Happy Birthday Axl Rose and Duff McKagan Born a Day Apart
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan was born born February 5, 1964 and grew up in Seattle's University District. William Bruce Rose Jr. AKA "Axl" was born February 6, 1962 and grew up in Lafayette, Indiana. These two men, born 2 years and one day apart, lived in completely different regions of the country and would find each other in 1985 in a band merger that would live in infamy. In March of that year, L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose would join forces and become Guns N' Roses.
In a world filled with copycats, Guns N' Roses has always been original, fresh and an entity all their own. There was a time Axl wore makeup and some of the band had teased hair, that's about the only thing that connects them to Glam Rock. The quintessential Rock and Roll band would not be defined by that era, the bands they toured with or the clothes they wore.
I saw Guns two years ago at MetLife Stadium when they reunited after so many years. I went to see what I thought would be an oddity, a freak show or a circus act. As much as I wanted the band to be great again and the show to be good, I did not expect much. I was in for a treat that night because I saw a band of brothers in their 50's performing just the way they had left us, it's one of the best concerts I've ever seen.
The world is a better place with Guns N' Roses in it, Happy belated Duff, Happy Birthday Axl and thank you for everything.