Love songs are everywhere in classic rock, but some of the biggest hits weren’t written about some mystery muse. They were written for one very specific woman. In many cases, the relationship was intense, messy, romantic, or all three. These rock love songs came straight from real-life relationships, which may explain why they still hit decades later.
Rock Love Songs Inspired by Specific Women
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
Axl Rose wrote this power ballad for his then-girlfriend Erin Everly. What started as a warm-up guitar riff from Slash turned into one of the biggest love songs of the ’80s. The lyrics were pulled directly from a poem Axl wrote about Erin. Their relationship didn’t last, but the song became a timeless arena anthem.
“Beth” – KISS
This softer side of KISS was originally inspired by a woman named Beck (Rebecca). Beck was the wife of one of Peter Criss’ bandmates when he was in Chelsea (pre-KISS). The name was later changed to “Beth,” but the theme remained the same: a musician apologizing for being gone too much. It’s one of the most unlikely love songs in hard rock history and one of KISS’s biggest hits.
“Oh Sherrie” – Steve Perry
Steve Perry wrote this hit for his girlfriend Sherrie Swafford. Unlike many love songs, he didn’t even change the name. The relationship inspired one of the biggest solo hits of his career, and Sherrie even appeared in the music video. The actual song doesn’t start until 2 minutes into the video, but the whole video is an amazing ’80s MTV time capsule.
“The Wind Cries Mary” – Jimi Hendrix
Ah, the mashed potato story. Jimi Hendrix wrote this rock love song after a fight with his girlfriend, Kathy Mary Etchingham. Hendrix and Mary got into a fight over her cooking. She threw pots and pans, stormed out, and when she returned home a couple of days later, Hendrix had written this song for her. Hendrix did not write a lot of songs with a soft side, making this song even more of a standout.
“Layla” – Derek and the Dominos
The song was written by Clapton about his massive obsession with Pattie Boyd, George Harrison’s wife at the time. Although Clapton and Harrison were very good friends, Clapton had an affair with Boyd… After George told Clapton, “take her,” he did. The two married, and George attended the wedding. Claton also wrote “Wonderful Tonight” about Boyd. Additionally, Harrison wrote “Something” about her. That’s quite the claim to fame!
Rock love songs often feel bigger than life, but the best ones usually start small. One person, one relationship, and one emotional moment is all it takes. Whether the romance lasted or crashed and burned, these classic love songs turned private stories into rock history.
Donielle Flynn has two kids, two cats, two dogs, and a love of all things rock. She’s been in radio decades and held down top-rated day parts at Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC radio stations throughout her tenure. She enjoys writing about rock news, the Detroit community, and she has a series called “The Story Behind” where she researches the history of classic rock songs.
Downloads of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses skyrocketed 12,166 percent after the Jan. 30 premiere of Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe in Japan, according to The Gamer. The 1987 track jumped in the rankings after the movie revealed the song as its ending theme.
Bandai Namco Filmworks kept the ending theme secret until the movie’s premiere. On Feb. 2, the company released a trailer featuring the song. That video has racked up more than one million views. The statistics cover a nine-day period after the theatrical release, meaning the spike happened within days once fans learned about the music choice.
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe is the second movie in a trilogy based on creator Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Hathaway’s Flash novels from 1989 and 1990. The first movie came out in 2021. Fans waited five years between these two films.
The new movie has pulled in over $9.83 million at the box office in its first eleven days. Bandai Namco Filmworks confirmed plans for a worldwide theatrical release, but premiere dates outside Japan haven’t been announced yet. Automaton wrote, “Interestingly, hype for the film has also had an effect elsewhere.”
The song’s age makes its resurgence unusual. At 38 years old, it competed with current hits.
John Corabi will release his first full-length solo album on April 24. Frontiers Music Srl will release the record, titled New Day. Nashville studios hosted the sessions last summer.
Marti Frederiksen took on production duties while contributing backing vocals, guitars, piano, and percussion. Richard Fortus from Guns N’ Roses adds some lead guitar parts, Paul Taylor, who has played with Winger and Steve Perry’s group, contributes piano, organ, and clavinet to the mix, and Charlie Starr from Blackberry Smoke delivers guitar solos.
Evan Frederiksen tackles drums, bass, B3 organ, electric guitar, mandolin, and programming across the 12 songs. Classic ’70s rock meets soul and blues throughout.
