Axl Rose Pays Emotional Tribute to Longtime Friend Lisa Marie Presley | “They’re Together—Her and Ben With Her Father”

Axl Rose is paying tribute to his longtime friend and musician, Lisa Marie Presley. The 60-year-old Guns N' Roses rocker is still reeling from the shock of losing Presley after her heartbreaking death at 54. "I will miss my friend Lisa. Her passing, just as her son's, or as a kid, her father's, doesn't seem real," the Sweet Child O' Mine singer told PEOPLE. He added, "Lisa loved her family, all her children. My heart goes out to them."

Lisa Marie was a very loving and protective mother who sadly lost her only son Benjamin to suicide on July 12, 2020. He was just 27 years old at the time. Lisa Marie's representative had said, "She adored that boy. He was the love of her life." Lisa Marie was no stranger to losing loved ones having lost her father in 1977 when she was just 9 years old.

The King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, suffered a heart attack while he was in the bathroom of his Memphis, Tennessee home, Graceland, per PEOPLE. He was buried on the grounds of Graceland, his home, which later became a tourist attraction. Lisa Marie Presley's remains will be interred close to those of her son Benjamin Keough at Graceland. Benjamin is currently buried at Meditation Garden in Memphis, which also serves as the final resting place for Elvis, his mother Gladys, his father Vernon, and his grandmother Minnie Mae Presley. 

Axl Rose recalled that he did his best to help Lisa Marie after the death of her child. "Her son's passing was shocking, tragic and devastating. It was something that, at a point, you obviously didn't want to bring up but awkwardly would in an effort to let her know you cared and were thinking about her, about them, and to be of any comfort one could, which she appreciated," he shared.

The musician would often exchange jokes or funny videos or news articles to help cheer the You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet singer up. "I wanted her to be happy, to feel good about things, at least as much as one could under the circumstances. And really, with the closeness of their relationship, one could hope — but truthfully, it didn't seem, at least without some real time passing, a reasonable reality," he admitted.

Over the years the pair bonded over music and even discussed the news and life in general. She would even come to his shows and hang out backstage with the rocker who remembers her as a "fun n' super supportive" friend. He said, "What comes after life who knows but I'd like to think they're together, her and Ben with her father and Ben's grandfather in some way, and Lisa, and the most important men in her life are happy together."

References:

https://people.com/music/axl-rose-honors-friend-lisa-marie-presley-hopes-shes-happy-together-with-elvis-and-son-benjamin/

https://people.com/music/elvis-presley-death-everything-to-know/

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Photo by Amy Sussman (R) Photo by Kevin Winter