Unseen Bonds: Axl Rose Opens Up About His Secret Friendship with Lisa Marie Presley

In a poignant revelation, Axl Rose, the iconic frontman of Guns N’ Roses, has opened up about his deep and enduring friendship with Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley, following her tragic passing. The singer expressed his grief in a recent interview with People, shedding light on the emotional bond they shared and how he supported her through some of the darkest moments of her life.

Lisa Marie Presley passed away at the age of 54 after suffering two cardiac arrests, a loss that has left many of her fans and loved ones heartbroken. Rose, who had maintained a largely private relationship with her, spoke openly for the first time about their connection and the support he offered following the devastating loss of her son, Benjamin Keough, in 2020.

Reflecting on her passing, Rose described the feeling as “unreal,” stating, “I will miss my friend Lisa. Her passing, just as her son’s, or as a kid, her father’s, doesn’t seem real.” The rocker shared how, after Benjamin’s suicide at the age of 27, he tried to offer comfort through small gestures. One of their routines was sharing animal videos, a lighthearted attempt to lift her spirits in the midst of overwhelming grief.

Rose spoke candidly about how difficult it was to broach the topic of Benjamin’s death with Lisa Marie, but he felt it necessary to show that he cared. “Her son’s passing was shocking, tragic, and devastating,” Rose said. “It was something that, at a point, you obviously didn’t want to bring up but awkwardly would in an effort to let her know you cared and were thinking about her, about them, and to be of any comfort one could, which she appreciated.”

The pair’s friendship went beyond shared grief. Rose and Presley frequently swapped jokes, news articles, and heartwarming videos of animals as a way to cope with the pain. “I wanted her to be happy, to feel good about things, at least as much as one could under the circumstances,” Rose explained. Despite the moments of lightness, Rose acknowledged the difficulty Lisa faced, particularly in her relationship with Benjamin, which was extraordinarily close. “With the closeness of their relationship, one could hope — but truthfully, it didn’t seem, at least without some real time passing, a reasonable reality,” he said.

Axl also opened up about their conversations on a variety of topics, including the music industry and her famous father, Elvis Presley. “I was fortunate enough to hear about her father and her experiences and memories with him firsthand. She came to shows, and we hung out backstage. It was always great to see her, and she was always fun and super supportive,” Rose recalled. Presley was also incredibly proud of the 2022 Elvis movie, a film that captured the King of Rock and Roll’s life, and Axl revealed how nervous she had been about its release, wanting desperately to honor her father’s legacy.

In his heartfelt reflections, Rose expressed a desire for Lisa Marie to find peace in the afterlife, reuniting with the most important men in her life. “What comes after life, who knows, but I’d like to think they’re together, her and Ben with her father and Ben’s grandfather in some way, and Lisa, and the most important men in her life are happy together,” he said.

Lisa Marie’s sudden death has left a void in the hearts of those who knew her well. Her mother, Priscilla Presley, expressed her profound loss in a statement to People, saying, “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us. She was the most passionate, strong, and loving woman I have ever known.”

Through his words, Axl Rose has provided a glimpse into a cherished friendship that the public never knew existed. His reflection on Lisa Marie Presley’s life offers a touching tribute to a woman who, despite the tragedies she faced, remained deeply loved by those who knew her best.

As the world mourns the loss of another Presley, the secret bond between Rose and Lisa Marie serves as a reminder of the unseen friendships that shape our lives, sometimes quietly and away from the spotlight.