# Axl Rose tries to refuse induction into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535 "2012-04-12T06:17:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/21 "2012-04-12T15:27:30Z")
Axl Rose owns the name Guns ‘n’ Roses. If he chose to do so, I think that he could prevent the Hall from using the name in their exhibit or prevent former band members from appearing to represent the band. He has not. He doesn’t begrudge the other members their moment of recognition for what was an outstanding album. He just doesn’t want to be formally connected to that iteration. I think he made a proper and dignified choice. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/22 "2012-04-12T15:46:42Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’m no Axl fan, but if you read the entirety of his letter he actually comes off quite well: No, this actually makes me respect him less. I might have a degree of respect if there was some principle involved; if Rose were saying the Hall was too commercial, for example, or if he was unhappy about some of the performers who haven’t been included. But refusing to make a public appearance with his former bandmates? That’s just drama queening. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/23 "2012-04-12T15:58:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, this actually makes me respect him less. I might have a degree of respect if there was some principle involved; if Rose were saying the Hall was too commercial, for example, or if he was unhappy about some of the performers who haven’t been included. > > But refusing to make a public appearance with his former bandmates? That’s just drama queening. Well, let’s remember that MANY bands have turnover and end up with very different lineups from what they started with. SUPPOSE that Motorhead was inducted (hard to picture, but humor me), and the Hall only wanted an onstage reunion of Lemmy, Fast Eddie, and Philthy Animal… well, Lemmy would have every right to say, “The current guys in Motorhead have been with me longer than Phil and Eddie were. I won’t push my current band aside so the Hall can have a nostagia moment.” Is that just being a drama queen? Or what if King Crimson were inducted. Would Robert Fripp be expected to play “Schizoid Man” and “Court of the Crimson King” with the original lineup (whom he’s been on the outs with for decades) and push Adrian Belew et al. aside? These things can get complicated. MAYBE Axl is just a jerk… but maybe he’s doing the right thing. There’s a new G & R out there, even if many fans think it’s not the “real” one. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/24 "2012-04-12T16:02:38Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Actually it makes me respect him more. It’s been clear for a long time that the hall of fame isn’t anything like what it should be. Opting out shows a certain … Something that I wouldn’t have thought Axl had. > > Quote Alex Lifeson. “I kind of like the status quo where they don’t want us in there and we don’t want to be in there, so it’s kind of a good place to be.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Axl Rose may be a flaming hole, but he’s got stones (and not rolling ones). ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/25 "2012-04-12T16:20:00Z")
I’ve been to the RNR HOF twice, and it really should just bill itself as a museum. Sports halls of fame are odd enough, even when you can tanglibly measure success, importance, etc. In music, it’s obviously much different, so why bother saying one band is more important than another, etc. So, I’m not bothered one way or another whether GNR is inducted or not, and whether Axl attends or not. That said, Appetite and the Illusion records are rock masterpieces, and GNR changed the game. I like what Axl wrote, and I’m happy that, for the first time possibly ever, I think he’s at peace. Good for him. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/26 "2012-04-12T16:29:31Z")
So would it be tacky for me to wear my Rush - Counterparts concert t-shirt to the induction Saturday? We’re debating between dressing up, costumes, or other. I was leaning toward other… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/27 "2012-04-12T16:40:35Z")
> [@](#): > > In a letter to the _hall_, _band fans_ and _“To Whom It May Concern”_ I’ll stop there; it would be rude of me to read other people’s mail. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/28 "2012-04-12T16:50:33Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Well, let’s remember that MANY bands have turnover and end up with very different lineups from what they started with. > > SUPPOSE that Motorhead was inducted (hard to picture, but humor me), and the Hall only wanted an onstage reunion of Lemmy, Fast Eddie, and Philthy Animal… well, Lemmy would have every right to say, “The current guys in Motorhead have been with me longer than Phil and Eddie were. I won’t push my current band aside so the Hall can have a nostagia moment.” > > Is that just being a drama queen? > > Or what if King Crimson were inducted. Would Robert Fripp be expected to play “Schizoid Man” and “Court of the Crimson King” with the original lineup (whom he’s been on the outs with for decades) and push Adrian Belew et al. aside? > > These things can get complicated. MAYBE Axl is just a jerk… but maybe he’s doing the right thing. There’s a new G & R out there, even if many fans think it’s not the “real” one. Axl Rose apparently think the ideal of Guns N’ Roses should be Axl Rose and some anonymous musicians playing in the background. Okay, he owns the name and he can make it into whatever he likes. But does he really believe that Guns N’ Roses is being inducted into the Hall of Fame based on its current line-up? It’s the c. 1990 line-up that’s being inducted. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/29 "2012-04-12T18:21:36Z")
