Hollywood Rose Origins

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The band's identity shifted rapidly from its inception at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, where Chris Weber met Izzy Stradlin via Tracii Guns. They initially called themselves AXL after recruiting childhood friend Bill Rose, who adopted "Axl" as his first name. After playing their first gig at The Orphanage in North Hollywood, they briefly shortened their name to Rose before changing it to Hollywood Rose upon discovering a New York band already used the moniker. Their early live shows were characterized by a rotating cast of musicians; Johnny Kreis remained the only consistent member outside the founding trio. By January 1984, Rose, Stradlin, Weber, Kreis, and Daniel "DJ" Nicolson recorded their first demo in Hollywood. Tensions peaked at the Music Machine in 1984 when Weber accidentally hit Rose with his guitar headstock during a show opening for Stryper. This incident caused Rose to storm off and fire Weber, leading Stradlin to quit in protest. Slash and Steven Adler joined as replacements, but the group disbanded after their final show at The Troubadour later that year.

In Their Own Story

The path from Hollywood Rose to Guns N' Roses was marked by a dramatic New Year's Eve reunion on January 1, 1985. Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, and bassist Steve Darrow returned to the stage, joined by L.A. Guns drummer Rob Gardner and Tracii Guns, who replaced Chris Weber for the set. This gathering set the stage for a historic merger in March 1985, where Hollywood Rose combined with L.A. Guns. The initial merged lineup featured Axl Rose, Tracii Guns, Izzy Stradlin, Ole Beich, and Rob Gardner. However, this configuration was short-lived; within two months, Beich, Guns, and Gardner departed, replaced by Duff McKagan, Slash, and Steven Adler. This final iteration became the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses. Despite the band's dissolution in 1984, their musical DNA survived through several tracks that appeared on Guns N' Roses albums like *Appetite for Destruction* and *Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide*, proving their influence endured beyond the group's brief existence.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracing the roots of Guns N' Roses, understanding Hollywood Rose requires noting specific turning points in 1984 and 1985. The January 1984 demo session captured by Rose, Stradlin, Weber, Kreis, and Nicolson is a critical artifact, later released as *The Roots of Guns N' Roses* on June 22, 2004. This album included remixes by Gilby Clarke and Fred Coury, alongside the original recordings. Legal disputes followed immediately; on June 21, 2004, Axl Rose sued Cleopatra Records, joined by Slash and Duff McKagan, seeking an injunction against the release due to trademark infringement. On July 6, Judge Gary A. Fees denied the motion, allowing the album's distribution. The band's legacy also includes a 1998 lawsuit where Weber claimed co-writing credits for "Shadow of Your Love" and "Back Off Bitch." Additionally, between 1989 and 1990, a separate entity named Hollywood Rose toured with Jimmy Swan on vocals, distinct from the original group. In 2012, Cleopatra Records re-released an album by a tribute act called Hollywood Roses (plural), featuring guests like Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns but containing no actual songs by the original band.

Did You Know?

• Axl Rose adopted his stage name after the group initially called themselves AXL.
• Drummer Johnny Kreis was the only consistent member of Hollywood Rose outside of Rose, Stradlin, and Weber.
• The band's final show as a disbanding entity took place at The Troubadour in 1984.
• Tracii Guns replaced Chris Weber for the January 1, 1985 reunion show after Weber moved to New York City.
• In 2012, an album by a tribute band named Hollywood Roses (plural) featured guest performances by original members but contained no songs by either Hollywood Rose or Guns N' Roses.

Formation and Early Identity

Hollywood Rose was established in June 1983 after Chris Weber met Izzy Stradlin at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, introduced by Tracii Guns. They recruited Axl Rose, then known as Bill Rose, and initially named the group AXL before changing it to Rose, and finally Hollywood Rose due to a naming conflict with a New York band. Their first gig took place at The Orphanage in North Hollywood. Live performances were supported by bassists Rick Marrs, Andre Troxx, Daniel "DJ" Nicolson, and Steve Darrow, along with drummer Johnny Kreis, who was the only consistent member besides the founders.

Turbulent Transition to Guns N' Roses

In 1984, the group recorded a five-song demo in Hollywood. During a show at the Music Machine opening for Stryper, Chris Weber accidentally struck Axl Rose with his guitar headstock. Rose fired Weber, prompting Stradlin to leave and join London. Slash and Steven Adler from Road Crew joined as replacements, but the band disbanded after their final show at The Troubadour in 1984. On January 1, 1985, they reunited for a New Year's celebration with Rose, Stradlin, Darrow, Rob Gardner, and Tracii Guns replacing Weber. In March 1985, Hollywood Rose merged with L.A. Guns to form Guns N' Roses.

Musical Legacy and Songwriting

Songs from the Hollywood Rose era appeared on Guns N' Roses releases including *Appetite for Destruction*, *Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide*, *Live from the Jungle*, and *G N' R Lies*. Tracks like "Anything Goes," "Reckless Life," "Move to the City," and "Shadow of Your Love" originated during this period. In 2004, Chris Weber sold the original five-song demo to Cleopatra Records for release as *The Roots of Guns N' Roses*, which featured remixes by Gilby Clarke and Fred Coury.

Legal Battles and Post-Disbandment History

On June 21, 2004, Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan sued Cleopatra Records to block the release of *The Roots of Guns N' Roses*. Judge Gary A. Fees denied their injunction on July 6. In 1998, Weber sued Axl Rose over co-writing credits for "Shadow of Your Love" and "Back Off Bitch." A different lineup called Hollywood Rose existed from 1989–1990 with Jimmy Swan on vocals. In 2012, a tribute act named Hollywood Roses released an album featuring veterans like Tracii Guns but no original songs.