Trivia

Is a huge fan of Queen.

Legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose in 1986. The 'W' is legal, not an abbreviation, and was chosen because Rose did not wish to share the name William with his biological father.

Has served as his own lawyer and defended himself at his innumerable trials.

Grew up in a strict Pentecostal (fundamentalist Christian) household. Was kicked out of his house at age 16 for not cutting his hair.

Attended high school with former longtime Guns N' Roses bandmate Izzy Stradlin.

Is a huge fan of Elton John. The two performed a duet of "Bohemian Rhapsody" at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London in 1991.

Released two albums at the same time with Guns N' Roses. This was the first time a band had ever released more than one album on the same day.

Upon signing with Geffen Records in 1986 he had his name legally changed to W. Axl Rose.

Is the oldest member of Guns N'Roses, being two months older than Izzy Stradlin.

Has been arrested over 30 times for various offenses, mostly drunk and disorderly and assault charges.

Is manic depressive.

Is of Scottish, German, and Irish descent.

By mid-1991 Stephanie Seymour had become involved with Axl Rose. She appeared in two music videos by Guns N' Roses: "Don't Cry" and "November Rain". The couple broke up in February 1993 after Rose accused Seymour of being unfaithful. In August 1993, Rose sued Seymour for assaulting him during a 1992 Christmas party, for mental and emotional abuse, and for withholding $100,000 worth of jewelry. Rose claimed he and Seymour were engaged. In turn, Seymour counter-sued Rose for assaulting her and denied they were ever engaged.

He is very opposed to the use of hard drugs and once threatened to leave the band if they continued using heroin.

Considers Christina Aguilera "The greatest Vocalist of our time".

His ex-wife, Erin Everly, is Don Everly's daughter.

When compiling song selections for the 1999 Guns N' Roses live album "Live Era", he communicated with Slash and Duff McKagan only through intermediaries.

Was born William Bruce Rose, but when his parents split his mother changed his name to William Bruce Bailey, taking his step-father's last name. Axl claims that when he was 17 he learned of his real father and changed it back to William Bruce Rose, but this is disputed. One of Rose's first music managers in L.A. claims that in the early 1980s Rose was still legally William Bailey.

Played with Guns N' Roses in Rock in Rio II (January '91), Rock in Rio III (January '01) and Rock in Rio IV (October '11) as one of the most expected attractions.

His mother, Sharon E. Bailey died on May 28th, 1996.

He was among the artists who refused to perform at the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump and has been an outspoken critic of him and his administration, particularly Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Played in a band called Hollywood Rose prior to Guns And Roses.

Lives in Malibu, California.

Guns N' Roses were voted the 92nd Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.

Was found guilty in November 1992 of property damage and assault at a 1991 Guns N' Roses concert in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Was given two years probation and ordered to pay $50,000 to community groups.

Younger sister Amy and younger brother Stuart.

Has finally completed the long anticipated new Guns N' Roses album "Chinese Democracy". (November 2008)

"Welcome to the Jungle" is played in The Dead Pool (1988).

Had something of a bad relationship between himself and Slash for nearly two decades, following the latter's exit from Guns N' Roses in 1996. The source of the tension that led to Slash leaving the band was apparently musical differences. As a result, the two stopped speaking to each other until 2015, when they made peace and this eventually led to Slash's return to Guns N' Roses.

"Sweet Child O' Mine" is played in State of Grace (1990).

He has a quirk about cities starting with "M". When his ex-wife Erin Everly left him, she moved to Miami.

Is a friend of former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach, who has occasionally joined Guns N' Roses on stage. Bach also did backing vocals on "Sorry" from the GN'R album "Chinese Democracy", while Axl provided guest vocals on three tracks from Bach's 2007 solo album "Angel Down": "(Love Is) a Bitchslap", "Stuck Inside" and the cover of Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle".

Was reportedly responsible for getting Riki Rachtman to audition for Headbangers Ball (1987) as the show's host/VJ in 1989. Racthman, who replaced Adam Curry, would host Headbangers Ball from 1990 to the show's cancellation in 1995.

Is a fan of The Trailer Park Boys (2001), who also even opened for Guns N' Roses on some of their Canadian tour dates in 2006.