Netflix has announced End of an Era, a sweeping new documentary chronicling the life of Axl Rose and the tumultuous saga of Guns N’ Roses. Set for release later this year, the project promises an unflinching look at one of rock music’s most influential and controversial figures, tracing the highs, lows, and enduring legacy of a band that forever changed the face of rock ‘n’ roll.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny, known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Presley documentaries, End of an Era will explore the meteoric rise of Guns N’ Roses in the late 1980s, their explosive success with Appetite for Destruction, and the personal and professional battles that threatened to tear the band apart at the height of their fame. Through rare archival footage, newly uncovered recordings, and candid interviews with band members, collaborators, and industry insiders, the documentary paints a vivid portrait of excess, ambition, and artistic brilliance.
At the heart of the story is Axl Rose—enigmatic, volatile, and undeniably magnetic. From his troubled Indiana childhood to becoming the voice of a generation, End of an Era promises to peel back the layers of myth surrounding Rose, revealing a complex artist whose passion often blurred the lines between genius and chaos.
In a brief teaser released by Netflix, viewers catch glimpses of never-before-seen backstage moments, early club performances on the Sunset Strip, and raw, emotional interviews where Rose himself reflects on fame, music, and the cost of living life at full tilt. “We weren’t trying to be dangerous,” Rose says in the clip, “We were just being real.”
The documentary also delves into the impact of the Use Your Illusion albums, the infamous breakup of the original lineup, and the surprising reconciliation that led to the Not in This Lifetime reunion tour—a tour that grossed over half a billion dollars and reintroduced Guns N’ Roses to a new generation.
Music historians are already calling End of an Era one of the most anticipated music documentaries of the year, a deep dive into not just the story of a band, but the culture they helped define.
End of an Era is set to premiere globally on Netflix this fall.
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