The title track just got a music video. It swings from stripped-down acoustic parts into thick, layered rock sections that pull inspiration straight from early Boston and Queen.
“‘New Day’ is a positive, upbeat song with a message of enjoy life,” said Corabi in a social media post. “Stop whining and complaining about how unfair life is, and enjoy the ‘little beautiful things life offers’ and make the changes you need to make your life better. Change happens WITHIN.”
“I wanted to put together an album of eclectic, organic songs that are reminiscent of the music I grew up listening to, and I truly believe the mission was accomplished,” said Corabi in a statement, as reported by Consequence. “This is a 60’s-70’s sounding classic rock and roll record.”
A European tour kicks off in February and runs through March. Shows stretch into late spring, then summer. Fans can get tour updates and pre-order the album from Corabi’s official website.
Jan. 5 has been an important day for many legendary rock performers. It’s when Prince made his live debut, but also when Guns N’ Roses announced that Slash and Duff reunited with the band. Continue reading to learn more about these and other significant events that happened on this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Some music giants celebrated important career milestones on this day, including:
1978: Prince made his live debut as a solo artist at Capri Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He had already signed a three-album deal with Warner Bros., but he showcased his debut album, For You, to studio executives who were hesitant to develop a full-scale tour for the artist.
1991: Iron Maiden’s single “Bring Your Daughter… To The Slaughter” reached the top spot on the U.K. Singles chart. It was the second single from their album No Prayer For The Dying, and it’s the band’s only U.K. No. 1 single so far.
Cultural Milestones
These are the culture-related events in the rock world from Jan. 5:
1969: Marilyn Manson was born in Canton, Ohio. He founded his band in 1989, selling over 50 million records worldwide.
2016: Guns N’ Roses officially announced that Axl, Slash, and Duff were reuniting for the first time since 1993 to headline the Coachella Music & Arts Festival that April. They played a warm-up gig on April 1 at The Troubadour in Hollywood and then expanded their reunion into the Not in This Lifetime… Tour.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Jan. 5 witnessed the anniversary of an infamous U.S. tour and a special debut, such as:
1973: Bruce Springsteen released his debut studio album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., via Columbia Records. Although sales were average at best, critics took notice and compared Springsteen to Bob Dylan.
1978: The Sex Pistols began their final North American tour with a show at the Great Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta, Georgia. The tour was marked by inner conflicts and drug abuse, ending suddenly after only seven shows.
From iconic debuts to historical reunions, these noteworthy events that took place in the rock world on Jan. 5 defined the industry. Come back tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
The Black Crowes will launch a massive 2026 world tour that spans four continents and includes four support slots with Guns N’ Roses. Rich and Chris Robinson have booked shows in Australia, Japan, the U.K., and Europe before the stadium run kicks in during August and September.
Apr. 2 marks the tour’s start in Melbourne, Australia, at The Forum. After two nights there, the group will visit Bluesfest in Byron Bay on Apr. 5. Brisbane, Sydney, and Newcastle host more Australian performances through Apr. 10. The next stop is Tokyo, where the band plays Tokyo Zepp DiverCity on Apr. 14 and 15.
Summer brings the European leg. On June 26, they’ll appear at State Fayre Festival in Chelmsford, U.K. Germany and Spain get shows too, with the overseas run wrapping on Jul. 11 at Mad Cool in Madrid.
Rich and Chris Robinson started the band back in 1984. Their 10th LP, Happiness Bastards, dropped in March 2024. It was their first new album in 15 years after Before the Frost … Until the Freeze. Tours behind that record began in Apr. 2024 and stretched through the year’s end.
2025 brought appearances at Boston Calling Music Festival and Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. September saw a five-disc reissue that expanded 1994’s Amorica with unreleased live tracks and an entire second album that had been shelved for decades. On The Black Crowes’ website, Rich wrote, “The bond between us, even when tested, always came back to the music. That’s what Amorica represents — our belief in ourselves and in this band.”
February delivered an expanded and remastered 6LP/3CD edition of Live at the Greek. This collection celebrates their 1999 onstage collaborations with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. The new version restores songs that label restrictions kept off the original release.
Aug. 22 brings the first support date with Guns N’ Roses at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The pairing continues on Aug. 26 in Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium, then Aug. 29 in Vancouver at BC Place. Sept. 2 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego closes out the run. Tickets are available through The Black Crowes’ website, and you can view the full tour schedule there.
