For Gn’R fans, Axl Rose’s refusal to turn up to Guns N Roses’ Hall Of Fame induction was the latest in a long line of disappointments. As good a moment as any, then, to pinpoint his most douchebaggy moments ever.

18His ‘attitude’

In 1992 he told Rolling Stone: “When the going gets tough, the tough get an Uzi”. What was that, Sarah Palin?


17Tommy Hilfiger-gate

Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger claimed that Axl pushed him during a party. He said: “I’m thinking, ‘No teeth, no eye’. So I hit him before he hit me.” No horribly bland polo shirts for Axl then.

16He’s not a one-woman man

In that same Rolling Stone interview he revealed: “It’s really hard to maintain a one-on-one relationship if the other person is not going to allow me to be with other people.” Calm down ladies, etc.

15 Bob Guccione Jr-gate

‘Get In The Ring’ featured his public dissing of the Spin Editor with the lame line: “Bob Guccione Jr. at Spin. What are you pissed off cause your dad gets more pussy than you?” (his father was the editor of Penthouse magazine).

14Scared of seaweed? WTF?

Axl’s tough exterior is shattered when he gets near… seaweed. In a 1987 interview he revealed: “I scream the same way whether I’m about to be devoured by a Great White or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot.”

13 His non-existent sense of humour

As an April Fool’s joke, The Offspring’s Dexter Holland claimed that their as-yet-untitled album would be called ‘Chinese Democrazy – You Snooze You Lose’. Axl wasn’t laughing – he sent his lawyers after him. To be fair to them, this is probably the best thing The Offspring have ever done.

12He’s got no Patience

Eagles Of Death Metal were supporting Guns N Roses on tour in 2006. But when they arrived 30 minutes late to rehearsal Axl called them “pigeons of shit metal.” Which is quite a good insult, to be fair.

11 Metallica-gate


In a 2008 interview, when asked who his favourite cartoon characters were he said: “My favourite cartoon characters are Metallica and Slash”. Nice. After that diss, James Hetfield told Rolling Stone: “(Guns N Roses) are a different type of band – and I use the word ‘band’ loosely. It’s a guy and some other guys.” Fair enough. This is a factually accurate description of Gn’R since 1993.

10He hates poodles

Poodles are another thing to add to Axl’s list of ‘dislikes’. In that 1992 Rolling Stone interview, he said: “I’d just like to say that I have a personal disgust for small dogs, like poodles. I have some serious physical problems with them. Everything about them means I must kill them. I must.”

9Not a fan of ‘fans’

Last year he kicked a fan out a show at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum by saying: “Out, motherfucker! Out! Get the fuck out! Yea, you! See ya, you dumb motherfucker.” We’re pretty sure it wasn’t his mother.

8Velvet Revolver-gate

When Scott Weiland teamed up with the other Gn’R members as Velvet Revolver, Axl called Weiland a “fraud” and said that guitarist Duff was “spineless”. And we say: “sour grapes”.

7It’s hard enough remembering lyrics…

In 1988 he told Kerrang! :”I don’t even know my own phone number.” He was joking. We hope.

6 Nirvana-gate

After Nirvana declined Gn’R’s offer to support them on tour he met Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love at the MTV VMAs. Love asked Rose if he’d like to be Frances Bean’s godfather. Axl told Kurt to tell his “bitch” to shut up and then challenged Kurt to a fight. In the end Axl made himself look like the old guard next to Kurt’s progressive sensibilities.

5 White dreads

When Gn’R made a comeback at the 2002 MTV Music Awards. He shocked most the viewing public with his barnet of… white dreadlocks! It wasn’t a good look.

4Terrible dress sense

From this ensemble to his white suited/pimp look, he needs to stop getting dressed under the cover of darkness.

3‘Chinese Democracy’

After a 15-year wait, millions spent and several line up changes ‘Chinese Democracy’ was the off-kilter ‘reward’ for fans. Attempting to be futuristic but sounding muddy and strange it just ended up falling between two posts and not really pleasing anyone.

2 Cornrows

To accompany himself on the comeback trail, Axl’s new look featured his hair done in cornrows. He’d found a hairstyle that was actually worse than the dreadlocks. We’re holding out for a white ‘fro in 2013.

1Guns N Roses

Perhaps the biggest crime Axl has committed is his failure to do the good thing and get back together with his original bandmates Slash, Duff and Izzy especially and create a proper follow-up to the ‘Use Your Illusion’ albums. After the Rock And Hall Of Fame incident, is it time to give up hope?