Axl Rose Will Not Attend Guns N' Roses' Rock and Roll Hall Induction Ceremony
Singer: 'I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia'
By Andy Greene
April 11, 2012 5:10 PM ET

Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs at the Hollywood Palladium.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images

It's official: Axl Rose will be not be attending this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," Rose wrote in a long letter obtained by the L.A. Times. "I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of 'Guns N' Roses.'"

The announcement follows months of speculation regarding what, exactly, would happen at the April 14th ceremony in Cleveland. Axl Rose and Slash haven't shared a stage since 1993 and bad blood between the former bandmates has persisted for years. "He hates my guts," Slash told Rolling Stone earlier this month. "It's over a lot of different stuff; I don't even know. There's just no communication between us."

In his letter, Rose says that the ceremony put him in a difficult position. "I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision," he wrote.  "Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, 'damned if I do, damned if I don't' scenario all the way around."

In recent weeks, Slash, Matt Sorum, Dizzy Reed, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler have all indicated that they plan on attending the ceremony. It's unclear if Izzy Stradlin plans on attending. Green Day are set to give their induction speech, though it's unknown if they plan on performing as well.

Guns N' Roses fans have been hoping to see a reunion of the classic lineup for years, but Rose once again makes it clear that he has no interest. "Time to move on," he wrote. "People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another's, or in this case several others', expense."

Here is Rose's complete letter:

To: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Guns N' Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern,

When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N' Roses were to be inducted it'd be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.

Since then we've listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N' Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists' comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.

Under the circumstances I feel we've been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in "our" induction (that for the record are decisions I don't agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things... no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected.

For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It's their show not mine.

That said, I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of "Guns N' Roses".

This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp's perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I'm sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I'll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, "damned if I do, damned if I don't" scenario all the way around.

In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the Appetite or Illusion lineups, I've publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing's changed.

The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of "for the fans" or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba.

Izzy came out with us a few times back in '06 and I invited him to join us at our LA Forum show last year. Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in '06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned. Duff joined us in 2010 and again in '11 along with his band, Loaded, opening in Seattle and Vancouver. For me, with the exception of Izzy or Duff joining us on stage if they were so inclined somewhere in the future for a song or two, that's enough.

There's a seemingly endless amount of revisionism and fantasies out there for the sake of self-promotion and business opportunities masking the actual realities. Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn't room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion.

Maybe if it were you it'd be different. Maybe you'd do it for this reason or that. Peace, whatever. I love our band now. We're there for each other when the going get's rough. We love our fans and work to give them every ounce of energy and heart we can.

So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another's, or in this case several others', expense.

But hey if ya gotta then maybe we can get the "no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he doesn't care about the fans" crap out of the way as quickly as we can and let's move on. No one's taking the ball and going home. Don't get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we've endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types. Not to imply anything in this particular circumstance, but from my perspective in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball's never been in our court.

In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or as ironic as it may seem, I'd like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns' induction. More importantly I'd like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we've had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N' Roses music.

I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!

Sincerely,

Axl Rose

P.S. RIP Armand, Long Live ABC III

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/axl-rose-will-not-attend-guns-n-roses-roc...

A History of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame No-Shows
Axl Rose isn't alone: Paul McCartney, David Bowie and more rockers missed their inductions
Comment 3
By Andy Greene
April 12, 2012 1:50 PM ET

Axl Rose and Slash of Guns N' Roses perform in 1985.
Marc S Canter/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Axl Rose caused a media firestorm yesterday when he announced that he won't be attending this weekend's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony with Guns N' Roses. "I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia," Rose said in a very long statement. "Please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf."

Despite that request, it looks as though the Hall of Fame will induct Rose anyway and put his name on the wall in Cleveland alongside all the other inductees. "We are sorry Axl will not be able to accept his Induction in person," the Hall of Fame said in a statement. It's like saying you don't want to win an Oscar after getting named Best Director. You are free to not attend the ceremony or accept the statue, but that doesn't mean you didn't win.

