Hollywood Rose

Hollywood Rose was an American hard rock group formed in 1983 and is best known as the precursor group for what would eventually become Guns N' Roses. The group was founded by Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin and Chris Weber while they were aided during live shows by Rick Mars, Johnny Kreis, Steve Darrow and Andre Troxx. Rose, Stradlin and Weber, along with Kreis, recorded a five-song demo in 1984. However, after a number of lineup changes, which includes Weber and Kreis being replaced by Slash and Steven Adler (both then of Road Crew) respectively as well the departure of Stradlin, the group disbanded the same year.

Hollywood Rose reunited briefly in 1985 with Rose, Stradlin, Weber and Darrow (Sonic Medusa, Rat Salad, Super Heroines, Decadents) returning and adding former L.A. Guns drummer Rob Gardner to the group. L.A. Guns founder Tracii Guns eventually replaced Weber. They changed their name to Guns N' Roses (combining the names of L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose) with L.A. Guns bassist Ole Beich replacing Darrow. Eventually Guns, Gardner and Beich were replaced by former Hollywood Rose members Slash, Adler and their former Road Crew band mate Duff McKagan with this lineup becoming known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses.

The five-song demo, recorded in 1984, was released in 2004 with the title The Roots of Guns N' Roses. A number of Hollywood Rose songs were included on the Guns N' Roses albums Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide (1986), Appetite for Destruction (1987), Live from the Jungle (1987), and G N' R Lies (1988).

Formation (1983)
Prior to forming, guitarist Chris Weber was introduced to Lafayette native Izzy Stradlin, in the parking lot of the Rainbow Bar and Grill, by friend Tracii Guns, who was leading the first incarnation of L.A. Guns at this time, after Weber expressed an interest in forming a band. Soon afterwards, Weber and Stradlin started writing material and, at the suggestion of Stradlin, recruited his childhood friend, former Rapidfire and L.A. Guns singer Axl Rose, then known as Bill Rose. At the suggestion of Rose, the group called themselves AXL, with Rose adopting Axl as his first name. They played their first gig at The Orphanage in North Hollywood and played a few more shows before changing their name to Rose. The group soon changed their name, for the final time, to Hollywood Rose  when Weber discovered that the name Rose was already being used by a New York band.

During the group's live shows, they were aided by bassists Rick Mars, Andre Troxx and Steve Darrow along with drummer Johnny Kreis who remained the only consistent member of the group outside of Rose, Stradlin and Weber.

Lineup changes, Guns N' Roses (1984–1985)
After borrowing money from Weber's father, the group recorded a five-song demo in Hollywood in 1984. After playing a number of more shows, they appeared at the Music Machine in '84. Weber accidentally hit Rose with the headstock of his guitar. Rose stormed off and eventually fired Weber from the band with former Road Crew guitarist Slash joining the group. Unhappy at the firing of Weber, Stradlin left the group when Slash first came to rehearse, going on to join London. Slash's Road Crew band mate Steven Adler also replaced drummer Kreis during this time. The group continued to play more shows before eventually disbanding, playing their final show at The Troubadour in 1984. Rose went on to front L.A. Guns while Slash auditioned for Poison at the suggestion of former guitarist Matt Smith.

The group reunited, briefly, with Rose, Stradlin, Weber and Darrow returning along while L.A. Guns drummer Rob Gardner also joined the group. Weber, who left to move to New York City, was soon replaced by Tracii Guns. The group changed their name to Guns N' Roses (combining the names of L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose) with the lineup consisting of Axl Rose, Tracii Guns, Izzy Stradlin, Ole Beich (also formerly of L.A. Guns) and Rob Gardner. Beich was eventually replaced by Duff McKagan (formerly of Fastbacks, The Fartz, 10 Minute Warning and Road Crew ) while Guns left the group (after a falling out with Rose ), being replaced by Slash. McKagan went on to book shows taking place between Sacramento and Seattle, which was dubbed "The Hell Tour". During this time, Gardner quit the group and was replaced by Steven Adler with this lineup becoming known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses.

A number of Hollywood Rose songs would be included on a number of releases by Guns N' Roses such as "Anything Goes" (from Appetite for Destruction), "Reckless Life" and "Move to the City" (both from Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide and G N' R Lies) as well as "Shadow of Your Love" (from Live from the Jungle). In 1998, former guitarist Weber sued Axl Rose, claiming that he co-wrote two songs he was not credited for, "Shadow of Your Love" and "Back Off Bitch" (from Use Your Illusion I).

1989 Reformation
Hollywood Rose was reformed by Chris Weber in 1989 and signed to Summa Music Group. A full-length album was recorded but went unreleased. One track from the album, "Sweet Little Angel", was subsequently released on the soundtrack to the 1990 film Miami Blues. A second studio track, "Come A Little Closer" with Jimmy Swan on vocals can be heard on the four disc box set Rock 'n' Roll Rebels & the Sunset Strip, Vol. 1.

The Roots of Guns N' Roses (2004)
In 2004, Weber, who had since leaving the group formed U.P.O., sold the five-song demo the group recorded in 1984 to Cleopatra Records. They released the album, which included, along with the original recordings, remixes by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke (which featured addition guitar overdubs by Tracii Guns) and former London and Cinderella drummer Fred Coury (who filled in for Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler for a few shows) on June 22 with the title The Roots of Guns N' Roses. The Japanese edition of the album included a DVD with footage of the group.

On June 21, 2004, former singer Axl Rose had sought an injunction against the release of the album, suing Cleopatra Records for trademark infringement, violation of rights in his name and likeness, and for unfair competition. Former member Slash and former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan were also named as plaintiffs with Rose. However, on July 6, United States district court Judge Gary A. Fees denied the motion of Rose and his Guns N' Roses partnership for a preliminary injunction against the independent record label. Weber also, during this time, was interviewed for a VH1 "Behind the Music" documentary covering the early days of Guns N' Roses.

Discography

 * The Roots of Guns N' Roses (2004)

Members

 * Axl Rose – vocals (1983-1984, 1985)
 * Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar (1983-1984, 1985)
 * Chris Weber – lead guitar (1983-1984, 1985, 1989-1990)
 * Johnny Kreis – drums (1983-1984)
 * Rick Mars – bass (1983)
 * Andre Troxx – bass (1983)
 * Steve Darrow – bass (1983-1984, 1985)
 * Slash – lead guitar (1984)
 * Steven Adler – drums (1984)
 * Rob Gardner – drums (1985)
 * Tracii Guns – lead guitar (1985)