Guns N’ Roses is hitting the road in 2026 for a world tour.
The tour begins in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 28, followed by a trek across Brazil. They will continue with European dates and festivals through the spring.
The band will kick off the North American leg on July 23 for a two-month stretch with stops in Toronto on Aug. 5, Edmonton on Aug. 26 and Vancouver on Aug. 29.
This run includes a special performance at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, marking the band’s first performance there in more than 30 years. The North American pre-sale begins Dec. 3. The band also announced they will release two new songs, Nothin and Atlas, the night before.
Story continues below advertisement
The tour comes on the heels of Guns N’ Roses’ 2025 European and Middle Eastern tour, where the rock icons played a 24-date tour in Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Lithuania and more.
Tickets for the Guns N’ Roses World Tour 2026 go on sale to the general public on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. local time.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
Guns N’ Roses World Tour 2026 tour dates
March 28 — Monterrey, Mexico @ Tecate Pa’l Norte April 1 — Porto Alegre, Brazil @ Estádio Beira Rio April 4 — São Paulo, Brazil @ Monsters of Rock April 7 — São José do Rio Preto, Brazil @ Alberto Bertelli Lucatto April 10 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Engenhão April 12 — Vitoria, Brazil @ Estádio Estadual Kleber José de Andrade April 15 — Salvador, Brazil @ Arena Fonte Nova April 18 — Fortaleza, Brazil @ Arena Castelão April 21 — Sao Luiz, Brazil @ Estádio Governador João Castelo “Castelão” April 25 — Belém do Para, Brazil @ Estadio Olímpico do Pará “Mangueirão” May 5 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Hollywood May 7 — Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville June 4 — Gliwice, Poland @ PreZero Arena Gliwice June 6 — Gliwice, Poland @ PreZero Arena Gliwice June 10 — Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena June 12 — Donington, England @ Download Festival June 14 — Donington, England @ Download Festival June 18 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome June 20 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome June 23 — Berlin, Germany @ Uber Arena June 25 — Berlin, Germany @ Uber Arena June 28 — Antwerp, Belgium @ AFAS Dome July 1 — Paris, France @ Accor Arena July 3 — Paris, France @ Accor Arena July 23 — Raleigh, NC @ Carter–Finley Stadium July 26 — Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center July 29 — Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre August 1 — Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium August 5 — Toronto, Ontario @ Rogers Stadium August 8 — Shakopee, MN @ Mystic Lake Amphitheater August 12 — East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium August 16 — St. Louis, MO @ Busch Stadium August 19 — Kansas City, MO @ Morton Amphitheater August 22 — Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium August 26 — Edmonton, Alberta @ Commonwealth Stadium August 29 — Vancouver, British Columbia @ BC Place September 2 — San Diego, CA @ Snapdragon Stadium September 5 — Pasadena, CA @ Rose Bowl September 9 — Arlington, TX @ Globe Life Field September 12 — Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena September 16 — San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome September 19 — Atlanta, GA @ Truist Park
Nov. 7 celebrates Led Zeppelin dominating the album charts, the birth of Joni Mitchell, and Pink Floyd and Alice in Chains releasing legendary albums. Here are other events and milestones from this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Two major industry names celebrated significant milestones on Nov. 7:
1970: Led Zeppelin’s third studio album, Led Zeppelin III, reached No. 1 on the U.K. album chart, where it remained for 40 weeks. It achieved the top spot on the U.S. album chart later that year.
1987: Bruce Springsteen’s eighth studio album, Tunnel of Love, got to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart. Powered by hit singles such as “Brilliant Disguise” and the title track, it went on to achieve triple Platinum status in the U.S.
Cultural Milestones
Rock’s stories and characters are almost as fascinating as the music itself. Here are cultural milestones that occurred on Nov. 7:
1942: Singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joni Mitchell was born in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada. Emerging in the 1960s, she thrilled audiences with her unique mix of folk, rock, jazz, and pop.
1991: Guns N’ Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin left the band. He returned for five shows two years later, filling in for his replacement, Gilby Clarke, who had broken his wrist in a motorcycle accident.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Nov. 7 is the anniversary of two hugely important albums in rock history:
1969: Pink Floyd released their double album Ummagumma via Harvest Records. It included studio work and live recordings and later achieved Platinum status in the U.S.
