Axl Rose is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his songs like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “November Rain,” and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
As of May 2025, Axl Rose is 63 years and 3 months old, her estimated net worth is $220 million, and she stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (175 cm or 1.75 m) tall.
Axl Rose Biography
Early Life
Axl Rose was born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana, USA, to Sharon Elizabeth and William Bruce Rose. His mother and father were 16 and 20 years old at the time of his birth.
His parents divorced when he was two years old, and his father kidnapped and molested him. His mother married Stephen L. Bailey, who took the name, William Bruce Bailey. He has an older sister, Amy, and a half-brother, Stuart.
He was raised in a religious household. His family attended a Pentecostal church, and he was expected to attend services three to eight times per week.
From a young age, he found solace in music, and he and his half-brother and sister performed at church services as the ‘Bailey Trio.’
When he was 17, he discovered his biological father while going through old indemnity papers and informally adopted his birth name. When he joined the band “AXL” four years later, he was given the nickname ‘Axl Rose’ by his bandmates.
He had developed a bad self-image as a result of his troubled past. During his early years, he was arrested several times for battery and public intoxication.
Professional Career
He joined the band ‘Rapidfire’ after moving to Los Angeles and recorded a demo in 1983. When the band split up, he joined ‘L.A. Guns’ before forming ‘Hollywood Rose’ with his friend Izzy Stradlin.
He and former bandmate Tracii Guns formed ‘Guns N’ Roses’ in 1985 by combining ‘Hollywood Rose’ and ‘L.A. Guns.’
They performed at ‘The Troubadour,’ and then began to appear more frequently on the Los Angeles club circuit. This is when they began to build their fan base and drew the attention of major record labels. He legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose shortly before signing his official contract with ‘Geffen Records’ in 1986.
Despite a slow start, the band’s debut album, ‘Appetite for Destruction,’ was a huge success in 1987. The album was named one of the best albums of the year and sold over a million copies in the United States alone. The album has sold more than 18 million units in the United States, making it the best-selling debut album of all time.
Their fan base grew so quickly that two fans were crushed to death in 1988 during the Monsters of Rock festival in England when the crowd began dancing to their hit single “It’s So Easy.” Rose made it a point to ask his fans to be quiet from then on. He has even stopped the shows on several occasions to appease the audience.
They released the album “G. N. R. Lies” in 1988, which became extremely popular. It was, however, heavily chastised for promoting homophobic attitudes and prejudiced sentiments through the song “One in a Million.”
By 1989, ‘Guns N’ Roses’ had become one of the most popular rock bands in the world. He appeared solo on the cover of the prestigious “Rolling Stone” magazine the same year.
The band planned to record a follow-up to their debut album in 1990. However, due to band member Steven Adler’s drug addiction, the recording process was significantly slowed. As a result, Adler was fired, and Matt Sorum took his place. Meanwhile, Dizzy Reed joined the group.
Despite the fact that they didn’t have an album to promote in 1991, the band embarked on a two-and-a-half-year tour called the “Use Your Illusion Tour.” Rose was chastised by both audiences and critics for his late starts and on-stage antics. The band released two albums that year, ‘Use Your Illusion I’ and ‘Use Your Illusion II.’
The final show of the ‘Use Your Illusion Tour’ took place in Buenos Aires on July 17, 1993. Rose’s final performance with the band for the next seven and a half years occurred during this show. The band released “The Spaghetti Incident?” in November of the same year, but it was not as successful as their previous albums.
Throughout the 1990s, he remained a recluse, rarely appearing in public. Despite the fact that the band never disbanded, they did not release any new material in the 1990s.
He was seen with a new lineup of musicians at “Rock in Rio 3″ in 2001. He had fired all of his previous band members for ‘no reason” without even consulting them.
He vanished from public view once more, but only for a short time. He provided the voice for the popular video game ‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’ in 2004.
The band, which now included new members, went on tour in 2006 and continued to tour the following year.
On November 23, 2008, Guns N’ Roses released “Chinese Democracy,” 15 years after their previous album. The band toured America, Europe, and Australia for the next few years. They also appeared in ‘Rock in Rio 4.’
Axl Rose has toured with the popular Australian rock band ‘AC/DC’ in addition to being a constant member of ‘Guns N’ Roses.’
Personal Life
Rose used drugs occasionally, despite his public image. In 1986, a stressed Rose overdosed on painkillers. I grabbed the bottle of pills in an argument and gulped them down, ending up in the hospital.” “Coma” lyrics were inspired by Rose’s hospitalization.
Rose became a homeopathic medicine believer and started past life regression therapy in the early 1990s. “When they talk about Axl Rose being a screaming two-year-old, they’re right,” he said of his “uncovered memories” of being sexually abused by his biological father at age two, which stunted his emotional growth. His various illnesses made touring unpleasant. He believed that lowering his resistance unconsciously as “self-punishment” caused these health issues. During Chinese Democracy, Rose had a psychic “read the auras” of potential hires.
