Axl Rose, the leader of Guns N’ Roses, is no stranger to disputes and rivalries in the music industry. Over the years, several high-profile confrontations have resulted from his combative manner. But one conflict in particular stood out it had to do with none other than the late David Bowie.
This infamous dispute began in 1989 when Bowie reportedly went too near for comfort with Rose’s girlfriend at the time, Erin Everly, when they were making the music video for Guns N’ Roses song “It’s So Easy.” The situation quickly became tense, to the point that Axl started punching Bowie and had him taken off the set.
Bowie’s Apology And Axl’s Reaction
The argument was intense, but things ultimately calmed down. Axl remembered how the late singer apologized in a 1990 interview with Kerrang! He said:
“Bowie and I had our differences. And then we talked and went out to dinner and then went down to the China club and stuff. And when we left, I was like, ‘I wanna thank you for being the first person that’s ever come up to me in person and said how sorry they were about the situation and stuff.’ It was cool, you know? And then I open up Rolling Stone the next day, and there’s a story in there saying I’ve got no respect for the Godfather of Glam even though I wear make-up and all this bullsh*t…”
Mick Jagger’s Curiosity In The Feud
The exchange extended beyond Rose and Bowie. Mick Jagger became interested in the rivalry. Rose described how Jagger and Eric Clapton approached him about the altercation during a Rolling Stones soundcheck:
“It’s laughable. I was out doing a soundcheck one day when we were opening for the Rolling Stones, and Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton cornered me. I’m sittin’ on this amp, and all of a sudden, they’re both right there in front of me. And Jagger doesn’t really talk a lot, right? He’s just real serious about everything, and all of a sudden, he’s like (adopts exaggerated Dick Van Dyke-style Cockney): ‘So you got in a fight with Bowie, didja?’”
The singer went on, recounting the exchange between Clapton and Jagger:
“So I told him the story real quick and him and Clapton are going off about Bowie in their own little world, talking about things from years ago. They were saying things like when Bowie gets drunk; he turns into the Devil from Bromley… I mean, I’m not even in this conversation. I’m just sittin’ there. Listening to ’em bitch like crazy about Bowie. It was funny.”
Rose continued the conversation by saying that although he and Bowie weren’t great friends, he still admired the musician. They discovered they had a lot in common after exchanging lengthy and heated conversations about their careers and personal lives. Axl quipped that considering how much he resembled Bowie, this made him worry about his future.