Hollywood Rose
About Hollywood Rose
Hollywood Rose was a hard-rock/glam-metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983, by Izzy Stradlin, Chris Weber, and Axl Rose. Originally known as A.X.L. (AXL), the band changed their name to Rose, only to discover there was a New York band with the same name. Settling on Hollywood Rose, core members Stradlin (rhythm guitar), Weber (lead guitar), and Rose (lead vocals) were aided during live shows by bassists Rick Mars, Steve Darrow and Andre Troxx, and drummer, Johnny Kreis.
In 1984, a 5-song demo tape was recorded at Mars Studio with Stradlin, Rose, Weber, and Kreis (who remained the only other consistent member of the group.). At the time, the group did not have a bassist, so Stradlin and Weber ‘traded’ the bass guitar back and forth during the recording session. They had planned on releasing the demo, but after several line-up changes, the band ultimately disbanded later that year.
However, at the end of ‘84, the group reunited for a New Year’s Eve show. This time, it was Stradlin, Rose, Steve Darrow, new member, Rob Garder, and L.A. Guns founder, Tracii Guns, on stage. In March 1985, Hollywood Rose would merge with fellow Los Angeles band, L.A. Guns – the resulting name being ‘Guns N’ Roses’.
Guns N' Roses would also go through several lineup changes. Most notably, Tracii Guns would leave the group to reform L.A. Guns. Despite Guns' departure, the name would remain, and Guns N' Roses' would evolve into the ‘classic line-up’ of Stradlin, Rose, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, and Slash (Saul Hudson). A number of Hollywood Rose songs would be included on Guns N' Roses albums.
The song, ‘Reckless Life’ was eventually changed by Guns N’ Roses but kept the same title, which is why the two songs are often confused. GNR released their ‘new’ version on their 1986 debut EP, ‘Live Like a Suicide’. It was rereleased on their LP, ‘GNR Lies’, in 1988. The Hollywood Rose song ‘Move to the City’ was also released on both of these albums.
‘Anything Goes’ (originally called, ‘My Way, Your Way’), was also rewritten and appeared on GNR’s debut LP, ‘Appetite for Destruction’. Appropriately, Chris Weber received writing credits for all of the aforementioned songs.
In 1989, Weber reformed Hollywood Rose with new vocalist, Jimmy Swan. After signing with Summa Music Group, a full-length album was recorded but went unreleased. However, the track, ‘Sweet Little Angel’, did appear on the soundtrack for the 1990 movie, ‘Miami Blues’. Another track, ‘Come a Little Closer’ was released on the compilation box set, Rock n' Roll Rebels & the Sunset Strip, Vol. 1. In 1998, Weber sued Rose, claiming he co-wrote two songs he was not credited for: “Shadow of Your Love” and “Back Off Bitch”.
Chris Weber had funded ‘Hollywood Rose’s’ 1984 demo tape and sought to release it. In 2004, he sold it to Cleopatra Records, who went on to release the songs on the compilation album, ‘The Roots of Guns N’ Roses', which Chris Weber also produced. The record included two remixes of each of Hollywood Rose’s five songs – five by former Guns N Roses rhythm guitarist, Gilby Clarke and five by former Cinderella drummer, Fred Coury.
Hollywood Rose’s last lineup (most recent) included:
Jimmy Swan – lead vocals (1989–1990)
Chris Weber – lead guitar (1983–1984, 1989–1990)
Matt Beal — rhythm guitar (1989—1990)
Donny Brook – bass guitar (1989—1990)
“Captain” – drums, backing vocals (1989—1990)
Members of Hollywood Rose have included:
Axl Rose – lead vocals (1983–1984, 1985)
Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1983–1984, 1985)
Johnny Kreis – drums (1983–1984)
Rick Marrs – bass guitar (1983)
Andre Troxx – bass guitar (1983)
Daniel “DJ” Nicolson – bass guitar (1984)
Snake – bass guitar (1984)
Steve Darrow – bass guitar (1984, 1985)
Slash – lead and rhythm guitars (1984)
Steven Adler – drums, backing vocals (1984)
Tracii Guns – lead guitar, backing vocals (1985)
Rob Gardner – drums, backing vocals (1985)
https://www.laweekly.com/the-unsung-songwriters-who-helped-make-appetite-for-destruction-a-classic/
https://www.first50gigs.com/episode-4-chris-weber-discusses-axl-rose-and-hollywood-rose/
https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-hollywood-rose-guitarist-axl-rose-was-very-ego-motivated
https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/guns-n-roses-excerpt-nothin-but-a-good-time-book-1130385/
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hollywood-rose-mn0000772764/biography