1995: Alice in Chains released their self-titled album on all audio formats, after a limited vinyl release a week before on Oct. 31. It was their last to feature frontman Layne Staley and was hailed by critics and the public, reaching double Platinum in the U.S.
The most notable rock-related events that happened on Nov. 7 included the birth of singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen’s eighth studio album, Tunnel of Love, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. album chart, and Guns N’ Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin leaving the band.
Alan Niven, a former manager of Guns N’ Roses during what his lawyers term “their most prolific period” in the 1980s and early ‘90s, has sued his former business associates in Arizona over their attempts to stop the publication of his memoir, Sound N’ Fury: Rock N’ Roll Stories.
In the suit, filed yesterday and obtained by Variety, Niven’s lawyers argue that the confidentiality agreement they signed in 1991 was repeatedly breached by three principal members of Guns N’ Roses – singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagen – in books and interviews, and that Niven himself was not previously threatened with any legal action for doing his own interviews that touched on his history with the band.
Despite that, Niven says that Guns N’ Roses blocked the release of his memoir with a cease-and-desist letter sent to him earlier this year. The former manager says that, in part because of those statements from Guns N’ Roses members, he is allowed to respond to their “disparaging” statements; that storage of the “thousands” of printed books is racking up storage costs; and that Rose never signed the agreement anyhow, among other claims. He is suing so that he can publish his book.
Prior to Guns N’ Roses, Niven represented the band Great White in the ‘80s through the ‘90s – and brought a suit against its label, Universal Music Group, in 2023. (Great White, outside of the hit “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” is likely most remembered for having headlined a tragic 2003 concert in which 100 people died due to illegal soundproofing and pyrotechnics, and more recently had performed a mask-free show at the height of the pandemic.) In that case, Niven alleged being owed nearly $1 million related to royalties and fees. It was dismissed and is currently on appeal by Niven.
In 2010, Niven also sued Australian band The Brewster Brothers, alleging copyright infringement and seeking publishing royalties as well as the return of two guitars. The judge in that case found in favor of Niven over copyrights to 11 songs, the return of Niven’s guitars and that the band pay him $295.77 in damages, dismissing the other charges.
Oct. 18 has seen many significant rock-related events over the past decades. It’s the day Paul McCartney took his first step toward becoming a Beatle and when The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first show. Keep reading to find out what else happened on this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Some of the biggest names in rock had major career highlights on Oct. 18:
1957: Paul McCartney made his live debut with John Lennon’s band, The Quarrymen, which evolved into The Beatles in 1960. This was the first time McCartney and Lennon played music together.
1966: The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first major gig at the Paris Olympia Theatre, supporting the French star Johnny Hallyday. The trio’s official debut was a few days earlier at the Novelty cinema in Evreux, France.
Cultural Milestones
Notable cultural events that took place in the rock world on this day included:
1926: Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Berry was a foundational figure in rock ‘n’ roll, creating a blueprint for future rock artists through songs such as “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and “Johnny B. Goode.”
1989: Guns N’ Roses opened for The Rolling Stones during the first of four concerts at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Besides the historic significance of the two giants sharing the same stage, the show is also memorable because Axl Rose threatened to break up the band if the other members didn’t stop using drugs and alcohol.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Oct. 18 also marks the anniversary of several unforgettable albums, such as:
1974: The Rolling Stones released their 12th studio album, It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll. It was the last to feature guitarist Mick Taylor before Ronnie Wood replaced him.
1985: The Cult released Love, their second studio album. It reached the top five in the U.K. and propelled the band to mainstream success with hit singles such as “She Sells Sanctuary” and “Rain.”
1988: The supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, consisting of Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty, released their debut album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. It was a major commercial success, reaching triple-Platinum status in the United States.
Oct. 18 is a day to remember for rock fans, with legends such as The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney having something to celebrate. Come back again to discover more exciting events in rock history.
Slash plans to release a concert film and live album, Live at the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, on November 7. The recording captures his set from the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival at Denver’s Mission Ballroom on July 17, 2024.
His band, Blues Ball, backs him. Teddy “ZigZag” Andreadis works the keys and blows the harmonica. Tash Neal strikes the rhythm strings. Johnny Griparic pumps the bass lines, and Michael Jerome pounds the drums.
