Axl Rose’s career has been as fiery as his on-stage performances. Known for his powerhouse voice and unpredictable personality, he’s clashed with numerous public figures over the years, sparking feuds that rock fans can’t forget. From rivals in the music industry to media giants, Rose has often found himself at the center of explosive confrontations.
These high-profile disputes haven’t dented his legacy, though. Instead, they seem to have added to his mystique, making him both a celebrated and controversial figure in rock history. His battles may be infamous, but his influence on rock music is undeniable.
As frontman of Guns N’ Roses, Rose has kept the band’s legacy alive through chart-topping hits and sold-out tours. Despite the drama, his music endures, drawing in both loyal fans and new listeners. Let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable feuds that have shaped his career.
Axl Rose vs. Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain
In 1991, Axl was angered when Kurt Cobain wore a “God Hates Guns” shirt on Saturday Night Live. Rose saw this as a direct insult to his band, Guns N’ Roses, sparking a tense public feud between the two rock stars.
The clash quickly escalated, with Cobain firing back in interviews, where he labeled Rose “a real sexist pig.” Their back-and-forth became one of the most memorable rivalries of the ’90s, fueling headlines and cementing their disdain for each other.
Axl Rose vs. Eminem
In 2002, Eminem released “The Return of Slim Shady,” featuring a diss track that took aim at Axl Rose. The jab didn’t go unnoticed, and Rose responded with a scathing public statement.
In an open letter on the Guns N’ Roses website, Rose fired back, calling Eminem “a foul-mouthed, backward, ignorant, hateful, misogynistic, sexist and violent little man.” The feud added yet another intense rivalry to Rose’s list of public clashes.
Axl Rose vs. Steven Adler
Axl Rose and Steven Adler shared a rocky history as bandmates in Guns N’ Roses. Their time together was marked by intense arguments and even physical fights, with Adler’s struggles with addiction eventually leading to his departure from the band.
Years later, though, it seemed the two had buried the hatchet. Adler surprised fans by joining the band on stage for several shows during the Not in This Lifetime tour in 2016, showing that some bonds in rock can heal over time.
Axl Rose vs. Motley Crue’s Vince Neil
The tension between Axl Rose and Vince Neil began with a clash involving GN’R guitarist Izzy Stradlin and Neil’s wife, an exotic dancer. After a Guns N’ Roses show, Neil confronted Stradlin and punched him, sparking a feud that quickly escalated.
Rose reacted by challenging Neil to a fight, and the two rock frontmen hurled public insults and taunts at each other. Despite all the threats and drama, though, the fight never actually took place, leaving fans with one of rock’s most heated but unfulfilled rivalries.
Axl Rose vs. Mick Wall
Mick Wall, a rock journalist, found himself at odds with Axl Rose after an interview where they discussed Rose’s feud with Vince Neil. Although Rose initially approved the article, he later accused Wall of twisting his words, sparking a bitter fallout.
The feud even inspired Rose to call Wall out by name in the Guns N’ Roses song “Get in the Ring.” Despite the public tension, Wall later wrote a biography on Rose, expressing empathy for his personal struggles and not holding the past grudge against him.
Axl Rose vs. David Bowie
David Bowie’s relationship with Guns N’ Roses had its ups and downs. Bowie, who once dated Slash’s mother, Ola Hudson, was around during the filming of the band’s video for “It’s So Easy” at the Cathouse. Tensions flared when Axl Rose allegedly caught Bowie flirting with his then-girlfriend, Erin Everly, leading Rose to reportedly punch Bowie and threaten him.
Surprisingly, the two eventually reconciled. Bowie later apologized for the incident, becoming the first to do so in Rose’s experience, and the two even shared a dinner afterward. This unlikely friendship showed Rose’s willingness to mend fences with those who reached out in good faith.
Axl Rose vs. Dr. Phil
In 2007, Dr. Phil publicly criticized Axl Rose’s behavior, referring to him as “a big baby” on his talk show due to Rose’s unpredictable actions. The comment didn’t sit well with Rose, who responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against the TV personality.
The legal action, however, didn’t go far, as the lawsuit was eventually dismissed. While short-lived, the clash added another chapter to Rose’s long list of public spats with prominent figures.
Axl Rose vs. Scott Weiland
In 2011, tensions flared between Axl Rose and Scott Weiland, former frontman of Stone Temple Pilots, after Weiland made critical comments about Guns N’ Roses. Rose didn’t hold back, responding on Twitter with a series of heated posts.