Making matters even stranger, Rose ends his letter by thanking the Hall of Fame. "I'd like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns' induction," he wrote. "More importantly, I'd like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we've had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N' Roses music. I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!

Rose is far from the only Hall of Fame inductee to skip out on the ceremony. Here is a (probably incomplete) history of Rock Hall no-shows:

Diana Ross, 1988
The original lineup of the Supremes has been feuding ever since 1967, when the group changed its name to Diana Ross & the Supremes. Ross, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong last performed together in March of 1983 at the Motown 25th anniversary concert. In 1986, Mary Wilson published her memoir, Dreamgirls: My Life As A Supreme, which painted a very negative portrait of Ross. The Supremes were inducted two years later into the Hall of Fame, and Ross was a no-show. She claimed it was because she had given birth to her son Ross three months earlier, but many speculated that the feud between Ross and the other members played a role.

Paul McCartney, 1988
Relations between the surviving Beatles were also strained in 1988. Four years earlier, Yoko Ono, George Harrison and Ringo Starr started a royalty dispute with Paul McCartney, who opted to not attend the 1988 ceremony. In perhaps the most notorious speech in Hall of Fame history,  Mike Love addressed McCartney's absence that night when the Beach Boys were inducted. "It's sad that there are other people who aren't here tonight," he said. "People like Paul McCartney who couldn't be here because he's in a lawsuit with Ringo and Yoko. That's why he sent in a telegram to some high-priced attorney in the room."

Van Morrison, 1993
The induction ceremony in 1993 boasted reunions of the Doors and Cream, as well as a surprising appearance by the extremely reclusive Sly Stone. The three surviving members of Creedence Clearwater Revival showed up, but John Fogerty caused major drama when he refused to perform with them. Van Morrison didn't show, so the Counting Crows performed "Caravan" in his absence. This was months before they released their debut LP, August and Everything After, so the induction ceremony was where many critics and fans first learned of them.

Jerry Garcia, 1994
The Grateful Dead frontman didn't show up at his induction, reportedly because he was opposed to the whole idea of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The rest of the Dead disagreed, and they brought a cardboard cut-out of the singer onstage.

Levon Helm, 1994
The 1994 ceremony was full of no-shows. Levon Helm didn't attend the Band's induction due to lingering bitterness towards Robbie Robertson. Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson did show up, though, and they performed "The Weight" together. It's the only time Robertson has performed with his former bandmates since The Last Waltz.

Eric Burdon, 1994
Animals frontman Eric Burdon didn't come to his own induction in 1994 because he had a gig booked in Dusseldorf, Germany. He made up for it in 2010, when he performed "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" at the ceremony to honor songwriting team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

Rod Stewart, 1994
Two days before the 1994 Hall of Fame inductions, a massive earthquake hit Los Angeles. "Two of my children, Renee and Liam, they were just one and three, they were just terrified," Steward told Rolling Stone in December. "Absolutely terrified. I just couldn't leave them, so I missed it. But I'll be there this time!"

David Bowie, 1996
David Bowie was in Helsinki, Finland, touring in support of Outside when he entered the Hall of Fame in 1996. Madonna accepted on his behalf, and Marianne Faithful performed "Rebel Rebel."

Roger Waters, 1996
Roger Waters and Pink Floyd weren't getting along very well in 1996. Two years earlier, the group went on a enormous stadium tour sans Waters and grossed hundreds of millions of dollars. They invited Waters to join them for a performance of Dark Side of the Moon in England towards the end of the tour, but he declined. Waters was still fuming over the fact that the band carried on without him, while his 1987 Radio K.A.O.S. tour played to half-full arenas. They patched things up a few years later – in part because Gilmour had quietly disbanded Floyd by that point – but in 1996, Waters had no interest in sitting in the same ballroom as the rest of Pink Floyd.

Grace Slick, 1996
The Jefferson Airplane frontwoman has a firm belief that "all rock-and-rollers over the age of 50 look stupid and should retire." She briefly toured with a reunited Jefferson Airplane in 1989, but ever since has basically stayed away from the stage. The rest of the Airplane did show up for their induction and played a great set.

