1987.06.08 - The Star (UK) - More Beastly than the Beasties!

Many thanks to @troccoli for sharing with us the rare articles and interviews he has collected, as well as many other amazing GN'R memorabilia.

---

This must be one of the articles Axl has referred to in regards to the rumours spread by the British press when the band went to play in the U.K. for the first time in June 1987.
The original picture can be found on Troccoli's site here:
http://www.troccolitm.com/PressAppAlt.html

----

MORE BEASTLY THAN THE BEASTIES!
 
EXCLUSIVE by GEOFF BAKER
 
A Rock band even nastier than the Beastie Boys is heading for Britain...
 
Los Angeles-based Guns ‘n Roses are led by the outrageous Axel [sic] Rose, who has an endearing habit of butchering dogs.
The booze-crazed rockers live in a bungalow called “The Hellhouse” and delight in terrorising their neighbours.
L.A. police recently raided their sleazy [?] and Rose ended in intensive care for three days after a vicious battle.
Guns N’ Roses will be arriving in the next two weeks to promote their new single, It’s So Easy.
They are also scheduled to play at London’s Marquee Club.
Record company bosses are already worried that Rose’s hatred of dogs could cause a backlash among animal lovers.
 
Booze
He is on record as saying: “...I have a personal disgust for small dogs, like poodles. – Everything about them means I must kill them.”
The other two members of the group are as sleazy as their crackpot leader.
Guitarist Slash and bass player Duff McKagen [sic] claim they have been on a boozing binge for TWO YEARS.
Says Slash: “When we get up in the afternoon we drink so much we can’t play because our hands are shaking like windmills."
A spokeperson for the group said their wild lifestyle is not a hype. He added: “They really live like that. And they [?] drugs, mostly amphetamines.”
Geffen Records, who are pushing the group’s single, have high hopes for [?] group.
A spokesman said: “They will be gigantic – if they live long enough.”
 
[A picture of Axl is captioned: "Rose... dog killer"]

The quote about Axl and poodles is lifted from Time Out, June 1987, where Axl is quoted as saying this directly to the interviewer. It was then picked up by the tabloid press (including this The Star piece), and later on also back in the US, although twisted (in Hit Parader, an interview we don't have in our collection yet).