In his tweets, Rose labeled Weiland “a dope fiend” and a “failure,” turning their disagreement into a very public feud. The exchange highlighted the intense personalities of both rock stars and added another rivalry to Rose’s storied list of clashes.
Axl Rose vs. Tommy Hilfiger
In 2002, Axl Rose filed a $5 million lawsuit against designer Tommy Hilfiger, who had made remarks about Rose’s stability and claimed Rose tried to start a fight with him at a party. Hilfiger’s comments struck a nerve, prompting Rose to take legal action.
Despite the heated accusations, the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. The brief clash between the rock star and designer became one more public dispute in Rose’s complex and colorful history.
Axl Rose vs. Buckethead
In 2004, former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Buckethead took legal action against Axl Rose, claiming unpaid royalties. The dispute quickly turned public, with Rose firing back and labeling Buckethead “a coward” and “a liar.”
Despite the harsh words exchanged, the lawsuit was eventually settled out of court. This clash added another dramatic chapter to Rose’s lineup of bandmate disputes, showing that even former allies weren’t immune to his fiery temper.
Axl Rose vs. Bob Guccione Jr.
Axl Rose publicly targeted Bob Guccione Jr., the founder of Spin magazine, in the Guns N’ Roses song “Get in the Ring.” The feud began when Guccione Jr. published a contract Guns N’ Roses required publishers to sign for interviews, a move that infuriated Rose.
In response, Rose challenged Guccione Jr. to a fight, although he ultimately backed down. The incident fueled one of Rose’s memorable media battles, cementing Guccione Jr. as a target in the band’s bold lyrics.
Axl Rose vs. The City of St. Louis
In 1991, a Guns N’ Roses concert in St. Louis erupted into chaos when Axl Rose noticed a fan with a camera in the crowd. Frustrated, Rose jumped into the audience to seize the camera himself, sparking a scuffle with security and ending the show abruptly.
The incident, which became infamous as the “Riverport Riot,” led to Rose’s arrest on charges of property damage and assault. Guns N’ Roses later left a pointed message in their album liner notes, saying, “F*** You, St. Louis!” marking the event as one of rock’s most notorious concert breakdowns.
Axl Rose vs. Slash
Axl Rose and Slash had a famously turbulent relationship as the frontman and lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses. Their issues began surfacing in 1989 when Rose criticized Slash during a concert, and tensions only grew in the years that followed.
By 1996, things had reached a breaking point, with Slash leaving the band after Rose brought in a new guitarist and recorded over his parts. For years, they exchanged bitter comments in interviews, but in 2015, they surprised fans by reconciling and reuniting on stage, marking the end of a long-standing feud.
Axl Rose vs. Warren Beatty
During a 1992 Paris concert, Axl Rose took a moment to dedicate a song to Warren Beatty, referring to him as a “cheap punk” and hinting at infidelity. The unexpected callout shocked fans and seemed personal.
Many believe Rose’s remarks stemmed from his suspicions that Beatty had been romantically involved with his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Seymour. This brief but pointed moment revealed Rose’s frustration and his tendency to voice grievances on stage.
Axl Rose vs. MTV
In 1987, Guns N’ Roses was set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, but the appearance was called off after Axl Rose requested a larger dressing room and other specific amenities. MTV declined, leading to a last-minute cancellation.
The incident sparked a long-running feud between Rose and MTV, with Rose frequently criticizing the network in interviews over the years. This clash marked the beginning of a rocky relationship between the band and the music channel.
Axl Rose vs. Thelonius Monster’s Bob Forrest
In 1986, during a Guns N’ Roses show at Raji’s, Axl Rose accidentally struck a girl in the audience with his mic stand. The incident didn’t end there, as the girl’s boyfriend, Bob Forrest of Thelonius Monster, confronted Rose after the performance.
A fight quickly broke out, forcing security to step in. Robert, the band’s photographer, found himself caught in the chaos and ended up getting kicked by both Rose and Forrest. The altercation added another volatile chapter to Rose’s onstage reputation.
Axl Rose vs. LAX Airport Paparazzi
Axl Rose was involved in a physical altercation with a paparazzo at LAX airport after the photographer became too aggressive with Rose’s personal manager. The situation quickly escalated, with Rose reacting aggressively to the intrusion.
The management firm later released a statement, explaining that Rose had been harassed by unruly photographers. They claimed that the singer had acted out of frustration, especially in response to the paparazzi’s behavior toward him and female members of the group.