60-Year-Old Drummer Breaks Silence on Iconic Frontman’s Real Reputation After 19 Years Together

Frank Ferrer has strong feelings about Guns N ‘ Roses’ frontman, AxlRose. 

The rock band’s former drummer just gave Rolling Stone his first interview since leaving the group.

Ferrer told the magazine that Rose’s reputation isn’t totally accurate to who he really is. When asked about what the public misunderstands about the rocker, Ferrer was happy to set the record straight. 

“That he’s a mean guy. I think the world thinks that he’s a scary, mean guy. And he’s the complete opposite,” he said.

He continued, “[Rose] doesn’t suffer fools, so that might piss people off. But he’s generous and super funny and worried about us all the time. I wish they could know him the way I know him. That’s the only way I could say it. He’s a great musician, great singer, all that stuff that goes in the pot, but he’s a good man.”

Ferrer was supposed to be a temporary addition to Guns N’ Roses. He took over for drummer Brian “Brain” Mantia in 2006 after Mantia took time off to be with his newborn child. His two-week gig became 19 years, making Ferrer the longest-running drummer for the band. 

He recalled Rose making sure he felt welcome. 

“Him being really super nice and friendly,” Ferrer remembered after meeting the legendary Axl Rose. “I think he saw it too that this is a big deal. ‘Hey, this guy’s jumping on kinda raw,’ and I’m sure he felt, ‘This better work.’ And when I got up onstage, he was like, ‘Great job.’”

The 60-year-old drummer played on Chinese Democracy and worked with Slash and DuffMcKagan when they returned to the group in 2016

Guns N’ Roses announced Ferrer was leaving the band in March 2025. He was replaced by IsaacCarpenter. 

“Everything comes to an end. Everything just comes to an end,” he shared. “And I’ve said this before, I knew this thing wasn’t gonna be forever. I was just so happy I got to do it when I got to do it and now I’m doing other stuff. It’s really that simple.”