Podcast Summary

Podcast: Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Host: Janda (Gamut Podcast Network)
Episode: When Axl Rose Wanted To Fight David Bowie
Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this bonus episode, host Janda dives into one of rock and roll’s strangest backstage stories: the time Axl Rose tried to fight David Bowie over a woman—the same woman who inspired Guns N’ Roses’ classic “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The episode explores how the personal lives of rock legends intersected in surprising ways and left behind legendary tales. Janda also considers the recurring patterns in classic rock drama: ego, romance, rivalry, and ultimately, unexpected camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. David Bowie’s History of Fist Fights (01:30)

• Janda opens with admiration for David Bowie's iconic allure, ability to reinvent himself, and lasting influence—but notes he wasn’t a stranger to physical altercations.
• Bowie’s Eyesight Incident:
  • At age 15, Bowie was permanently hurt in the eye by his best friend George Underwood in a fight over a girl. This resulted in his famous two-color eyes.
  • Despite the incident, Bowie and Underwood remained lifelong friends, collaborating on classic album art like Hunky Dory and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
• Notable Quote:

  “Everything that he did, he did with a touch of class. But he was no stranger to being in the occasional fist fight…”
  — Janda (01:38)

2. The Sweet Child and Axl’s Temper (04:13)

• Erin Everly as Muse:
  • Erin Everly, daughter of Don Everly (The Everly Brothers), inspired “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” She and Axl Rose had a tumultuous relationship.
• The Cat House Incident:
  • Guns N' Roses were shooting the risqué video for “It’s So Easy.” David Bowie, present due to his ties to Slash’s mother (Ola Hudson), took an “excessive” interest in Everly, who was in bondage gear for the filming.
  • Axl Rose, never shy about confrontation, was enraged and chased Bowie out of the venue, yelling:

  “I’m gonna kill you, Tin man!”
  — Janda (Retelling Axl Rose’s outburst, 06:20)

  • The chase spilled into the Hollywood streets; Bowie escaped.

3. Stage Showdown and Aftermath (07:00)

• Later, Bowie returned with Ola Hudson to watch GNR’s show. Axl, still fuming, insulted Bowie from the stage until Bowie left, baffling Hudson who knew nothing about the earlier altercation.
• Slash later had to explain the drama to his mother.

4. From Rivalry to Rock n’ Roll Reconciliation (08:00)

• Despite the confrontation, Rose and Bowie eventually reconciled.

• Bowie apologized, and the two ended up spending the evening drinking and bonding at the legendary China Club.

  “They ended up talking it all out, with Bowie apologizing for moving in on Rose’s girlfriend. They even headed out to the China Club together, where they spent the night drinking. Two rock stars who just found similarities in each other, at least for a night.”
  — Janda (08:07)

• The China Club was a hotspot for musicians and celebrities in LA, often hosting the likes of John Entwistle, Sam Kinison, and Robert De Niro.

• Mick Jagger, intrigued by the story, later quipped Rose for details, noting that Bowie had also been involved with both Marianne Faithfull and Bianca Jagger during Mick’s own relationships with them.

5. Reflections on Rock Star Reputations (09:00)

• Janda marvels at the outlandishness of Axl Rose chasing Bowie down the street and reflects on rock stars acting contrary to their public personas.
• Notable Moment:

  "Can you imagine the sight of Axl Rose chasing David Bowie down the street in broad daylight, hurling insults? Have you ever been surprised to see a rock star doing something that seemed out of character with their public Persona?"
  — Janda (09:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bowie’s Iconic Eyes:

  “…he totally embraced that look, knew that it was unique and it became totally iconic.”
  — Janda (02:30)

• On Bowie’s Failed Restraint:

  “…one would think that Bowie would have learned his lesson from this fight with his friend that permanently altered his appearance to stay away from somebody else's love interest or risk physical damage. But it seems that old habits died hard with Starman.”
  — Janda (03:30)

• On Rose and Bowie’s Unexpected Peace:

  “Just two guys having a good time together. Luckily, Bowie managed to escape this potential dust up with his eyes intact.”
  — Janda (08:52)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:30 — Bowie’s youthful fistfight and eye injury
• 04:13 — Introduction of Erin Everly and the Cat House video shoot
• 06:20 — The altercation between Axl Rose and Bowie
• 07:00 — On-stage insults and second confrontation
• 08:00 — Bowie and Rose reconcile at the China Club
• 09:07 — Reflection on rock star personas and final thoughts

Tone, Language & Style

Janda’s narration is energetic, fun, and peppered with pop culture references and sly humor. The tone is both revelatory and reflective, balancing entertaining storytelling with reverence for the artists’ complex legacies. Janda's delivery weaves together music lore, interpersonal drama, and the quirks of classic rock personalities in an engaging, conversational style.

Takeaway

This episode spotlights the very human—and sometimes absurd—side of rock icons. It’s a story of jealousy, rivalry, and, ultimately, the unexpected camaraderie that can spring up between larger-than-life figures, reminding listeners that behind every classic song and legend, there’s a real, often messy, life at play.