Truth about his biological father
But music offered him an escape. From the age of five, he sang in the church choir and performed alongside his siblings as the Bailey Trio. William also joined the chorus and began studying piano.
His fifth-grade teacher remembered him growing up in Lafayette as “very intelligent, very personable, always had a smile. If you weren’t careful, he’d take the classroom away from you.”
He was arrested more than 20 times and served jail stints of up to three months. Facing the threat of habitual offender charges, he decided to move to Los Angeles in December 1982.
Legendary rock band
Once in The City of Angels, he set his sights on becoming a rock star, a dream sparked by hearing the ’70s hits of Queen, Aerosmith, and Elton John.
He started a band called AXL, and if you’re starting to put the pieces together, you might already know who we’re talking about. While performing in the band, friends suggested he go by “Axl Rose” — and the rest is rock history. He later legally adopted the name W. Axl Rose, taking the last name of his biological father.
In March 1985, Guns N’ Roses was born when Rose teamed up with guitarist Izzy Stradlin from Hollywood Rose, along with guitarist Tracii Guns, bassist Ole Beich, and drummer Rob Gardner from L.A. Guns.
After signing with Geffen Records in 1986, the lineup that would become legendary took shape: Axl Rose on vocals, Slash on lead guitar, Izzy Stradlin on rhythm guitar, Duff McKagan on bass, and Steven Adler on drums.
By 1987, Guns N’ Roses exploded onto the scene. With their tattoos, wild hair, and rebellious vibe, the rock band became an iconic splash of color.
Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, dropped in July of that year. At first, it was a slow burn — selling around 500,000 copies in its first year — but relentless touring, grassroots buzz around the “Welcome to the Jungle” video, and the massive hit single “Sweet Child o’ Mine” catapulted the record to No. 1.
Today, Appetite for Destruction has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, including 18 million in the U.S., making it the best-selling debut album in U.S. history.
But fame didn’t come without chaos. The late ’80s and ’90s were a whirlwind of touring, internal band conflicts, and headline-grabbing controversies. Axl’s perfectionism and volatile temper earned him a reputation for being unpredictable— but also cemented his status as a rock icon who refusContinue reading…
