Synopses & Reviews
A big, brash history of Guns n Roses charismatic, talented and idiosyncratic leader
“An archetypal rock biography that captures the runaway-train spirit of the singer and his band—You dont have to be a Guns N Roses fanatic to dig this energetic, comprehensive, few-holds-barred portrait of modern metals most charismatic figure.”—Kirkus Reviews
Even in the rock world, a figure like Axl Rose doesnt come along very often. Mercurial and brilliant, deluded and imperious, Rose defies easy description. W.A.R. reveals Roses childhood influences (and how he got his name), tracks the birth of G n R and delves into the stories behind their monster albums Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion. But with those successes came excesses—drugs, infighting and a lead singer who morphed from eccentric to seemingly unhinged.
Journalist Mick Wall had unprecedented access to Rose and G n R during their heyday and gives a more richly detailed portrait of the band than youve ever read before. W.A.R. has fresh views on:
--the death of two fans at the Donington Park concert in England
--Roses fallout with all the other original G n R band members, including Slash
--fights with Kurt Cobain, Vince Neil and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger
--Roses no-shows at concerts throughout his career
--the lead singers becoming a recluse at his Malibu mansion for most of the last fifteen years
--the much-gossiped-about and long-awaited album Chinese Democracy
Review
"You dont have to be a Guns N Roses fanatic to dig this energetic, comprehensive, few-holds-barred portrait of modern metals most charismatic figure."
--Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Mick Wall has been a rock journalist since 1977 and currently writes for Mojo and a variety of other publications. He traveled extensively with Guns N Roses in the last 1980s and early 1990s, first earning Axl Roses trust and later his fury. He lives in England.