Axl reference in Stephen King book?

[bananasforaxl]

I just got done reading Lisey's Story by Stephen King & I swear there is an obscure Axl reference on p. 478.  King is writing about how it is almost impossible to control the thoughts of the mind, like trying NOT to think about a certain subject & he says somethig like (I'm paraphrasing now...) "How can you not think of something?  After all, the mind is a high-kicking, kilt-wearing rebel...."

Does this make anyone else think of Axl?

[NicoRourke]

Didn't he made another Axl reference in one of his older books ?

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

he made a lot of axl / gnr ref. that's what these writers do : pop culture ref, just like bret easton ellis

[cheeser]

"How can you not think of something?  After all, the mind is a high-kicking, kilt-wearing rebel...."

could be william wallace??

[gnrfanxxx]

probably a coincidence

[A Private Eye]

I have never read a GNR reference in the King books I have read but there are supposedly references in a few of his books, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if this was another reference to Axl.

[fastfoxgt]

There's an Axl reference in James Patterson's Along Came A Spider also...

[kyrie]

King is a rock fan and a musician himself. He actually played in a band called the Rock Bottom Remainders a while back which consisted of himself and a few other writers I believe. And he's made a lot of Axl/GNR references in his books. One book, there's two kids, one wearing a Nirvana shirt, one wearing a GNR shirt. Welcome to the Jungle I believe was mentioned as playing in one book. And he actually mentioned Axl being an asshole in one story (the line was something like "in a world with an asshole like Axl Rose" or something). I'm pretty sure in either On Writing or one of his forewards he mentions listening to GNR, can't recall that one for sure though.

King's a master of pop culture so it could very well be related.

[LeftToDecay]

I think it's safe to say music plays more important part to King than it does to your average author/person; his books are flooded with referances to various bands/artists.Also, huge portion of his novels start of with a collection of quotes from whatever song lyrics he has found inspiring at the time of the writing.

When GNR was big in early/mid 90's King loved to namedrop them here and there:
In a short story about some kind of a demon librarian, there is a GNR poster on the wall of kid's department of the library, which puzzles the main character.
In Bag of Bones,as main characters are driving towards a final showdown, WTTJ is playing on the car's stereo. King uses few sentences to describe the song, "violent and dirty" or something along those lines.
There are many other GNR referances in his books  but looks like I have forgotten them.

Randal Flagg( a demonic bad guy of stand/dark tower) introduces himself to his would-be right hand man by saying "pleased to meet you Loyd, hope you guess my name" WHich is an obvious  Sympathy for the devil referance. Technically not a GNR referance tho:)

Also, in Dark Tower-series( the most central piece of King's work) revolvers and roses both have an essential part to play. Which isn't a GNR referance as such but as a result, just about every GNR logo would pass as Dark Tower fan art and vice versa.

[Howard2k]

Kilts actually come from Scotland.   Axl wore them now and then but he certainly can't lay claim to either originating them or popularizing them. 

[bananasforaxl]

Thanks LefttoDecay...I'm almost as big of a fan of King as of GNR, & I've read most of his work so I've noticed the obvious references...this one just isn't as clear (and maybe it isn't at all). ?I just thought of Axl when I read that & wondered if that was King's intention.

[LeftToDecay]

Some official  illustration from the final part of the Dark Tower series.

[Scabbie]

I seem to remember a reference in his book 'Needful things' but I could be confused with another book

[Bill 213]

Kilts actually come from Scotland.? ?Axl wore them now and then but he certainly can't lay claim to either originating them or popularizing them.?

In the music industry I would beg to differ.......when you mention bandana, kilt, catcher's vest or tiny little white shorts that show your junk....only Axl Rose comes to mind. ?I must give the man some damn credit....he went out there and took some serious, serious chances with fashion!

[SLCPUNK]

I just got done reading Lisey's Story by Stephen King & I swear there is an obscure Axl reference on p. 478.  King is writing about how it is almost impossible to control the thoughts of the mind, like trying NOT to think about a certain subject & he says somethig like (I'm paraphrasing now...) "How can you not think of something?  After all, the mind is a high-kicking, kilt-wearing rebel...."

Does this make anyone else think of Axl?

King is a huge rock n roll fan, so it is very possible.

[BurningHills]

And while its not a book reference, don't forget that AC/DC did the soundtrack to Maximum Overdrive when it became a movie! 

[kyrie]

I'm reading Cell now, so I'll be sure to post if anything comes up

[BurningHills]

I'm reading Cell now, so I'll be sure to post if anything comes up

I have Cell...great book (except the ending),  but no Axl references that I can remember! 

[anxious disease]

He mentioned GNR in Bag of Bones.

"He leaned forward, turned on the radio, and found something loud and nasty by Guns n' Roses -- welcome to the jungle, baby, we got fun and games."

[Bandita]

I have actually read most of King's books and a few short story collections where he has some notations on why he writes what he does and how he gets his ideas. ?

He LOVES music, real music, Rock N' Roll. ?If he puts a reference to something in one of his books it is positive for sure. ? I believe him and his wife also own some radio stations up in New England where he lives.

I just finished Lisey's Story. ?I thought the same exact thing when I saw the reference that it HAD to be about Axl. ?It also was a good book, I was actually sad when it ended. ?Stephen King is a really versatile writer.

I read Cell a few weeks ago, didn't see any GNR references though-