At 63, Axl Rose has nothing left to prove—and absolutely no reason to stay quiet. The famously volatile Guns N’ Roses frontman has spent four decades as rock’s most unpredictable force, a man whose voice could shatter arenas and whose temper could shatter alliances. Fans have whispered for years about his grudges, blowups, and cold wars with fellow musicians. Now, as the legend enters his seventh decade, the gloves are off.
Axl Rose isn’t sugarcoating the past anymore. Behind the iconic bandana and that unmistakable howl lies a history of clashes that shaped rock history. Some feuds were public and explosive. Others simmered quietly, poisoning relationships for years. These aren’t petty squabbles—these are battles of ego, artistry, and survival in the most ruthless era of rock.
Here are the five musicians Axl Rose has famously had enough of, and the shocking truths behind each fractured relationship.
Kurt Cobain — The Grunge Ghost That Haunted Axl
This feud is rock mythology. At the height of Guns N’ Roses’ global domination, Nirvana exploded onto the scene and flipped rock culture upside down. Suddenly, excess was out. Pain was in. And Axl? He represented everything Kurt Cobain despised.
The tension boiled over in the early ’90s when Axl reportedly confronted Cobain and Courtney Love backstage, leading to a verbal clash that ended any chance of reconciliation. Cobain later mocked Axl publicly, dismissing Guns N’ Roses as outdated dinosaurs.
For Axl, the sting ran deeper than insults. He felt grunge culture dismissed the craftsmanship and ambition he bled for. The resentment lingered long after Cobain’s tragic death, leaving behind one of rock’s most uncomfortable what-ifs.
Slash — From Brother to Enemy… and Back Again
No list would be complete without Slash. Their feud didn’t just divide a band—it divided an entire fanbase.
Creative differences. Control issues. Personal insults. The Axl–Slash breakup was nuclear. For nearly two decades, they refused to speak, let alone share a stage. Slash publicly criticized Axl’s leadership and decision-making, while Axl fired back with lawsuits, interviews, and icy silence.
What made this feud so painful wasn’t hatred—it was betrayal. Axl once viewed Slash as family. When Guns N’ Roses splintered, it felt like a divorce played out on the world stage.
Their eventual reunion shocked the industry, but insiders say scars remain. Forgiveness doesn’t always erase memory.
Vince Neil — Hair Metal’s Most Personal War
This feud was ugly, public, and deeply personal.
Axl Rose despised Vince Neil after a deadly car crash involving Neil killed Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle. When Mötley Crüe continued touring as if nothing happened, Axl reportedly saw it as unforgivable.
Things escalated fast. Guns N’ Roses concerts turned into platforms for insults. Axl even threatened physical violence onstage, daring Vince to face him man-to-man.
This wasn’t about music. It was about morality. And for Axl, some lines—once crossed—never disappear.
Don Henley — The Lawsuit That Turned Personal
Not all feuds involve fists or microphones. Some are fought in courtrooms.
Axl’s clash with Eagles drummer Don Henley erupted over Guns N’ Roses’ cover of “Get in the Ring,” which mocked journalists and critics by name. Henley took legal action over the use of lyrics referencing the Eagles, and suddenly Axl found himself battling the polished corporate rock world he despised.
To Axl, Henley symbolized everything wrong with the industry: lawsuits over art, control over creativity, and sanitized rebellion. The bitterness never truly faded, becoming a symbol of old-guard rock versus raw chaos.
Liam Gallagher — Ego Meets Ego
When Axl Rose and Liam Gallagher crossed paths, the outcome was inevitable: fireworks.
The Oasis frontman mocked Axl’s punctuality, fashion, and relevance, calling him “a fat bloke shouting into a mic.” Axl, never one to ignore provocation, reportedly dismissed Liam as talentless noise backed by arrogance.
This feud wasn’t long—but it was loud. Two massive egos, two wildly different visions of rock stardom, and zero interest in compromise. Sometimes, personalities clash so hard there’s no need for history.
Why These Feuds Still Matter
Axl Rose’s grudges aren’t random. They’re chapters in a life lived at full volume. In an industry that eats artists alive, Axl survived by fighting—sometimes too hard, sometimes too publicly.
At 63, he stands as one of the last untamed icons of rock’s golden era. The feuds shaped him. The enemies sharpened him. And the scars? They’re part of the legend.
Fans may debate who was right or wrong, but one truth is undeniable: rock music would not be the same without Axl Rose’s fury, flaws, and fire.
Love him or hate him—just don’t expect him to stay silent anymore.
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