Rose began dating model Erin Everly, daughter of Everly Brothers singer Don Everly, in 1986. He wrote “Sweet Child of Mine” for her, and Everly appeared in the music video. Rose married Everly in Las Vegas on April 28, 1990. Rose first sought divorce a month later. Reconciled, Everly became pregnant. Rose, who wanted children, was devastated by her October 1990 miscarriage. After an argument, Everly left Rose in November and annulled their marriage in January 1991.
Rose began a rocky relationship with supermodel Stephanie Seymour in mid-1991. “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain” featured Seymour. As he had no father, Rose became attached to Dylan, Seymour’s young son. Seymour and Rose got engaged in February 1993 but split three weeks later.
In 2014, Rose told Spin, “If I had to say who I thought the best singers were, I’d say first that I don’t know there’s a definitive answer as, in my opinion, it’s subjective, and second that my focus is primarily rock singers.” The informal study had named him the “World’s Greatest Singer” based on vocal ranges. However, I prefer Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Dan McCafferty, Janis Joplin, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Don Henley, Jeff Lynne, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Scott, Etta James, Fiona Apple, Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and many others (mostly Seventies rock singers) to me. Rose later named Queen and Mercury after his favorite bands and singers.
Rose wrote to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on April 28, 2015, asking him to acquit the Bali Nine on humanitarian grounds. Rose then accused Widodo of “ignoring the international outcry” after two executions.
Rose has tweeted about Trump administration officials and Apple CEO Tim Cook. He criticized Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic on Twitter on May 7, 2020.
Bio/Wiki
Full Name
W. Axl Rose
Born name
William Bruce Rose Jr.
Nickname
Axl
Profession
American musician
Career
Debut
Album
Appetite for Destruction (1987)
Best Known for
Axl Rose was originally known for being the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Guns N’ Roses
Genres
Hard rock heavy metal glam metal blues rock industrial rock
Instruments
Vocals piano
Awards
Axl Rose has received several awards throughout his career, including:
- Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal for ” November Rain” in 1992.
- Rock on Request Award for Best Video for ” November Rain” in 1993.
- American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist in 1990.
- MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction for ” November Rain” in 1992.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Star in the category of Recording in 2012.
Personal life
Date of Birth
6 February 1962
Axl Rose Age
As of today, Axl is 63 years and 3 months old.
Zodiac sign
Aquarius
Signature
Nationality
American
Birth Place
Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Residence
Lafayette
School / College / University
Jefferson High School
Religion
Christianity
Race / Ethnicity
He is of German, Irish, Scottish, and English descent, with smaller amounts of Dutch, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Cornish, French, Swiss-German, and Welsh ancestry.
Food Habits
Non-vegetarian
Hobbies
Traveling
Tattoo
A large Confederate flag is tattooed on Axl Rose’s left arm; the words “Property Of” are written on a sword on his right arm; a skull wearing a top hat and cane is inked on his right bicep; the words “War” and “Guns” are inked on his knuckles; and a Chinese symbol is inked on his wrist.
Physical Stats & More
Height
- In feet: 5’8″
- In Centimetres: 175 cm
- In meters: 1.75 m
Weight
- In kilograms: 79 kg
- In Pounds: 174 lbs
Body Measurements
- Chest Size: 40″
- Biceps Size: 10″
- Waist Size: 32″
Shoe size
9 US
Eye color
Black
Hair Color
Light Brown
Family
Axl Rose had a tumultuous and troubled family background that marked his childhood and early life. His parents, Sharon Elizabeth Lintner and William Bruce Rose were young and inexperienced when they married in 1961. Sharon was 16 and still in high school, while William was 20. Their union was short-lived, and they separated when Axl was just two years old.
Axl’s father, William Bruce Rose, was a volatile and unstable man. He abducted Axl from his mother’s home and allegedly molested him before disappearing from Lafayette. Axl’s mother, Sharon, remarried Stephen L. Bailey, and the family moved around frequently. He has two half-siblings named Stuart Bailey and Amy Bailey. Axl’s stepfather was physically abusive, and Axl and his siblings were often subjected to beatings.
Axl’s childhood was filled with instability, violence, and uncertainty. He felt abandoned by his father and neglected by his mother. He was often in trouble at school and struggled to fit in. Music became his escape, and he found solace in forming bands and performing.
In terms of personal life, Axl married Erin Everly in 1990 but in 91 they got divorced.
Axl Rose Wife
Erin Everly (1990—1991) (Divorced)
Father
Mother
Siblings
Stuart Bailey (Brother) (Music Supervisor)
Amy Bailey (Sister)
Children
He has no kids.
