Axl Rose: pre-GNR

An audio sample of Axl Rose’s pre-Guns N’ Roses band Rapidfire has surfaced online. Listen here!

Published 29th May 2013

Portions of the track "Ready To Rumble” are being shared by Rapidfire guitarist Kevin Lawrence, who, along with bassist Mike Hammernick and drummer Chuck Gordon, made up the group.

Axl joined Rapidfire shortly after his arrival in Los Angeles, where the band recorded a 5-song demo on May 25, 1983. Songs included on the demo were:

  1. Ready To Rumble
  2. All Night Long
  3. The Prowler
  4. On the Run
  5. Closure

When Rapidfire disbanded, Rose joined the first lineup of L.A. Guns before forming Hollywood Rose with Izzy Stradlin. Axl would later form Guns N’ Roses with Tracii Guns and two other members of L.A. Guns.