Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Josh Freese recently shared his experience of working with Axl Rose. In an interview with MusicRadar, he addressed the singer’s reputation and reflected on his time with the band.
Freese dispelled common misconceptions about Rose’s behavior. When asked about his experience, he offered a positive perspective.
“It was great! I think that people, a lot of times, want to hear horror stories about Axl, and I really don’t have any,” Freese said. “He was always real generous with me, and easy to get along with.”
Freese also highlighted Rose’s openness to collaboration and creativity during their time together.
“I really don’t have anything bad to say about him! I enjoyed working with him. I liked the fact that he was open to other people writing and open to me as the new drummer,” he continued. “If I had a good idea, he’d want to use it, and he did. I had other songs that were kind of in the running, so to speak, that didn’t end up on the A-list, but that’s fine. I mean, the fact that I’ve got the title track, it’s kind of cool, you know?”
Freese’s comments provide a fresh perspective on working with the iconic frontman. They challenge the myths surrounding Rose’s reputation.
Rose has long carried a reputation for being difficult to work with, rooted in his history of lateness, unpredictable behavior, and control-oriented approach to Guns N’ Roses’ business and creative decisions. During the band’s early success, Rose was notorious for holding up shows by arriving hours late and abruptly ending performances, contributing to tensions with bandmates and management alike.
That reputation has lingered beyond those early years, with reports suggesting he prefers to manage his own affairs rather than work with outside managers because he’s wary of anyone “looking to work with him,” a dynamic that has complicated his professional relationships. However, Freese’s account of his time in the band contradicts the general notion of Rose’s work ethic.
