Axl Rose

Rose married Erin Everly, the daughter of musician Don Everly of the Everly Brothers, in Las Vegas on April 28, 1990. Everly served as the inspiration for the Guns N' Roses single "Sweet Child o' Mine" and appeared in its music video. The relationship was volatile, and Rose filed for divorce less than a month later before the couple briefly reconciled. Following a miscarriage in October 1990 and subsequent domestic disputes, the marriage was officially annulled in January 1991.

In mid-1991, Rose began dating supermodel Stephanie Seymour, who appeared in the music videos for "Don't Cry" and "November Rain". Rose grew deeply attached to Seymour's young son Dylan during their relationship. The couple announced their engagement in February 1993 but broke up three weeks later, leading to cross-lawsuits alleging assault that were settled out of court.

During the 1990s, Rose developed a close maternal bond with his personal assistant Beta Lebeis, whom he met in 1991. Over time, Lebeis and her family became central to his personal and professional life. By the late 2000s, Lebeis and her son Fernando took over the management of Guns N' Roses under the operational name Team Brazil, providing Rose with long-term managerial and personal support.

In his late teens, Rose was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during a psychiatric evaluation that also noted his high IQ. He later expressed skepticism regarding the diagnosis and the effectiveness of prescribed medication, turning instead to homeopathic medicine and past-life regression therapy. In August 2026, Rose underwent surgery to treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction affecting his jaw.

William Bruce Rose Jr. was born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Sharon Elizabeth Lintner and William Bruce Rose. His parents separated when he was approximately two years old, and after his mother married Stephen L. Bailey, his name was changed to William Bruce Bailey. Rose was raised believing Bailey was his biological father and grew up in a strict Pentecostal household alongside his younger sister Amy and half-brother Stuart. He discovered music at an early age, singing in church choirs from age five, performing with his siblings in the Bailey Trio, and studying piano while singing in the chorus at Jefferson High School.

At age 17, Rose discovered insurance papers revealing his biological father's identity, which led him to begin using the name W. Rose to distance himself from his birth father. During his youth in Lafayette, he experienced frequent conflicts with local law enforcement, accumulating more than 20 arrests. After authorities threatened him with habitual offender charges, he left Indiana and relocated to Los Angeles in December 1982.

In Los Angeles, Rose supported himself with various jobs, including working as a night manager at the Sunset Boulevard Tower Records and participating with childhood friend Izzy Stradlin in a paid scientific smoking study at UCLA. He performed with several local rock groups, including Rapidfire, Hollywood Rose, and L.A. Guns. Prior to signing his first major record contract, he legally adopted the name W. Axl Rose in March 1986.

In March 1985, Rose joined guitarist Tracii Guns to merge Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns, forming Guns N' Roses. The lineup soon evolved to feature Rose on lead vocals, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. After building a following on the Los Angeles club circuit, the group signed with Geffen Records in March 1986 and released the EP Live ?!@ Like a Suicide* later that year.

The band released its debut studio album, Appetite for Destruction, in July 1987. Although initial sales were modest, the album climbed to number one on the Billboard 200 following widespread radio airplay and MTV rotation for singles like "Welcome to the Jungle", "Paradise City", and "Sweet Child o' Mine". The record ultimately sold over 30 million copies worldwide, establishing itself as the best-selling debut album of all time in the United States.

In November 1988, Guns N' Roses released G N' R Lies, which sold more than five million copies in the United States. While the release further elevated the band's profile, the track "One in a Million" provoked significant public controversy and criticism over its use of racial and homophobic slurs.

Guns N' Roses entered the studio in 1990 to record their follow-up albums, during which drummer Steven Adler was dismissed due to substance abuse and replaced by Matt Sorum, alongside the addition of keyboardist Dizzy Reed. In September 1991, the group released Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, making history by debuting simultaneously at numbers two and one on the Billboard 200.

The accompanying Use Your Illusion Tour lasted two and a half years and became known for its scale, commercial success, and frequent controversies. Concerts were regularly delayed by late starts, and several performances escalated into public disorder. A July 1991 concert at the Riverport Amphitheater near St. Louis ended in a major riot after Rose dove into the crowd to confiscate an unauthorized video camera and walked offstage, resulting in substantial property damage and criminal charges against Rose. Another riot broke out at Montreal's Olympic Stadium in August 1992 during a co-headlining tour with Metallica after Rose ended the set early due to vocal strain.

Internal relationships fractured under the strain of touring. Izzy Stradlin departed the group in November 1991, replaced by Gilby Clarke. In November 1993, Guns N' Roses released the punk cover album "The Spaghetti Incident?", which included a controversial hidden track written by Charles Manson. Following the tour's conclusion in Buenos Aires in July 1993, Rose receded from public appearances.

During the mid-1990s, Guns N' Roses ceased regular operations as key members departed. Slash left the band in October 1996, Sorum was fired in 1997, and McKagan left later that year, leaving Rose as the sole founding member. Rose acquired the legal rights to the Guns N' Roses name and spent much of the late 1990s living seclusion in Malibu while assembling new musicians to work on the band's next album.

Rose resurfaced in 2001 with a newly assembled Guns N' Roses lineup to perform at Rock in Rio 3, launching sporadic worldwide touring. After years of production delays and expenses exceeding $13 million, the album Chinese Democracy was released in November 2008. Although inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 alongside the original lineup, Rose declined the honor and chose not to attend the ceremony.

In 2016, Rose reunited with Slash and Duff McKagan for the Not in This Lifetime... Tour, marking their first performances together in nearly 23 years. The tour became one of the highest-grossing concert tours in music history. That same year, Rose served as guest lead singer for AC/DC on their Rock or Bust World Tour after Brian Johnson paused live performances due to hearing issues. Rose continued to tour globally with Guns N' Roses into the 2020s, headlining major festivals and releasing new singles.