Axl Rose provided a very moving moment during the memorial service for Lisa Marie Presley at Graceland on January 22. Not only did the Guns N’ Roses frontman speak at the service, he also performed the GN’R classic “November Rain.”
Rose spoke briefly with Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier following the service. Frazier told Rose about “November Rain,” “That was one of her favorite songs, apparently.” Rose responded alluding to the fact that Presley asked for him to perform the song at her funeral if she suddenly died. He said, “Yes. It was my understanding she had actually talked about if the situation … So, that’s why I was asked to do it. Of course, I had to be here.”
Rose also mentioned he was nervous when delivering remarks at Presley’s service. He said, “I didn’t really know I was going to speak or anything. I still feel like, I don’t know that I deserve to be here, but I wanted to try to do right by her and her family and her fans. So, it meant a lot. I was pretty nervous and emotional up there.”
Rose said, in part, during his remarks, “I never in a million years imagined singing here, and especially under these circumstances. This is truly devastating and I’m sure excruciating for everyone here and all of those affected by her passing. At the same time, one can see how hard everyone’s worked, and is working, to make this as beautiful for Lisa as it can be and is. I’m honored to be here for Lisa and her family.”
Presley passed away on January 12 at age 54 after going into cardiac arrest at her home in Calabasas, Calif.
