List of Guns N' Roses members

Three lineups of Guns N' Roses in 2006 (top), 2012 (middle) and 2017 (bottom)

Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1985, the group originally consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Tracii Guns, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Ole Beich and drummer Rob Gardner. The band has been through many lineup changes and currently includes Rose (a constant member), bassist Duff McKagan (from 1985 to 1997, and since 2016), lead guitarist Slash (from 1985 to 1996, and since 2016), keyboardist Dizzy Reed (since 1990), rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus (since 2002), drummer Frank Ferrer (since 2006) and keyboardist Melissa Reese (since 2016).

History

1985–1997

Guns N' Roses was formed in March 1985 by vocalist Axl Rose and rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin of Hollywood Rose, with lead guitarist Tracii Guns, bassist Ole Beich and drummer Rob Gardner of L.A. Guns. ^[1] Before the group's first show on March 26, 1985, ^[2] Beich was fired and replaced by Duff "Rose" McKagan. ^[3] Shortly thereafter, Guns and Gardner were replaced by Slash and Steven Adler, respectively, both of whom had previously played with McKagan in Road Crew. ^[4] The group released Appetite for Destruction in 1987, which as of 2017 had reportedly sold more than 30 million copies. ^[5] During the resulting concert tour, Adler broke his hand in a fight and was replaced for a run of shows by Cinderella drummer Fred Coury. ^[6] McKagan also missed a show in May 1988 when he got married, with The Cult's Kid "Haggis" Chaos substituting for the bassist. ^[7]

G N' R Lies was released in 1988, selling almost 10 million copies worldwide as of 2018. ^[8] Eagles drummer Don Henley performed with the group at the 1989 American Music Awards, after Adler was admitted to rehab for increasing drug problems. ^[9] By the following July, the drummer had been fired from the band for his continued problems with substance abuse, with The Cult's Matt Sorum taking his place. ^[10] Adler's last recording with Guns N' Roses was the Use Your Illusion II single "Civil War", ^[11] which also featured newly-added sixth member Dizzy Reed on piano. ^[12] The band's new lineup recorded Use Your Illusion I and II and embarked on the Use Your Illusion Tour in May 1991, a few months before their release. ^[13] On November 7, however, Stradlin abruptly left Guns N' Roses due to the "air of chaos" which surrounded the band. ^[14] He was replaced by Gilby Clarke, who debuted alongside fellow additions in touring keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, three backing vocalists and a three-piece horn section. ^[15]

After the conclusion of the two-year long tour, Guns N' Roses released "The Spaghetti Incident?" in 1993, an album of cover versions. ^[16] Work began the next year on a new studio album; however by October, Clarke had been replaced by Rose's childhood friend Paul "Huge" Tobias in time for the recording of their cover of "Sympathy for the Devil". ^[17] Clarke was reportedly fired by Rose without the consent of the other band members, and Slash objected to the addition of Tobias, which led him to focus on his new side project Slash's Snakepit. ^[18] Eventually, various differences led to the guitarist's departure in October 1996. ^[19] He was soon followed by Sorum, who was fired in April 1997, ^[20] after an argument with Rose regarding the hiring of Tobias. ^[21] In August, McKagan became the final member of the Appetite for Destruction lineup to leave, ^[22] explaining in his autobiography that the band was "so erratic that it didn't seem to fit with my hopes for parenthood, for stability". ^[23]

1997–2015

Rose retained use of the Guns N' Roses name and began rebuilding the band in 1997. His first addition was former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck, who joined to replace Slash in August on a two-year contract. ^[24] He was followed early the next year by Sorum's replacement Josh Freese, who also signed a contract for two years, ^[25] and McKagan's replacement Tommy Stinson. ^[26] Later in the year, Chris Pitman joined on synthesizers & keyboards. ^[27] The new lineup released "Oh My God" in 1999, which marked the first new Guns N' Roses material in five years. In August, however, Finck left the band to return to Nine Inch Nails upon the expiration of his contract with Rose. ^[28] He was replaced in March the following year by experimental guitarist Buckethead. ^[29] Freese left shortly after his arrival, with the guitarist recommending Brain as his replacement. ^[30] Finck later returned, and Guns N' Roses played its first live show in the US in seven years on December 31, 2000. ^[31]

