Ole Beich
Encyclopedia
Ole Beich was a Danish
musician best known as the bassist for the original lineups of L.A. Guns
and Guns N' Roses
.
, Beich, in his youth, achieved a degree of fame amongst local musicians and fans. He played both guitar and bass with several Danish bands before he decided to move to Los Angeles
to pursue his music career.
. The first lineup included singer William Bailey
(who would later change his name to Axl Rose
), 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
. 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.
Beich played one show in early 1985 before quitting the group and was eventually replaced by Duff McKagan
while Guns left the group being replaced by Slash
. 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
with this lineup becoming known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses.
. 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 lies buried in Christchurch next to his father Shaft, who died in 1995.
with Nalle & The Flames
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
musician best known as the bassist for the original lineups of L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns is the name of a hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, of which two rival incarnations currently exist due to numerous line-up changes. The first incarnation of the group was formed, by Tracii Guns, in 1983 but disbanded in 1985 following its merger with fellow Los Angeles...
and Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
.
Early life
Born in the city of EsbjergEsbjerg
Esbjerg Municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. Its mayor is Johnny Søtrup, from the Venstre political party...
, Beich, in his youth, achieved a degree of fame amongst local musicians and fans. He played both guitar and bass with several Danish bands before he decided to move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to pursue his music career.
L.A. Guns (1983–1985)
L.A. Guns were first formed in 1983 by guitarist Tracii GunsTracii Guns
Tracii Guns is an American guitarist best known as the founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns as well as the supergroups Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also involved in the formation of the first lineup of Guns N' Roses but eventually left the group and was replaced by guitarist...
. The first lineup included singer William Bailey
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
(who would later change his name to Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
), Beich and drummer Rob Gardner
Rob Gardner (musician)
Rob Gardner is an American musician best known as the drummer for the original lineups of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses while he was briefly the drummer for Hollywood Rose.-L.A. Guns :...
. Bailey would leave the group to front Rapidfire
Rapidfire
Rapidfire was a Los Angeles based band that featured Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose in his first ever studio recording just before he joined Hollywood Rose.-Members:* Axl Rose - lead vocals* Kevin Lawrence - guitar* Mike Hammernik - bass...
before going on to form Hollywood Rose
Hollywood Rose
Hollywood Rose was an American hard rock group formed in 1983 and is best known as the precursor group for what would eventually become Guns N' Roses. The group was founded by Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin and Chris Weber while they were aided during live shows by Rick Mars, Johnny Kreis, Steve Darrow...
with Izzy Stradlin
Izzy Stradlin
Jeffrey Dean Isbell , known by his stage name Izzy Stradlin, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of its fame in 1991. Following his departure, he led his own band Izzy...
and Chris Weber
Chris Weber
Chris Weber is is an American musician best known as the guitarist and founder of the groups U.P.O. and Hollywood Rose...
. 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
Collector's Edition No. 1
Collector's Edition No. 1 is an L.A. Guns EP featuring L.A. Guns first singer Michael Jagosz, who was replaced by the band's next singer, Axl Rose, who was then replaced by Paul Black....
, with the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Hollywood Raw
Hollywood Raw
Hollywood Raw: The Original Sessions is an L.A. Guns album of previously unreleased recordings from 1987. Re-recorded versions of some of these songs later appeared on the band's eponymous first album.Collector's Edition No...
in 2004.
Guns N' Roses (1985)
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, 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 and Rob Gardner.Beich played one show in early 1985 before quitting the group and was eventually replaced by Duff McKagan
Duff McKagan
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician and writer. He is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
while Guns left the group being replaced by Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
. McKagan went on to book shows taking place between Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
and Seattle, which was dubbed "The Hell Tour". During this time, Gardner quit the group and was replaced by Steven Adler
Steven Adler
Steven Adler is an American musician. He is best known as the former drummer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s...
with this lineup becoming known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses.
Death
Beich died on October 16, 1991, drowning in Skt. Jørgens Lake in the center of CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. 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 lies buried in Christchurch next to his father Shaft, who died in 1995.
Discography
with L.A. Guns- Collector's Edition No. 1Collector's Edition No. 1Collector's Edition No. 1 is an L.A. Guns EP featuring L.A. Guns first singer Michael Jagosz, who was replaced by the band's next singer, Axl Rose, who was then replaced by Paul Black....
(1985)
with Nalle & The Flames
- Rock 'N'alle Roll (1979)