Neil Young, 1997
Reports vary about why exactly Neil Young didn't show up and reunite with Buffalo Springfield at their 1997 induction, but the most likely explanation is that he was fuming over the fact that his bandmates had to shell out big bucks to get their friends and family into the ceremony. Thirteen years later, Young did agree to a Buffalo Springfield reunion, but by that point original members Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin had died.

Joni Mitchell, 1997
In 1965, a 21-year-old Joni Mitchell gave up a daughter for adoption. Shortly before her 1997 induction into the Hall of Fame, the mother and daughter had a highly emotional reunion and Mitchell skipped the Cleveland ceremony to focus on re-establishing a relationship with her child. Grahman Nash accepted on her behalf.

John Deacon, 2001
The Queen bassist largely retired from music when Freddy Mercury died in 1991. He did join his bandmates at a Mercury tribute show in 1992 and again to perform with Elton John in 1997, but since then he's been completely off the radar. He refused to participate in Queen's tour with Paul Rodgers, and he didn't show up at the Hall of Fame induction in 2001.

The Sex Pistols, 2006
The punk band's open letter said it all: "Next to the SEX-PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. Were not coming. Were not your monkey and so what? Fame at $25,000 if we paid for a table, or $15000 to squeak up in the gallery, goes to a non-profit organisation [SIC] selling us a load of old famous. Congradulations [SIC]. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons. Your anonymous as judges, but your still music industry people. Were not coming. Your not paying attention. Outside the shit-stem is a real SEX PISTOL."

Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, 2007
Van Halen's 2007 induction into the Hall of Fame came at a very bad time for the group. Bassist Michael Anthony was just kicked out of the band, and they were plotting a reunion tour with David Lee Roth – but that couldn't start until Eddie Van Halen went to rehab. There was simply too much drama, and no member of the current Van Halen lineup showed up. Roth was in talks to come, but he wasn't happy that Velvet Revolver were going to perform. In the end, only Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony showed up.

Peter Gabriel, 2010
Genesis fans have been praying for a reunion of the classic Peter Gabriel lineup for the past 30 years. They didn't get it when the group was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. Gabriel was in rehearsals for an upcoming symphonic tour in England and didn't make the trip overseas. The rest of the band went and watched Phish perform "Watcher Of The Skies" and "No Reply At All."

Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog, 2010
ABBA have reportedly turned down a billion-dollar offer for a reunion tour, so it was no surprise that they didn't all show up to their Hall of Fame induction. Agnetha Fältskog rarely leaves her native Stockholm, and Bjorn Ulvaeus has dealt with health issues in recent years. The Bee Gees inducted ABBA into the Hall of Fame, and Benny Anderson performed "The Winner Takes It All" with Faith Hill.

Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott, 2010
The classic lineup of the Hollies hasn't toured in decades, but original members Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott have carried on the band's name with new members. They had a gig in Europe at the same time as their 2010 HOF induction and opted not to cancel. Founding members Graham Nash and Allan Clarke played a few Hollies classics with Paul Shaffer and his band, and latter members Terry Clarke burst onto the stage uninvited to join them on "Long Cool Woman."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/a-history-of-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-n...

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Fair enough, except he lost me with this : "Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn't room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion. " ?

The Rock & Roll hall Of Fame isn't no big thing in my book, it's whoever Jan Wenner (if I got his name right, editor of Rolling Stone) picks or chooses, But doesn't Axl Rose know that resentments are a killer, I mean get over it! whatever Slash or the old band mates did in the past is the past, it shows that Axl is no member of a 12 step program, maybe he should be, Resentments Anonymous!

gimmekeef wrote on Apr 13^th, 2012 at 12:23pm:



no, many people should be in for one song, it is subjective... but many 50's pop stars that broke new ground deserve to be in there... Chubby Checker for one...

gimmekeef wrote on Apr 13^th, 2012 at 2:22pm:



If GnR is getting in...it's only a couple of years until we start seeing folks like Jane's Addiction...Nirvana...Nine Inch Nails...Moby...and a whole
slew of elecrtonica bands/DJs and hip-hop artists in there...

