Axl Rose is 51 today, and he has left quite the impression; from massive bills for trashed hotel rooms, to the published criticism he has elicited from other artists, to the numerous lawsuits that he has filed, “embattled” is putting his disposition mildly.

However, there are plenty of well-earned framed platinum records that certainly deserve a place in the influential singer’s Malibu home.

He is the persevering voice of one of rock’s most celebrated bands with a lofty register that can range from matching the wild grit of the heavy riffs it complements to a more mellow and harmonious tone for Guns N’ Roses’ less frenetic songs like “November Rain”.

In their heyday, Guns N’ Roses was a bastion of hard rock, topping the charts with hits like “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child O' Mine." Several lineup changes later (17 to be exact) Axl continues to front GNR, and a new album is even rumored to be on the way. 

And though he has been stepping back onto the stage fairly frequently these days, when the original members of Guns N’ Roses were present for the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last April, Rose, citing his refusal to see his old bandmates again, did not attend.

For now, Rose, his current lineup, and ZZ Top are ready to rock Australia in March. And despite a sometimes tumultuous career, one thing is for sure: Axl has secured his place in Rock and Roll history, and he's not going anywhere.