Rose

In January 1984, Axl Rose and Hollywood Rose recorded a five-song demo featuring tracks like "Anything Goes" and "Reckless Life," which was released in 2004 as The Roots of Guns N' Roses.

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1984: Murder of William Rose Sr.

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

March 1985: Formation of Guns N' Roses

In March 1985, Axl Rose and Tracii Guns formed Guns N' Roses by merging their respective bands Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns, with Izzy Stradlin and others.

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.

1985: Guns N' Roses inception

In 1985, Axl Rose became the lead vocalist and lyricist for the newly formed hard rock band Guns N' Roses and has remained the band's sole constant member since its creation.

1985: Co-founding Guns N' Roses

In 1985, Axl Rose co-founded Guns N' Roses after having been active in the local hard rock scene and participating in several bands in Los Angeles, California.

March 1986: Signing with Geffen Records

In March 1986, Guns N' Roses signed with Geffen Records, marking a significant step in their career.

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.

July 1987: Release of Appetite for Destruction

In July 1987, Guns N' Roses released their debut album Appetite for Destruction, which became a major commercial success.

November 1987: Axl Rose arrested onstage for assault

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

1987: Release of Appetite for Destruction

In 1987, Guns N' Roses released their debut album, Appetite for Destruction. It became the best-selling debut album of all time in the U.S., selling 18 million units.

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.

November 1988: Release of G N' R Lies

In November 1988, Guns N' Roses released the album G N' R Lies, which sparked controversy due to the song "One in a Million" and its use of racist and homophobic language.

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1988: Release of G N' R Lies and Controversy

In 1988, Guns N' Roses released G N' R Lies, which led to significant controversy due to Axl Rose's use of slurs in the song "One in a Million".

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August 1989: Rolling Stone Cover

In August 1989, Axl Rose appeared solo on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, with the condition that his friends provided the interview and photographs.

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".

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1990: Recording follow-up to Appetite for Destruction

In 1990, Guns N' Roses started recording the follow-up to Appetite for Destruction, but sessions were unproductive due to Steven Adler's drug addiction.

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.

January 1991: First show with Sorum and Reed at Rock in Rio 2

In January 1991, Matt Sorum and Dizzy Reed played their first show with Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 2.

May 1991: Start of Use Your Illusion Tour

In May 1991, Guns N' Roses embarked on the two-and-a-half-year Use Your Illusion Tour, which became known for financial success and controversial incidents.

July 1991: Riverport Riot

In July 1991, during a concert at the Riverport Amphitheater, Axl Rose incited a riot after diving into the crowd to seize a fan's video camera, causing significant damages.

September 1991: Release of Use Your Illusion I and II

In September 1991, Guns N' Roses released "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II". The albums debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 respectively on the Billboard 200. By the time of the albums' release, Axl Rose's relationships with his bandmates had become increasingly strained.

November 1991: Izzy Stradlin Leaves Guns N' Roses

In November 1991, Izzy Stradlin abruptly left Guns N' Roses due to complications and increasing alcohol and substance abuse among bandmates. He was replaced by Gilby Clarke of Kill For Thrills.

1991: Release of Use Your Illusion I and II

In 1991, Guns N' Roses released the twin albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, which debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

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".

April 20, 1992: Axl Rose Performs at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert

On April 20, 1992, Axl Rose performed with Elton John at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. He sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" as a duet with John and also sang "We Will Rock You".

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August 1992: Riot at Montreal Olympic Stadium

In August 1992, another riot occurred at Montreal's Olympic Stadium during a co-headlining tour with Metallica. The riot was triggered by Axl Rose's late arrival and subsequent complaints of voice problems, leading to him walking off stage. This resulted in an estimated $400,000 in damages.

1992: Rose's response to 'One in a Million' controversy

In 1992, Axl Rose conceded that the song 'One in a Million' reflected his initial perspective upon arriving in Los Angeles and that he didn't want to support racism but wanted to insult those who were trying to rob him.

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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.

1992: Christmas Party assault claim by Stephanie Seymour

In 1992, Axl Rose was accused by Stephanie Seymour of assault at a Christmas Party, leading to a counter-suit after their separation in 1993. Both lawsuits were eventually settled out of court.

1992: Axl Rose arrested for Riverport Riot

In 1992, Axl Rose was arrested for his role in the Riverport Riot, which took place the previous year after Rose cut short a concert. Rose was found guilty of property damage and assault, fined $50,000, and given two years probation.

1992: Lawsuit from Riverport Riot audience member

In 1992, the audience member whom Axl Rose attacked during the Riverport Riot sued him for $210,000 in damages. Rose settled out of court for $160,000.

February 1993: Engagement to Stephanie Seymour

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

July 5, 1993: Alleged Ultimatum Before Barcelona Show

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

July 17, 1993: Final Show of the Use Your Illusion Tour

On July 17, 1993, Guns N' Roses played its final show of the Use Your Illusion Tour at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires. This was Axl Rose's last live performance with the band for seven and a half years.

