History of Axl Rose in Timeline
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.
February 6, 1962: William Bruce Rose Jr. Born
On February 6, 1962, William Bruce Rose Jr., who would later become known as Axl Rose, was born. He is an American singer and songwriter.
1980: Izzy Stradlin Moves to Los Angeles
In 1980, Axl Rose's childhood friend Izzy Stradlin moved to Los Angeles.
December 1982: Rose Moves to Los Angeles
In December 1982, Axl Rose moved to Los Angeles, California, after authorities threatened to charge him as a habitual criminal in Lafayette.
March 1983: Joins Rapidfire
In March 1983, Axl Rose met Kevin Lawrence and joined his band Rapidfire.
May 1983: Rapidfire Records Demo
In May 1983, Axl Rose's band Rapidfire recorded a five-song demo at Telstar Studios in Burbank.
January 1984: Hollywood Rose Records Demo
In January 1984, Axl Rose's band Hollywood Rose recorded a five-song demo featuring tracks like "Anything Goes" and "Reckless Life".
1984: Biological Father's Murder
In 1984, Axl Rose's biological father, William Rose Sr., was murdered in Marion, Illinois, by a criminal acquaintance. Axl Rose did not learn about the murder until years later.
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.
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.
1985: Guns N' Roses Inception
In 1985, Axl Rose became the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He has been the band's sole constant member since then.
1985: Co-founded Guns N' Roses
In 1985, Axl Rose co-founded the band Guns N' Roses, leading to great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
March 1986: Name Change and Geffen Records Contract
In March 1986, Axl Rose legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose prior to signing his contract with Geffen Records.
March 1986: Signing with Geffen Records
In March 1986, after building a devoted fan following, Guns N' Roses signed with Geffen Records.
1986: Intentional overdose and inspiration for Coma
In 1986, Axl Rose intentionally overdosed on painkillers due to stress and ended up in the hospital. This experience 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.
July 1987: Release of 'Appetite for Destruction'
In July 1987, Guns N' Roses released their debut album, "Appetite for Destruction". The album later rose to the No. 1 position due to touring and the success of "Sweet Child o' Mine".
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.
1987: Release of 'Appetite for Destruction'
In 1987, Guns N' Roses released their first album, "Appetite for Destruction", which later became the best-selling debut album of all time in the U.S.
August 1988: Tragedy at Monsters of Rock Festival
During Guns N' Roses' performance at the Monsters of Rock festival in August 1988, two fans were crushed to death, leading Rose to become known for addressing disruptive fans from the stage.
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".
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".
August 1989: Rose on Rolling Stone Cover
In August 1989, Axl Rose appeared solo on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, with the condition that his friends provide the interview and photographs.
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.
April 28, 1990: Marriage to Erin Everly
On April 28, 1990, Axl Rose married Erin Everly in Las Vegas.
October 1990: Erin Everly suffers a miscarriage
In October 1990, Erin Everly suffered a miscarriage, deeply affecting Axl Rose, who 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, following disputes over loud music. This incident inspired the lyrics to the song "Right Next Door To Hell".
1990: Guns N' Roses Return to Studio
In early 1990, Guns N' Roses returned to the studio, but recording sessions were unproductive due to Steven Adler's drug addiction. Adler was later fired, and keyboardist Dizzy Reed joined the band.
January 1991: Annulment of marriage to Erin Everly
In January 1991, Axl Rose and Erin Everly annulled their marriage, following Everly's departure in November after an altercation.
January 1991: Sorum and Reed's First Show with Guns N' Roses
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 Use Your Illusion Tour, known for its financial success and controversial incidents.
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.
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. However, relationships between Axl Rose and his bandmates were strained, and Izzy Stradlin left the group in November 1991.
November 1991: Izzy Stradlin leaves Guns N' Roses
In November 1991, Izzy Stradlin, Axl Rose's childhood friend, abruptly left Guns N' Roses, citing complications in daily life within the band, Rose's lateness, the riot incident, and Stradlin's sobriety conflicting with the other bandmates' alcohol and substance abuse. He was replaced by Gilby Clarke.
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 were both widely successful and debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
1991: Relationship with Stephanie Seymour begins
In mid-1991, Axl Rose began a relationship with supermodel Stephanie Seymour.
April 20, 1992: Performance at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
On April 20, 1992, Axl Rose performed at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. He sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" as a duet with Elton John and also performed "We Will Rock You."
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.
1992: Rose Addresses Concert Security
In 1992, Axl Rose stated that he would confront disruptive fans personally at concerts and have them removed from the venue, rather than addressing them through the security personnel.
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.
February 1993: Engagement to Stephanie Seymour
In February 1993, Axl Rose became engaged to Stephanie Seymour.
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.
July 17, 1993: Final Show of the Use Your Illusion Tour
On July 17, 1993, Guns N' Roses performed its final show of the Use Your Illusion Tour at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires. It 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 punk covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?", which failed to match the success of previous albums.
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.
June 1994: Gilby Clarke's contract not renewed
In June 1994, Axl Rose did not renew Gilby Clarke's contract without consulting his bandmates, stating that Clarke was only a "hired hand". Tension escalated with Slash after Rose hired Paul "Huge" Tobias as Clarke's replacement, leading to unused recorded material due to a lack of collaboration.
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.
1994: Rose Disappears From Public Eye
In 1994, after the tour, Axl Rose disappeared from the public eye while Guns N' Roses stalled on making a new album.
August 1995: Rose leaves band and creates new partnership
In August 1995, Axl Rose legally left Guns N' Roses and created a new partnership under the band's name to 'salvage Guns not steal it'.