Relationship & More
Marital Status
Single
Marriage Date
None
Girlfriend and Dating History
Net worth 2025
$220 million
As of May 2025, Axl Rose’s estimated net worth is $220 million. His income primarily comes from his successful career with Guns N’ Roses, one of the most iconic rock bands in history.
Album Sales and Royalties:
The band’s debut album, “Appetite for Destruction,” released in 1987, was a massive success, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. This album, along with subsequent releases like “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II,” which sold a combined 35 million copies, have significantly boosted Axl’s earnings through both sales and royalties as these tracks continue to be played across various platforms.
Tour Income:
Guns N’ Roses’ “Not In This Lifetime Tour,” which took place between 2017 and 2018, generated over $430 million worldwide. Axl Rose’s share of this revenue, in addition to ongoing album sales and music licensing, has substantially contributed to his annual income.
Other Sources:
Axl also generated some cash by being involved in merchandise sales, endorsements, investing in businesses, and real estate.
Salary
| Yearly Earnings | $10 million + |
| Monthly Earnings | $833,000 + |
| Weekly Earnings | $208,000 + |
Car collection
- Lamborghini Aventador
- 1964 Chevrolet Malibu SS
- 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
- The “Use Your Illusion Convertible”
- “Welcome to the Jungle” Jeep
Axl Rose Facts
- Axl was born in Lafayette, Indiana.
2. Axl’s mother was only 16 years old and still in high school when he was born. His dad was 20 years old and was called a “troubled and charming local thug.” It wasn’t planned to happen.
3. When Axl was two years old, his parents split up. His dad took him away, but his mom got him back and remarried Stephen L. Bailey, changing his name to William Bruce Bailey. He thought Bailey was his real father until he was 17.
4. Axl never met his real father because he was killed by a criminal in 1984. The body of William Rose was never found. Axl didn’t learn about the murder until many years later.
5. Axl grew up in a home where religion was very important. Every week, he went to anywhere from three to eight services at a Pentecostal church and also taught Sunday School.
7. Axl began singing in his church choir when he was 5 years old. As the Bailey Trio, he sang at church with his brother and sister.
8. When Axl was in high school, he sang in a choir and learned to play the piano. He and his friends also started a band. Jeff Isbell was one of them. He later joined Axl’s band Guns N’ Roses and changed his name to Izzy Stradlin.
9. When Axl was 17, he found insurance papers that told him who his biological father was. He didn’t want to share a first name with his father, so he changed his name to W. Rose.
10. When Axl was in his teens, he was arrested more than 20 times in Lafayette for things like being drunk in public and hitting someone. He did time in jail for up to three months. In 1982, he moved to Los Angeles because the town was going to charge him as a repeat offender.
11. He started a band in California called AXL, which he was so into that his friends suggested he change his name to Axl. In 1986, right before he signed a record deal, he changed his name to W. Axl Rose.
12. Rapidfire was an early band that Axl was a part of. In 1983, they made a demo with four songs. It came out in 2014, after being in court for years.
13. In 1983, Axl and Izzy, who had moved to Los Angeles in 1980, formed the band, Hollywood Rose. Later, Slash and Steven Adler joined the band, and then they merged with L.A. Guns to form Guns N’ Roses.
14. Axl worked as the night manager at the Sunset Boulevard Tower Records while he was trying to make it as a singer. He also took part in a study at UCLA, where he was paid $8 an hour to smoke cigarettes.
15. In the late 1990s, people thought Axl was a recluse because he spent most of his time in his Malibu mansion.
16. Axl’s house is full of interesting things, like religious artifacts from Latin America and crucifixes, as well as tanks with snakes, lizards, and spiders.
17. Rose also acts. In the 1988 Clint Eastwood movie The Dead Pool, he played a musician who goes to a funeral in a small, uncredited part.
18. While GN’R was making the music video for “It’s So Easy” in 1987, David Bowie stopped by. Soon, though, Rose punched Bowie and kicked him off the set because he was flirting with Erin Everly, who was dating Axl at the time.
19. Any fan knows that Axl is rarely on time. His tardiness is so bad that he once told Rolling Stone that he wanted to say in his will that his coffin should arrive 30 minutes after his funeral starts with the words “Sorry I’m late” written in gold on the side.
20. The rocker was arrested in 2006 for allegedly biting a security guard on the leg.
21. In the 2004 game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Axl did the voice of a DJ named Tommy “The Nightmare” Smith.
22. Whether you believe it or not, Axl likes cats. He has three tabbies whose names are Dijon, Dexter, and Whiskey.
23. Axl loves Elton John‘s music a lot.
24. On his left arm, Axl has a tattoo of the symbol of the Ottoman Empire. “Victory or Death” is written below it.