After eight years with the group, Paul Tobias left Guns N' Roses in July 2002, with Richard Fortus taking his place. ^[32] Later in the year, the band embarked on the first leg of its extensive Chinese Democracy Tour, which was their first since 1993. ^[33] After more touring, Buckethead abruptly left in March 2004, causing the band to cancel its appearance at Rock in Rio. ^[34] The group continued work on new album Chinese Democracy , but didn't perform again until May 2006 when Buckethead's replacement Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal debuted. ^[35] In June, Frank Ferrer temporarily replaced Brain for a run of shows, when the regular drummer was forced to return home earlier than expected to be with his pregnant wife. ^[36] Brain ultimately chose not to return to the band, and Ferrer took over on a permanent basis. ^[37] Chinese Democracy was released in November 2008, 15 years after the previous studio album, and with an estimated budget of $13 million in production costs. ^[38]

In March 2009, Finck left Guns N' Roses for a second time to rejoin Nine Inch Nails, with Sixx:A.M.'s DJ Ashba taking his place. ^[39] The band continued touring in the years following the 2008 release of Chinese Democracy, including the 2012 Up Close and Personal Tour which saw the group downgrading its production for a run of shows in smaller venues. The Appetite for Democracy tour, which began with a 12-night residency in Las Vegas, spawned the group's first live release since 1999, Appetite for Democracy 3D , in 2014. Reports of a follow-up to Chinese Democracy were made by various members of the band during these years, too, including Ashba and Fortus in 2012, ^{[40] [41]} and Rose and Reed in 2014. ^{[42] [43]} However, in July 2015 it was announced that Ashba had left the group to focus on Sixx:A.M. and his family. ^[44] Around the same time, after much speculation, it was also confirmed that Thal had left after the conclusion of the 2014 tour. ^[45] Stinson also left shortly after the tour for personal reasons. ^[46]

2015 onwards

Despite the recent departure of three long-term members, Ferrer confirmed in July 2015 that Guns N' Roses "still exists" and was "moving forward". ^[47] The following month, former lead guitarist Slash announced that he had become friends with Axl Rose again, after almost 20 years of not talking to his former bandmate. ^[48] Alongside the recent departures of both lead guitarists, this fuelled renewed rumors of a potential reunion of the 'classic' lineup of Guns N' Roses, ^[49] which continued as it was reported that the group was being touted for several European festivals in 2016. ^[50] The rumours ultimately proved to be true to some extent, as it was announced in January 2016 that both Slash and bassist Duff McKagan would be rejoining Guns N' Roses for a headline performance at Coachella Festival. ^[51] The reunion was later expanded into the Not in This Lifetime... Tour, which commenced in June. Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer and Dizzy Reed remained present, while Melissa Reese took the place of Chris Pitman. ^[52] The tour sustained for over two years without lineup changes, finally ending on November 2, 2019.

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Axl Rose (W. Axl Rose)	1985–present [1] [52]	lead vocals piano occasional rhythm guitar and percussion	all Guns N' Roses releases
	Duff McKagan (Michael McKagan)	1985–1997 2016–present [upper-alpha 1] [3] [22] [51]	bass backing and occasional lead vocals acoustic guitar percussion	all Guns N' Roses releases from Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide (1986) to "Sympathy for the Devil" (1994) Live Era '87–'93 (1999), "Absurd" (2021) and onward
	Slash (Saul Hudson)	1985–1996 2016–present [4] [19] [51]	lead and rhythm guitars backing vocals
	Dizzy Reed (Darren Reed)	1990–present [12] [52]	piano keyboards backing vocals percussion	all Guns N' Roses releases from "Civil War" (1990) onward
	Richard Fortus	2002–present [32] [52]	rhythm and lead guitars backing vocals	all Guns N' Roses releases from Chinese Democracy (2008) onward [upper-alpha 2]
	Frank Ferrer	2006–present [36] [37] [52]	drums percussion occasional backing vocals
	Melissa Reese	2016–present [52]	keyboards synthesizers sub-bass programming backing vocals	all Guns N' Roses releases from "Absurd" (2021) onward. [54]

