Roger Waters and David Gilmour aside, perhaps no feud in rock and roll is as well known as that between Axl Rose and Slash, arguably the two most famous members of the famed rock band Guns N Roses. In a new interview with former GNR manager Doug Goldstein, the cause of that feud may have been a tribute concert with Michael Jackson.
In an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil, Goldstein says that Slash’s performance at a tribute concert with MJ may have been the cause of the rift.
“I told [Slash] not to do it because Axl was molested by his father when he was two and he believed the charges against Michael Jackson,” said Goldstein. “So I asked Slash, ‘How much are you receiving?’ … and he said, ‘I’ll just receive a big screen television.’ When Axl found out Slash was going to play with Michael Jackson and that the payment was a big screen TV, he was devastated. He thought Slash would support him and be against all abuse. From Axl’s point of view, that was the only problem. He could ignore the drugs and the alcohol, but never the child abuse.”
Goldstein is still hopeful that the band will reunite. “I really believe that for how much I love the band, I’d be the manager to reunite them… I don’t think anyone else could do it.” He believes that if Slash apologizes for the benefit, Axl would consider forgiving him. And, considering Chinese Democracy, we’re crossing our fingers.