RAPIDFIRE was one of the short-lived outfits fronted by Axl Rose, subsequently to rise to huge international prominence as frontman for the self-styled 'World's most dangerous band', GUNS N' ROSES. Rose was born in Lafayette, Indiana on 6th February 1962 and was a choir boy as a child. Whilst still an infant his natural father had disappeared and, after his mother had remarried, Axl and his brother took on his step father's surname of Bailey. At the age of 17 he discovered that his real father's surname had been Rose. He then took on the name W. Rose, adopting the Axl tag after playing in a band of that name. It was perhaps a coincidence that Axl Rose was an anagram of Oral Sex, as is the fact his initials spell W.A.R.

Rose (who legally changed his name from Bill Bailey to W. Axl Rose in 1986) moved to Los Angeles in 1982 with Laffayette buddy IZZY STRADLIN'. However, once in the City Of Angels, the singer found it somewhat of a struggle to get recognition. Rose joined up with RAPIDFIRE, fronting a band unit of guitarist Kevin Lawrence, bass player Mike Hammernik and drummer Chuck Gordon. This short lived act cut demos during 1983.

Things began to start kicking into gear in 1985 when Rose and Stradlin were joined by guitarist Chris Weber and drummer Johnny Kreis. This new unit, initially entitled simply ROSE, then evolved into HOLLYWOOD ROSE to cut a five song demo. Bringing in new personnel guitarist Tracii Guns and drummer Robbie Gardner, HOLLYWOOD ROSE evolved further into GUNS N' ROSES.

In mid 2004 Rose's pre GUNS N' ROSES history was unearthed, firstly as the Cleopatra label collected together archive HOLLYWOOD ROSE demos for release as 'The Roots Of Guns n' Roses', then adding to this resurrection of Rose's formative works would be the revelation that demos from 1983, when the singer fronted RAPIDFIRE, were due for release.