1993: Release of The Spaghetti Incident?

In 1993, Guns N' Roses released the album "The Spaghetti Incident?", which failed to achieve the same success as their previous albums, and Axl Rose's cover of a Charles Manson song stirred controversy.

1993: Separation from Stephanie Seymour and lawsuit

In 1993, after separating, Axl Rose sued Stephanie Seymour, claiming she had assaulted him. Seymour filed a counter-suit claiming assault and battery. Both lawsuits were eventually settled out of court.

June 1994: Gilby Clarke's Contract Not Renewed

In June 1994, Axl Rose did not renew Gilby Clarke's contract with Guns N' Roses, claiming Clarke was only a "hired hand". This decision, made without consulting his bandmates, further strained relations within the band.

1994: Erin Everly files suit against Axl Rose

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

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.

August 1995: Axl Rose Forms New Partnership

In August 1995, Axl Rose legally left the band and created a new partnership under the Guns N' Roses name. Rose stated he took this step "to salvage Guns not steal it".

October 1996: Slash Leaves Guns N' Roses

In October 1996, Slash finally left Guns N' Roses due to his differences with Axl Rose, marking a significant departure from the band's classic lineup.

June 1997: Matt Sorum Fired from Guns N' Roses

In June 1997, Matt Sorum was fired from Guns N' Roses after an argument over Paul "Huge" Tobias's involvement in the band, further depleting the original lineup.

1997: Rose Purchases Rights to Guns N' Roses Name

Reportedly in 1997, Axl Rose purchased the full rights to the Guns N' Roses name. This action further solidified his control over the band and its future direction.

1998: Work on new album underway

By 1998, work on a new Guns N' Roses album was underway, with only Axl Rose and keyboardist Dizzy Reed remaining from the previous tour lineup.

1998: Axl Rose arrested for threatening airport guard

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

1999: Vocal Recordings For Absurd and Hard Skool

In 1999, the vocals for both Absurd and Hard Skool were recorded.

January 14, 2001: Axl Rose Resurfaces at Rock in Rio 3

On January 14, 2001, Axl Rose resurfaced with Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 3, commencing the decade-long Chinese Democracy Tour. This marked his return to the public eye after a period of withdrawal.

2001: Resurfacing at Rock in Rio 3

In 2001, Axl Rose resurfaced with a new lineup of Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 3 to promote the upcoming album.

2002: Riot in Vancouver After Concert Cancellation

In 2002, a riot erupted at Vancouver's General Motors Place after Axl Rose failed to show up for a scheduled concert. The cancellation led to significant damages, estimated at $100,000.

2004: Rose Lends Voice to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

In 2004, Axl Rose lent his voice to the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" as the DJ for the radio station, K-DST, marking an appearance outside of his musical performances.

2004: Lawsuit against the release of The Roots of Guns N' Roses and Greatest Hits

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

2004: Release of The Roots of Guns N' Roses

In 2004, the five-song demo that Axl Rose recorded with Hollywood Rose in January 1984 was released as The Roots of Guns N' Roses.

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".

January 2006: Rose Promises New Music

In a rare interview in January 2006, Axl Rose said "people will hear music this year," raising expectations for the release of new Guns N' Roses material.

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

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

2006: Slash and McKagan sue Rose over publishing credits

In 2006, Slash and Duff McKagan sued Axl Rose over publishing and songwriting credits, which Rose claimed were due to a clerical error.

October 2007: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock release

In October 2007, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was released, including "Welcome to the Jungle" and featuring Slash, which led to Axl Rose filing a lawsuit in 2010.

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2007: Guns N' Roses Tour with Guest Appearances by Izzy Stradlin

Throughout 2007, Guns N' Roses toured extensively, with several guest appearances by Izzy Stradlin. Despite touring, the highly anticipated album, "Chinese Democracy," still failed to materialize.

November 2008: Release of Chinese Democracy

In November 2008, fifteen years after its last album, Guns N' Roses released "Chinese Democracy" exclusively via Best Buy. Axl Rose did not contribute to the album's promotion.

2008: Last Release Before 2021 Singles

In 2008 Guns N' Roses released their last album before releasing singles in 2021.

2008: Rose Denies Coercion Claims

In 2008, Axl Rose refuted Slash's claims that he coerced the bandmates into signing over the rights to the Guns N' Roses name, stating that any such coercion would render the contract legally untenable.

2008: Release of Chinese Democracy

In 2008, Guns N' Roses released the long-delayed album Chinese Democracy, which was the most expensive rock album ever produced.

December 2009: Guns N' Roses Embarks on Another Tour

In December 2009, a year after the album's release, Guns N' Roses embarked on another two-and-a-half years of touring, including a headlining performance at Rock in Rio 4.

November 2010: Rose sues Activision over Guitar Hero III

In November 2010, Axl Rose sued Activision for $20 million, claiming they violated an agreement by including references to Slash in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

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.

