Ole Beich

Ole Beich
Background information
Born	1955
Origin	Esbjerg, Denmark
Died	October 16, 1991 Copenhagen, Denmark,
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Bass, Guitar
Years active	1983–1985
Labels	Deadline
Associated acts	Guns N' Roses L.A. Guns

Ole Beich (1955 – October 16, 1991) was a Danish musician best known as the bassist for the original lineups of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses.^[1]

Early life

Born in the city of Esbjerg, Beich, in his youth, achieved a degree of fame amongst local musicians and fans.^[1] He played both guitar and bass with several Danish bands before he decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue his music career.^[1]

Career

L.A. Guns (1983–1985)

Main article: L.A. Guns

L.A. Guns were first formed in 1983^[2] by guitarist Tracii Guns.^[2][3] The first lineup included singer William Bailey^[2] (who would later change his name to Axl Rose^[4][5]), Beich and drummer Rob Gardner. Bailey would leave the group to front Rapidfire before going on to form Hollywood Rose with Izzy Stradlin and Chris Weber.^[6][7] Singer Michael Jagosz was brought in to replace Rose with the group recording the only material by the current incarnation of L.A. Guns. The material would be released as a bonus disc, titled Collector's Edition No. 1, with the compilation album Hollywood Raw in 2004.

Guns N' Roses (1985)

Main article: Guns N' Roses

Following Tracii Guns' decision to put L.A. Guns on hold to join recently reunited Hollywood Rose (who had disbanded the previous year), replacing Weber,^[6][7][8] Hollywood Rose eventually changed their name to Guns N' Roses (combining the names of L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose) with the lineup composed of Axl Rose, Tracii Guns, Izzy Stradlin, Ole Beich^[9] and Rob Gardner.^[10][11]

Beich played one show in early 1985 before quitting the group^[1] and was eventually replaced by Duff McKagan^[12][13] while Guns left the group^[2] being replaced by Slash.^[12] McKagan went on to book shows taking place between Sacramento and Seattle, which was dubbed "The Hell Tour". During this time, Gardner quit the group and was replaced by Steven Adler^[7] with this lineup becoming known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses.^[7][14][15]

Death

Beich died on October 16, 1991, drowning in Skt. Jørgens Lake in the center of Copenhagen.^[1] Guns N' Roses had performed less than a month earlier in Copenhagen on August 19, 1991. Reports by his family claim he was depressed after leaving Guns N' Roses in 1985 and was heavily abusing drugs before returning to Denmark in 1988. Heroin and a Blood Alcohol Content of .148 has been thought to contribute to his death from drowning his family still claims it was a suicide.

Ole Beich lie buried in Christchurch next to his father Shaft, who died in 1995.

Discography

with L.A. Guns

• Collector's Edition No. 1 (1985)

with Nalle & The Flames

• Rock 'N'alle Roll (1979)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Lerch, Otto. "Historien om Ole fra Guns N' Roses". Politiken. http://politiken.dk/kultur/573660/historien-om-ole-fra-guns-n-roses/. Retrieved September 20, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Stephen Thomas Erlewine; Andrew Leahey. "L.A. Guns Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p82926. Retrieved September 20, 2010. 
3. ^ Thore, Kim (June 17, 2010). "Tracii Guns Interview". Uberrock.co.uk. http://www.uberrock.co.uk/interviews/57-june-interviews/981-tracii-guns-la-guns-interview-exclusive.html. 
4. ^ Prato, Greg. "Axl Rose Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p120182. Retrieved September 16, 2004. 
5. ^ Danny Sugerman (1991). Appetite for Destruction: The Days of Guns N' Roses. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-07634-7. 
6. ^ ^{a b} (2004) Album notes for The Roots of Guns N' Roses by Hollywood Rose [booklet]. Cleopatra Records.
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Hollywood Rose Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p657398. Retrieved September 16, 2004. 
8. ^ "Ex-HOLLYWOOD ROSE Guitarist: AXL ROSE Was 'Very Ego Motivated'". Blabbermouth.net. November 19, 2004. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29388. 
9. ^ Wall, Mick (2009-01-20). W.A.R.: The Unauthorized Biography of William Axl Rose. Macmillan. p. 65. ISBN 9780312541484. http://books.google.com/books?id=o7yUEDepXKwC&pg=PA65. Retrieved September 16, 2004. 
10. ^ Slash; Anthony Bozza (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. pp. 97. ISBN 978-0 00-725775-1. 
11. ^ Berelian (2005). The Rough Guides to Heavy Metal. Rough Guides. p. 143. ISBN 1-84353-415-0. 
12. ^ ^{a b} Slash; Anthony Bozza (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. pp. 98. ISBN 978-0 00-725775-1. 
13. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Duff McKagan Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p104254. Retrieved September 16, 2004. 
14. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine; Greg Prato. "Guns N' Roses Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4416. Retrieved September 16, 2010. 
15. ^ Slash; Anthony Bozza (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. pp. 105. ISBN 978-0 00-725775-1. 

External links

• Ole Beich biography

Preceded by Original

Guns N' Roses Bass Guitarist 1985

Succeeded by Duff McKagan

Persondata
Name	Beich, Ole
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1955
Place of birth
Date of death	October 16, 1991
Place of death