October 1996: Slash leaves Guns N' Roses
In October 1996, Slash left Guns N' Roses due to differences with Axl Rose.
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.
1997: Rose reportedly purchases full rights to Guns N' Roses name
In 1997, Axl Rose reportedly purchased the full rights to the Guns N' Roses name.
1998: Work on a New Album Underway
By 1998, work on a new Guns N' Roses album was underway, but only Axl Rose and keyboardist Dizzy Reed remained from the previous tour lineup.
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.
1999: "Absurd" Pre-Recorded
In 1999, the song "Absurd", later released in 2021, was pre-recorded.
January 14, 2001: Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 3
On January 14, 2001, Axl Rose resurfaced with Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 3, commencing the Chinese Democracy Tour.
2001: Rose Resurfaces at Rock in Rio 3
In 2001, Axl Rose, as the only remaining original member, resurfaced alongside the new lineup of Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 3.
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: Voice acting in 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.
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".
2004: Release of The Roots of Guns N' Roses
In 2004, the five-song demo recorded by Hollywood Rose in January 1984 was released as The Roots of Guns N' Roses.
January 2006: Axl Rose announces new music
In January 2006, Axl Rose stated in an interview that "people will hear music this year."
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.
2007: Axl Rose collaborates with Sebastian Bach
In 2007, Axl Rose collaborated with Sebastian Bach on his album "Angel Down".
November 2008: Release of Chinese Democracy
In November 2008, Guns N' Roses released "Chinese Democracy" exclusively through Best Buy. Axl Rose did not participate in promoting the album.
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.
2008: Release of Chinese Democracy
In 2008, Guns N' Roses released "Chinese Democracy", which was promoted through the decade-long Chinese Democracy Tour.
2008: Last release of new material before 2021
In 2008, before the release of "Absurd" and "Hard Skool" in 2021, the last release of newly recorded material by Guns N' Roses was in 2008.
December 2009: Guns N' Roses embark on another tour
In December 2009, Guns N' Roses embarked on a two-and-a-half-year tour, including a headlining performance at Rock in Rio 4.
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."
2010: Axl Rose image taken at Winnipeg Free Press
In 2010, an image of Axl Rose was taken by a Winnipeg Free Press photographer that later caused a Streisand effect in 2016.
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.
2011: Settlement mandates Guns N' Roses performances with Live Nation
In 2011, as part of a settlement agreement, Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses were required to perform a number of shows with Live Nation as the promoter.
2012: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2012, Axl Rose and the classic lineup of Guns N' Roses were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, Rose did not attend the induction ceremony in April.
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: New album pending release
By mid-2014, Guns N' Roses had completed a new album and a remix album, both recorded concurrently with Chinese Democracy, but the material was pending 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.
2014: Release of Ready to Rumble EP
In 2014, after years of legal action, the five-song demo recorded by Rapidfire in May 1983 was released as an EP, Ready to Rumble.
2014: Rose's opinion on the best singers
In 2014, in response to an informal study that named him the 'World's Greatest Singer', Axl Rose shared his opinion on who he thought the best singers were, mentioning various rock singers and emphasizing that his focus is primarily on rock singers.
April 28, 2015: Letter to Indonesian President regarding the Bali Nine
On April 28, 2015, Axl Rose sent a letter to Indonesian President Joko Widodo requesting the removal of the death penalty for the Bali Nine on humanitarian grounds.
April 2016: Reunion Performance at The Troubadour
In April 2016, Axl Rose and Slash reunited on stage for the first time in nearly 23 years during a surprise performance at The Troubadour, ahead of Guns N' Roses' headlining shows at Coachella.
April 16, 2016: Axl Rose joins AC/DC
On April 16, 2016, AC/DC announced that Axl Rose would be joining the band as the lead singer for the remainder of the Rock or Bust World Tour, as Brian Johnson had to stop touring due to hearing problems.
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".
2016: Reunion and Tour with AC/DC
In 2016, Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined Guns N' Roses for the Not in This Lifetime... Tour, ending Rose's feud with Slash. Also in 2016, Rose toured with AC/DC as a fill-in vocalist.
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: Brian Johnson rejoined AC/DC
In 2018, Brian Johnson rejoined AC/DC, and the band recorded an album, showing that Axl Rose was never brought in to replace Johnson.
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.
September 30, 2020: AC/DC announces Brian Johnson's return
On September 30, 2020, AC/DC announced the return of Brian Johnson, along with Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams, to the band, confirming that Axl Rose only stepped in to help finish the tour.
2020: Guns N' Roses 2020 Tour
Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses continued touring after the Not In This Lifetime... Tour, with the Guns N' Roses 2020 Tour.
2021: Appearance in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
In 2021, Axl Rose appeared as himself in the cartoon "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?".
2021: Release of 'Absurd' and 'Hard Skool'
In 2021, Guns N' Roses released two singles, "Absurd" and "Hard Skool", marking the first release of newly recorded material since 2008. "Hard Skool" was praised more than "Absurd", which was pre-recorded in 1999.
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.
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.
2023: Axl Rose performs at Lisa Marie Presley's memorial service
In 2023, Axl Rose, who was close friends with Lisa Marie Presley, performed "November Rain" at her memorial service.
2023: Releases of 'Perhaps' and 'The General'
In 2023, Guns N' Roses and Axl Rose released the singles "Perhaps" and "The General". A music video for "The General" was uploaded to YouTube on January 24. They also performed live in Indio, California in October.
February 21, 2024: Axl Rose files to dismiss sexual assault 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.
2024: Cigarette Smoking Study Payout
Rose and Stradlin also smoked cigarettes for a scientific study at UCLA for the reported wages of $8 per hour (equivalent to $24 in 2024).
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