Unveiling the Surprising Secrets of Birthday Boy Axl Rose: 25 Things You Need to Know!
Welcome to Music Nation 365! Today, we celebrate the birth of the legendary rock icon, W. Axl Rose, born as William Bruce Rose, Jr. on February 6th, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. While we all know him as the frontman of the iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, there are some fascinating facts about Axl that you might not be aware of. Let’s delve into 25 intriguing details about this enigmatic rock star:
1. Axl Rose was born as William Bruce Rose, Jr. in Lafayette, Indiana.
2. Axl’s parents separated when he was just two years old. His mother, who was only 16 at the time of his birth, remarried, changing Axl’s name to William Bruce Bailey. Until he turned 17, Axl believed Bailey was his biological father.
3. Tragically, Axl never met his real father, who was murdered in 1984 by a criminal associate. The body of William Rose was never found, and Axl only learned about his father’s death years later.
4. Axl Rose grew up in a deeply religious household, attending multiple services at a Pentecostal church every week and even teaching Sunday School.
5. Axl started singing in his church choir at the tender age of 5 and performed with his siblings in the Bailey Trio at church events.
6. In high school, Axl sang in the chorus, studied piano, and formed a band with his friends, including future Guns N’ Roses bandmate Izzy Stradlin (formerly Jeff Isbell).
7. Axl faced several legal troubles in his teenage years, getting arrested over 20 times in Lafayette for various charges. In 1982, he moved to Los Angeles to avoid being charged as a habitual criminal.
8. In California, Axl formed a band called AXL, leading his friends to suggest he change his name to Axl Rose. Shortly before signing a record deal in 1986, he legally became W. Axl Rose.
9. Prior to Guns N’ Roses, Axl was part of bands like Rapidfire and Hollywood Rose, which eventually merged with L.A. Guns to form the iconic rock band we know today.
10. Axl took on odd jobs like working as a night manager at Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard and even participated in a scientific study at UCLA, earning money by smoking cigarettes.
11. Known for his eccentricities, Axl was once considered a recluse, spending most of his time at his mansion in Malibu filled with religious artifacts, snakes, lizards, and spiders.
12. Axl had a small role in the 1988 Clint Eastwood film ‘The Dead Pool’ and voiced a character in the video game ‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’ as well.
13. Despite his tough exterior, Axl is a cat person, owning three tabby cats named Dijon, Dexter, and Whiskey.
14. Axl Rose had a tattoo of the Ottoman Empire’s emblem on his left arm with the phrase “Victory or Death” inked below it.
15. Axl’s concert rider in 2010 revealed some of his unique requests, such as two bear-shaped tubes of honey, seven types of cheese, a black dressing room adorned with roses, and specific lighting preferences.
And there you have it, 25 fascinating facts about the one and only W. Axl Rose! As we celebrate his birthday, let’s raise a toast to the rock legend who continues to mesmerize us with his music and mystique. Happy Birthday, Axl!
