Listen: 1983 Demo Featuring Pre-Guns N' Roses Axl Rose Surfaces Online

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Some 1983 recordings featuring a pre-Guns N' Roses Axl Rose have surfaced online.

Before he was in GNR, Rose was in a Los Angeles band called Rapidfire. The band's former guitarist, Kevin Lawrence, recently posted a sampling of a track called "Ready to Rumble" (and another, unnamed song) which Rapidfire recorded 30 years ago on May 25, 1983. You can hear part of both songs via the YouTube player below.

According to Brave Words, on May 28, 1983, Rose performed with Rapidfire at Gazzarri's nightclub in Los Angeles, where he was noticed by Slash. The rest, as they say, is history.

Besides Rose on vocals and Lawrence on guitar, Rapidfire featured bassist Mike Hamernik and Chuck Gordon on drums. For more about Rapidfire, visit rapidfire1983.com.

Damian Fanelli
Damian Fanelli
Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.