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Should Axl Rose be blamed for the breakup of Guns n' Roses?

The breakup of one of the biggest bands in the world (at least at the time). A band that is ranked in the top 5 (the position depends on where you look) in best selling debut albums, with somewhere around 16,000 copies. But then they split up, and who's to blame? Should the lead singer Axl Rose be to blame? Of course, and I will tell you why.

Earlier this month, I finished reading Slash's (GNR guitar player) autobiography, entitled "Slash." It encompasses his whole life, and is up to date seeing as how it was released earlier this year. It recalls his struggling musician life prior to Guns N Roses, and the roller coaster ride until their breakup. Even through all the sex, drugs, and rock n roll, some things are just going to happen regardless.

In early years, Slash became very good friends with Axl, stating how they lived together and sometimes collaborated without the band on their own time. He states how Axl is the kind of person who is very passionate about every decision he makes, and stands behind it because he thinks its right, regardless of rationality or sense (see: adding a keyboard player). With many people, including myself, that could be a huge personality clash. At first it didn't matter. The rest of the band would sacrifice small things to keep him happy, because a GNR without Axl, isnt a GNR at all. Also, not to mention his ability to write amazing lyrics as if they come to him, isn't a gift everyone has.

But as stardom grew, so did a fan base, and the amount of rabid fans wanted to see them preform. On a tour with another band (Aerosmith maybe? I cant recall right now) in St. Louis, Axl "didn't feel like singing" so he walked out in the middle of the song and couldn't be brought back out. By the time he agreed to (and probably after much sacrifice by the rest of the band) it was too late. Needless to say, chaos ensued, and the place in which they were to preform was pretty much destroyed in a massive riot. Guns N Roses was band from playing in St Louis for quite a few years after that. A riot also ensued in Montreal, and it almost happened once in Europe.

As time went on, this began happening more and more. While on tour with Metallica, Metallica said that they would play first, so that their opening act (which was now a closing act) [Guns N Roses] wouldn't make them late by 3 hours (which happened a lot). Even as hard rockers, they were businessmen, and didn't want to be brought down by a struggling GNR. Other times, Axl would simply refuse to


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Should Axl Rose be blamed for the breakup of Guns n' Roses?

  • 1 of 4

    by Dean Stacy

    The breakup of one of the biggest bands in the world (at least at the time). A band that is ranked in the top 5 (the position

    read more

  • 2 of 4

    by J. Hoff

    While Axl Rose is constantly blamed for the break up of Guns n' Roses, I believe such a conclusion is far too hasty. My belief

    read more

  • 3 of 4

    by Sabrina Gladstone

    It has been suggested numerous times since the gritty hard-rock band Guns n' Roses broke up that the talented, yet moody

    read more

  • 4 of 4

    by Suzy Long

    Even though Axl is a very arrogant, selfish and narrow minded, he is still one of my favorite singers. I don't think that

    read more

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