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Izzy Stradlin (Jeff Isbell)	1985–1991 [upper-alpha 3] [1] [14]	rhythm and lead guitars backing and occasional lead vocals percussion	all Guns N' Roses releases from Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide (1986) to Use Your Illusion II (1991) Live Era '87–'93 (1999)
	Rob Gardner	1985 [1] [4]	drums backing vocals	none [upper-alpha 4]
	Tracii Guns (Tracy Ulrich)		lead and rhythm guitars
	Ole Beich	1985 (died 1991) [1] [2]	bass	none
	Steven Adler (Michael Coletti)	1985–1990 [upper-alpha 5] [4] [10]	drums percussion backing vocals	all Guns N' Roses releases from Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide (1986) to Civil War (1990) Live Era '87–'93 (1999)
	Matt Sorum	1990–1997 [10] [20]		all Guns N' Roses releases from "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" ( Days of Thunder version) (1990) to Sympathy for the Devil (1994) Live Era '87–'93 (1999)
	Gilby Clarke	1991–1994 [15] [17]	rhythm and lead guitars backing vocals	Use Your Illusion World Tour 1992 in Tokyo I & II (1992) "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) Live Era '87–'93 (1999)
	Paul "Huge" Tobias [upper-alpha 6]	1994–2002 [17] [32]	rhythm and lead guitars backing vocals occasional piano	Sympathy for the Devil (1994) "Oh My God" (1999) Chinese Democracy (2008)
	Robin Finck (Robert Finck)	1997–1999 2000–2008 [upper-alpha 7] [24] [28] [31] [39]	lead and rhythm guitars occasional keyboards	"Oh My God" (1999) Chinese Democracy (2008)
	Josh Freese	1997–2000 [25] [30]	drums percussion	"Oh My God" (1999) [upper-alpha 8]
	Tommy Stinson	1998–2016 [26] [46]	bass backing and occasional lead vocals	"Oh My God" (1999) Chinese Democracy (2008) Appetite for Democracy 3D (2014)
	Chris Pitman	1998–2016 [27] [52]	keyboards synthesizers sub-bass programming backing vocals percussion occasional guitar [upper-alpha 9]
	Buckethead (Brian Carroll)	2000–2004 [29] [34]	lead and rhythm guitars	Chinese Democracy (2008)
	Brain (Bryan Mantia) [upper-alpha 10]	2000–2006 [upper-alpha 11] [30] [36] [37]	drums percussion	Chinese Democracy (2008) "Absurd" (2021) "Hard Skool" (2021) "Perhaps" / "The General" (2023)
	Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Ronald Blumenthal)	2006–2014 [35] [45]	lead and rhythm guitars backing and occasional lead vocals	Chinese Democracy (2008) Appetite for Democracy 3D (2014)
	DJ Ashba (Daren Ashba)	2009–2015 [39] [44]	lead and rhythm guitars	Appetite for Democracy 3D (2014)

Touring

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Details
	Fred Coury	1987–1988	drums	Coury substituted for Steven Adler between late 1987 and early 1988 after the drummer injured his hand during a fight. [6]
	Kid "Haggis" Chaos (Stephen Harris)	1988	bass	Harris replaced Duff McKagan for a show on May 27, 1988 when the bassist took a leave of absence for his wedding. [7]
	Don Henley	1989	drums backing vocals	Henley replaced Steven Adler for the 1989 American Music Awards after the drummer was admitted to a rehab clinic. [9]
	Teddy Andreadis	1991–1993	keyboards percussion harmonica backing vocals	Additional members of the Use Your Illusion Tour band from December 1991 to February 1993. [15]
	Roberta Freeman		backing vocals tambourine
	Tracey Amos
	Diane Jones
	Cece Worrall		saxophones
	Lisa Maxwell
	Anne King		trumpet

