In the long, turbulent saga of Guns N’ Roses, stability has often seemed an elusive prize. Yet for nearly two decades, the band found a steady heartbeat in the drumming of Frank Ferrer. Now, as they prepare for another ambitious world tour, Guns N’ Roses have announced that Ferrer, their longest-serving drummer, will no longer sit behind the kit.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the band confirmed Ferrer's departure: "Guns N’ Roses announce the amicable exit of Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in their storied run. The band thanks Frank for his friendship, creativity, and sturdy presence over the past 19 years, and they wish him success in the next chapter of his musical journey."
Ferrer’s journey with Guns N’ Roses began in June 2006, a time when the band's lineup was in flux, searching for a rhythm section to anchor their live shows. He joined during a performance that year, and over the years that followed, became a crucial part of the band’s reinvention. Notably, his tenure included the landmark tours that saw the reunion of Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan — a trio whose chemistry had once seemed irreparably fractured.
His last performance with the band took place on November 5, 2023, in Mexico. While no successor has yet been named, the need to find a replacement is pressing. Guns N’ Roses are set to launch their "Because What You Want and What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things" world tour on May 1 in Incheon, South Korea.
Ferrer’s departure adds another chapter to a history of changing drumbeats within Guns N’ Roses. Before Ferrer, Bryan "Brain" Mantia took up the sticks from 2000 to 2006, a seasoned drummer whose résumé includes work with Primus and Tom Waits. The throne before Mantia's belonged to Josh Freese, known for his tenures with Devo and Foo Fighters. Freese held the spot from 1997 to 2000, leaving his mark on the 1999 single "Oh My God."
Before the experimental flourishes of Freese and Mantia, there was Matt Sorum, whose disciplined, powerful playing drove the band from 1990 to 1997. Sorum's tenure was marked by the sprawling ambition of the Use Your Illusion albums and the frenetic energy of The Spaghetti Incident?. Yet, for many fans, the quintessential Guns N’ Roses drummer remains Steven Adler, whose raw, untamed style was immortalized on Appetite for Destruction and GN'R Lies.
Through these changes, the band has continued to survive — and at times, even thrive — a testament to the resilient, chaotic spirit that has defined Guns N’ Roses from the start.
With just six weeks until the tour begins, speculation is bound to grow over who will occupy the drum throne next. The shadow of Ferrer's departure will loom large, but Guns N’ Roses have always found a way to adapt, pushing forward with a defiant sense of momentum.
Perhaps the uncertainty suits them. After all, for a band whose biggest hits echo with the tension between desire and disillusionment, the unexpected feels almost like home.