Who wants that ultra-right wing blowhard in the RRHoF, anyway? Oh. THAT Rush. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/30 "2012-04-12T19:41:09Z")
Axl just oughta take a page from his cousin Pete, and bet on rock & roll. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/31 "2012-04-12T19:58:04Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > This. Truth is, though, that I concur the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is nothing to be taken too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/32 "2012-04-12T21:23:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, this actually makes me respect him less. I might have a degree of respect if there was some principle involved; if Rose were saying the Hall was too commercial, for example, or if he was unhappy about some of the performers who haven’t been included. > > But refusing to make a public appearance with his former bandmates? That’s just drama queening. I disagree, and I wouldn’t recognize his music. He’s the owner of a band business named Guns N’ Roses, which he has the exclusive rights to use. He wants to promote the band he has now, not the band members that are no longer with the band. He has asked that they not use the band name, but it is a far cry from a cease and desist. He has some loyalty to his current employees to promote them as current members of the band, which would be undermined by appearing with the former employees instead of the current ones. If he appeared he would be undermining his own business and its promotion and demoralizing his left out current employees. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/33 "2012-04-13T01:16:56Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > If everyone ignored him do you think he’d go away? What we should do is tell him he needs to go back to the studio and record another album because _Chinese Democracy_ was so awesome. That should give us about 15 years Axl free. ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/34 "2012-04-13T02:16:42Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > If everyone ignored him do you think he’d go away? he did go away, about 10 years ago ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/35 "2012-04-13T02:51:20Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Axl is a grating little prick, but _Appetite_ is one of the great albums of the 80s. It’s not my usual kind of music, but I’d induct him for that album alone. Ditto. Axl went way off the rails, but _Appetite_ is such a perfect album that I’d say GNR needs to be inducted. /And I haven’t really liked blues hard rock/metal for nearly 18 years //Still have _Appetite_ on my iPod, listen to it once every couple months ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/36 "2012-04-13T16:50:48Z")
Just to fuel some impotent rage among fans, [here](http://www.futurerocklegends.com/The_Snub_List.php) is a list of some of the biggest stars to have been passed over by the RRHOF. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/37 "2012-04-13T18:50:37Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > This is just one more reminder the the Rock and Roll HOF is a sad, pathetic joke. And how complicated and fraught with emotion being in a band can be. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/38 "2012-04-13T19:51:52Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Just to fuel some impotent rage among fans, [here](http://www.futurerocklegends.com/The_Snub_List.php) is a list of some of the biggest stars to have been passed over by the RRHOF. About 85% of the acts on that list are better than GnR. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/39 "2012-04-13T20:05:36Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Just to fuel some impotent rage among fans, [here](http://www.futurerocklegends.com/The_Snub_List.php) is a list of some of the biggest stars to have been passed over by the RRHOF. I’d vote for five or six of the people on that list, but it loses a lot of credibility by including The Monkees and Kiss. The majority of the others were popular derivatives of an earlier trend. The inherent problem of the HOF is that it’s torn between commercialism that will bring in crowds, and actual talent and impact on the genre. Regardless of whether you think Television were innovative and influential, they aren’t going to draw many people in. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535/40 "2012-04-13T20:47:56Z")
I love GnR’s music but I think Axl is a prick with a huge superiority complex. That letter just seemed delusional. If he’s a rock and roll star for the money and the fans, then he should suck it up and play with the original lineup. If he’s an “artist” who doesn’t care about fans than he can continue on with his prickishness and his crappy new GnR. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axl-rose-tries-to-refuse-induction-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/618535.md?page=3)