“It Was Embarrassing”: Former GNR Manager Criticizes Axl Rose’s Sabbath Performance
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs onstage during the "Not In This Lifetime..." Tour at Madison Square Garden on October 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
A former manager of Guns N’ Roses has offered blunt feedback on Axl Rose’s recent performance at the Black Sabbath tribute event. In an interview with Ultimate Guitar, he commented on both Rose’s appearance and vocal delivery, expressing mixed feelings about the set.
When asked specifically about Guns N’ Roses’ tribute to Black Sabbath, the manager admitted he tried not to watch the show but ultimately found it impossible to avoid. “I did my very best to avoid watching the whole thing,” he said. “But there was such incredible coverage, it was unavoidable… One of the things that was very easy to see initially was Axl at the piano. And my first question is, can someone please explain to me what happened to his hair? And the second thing I thought was, It’s not the strongest performance I’ve ever seen.”
The Format Made Things Tough
He acknowledged the unusual format of the event as a major challenge. “The whole thing is such an incredible cluster… I figured out that something like two-thirds of the acts got 15 minutes, and the rest got 25,” he noted. The rapid turnover of performers, he explained, left little time for artists to get into a rhythm.
“This is not the optimum way to sound great or to get into a groove,” he said. “It reminded me of old TV performances—be on, then off. That anybody sounds good in that circumstance is an achievement.”
A Historic Night Despite the Pressure
Despite the criticism, the tribute carried great significance. Vinyl Me Please reported Guns N’ Roses performed Sabbath classics like “It’s Alright,” “Never Say Die,” and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.” The night also marked a first-ever meeting between Ozzy Osbourne and Axl Rose—an emotional backstage moment Ozzy later shared, calling Axl a “legend.”
According to AOL, this concert served as the original Black Sabbath lineup’s first reunion in two decades and was billed as Ozzy’s final show. It capped off an emotionally charged day in rock history—one that tested even the most seasoned performers under tight time constraints and high expectations.
