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Axl Rose more showman, vocalist, or destroyer of bands?

Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:09 pm
Posted by sms151t
Polos, Porsches, Ponies..PROBATION
Member since Aug 2009
140703 posts
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:09 pm
What category do you put him in? I was at the Riverport Amphitheater in St Louis the night he thought someone took a picture and started a near riot. He was notorious for not going to stage and hard to deal with as well.
Posted by hogcard1964
Alabama
Member since Jan 2017
17200 posts
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:12 pm to
Basically a no talent.
Posted by wareaglepete
Lumon Industries
Member since Dec 2012
17195 posts
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:45 pm to
How many bands did he destroy?

Last I heard, GnR was still touring and Axl was singing. Of course, yes, they had about 20 years apart, but I'm curious what other bands Axl destroyed.
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
29828 posts
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:19 pm to
He was a great vocalist with a completely unsustainable sound structure.
His technique destroyed him
Posted by Hetfield
Dallas
Member since Jun 2013
9107 posts
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:22 pm to
I read an article that claimed Axl had the widest vocal range of any famous male vocalist from the high end to the low end. If you listen to him on Appetite I can believe this. Obviously not anymore.
Posted by Arthur Bach
Member since Jul 2016
2901 posts
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:53 pm to
quote:

I read an article that claimed Axl had the widest vocal range of any famous male vocalist from the high end to the low end.


Elvis per my Music Appreciation class at LSU
Posted by RedHawk
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2007
9514 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 7:09 am to
quote:

Basically a no talent.


What?? That is ridiculous. His songwriting and vocal talent was unsurpassed during his prime.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 7:22 pm
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
94645 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 7:17 am to
Without a doubt he had "something", but most of that was he was in front of a great band when they hit. Prime Adler, Slash, Izzy and Duff? You could have had a dog barking in front of that and had hit records.

But there was more to it than that (probably the vision and songwriting). I suspect folks who worked with him would say, now, that the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. He was unique - as unique as Diamond Dave, for sure.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 7:19 am
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38256 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 10:53 am to
quote:

Without a doubt he had "something", but most of that was he was in front of a great band when they hit. Prime Adler, Slash, Izzy and Duff? You could have had a dog barking in front of that and had hit records.

This is a truly preposterous take. Not only did he contribute greatly to the songwriting, but go back and look at videos from the late 80s...he was oozing magnetism. No Axl, no Guns.

quote:

I suspect folks who worked with him would say, now, that the juice wasn't worth the squeeze
Nah. It was worth.

Related, I happened to listen to Chinese Democracy several times last week. That came out in 2008 (despite many of the tunes having been around for years). There are several classics on there I would easily put in Guns' top 20.
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
94645 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 10:58 am to
quote:

Chinese Democracy


Posted by TFTC
Chicago, Il
Member since May 2010
23255 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 11:01 am to
I really thought they (he) brought something different to the late 80s era of that type of music... However, I didn't care for anything on those Use Your Illusion records (and beyond)... He just turned into someone I would just look at and laugh at...

I wasn't into that sort of music at all at the time, but I get why they were hugely popular... ultimately he is a huge reason for their demise and just came off as a bit of a sausage at the time...

I still think Appetite is a solid rock record, but can say that I wouldn't care if I never heard any of those songs again...
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 11:04 am
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38256 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 11:16 am to
quote:

Chinese Democracy
Have you even listened to it?
Posted by jdd48
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2012
23372 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 11:21 am to
quote:

He was a great vocalist with a completely unsustainable sound structure.
His technique destroyed him


Him and Sebastian Bach.
Posted by Midget Death Squad
Meme Magic
Member since Oct 2008
28018 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 11:33 am to
quote:

I read an article that claimed Axl had the widest vocal range of any famous male vocalist from the high end to the low end



That distinction goes to the great Mike Patton


Posted by FredBear
Georgia
Member since Aug 2017
16777 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 1:50 pm to
I guess I got lucky and caught a good night when I saw them in Columbia SC. It was the tour they did with Metallica and he didn't do anything dumb and he and the band put on a good show. No issues at all that night, Metallica kicked arse to, it was a fun night
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
94645 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 2:23 pm to
quote:

Have you even listened to it?


As much as I could stand.
Posted by Saint Alfonzo
Member since Jan 2019
27856 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 2:31 pm to
quote:

Related, I happened to listen to Chinese Democracy several times last week. That came out in 2008 (despite many of the tunes having been around for years). There are several classics on there I would easily put in Guns' top 20.

That album gets maligned largely because of how long it took to make, and of course, Axl's attitude. But, it's actually a great record.
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38256 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:23 pm to
quote:

As much as I could stand.
Edgy. Bordering on transcendent.
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38256 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:25 pm to
quote:

But, it's actually a great record.
There's 2 or 3 I would lose and need to hear again - but there's also a lot of songs.

These fit right up there in the GnR pantheon of songs:

Catcher in the Rye
Better
Street of Dreams
Sorry
IRS
Madagascar
There Was a Time (TWAT)
Posted by TDcline
American Gardens building 11th flor
Member since Aug 2015
9431 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 6:11 pm to
I have respect for OG GnR because they kicked the teeth of hair metal right out the door. But let’s be honest, they had 1.5 good albums.
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