Session musicians

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Adriana Smith	1987	vocals	Appetite for Destruction (1987) - "Rocket Queen"
	West Arkeen (Aaron Arkeen)	1988 1990–1991 (died 1997)	percussion acoustic guitar	G N' R Lies (1988) – "Patience", "Used to Love Her", "You're Crazy" and "One in a Million" Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "The Garden"
	Howard Teman	1988 1990-1991	percussion piano	G N' R Lies (1988) – "Patience", "Used to Love Her", "You're Crazy" and "One in a Million" Use Your Illusion II (1991) – "So Fine"
	Rick Richards	1988	percussion	G N' R Lies (1988) – "Patience", "Used to Love Her", "You're Crazy" and "One in a Million"
	Ray Grden
	Michael Monroe (Matti Fagerholm)	1990–1991 1992–1993	harmonica saxophone vocals	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "Bad Obsession" "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) – "Ain't It Fun"
	Stuart Bailey		backing vocals	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "November Rain" "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) – "I Don't Care About You"
	Shannon Hoon (Richard Hoon)	1990–1991 (died 1995)	vocals	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "Live and Let Die", "Don't Cry", "You Ain't the First", "November Rain" and "The Garden" Use Your Illusion II (1991) – "Don't Cry" (alt. lyrics)
	Johann Langlie	1990-1991	keyboards drums programming	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "Live And Let Die", "November Rain", "Garden Of Eden", "Coma" Use Your Illusion II (1991) – "My World"
	Alice Cooper (Vincent Furnier)		vocals	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "The Garden"
	Jon Thautwein		horns	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "Live and Let Die"
	Matthew McKagan
	Rachel West
	Robert Clark
	Tim Doyle		tambourine	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "You Ain't the First"
	Reba Shaw		backing vocals	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "November Rain"
	Mike Clink		nutcracker	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "Dead Horse"
	Bruce Foster		programming	Use Your Illusion I (1991) – "Coma"
	Diane Mitchell		spoken word vocals
	Michelle Loiselle
	Monica Zierhut-Soto
	Patricia Fuenzalida
	Rose Mann
	Susanne Filkins
	The Waters		backing vocals	Use Your Illusion II (1991) – "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
	Mike Staggs	1992–1993	guitar	"The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) – "Ain't It Fun"
	Mike Fasano		percussion	"The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) – "Hair of the Dog"
	Richard Duguay		guitars	"The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) – "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory"
	Eddie Huletz		backing vocals
	Blake Stanton			"The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) – "I Don't Care About You"
	Eric Mills
	Riki Rachtman (David Rachtman)
	Carlos Booy		acoustic guitar	"The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) – "Look at Your Game, Girl"
	Sid Riggs (Sean Riggs)	1994–1999	drums	none [upper-alpha 12]
	Zakk Wylde (Jeffrey Wielandt)	1995	guitar	none [upper-alpha 13]
	Krys Baratto	1996-1997 [59]	bass	none [upper-alpha 14]
	Chris Vrenna	1997	drums and programming	none [upper-alpha 15]
	Brian May	1999	lead guitar	none [upper-alpha 16]
	Dave Navarro		guitar	"Oh My God" (1999)
	Gary Sunshine
	Stuart White	programming
	Eric Caudieux	2002-2007	drum machine sub drums	Chinese Democracy (2008) – "If the World" and "This I Love"
	Pete Scaturro		keyboards	Chinese Democracy (2008)
	Marco Beltrami	2003	orchestra	Chinese Democracy (2008) – "Street of Dreams", "There Was a Time", "Madagascar", "This I Love", and "Prostitute"
	Paul Buckmaster	2004 (died 2017)		Chinese Democracy (2008) – "Street of Dreams", "There Was a Time", "Madagascar", and "Prostitute"
	Suzy Katayama	2004-2007	French horn	Chinese Democracy (2008) – "Madagascar"
	Patti Hood		harp	Chinese Democracy (2008) – "This I Love"
	Caram Costanzo	2003-2007	sub drums
	Sebastian Bach (Sebastian Bierk)	2007	vocals	Chinese Democracy (2008) – "Sorry"