2010: Image of Axl Rose taken

In 2010, a Winnipeg Free Press photographer took an image of Axl Rose, which was later reposted by Gauntlet under the headline "OMFG Axl Rose is Fat." In May 2016, Rose attempted to suppress the image via DMCA takedown notices.

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.

2011: Settlement agreement with Irving Azoff

According to Axl Rose in 2011, part of the settlement agreement with Irving Azoff dictated that Rose and Guns N' Roses had to do a number of performances with Azoff's company Live Nation as the promoter.

2012: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2012, Axl Rose was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N' Roses, though he requested exclusion.

February 2013: Rose's lawsuit against Activision dismissed

In February 2013, Axl Rose's claim against Activision was summarily dismissed, as he did not bring suit within the statute of limitations following the October 2007 release of Guitar Hero III.

2013: Lawsuit over microphone thrown into crowd

In 2013, Axl Rose was sued after a microphone he threw into the crowd at an Australian concert struck a man, causing extensive dental damage.

2014: New Album Pending Release

By mid-2014, Guns N' Roses' new album, recorded concurrently with Chinese Democracy, and a remix album were completed and pending release. However, no new material emerged.

2014: Threatened legal action over Rapidfire recordings

In 2014, Axl Rose threatened legal action over the release of Rapidfire (his pre-Hollywood Rose band) recordings, keeping them from digital storefronts for a while.

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.

2014: Release of Ready to Rumble EP

In 2014, the five-song demo that Axl Rose recorded with Rapidfire in May 1983 was released as the EP, Ready to Rumble.

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.

April 2016: Reunion Performance at The Troubadour

In April 2016, Axl Rose shared a stage with Slash for the first time in nearly 23 years during Guns N' Roses' surprise performance at The Troubadour, ahead of its headlining shows at Coachella. This marked the start of the Not in This Lifetime... Tour.

April 16, 2016: Rose Joins AC/DC as Lead Singer

On April 16, 2016, AC/DC announced that Axl Rose would be joining them and performing as the lead singer for the remainder of the band's Rock or Bust World Tour, after Brian Johnson had to stop touring due to hearing problems.

May 2016: DMCA takedown notices for 2010 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. The two parties settled in November 2016.

November 2016: Settlement between Axl Rose and Chris Pitman

In November 2016, Axl Rose and former Guns N' Roses keyboardist Chris Pitman settled a lawsuit where Pitman had sued Rose for $125,000 in unpaid wages. Pitman's lawsuit began in August 2016.

2016: Reunion with Slash and Duff McKagan

In 2016, Axl Rose's feud with Slash ended as Slash and bassist Duff McKagan rejoined Guns N' Roses for the Not in This Lifetime... Tour. Also in 2016, Rose toured with AC/DC as a fill-in vocalist.

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.

2016: Azoff denies pressuring Rose to reunite with former bandmates

In a 2016 interview, Irving Azoff denied he had pressured Axl Rose to reunite with former bandmates.

2018: Appearance in New Looney Tunes

In 2018, Axl Rose appeared in an episode of New Looney Tunes as himself, singing an original song "Rock the Rock".

2018: Johnson, Rudd and Williams Return to AC/DC

In 2018, Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams returned to AC/DC to record an album.

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.

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

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

September 30, 2020: Brian Johnson Returns to AC/DC

On September 30, 2020, AC/DC officially announced that Brian Johnson, along with Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams had returned to the band in 2018 and recorded an album, clarifying that Axl Rose only stepped in to help finish the tour.

2020: Guns N' Roses 2020 Tour

In 2020, Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses continued touring after the Not In This Lifetime... Tour, with the Guns N' Roses 2020 Tour.

2021: Release of 'Absurd' and 'Hard Skool' Singles

In 2021, Guns N' Roses released two singles, "Absurd" and "Hard Skool", marking their first release of newly recorded material since 2008.

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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.

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2021: Concert in Pennsylvania

In 2021, after a concert in Pennsylvania, Axl Rose was sued in 2022 by a person who claims they were injured when he threw a mic stand in the crowd.

2022: Lawsuit against Texas Guns and Roses

In 2022, Axl Rose sued a weapons dealer named Texas Guns and Roses for "particularly damaging" name association.

2022: Lawsuit over microphone stand thrown into crowd

In 2022, Axl Rose was sued by a person who claims they were injured when he threw a mic stand in the crowd after a 2021 concert in Pennsylvania. After a third incident in 2022, Rose stated he would no longer throw items into the audience to prevent further issues.

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: Release of 'Perhaps' and 'The General' Singles

In 2023, Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses released the two singles "Perhaps" and "The General", the latter having a music video uploaded to YouTube on January 24. They also performed live in Indio, California, as part of the 2023 tour.

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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.

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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.

2025: Continuation of Touring

In 2025, Guns N' Roses continued touring, demonstrating their ongoing presence in the music scene.