A fresh spin on Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” leads off as the first single. The set spanned 15 tracks, breathing new life into raw blues standards like “Parchman Farm Blues,” “Killing Floor,” “Key to the Highway,” “It Takes a Lot to Laugh,” and “Born Under a Bad Sign.” The band also unleashed an original cut called “Metal Chestnut.”
Between songs, the film catches the ex-Guns N’ Roses axeman sharing his blues roots and his creative process. Music lovers can snag the release in 2CD+DVD, 2CD+Blu-ray, or triple vinyl formats.
The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival Tour lasted for six weeks in summer 2024. Guest stars included Warren Haynes, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Larkin Poe, and Jackie Venson. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Equality N’ Tolerance.
The shows pulled in $125,000 for five nonprofits. These groups push for better mental health care, equal rights, and aid to those in need. They followed Slash’s solo record, Orgy of the Damned, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart in 2024.
Viewers get the full concert plus backstage glimpses. The music spans blues and rock gems from Bukka White, Howlin’ Wolf, The Temptations, B.B. King, and Jimi Hendrix. On Facebook, Slash wrote, “Several exclusive formats and merch for Live at the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival are now available for pre-order.” To make a purchase, visit Live at the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival’s website.
Since I have been in the broadcasting business for a number of years, I sometimes have folks ask me, “Why do radio stations keep playing the same songs over and over?” There are a number of correct answers to this question, but the primary reason is (no surprise here) “money.” At some point, many years ago, when research began driving programming decisions, many program directors sought to play songs that would keep listeners from switching to another station.
Among PD’s (particularly those of the classic rock variety), the message was clear: don’t risk driving a single listener away by playing a song that might not be totally familiar. You’re not going to get a raise for playing more “deep cuts.”
Which brings us to a recent survey published on the Ultimate Classic Rock website listing the top classic rock songs based on radio airplay in 2025 (so far). There were a few surprises. Number one? Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” which just edged out Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” for the top spot on the list. However, GNR can take some solace in the fact that “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was ranked at number three.
Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith both had 15 songs in the top 500, but neither band cracked the top 10. Hell, “Black Dog” was Zep’s highest finisher at number 31. Interestingly, though, “Stairway to Heaven” came in at number 168, indicating that some songs can, in fact, be played to the point of listener fatigue.
In the “what the hell?” category: “Carry On Wayward Son” (number 12, thanks to the “South Park” Guitar Hero episode, no doubt, or was it because it was the unofficial anthem and fan favorite for the 15 seasons of Supernatural?), “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (number 13, but it does have a strong base of support among strippers, evidently), “Don’t Stop Believin’” (number 19 – I blame you, Tony Soprano) and “Summer of ‘69” (number 24, a stinker to be sure). In the interest of being remotely positive about Adams and his output, I suppose that “Cuts Like a Knife” isn’t so bad, but guess what? That song didn’t even make the damn list!
Ticket Alert Sue Foley, the lady with the pink paisley Telecaster, has been considered one of the best guitarists in Texas since landing in Austin during the late ‘80s. She has won a bunch of awards and released some acclaimed records, including last year’s One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar, which was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Traditional Blues Album. Tickets are on sale now for her show at the Heights Theater on Friday, November 21.
I’m not a fan of most Christmas music, but I will keep an open mind regarding Tower of Power and the band’s “Holiday and Hits” tour, which will stop at the House of Blues on Tuesday, December 9. If I can hear a funked-up “Jingle Bells” and “What Is Hip?” during the same show, I just might be on board with that sleigh ride. Presales are up now, and the general sale begins on Friday.
Want more live Christmas music? Well, the Pentatonix show at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 20, might get you to ho-ho-ho-ing. The a cappella quintet will bring its “Christmas in the City” tour to H-Town during the week before holiday, and presales are now in progress, with the general sale on Friday. In the holiday spirit of giving (and because the group hails from Arlington), $1 from the price of each ticket sold will be contributed to Texas flood relief efforts. Randy Rogers began his musical career playing joints around central Texas, soon building a regional and then a national following while he and his band began racking up hit albums and singles. You can get the password for the presale (now in progress) through the band’s website and beat the rush before the Friday ticket sale for Rogers’ show at the 713 Music Hall on Saturday, December 13.