Not that that is a bad thing...but it seems like it was just yesterday that they were the new kids on the block...speaking of which...if NKOTB ever get in there...that will
be the decline and rock bottomfor   RnR

Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 13^th, 2012 at 2:38pm:



IMO all those you named, especially Jane's deserve to be in... and rap/hip hop artists are going in as well already... new kids, never going to happen, they were a pop top 40 band, nothing groundbreaking or influential, highly doubt they would ever be inducted...

apparantly rod and axl will be getting together for a duet

Rod Stewart too ill for Hall of Fame induction

Axl Rose won't be the only no-show at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday. Illness has forced Rod Stewart to scrap his planned Faces reunion at the event
His three bandmates will now take to the stage with former Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall, who joined the group in 2010 for a series of shows after Stewart declined to be part of a reunion.

A Hall of Fame spokesman says, "The Faces will play a short set after they are inducted with Simply Red's Mick Hucknall singing vocals. He's a friend of the band and has played with them before. We are thrilled that Mick dropped everything to hop on a plane to be here to play with Faces on Saturday night."

Earlier this week, Axl Rose declined his induction as a member of Guns N' Roses and announced he would not be attending the event.

IMO...even w/o a reunion  performance on the stage...if they all just showed up...accepted the award...even if Axl entered from Stage RIGHT
and the others from stage LEFT...
standing on either side of the podium...
not even looking at each other...
just staring out at the audience......
and exercising GRACE...would have gotten ALL of them and the current GnR very much positive publicity...

This letter and stance on Axl's part just seems to have everyone  focus on his overly altruistic, grand-standing eccentricities.

gimmekeef wrote on Apr 14^th, 2012 at 10:23am:



you miss the point that rock n' roll is about being groundbreaking, as much as quantity or what is subjective and up for endless debate, in what we will call quality... and sure a ball player gets in for being influential, many guys go in as managers, who didn't have great playing careers or announcers ect, it's not all just stats, but sports keeps tabs differently as well, you going into BBHOF as a person an individual, in RaRHOF it's bands, producers of bands, solo performers and combinations of...  I think you're seeing this from a limited perspective... by your reasoning Buddy Holly, Richie Valens or Eddie Cochran would not get in, not enough carrer or albums? The volume of music is small, but in the fities these guys were groundbreaking... they actually made music so good, people were having sex as a result of hearing it, that's Hall of Fame, getting people to fuck over your art... One could easily argue many bands already in aren't very groundbreaking or influential, as far as creating new genres or trends... I really wonder why Brenda Lee is in there... or Ricky Nelson... it must be popularity, since nothing was groundbreaking IMO... there's a lot of early black 50's R&B, some I know and love and a few, I never heard about... not sure why, I'm either still in need of deeper exploring or the Hall is filling up slots with certain performers to fill in the some slots and not risk looking diverse... Ray Charles is in, and he isn't a rocker, him and others go in for influence and groundbreaking stuff, period! Chubby Checker should be in there if the Orioles are, no? or Brenda Lee, really!!! We know some artists were forced, despite not getting enough votes, they deserved IMO, but it was a political move... not govt. politics, but social politics... FWIW! IMO Joe Strummer should be for his solo work, but it probably won't happen... and his solo music however limited and not huge selling is some of his best work, way more diverse and song writing at it's best... and some things I don't get, like inducting Small Faces and Faces together... when the Hall overlooked Welch in Fleetwood Mac... nothing is perfect, but there's people going in, that shouldn't and sadly many not going in who should... oh well... I still think Slash should be getting more heat for his fucking up G n' R, I love his other bands, seen him live a few times, but his getting loaded is why the early line up fell apart... glad to see the Beasties going in, as well as The Crickets and donovan who doesn't get uch love, but is so fucking amazing!!! and Laura Nyro as well, a brilliant artist, who I can't say I dig, but totally respect the groundbreaking music created!