Guns N’ Roses Announce ‘Amicable’ Split With Drummer Frank Ferrer

After close to two decades together, Guns N’ Roses and drummer Frank Ferrer have parted ways,

News of the band’s lineup shift was confirmed by the group in a statement released on Wednesday (March 19). “Guns N’ Roses announce the amicable exit of Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in their storied run,” the statement read. “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 became a member of Guns N’ Roses in 2006, taking over from Bryan “Brain” Mantia, who had joined in 2000. Holding the role for 19 years, he is the longest-tenured percussionist in the band’s history, second only to Steven Adler, who sat behind the kit from 1990 to 1997.

Ferrer’s recorded contributions to the band began with five tracks on their famously-delayed (and currently, their most recent) studio album, Chinese Democracy, which arrived in 2008. He would also appear on the live portion of 2022’s Hard Skool EP, with former drummer Brain appearing on the studio tracks and their 2023 singles “Perhaps” and “The General.”

Ferrer’s last appearance with the band took place at Mexico’s Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in November 2023, which is currently the most recent live performance from Guns N’ Roses to date.

Currently, the band are scheduled to return to the road soon, launching their awkwardly-titled Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things Tour in South Korea on May 1. The tour will visit the Middle East and Europe over the following months, with no dates set past their July 31 concert in Germany. No replacement for Ferrer has been named at the current time.

Outside of his time with Guns N’ Roses, Ferrer had previously performed with The Beautiful, later joining future Guns N’ Roses bandmate Richard Fortus in both Love Spit Love and The Psychedelic Furs. In 2019, Ferrer also co-founded the rock band PSSR, who have issued a handful of singles in recent years.