Herb Alpert. Is he still alive? Not an unreasonable question, but the answer is a definite “yes.” The 90-year-old trumpet player still has his chops, and he is going on the road early next year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his album Whipped Cream and Other Delights, which sported not only some incredibly catchy instrumentals but also a nude-but-not album cover. The presale for Alpert’s show on Saturday, January 17, at the Smart Financial Centre begins today, and the general sale is set for Friday.
Concerts This Week Editor’s Note: Flaming Lips’ Houston performance was canceled because of a family emergency.
Original story: A documentary tracking the history of the Flaming Lips called The Fearless Freaks was released some years back, and seldom has a title been more on-the-nose. Based on the early ’90 success of the single “She Don’t Use Jelly,” the band has been classified as “alternative rock,” but “alternative everything” might be a more accurate bit of nomenclature.
Musically, these guys are like no one else, incorporating a number of diverse influences along with a preponderance of psychedelia. In terms of stage craft, the Flaming Lips have utilized all sorts of fanciful gimmicks over the years, including encasing lead singer Wayne Coyne in a large plastic bubble which allowed him to walk over audience members’ outstretched hands. The band’s current tour reunites the Lips with former touring mates Modest Mouse. Catch all the trippiness tonight at the 713 Music Hall. Whipping a quick 180, let’s consider Dale Watson, who is about as hardcore country as a guy can get. After spending his early years in North Carolina, in 1977 Watson’s family moved to Pasadena, where he began playing in honky-tonks as a teenager. He soon relocated to Los Angeles, where he secured a spot in the house band at the Palomino Club, which became ground zero for alt-country. Since then, Watson has been a torchbearer for traditional country music, with songs like “Nashville Rash” and a multi-volume series of albums called The Truckin’ Sessions which contains nothing but truck-driving songs. You can hear the real deal on Saturday at the Heights Theater. The Offspring hit it big by figuring out a way to put a sheen on punk rock while not totally depriving the form of its energy and rebellion. “Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem” and “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” were all hits, showing a keen sense of satire while rocking hard enough to keep heads bobbing. Catch The Offspring on Saturday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on a bill with fellow poppy punkers Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory.
Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose has been accused of violent sexual assault by a former model, according to a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court on Wednesday. The incident allegedly took place more than 30 years ago.
Sheila Kennedy, a former Penthouse model, alleges that she was “violently” sexually assaulted by the singer in 1989 after they met at a nightclub in New York City. She has sued Rose for battery, assault, gender-motivated violence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Kennedy is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for physical injury, pain and suffering, severe emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety and economic harm. She says the alleged incident left her with anxiety and depression and harmed her career.
Pethouse Pet Sheila Kennedy attends Bob Guccione’s Cocktail Party for 1983 Penthouse Pet of the Year.
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
According to the lawsuit, reported by Rolling Stone, Kennedy says Rose invited her back to his hotel room for a party after meeting at a nightclub. Kennedy alleges Rose offered party guests cocaine and alcohol at the party.
At one point, while leaving the bathroom, Rose was allegedly waiting for Kennedy outside. He “pushed Kennedy against a wall and kissed her,” which the former model “did not mind” and “was open to sleeping with him if things progressed.”
Axl Rose sends notice to Google, demands ‘fat photos’ be removed
As the night went on, Kennedy claims Rose began encouraging some of the party guests to have group sex and says she became “uncomfortable” as she watched him have sex with another model. The complaint alleges she left the room and later heard him throwing glass and screaming insults at the model.
Later that night, Kennedy alleges Rose, now 61, “knocked her to the floor,” dragged her by the hair, tied her hands behind her back with a pair of pantyhose and proceeded to sexually assault her “while he was in a sexual, volatile rage.”
Story continues below advertisement
“Kennedy did not consent and felt overpowered,” the complaint reads, according to Rolling Stone. “She understood that the safest thing to do was to lie in bed and wait for Rose to finish assaulting her.”
“Rose made no attempt to ask for or check that Kennedy was consenting,” the lawsuit contines. “He treated her like property used solely for his sexual pleasure.”
The lawsuit said the attack left Kennedy with lifelong emotional, physical, psychological and financial damage and “symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder whenever she hears Rose’s name or the music of Guns N’ Roses.”
Portrait of American model and actress Sheila Kennedy as she leans on the balcony at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, France, August 1981. A photo from this session later appeared on the cover of the October 1987 issue of Penthouse magazine.