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
March 1985	Axl Rose – lead vocals Tracii Guns – lead and rhythm guitar Izzy Stradlin – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Ole Beich – bass, backing vocals Rob Gardner – drums, backing vocals	none
March–May 1985	Axl Rose – lead vocals Tracii Guns – lead and rhythm guitar Izzy Stradlin – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Rob Gardner – drums, backing vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
May–June 1985	Axl Rose – lead vocals Izzy Stradlin – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Rob Gardner – drums, backing vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
June 1985 – February 1990	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Izzy Stradlin – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Steven Adler – drums, backing vocals	Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide (1986) Appetite for Destruction (1987) Guns N' Roses (1988) G N' R Lies (1988) Live Era '87–'93 (1999) – three tracks
February–July 1990	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Izzy Stradlin – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Steven Adler – drums, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals	Use Your Illusion II (1991) – "Civil War" only
July 1990 – November 1991	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Izzy Stradlin – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocals	Use Your Illusion I (1991) Use Your Illusion II (1991) Live Era '87–'93 (1999) – three tracks
November 1991 – October 1994	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocals Gilby Clarke – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals	"The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993) Live Era '87–'93 (1999)
October 1994 – October 1996	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals	"Sympathy for the Devil" (1994)
October 1996 – April 1997	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocals Paul Tobias – guitars, backing vocals	none
April–August 1997	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – guitars, backing vocals
August 1997	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards
August 1997 – March 1998	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards	Chinese Democracy (2008)
March–May 1998	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards Josh Freese – drums, percussion
May–October 1998	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards Josh Freese – drums, percussion Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals
October 1998 – August 1999	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards Josh Freese – drums, percussion Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals	"Oh My God" (1999) Chinese Democracy (2008)
August 1999 – March 2000	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – guitars, backing vocals Josh Freese – drums, percussion Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals	Chinese Democracy (2008)
March–October 2000	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Buckethead – lead and rhythm guitar Brain – drums, percussion
October 2000 – July 2002	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Paul Tobias – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Buckethead – lead and rhythm guitar Brain – drums, percussion Robin Finck – lead guitar, keyboards
July 2002 – March 2004	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Buckethead – lead and rhythm guitar Brain – drums, percussion Robin Finck – lead rhythm guitar, keyboards Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals
March 2004 – May 2006	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Brain – drums, percussion Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals
May–October 2006	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Brain – drums, percussion Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal – lead guitar, backing vocals
October 2006 – March 2009	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Robin Finck – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Bumblefoot – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Ferrer – drums, percussion
March 2009 – June 2014	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Tommy Stinson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Bumblefoot – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Ferrer – drums, percussion DJ Ashba – lead guitar	Appetite for Democracy 3D (2014)
June 2014 – July 2015	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Ferrer – drums, percussion DJ Ashba – lead and rhythm guitar	none
July – December 2015	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Richard Fortus – guitars, backing vocals Frank Ferrer – drums, percussion
January–February 2016	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Chris Pitman – keyboards, backing vocals Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Ferrer – drums, percussion Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
March 2016 – present	Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, piano Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, backing vocals Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Frank Ferrer – drums, percussion Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals Slash – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Melissa Reese – keyboards, backing vocals	"ABSUЯD" (2021) "Hard Skool" (Single) (2021) Hard Skool (EP) (2022) "Perhaps" (single) (2023) "The General" (single) (2023)

Footnotes

1. Duff McKagan also performed with the band as a live guest at a show on October 14, 2010, and as a touring substitute for Tommy Stinson in 2014. ^[53]
2. Ferrer does not appear on any of the singles released since 2021, with former drummer Brain's performances being used. ^[54]
3. Izzy Stradlin also performed with the band as a touring substitute for Gilby Clarke in 1993, and as a live guest at several shows in 2006 and 2012. ^[53]
4. Guns and Gardner (alongside Rose, McKagan and Stradlin) recorded a demo EP with Guns N' Roses in March 1985, but it was not released. ^[55]
5. Adler appeared as a live guest during the band's Not in This Lifetime... Tour, on July 6, July 9, and August 19 2016. ^[56]
6. Credited as either Paul Huge or Paul Tobias.
7. Finck appeared as a live guest on the March 12, 2012 show at the House of Blues in Los Angeles ^[57]
8. Josh Freese's drum recordings were not included on Chinese Democracy , being re-recorded by Brain after Freese left the band, but Freese was credited for arrangements on four tracks. ^[58]
9. Pitman filled in on bass guitar in a 2007 show that Tommy Stinson was unable to attend.
10. Often miscredited as Brian Mantia
11. Brain appeared as a live guest on the March 12, 2012 show at the House of Blues in Los Angeles ^[57]
12. Riggs worked as a studio drummer sporadically for Guns N' Roses while working on the follow-up to "The Spaghetti Incident?". Riggs contributed to the songwriting of "Oh My God"
13. Wylde performed with the band in studio for several weeks auditioning for a guitar spot, but he ultimately was not brought in
14. Baratto performed with the band in the studio while McKagan was away working on Neurotic Outsiders
15. Vrenna performed with the band for several months as drummer in 1997 during the sessions for what would become Chinese Democracy; however, none of his contributions or writing are featured on the album.
16. May recorded lead guitar for several songs during the Chinese Democracy sessions, including "Catcher in the Rye" in 1999, but his contributions were removed from the final album.

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External links

• Guns N' Roses official website