What Makes This Singer Great? Axl Rose | Guns N Roses

Axl Rose’s journey to greatness started with humble beginnings and he was no stranger to adversity.

Born William Bruce Rose, Jr after his biological father. Axl later learned he was adopted when he found insurance papers. He unofficially changed his name to W. Rose, not wanting to share a first name with his father. His friends suggested he change his name to Axl and the name stuck. Just before signing a record contract in 1986, he legally became W. Axl Rose.

Axl grew up in a very religious household and went to three to eight services a week at a Pentecostal church, even teaching Sunday School. Axl got his start singing in his church choir starting at age 5 and even performed with his brother and sister at church as the Bailey Trio.

While trying to make it as a singer, Axl took on jobs like night manager at the Sunset Boulevard Tower Records. He also took part in a scientific study at UCLA, smoking cigarettes for a reported $8 an hour.

He co-founded Guns N’ Roses in 1985 and their first album Appetite for Destruction sold more than 30 million copies worldwide making it the best-selling debut album of all time in the US.

I’ll be diving in to what I think makes Axl great as we look at a montage of his performances. I hope you enjoy the video and make sure to let me know what you thought made Axl great!

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