Rose’s lawyer, Alan S. Gutman, denied the allegations, telling CNN in a statement, “Simply put, this incident never happened.”
“Notably, these fictional claims were filed the day before the New York State filing deadline expires. Though he doesn’t deny the possibility of a fan photo taken in passing, Mr. Rose has no recollection of ever meeting or speaking to the Plaintiff, and has never heard about these fictional allegations prior to today,” the statement continued. “Mr. Rose is confident this case will be resolved in his favor.”
Story continues below advertisement
Kennedy has made the allegations about Rose in the past, including in her 2016 memoir, No One’s Pet, and in a 2021 documentary, Look Away, about women sexually abused in the music industry.
Axl Rose performs at the Guns ‘N’ Roses ‘Not In This Lifetime’ Tour at QSAC Stadium Brisbane on Feb. 7, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia.
Marc Grimwade / WireImage
According to People, Rose has faced other accusations of sexual abuse in the past, including an arrest for alleged statutory rape (the charges were later dropped), and in 1994 two of his former partners, Erin Everly and Stephanie Seymour, told the magazine that Rose had abused them but both settled lawsuits against the singer out of court.
—
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or is involved in an abusive situation, please visit the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for help. They are also reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
Guns N’ Roses is hitting the road in 2023, mapping out an extensive, five-month world tour that will hit stadiums, arenas and festivals around the world, including multiple shows in Canada.
The tour begins June 5 in Tel Aviv, Israel, before making its way across Europe for 15 shows. The band will then cross the Atlantic for a slate of shows across North America, which will be bookended by appearances in Canada.
They’ll kick off the North American leg on Aug. 5 at the Medavie Blue Cross Stadium in Moncton, N.B. The following show, on Aug. 8, will take place at Parc Jean Drapeau in Montreal.
Story continues below advertisement
On Sept. 3, they’ll make a stop at Rogers Centre in Toronto, and they’ll wrap up the tour in Vancouver, playing a show at B.C. Place Stadium on Oct. 16.
Hopeful fans looking to catch a piece of Guns N’ Roses concert memorabilia may be disappointed to learn that Axl Rose is ending his microphone-toss tradition.
Rose’s decision to stop throwing his microphone into the crowd during the band’s concerts — which he has done for more than 30 years — came after a woman in Adelaide, Australia, was reportedly injured at a show in November.
According the Adelaide Advertiser, Rebecca Howe had been standing close to the stage during the concert on Nov. 29. Howe claimed when Rose tossed his microphone into the crowd following the band’s last song, Paradise City, the device hit her in the face.
Rebecca Howe claimed to have been hit in the face with a microphone thrown by Axl Rose at a Guns N’ Roses concert in Adelaide, Australia in November 2022.
Facebook
Howe told the Adelaide Advertiser that she thought her face had “caved in” from the blow. She claimed that if the microphone had hit her in the temple, it “could have killed me.”
Story continues below advertisement
On Friday, Rose, the Guns N’ Roses frontman, released a statement on Twitter about Howe’s alleged injury.
“If true obviously we don’t want anyone getting hurt,” wrote Rose.
Rose wrote that most Guns N’ Roses fans are aware of the microphone-throw tradition and look forward to the opportunity to catch it when tossed into the crowd.
“Regardless in the interest of public safety from now on we’ll refrain from tossing the mic or anything to fans during or at r [sic] concerts,” he wrote.
Story continues below advertisement
Rose concluded by thanking all of his fans “for understanding.”
Atay and Jax: Canadian Rap Stars
On social media, several Guns N’ Roses fans mourned the end of the concert tradition. Several dedicated concertgoers asked Rose to keep throwing his microphone anyway, despite the possibility that someone could get hurt.
I have always been excited for that mike throw. Unfortunately, I was generally too close to the stage and never got the chance to catch it. Sorry to hear it won’t happen again. Love you guys!
IT WASN’T YOUR FAULT! Please don’t end the tradition, keep playing the microphone, thousands of fans dream of catching it one day. We love and support u! ❤️🌹pic.twitter.com/av65D2tqML
August 5, 2021 was one of the greatest days/nights of my life because of the epic @gunsnroses concert and I caught your mic at the end. I still have it. Totally sucks that u won’t be tossing your mic anymore. 🤘🏽🤟🏽
