Let me fill you in. Rocket Queen - yes, it was my brother's bicycle. This particular story goes back to when Axl was in his late teens/early 20s. He had flown over from the States to spend the summer break with us. Our grandparents knew eachother from WW2 and had formed bonds and lasting friendships - it was only natural that the grandkids would also share those enduring attachments.

Anyway, we were all having a great time hanging out - Axl got us into the latest KISS album, Dynasty and I seem to recall that we were also listening to some early U2. I remember Axl saying: look out for that Bono guy! We used to push back the furniture and jam and Axl did an awesome candle dance with a candle on his head.

I had a tape of circus tunes that we used to muck around to. I did a funny dance to the elephant walk that always used to crack Axl up. In fact, I think he took that tape back to the States with him!

We used to get around on my brother's bicycle that had chopper handlebars and a red metallic plastic seat - Axl used to dinky me on the handlebars and take me to my dance classes. We were all excited because Axl couldn't stop talking about how he was going to start up a Rock N' Roll band. We kids had an in joke because we managed to convince the old folks that Axl was going to be a concert pianist.

Anyway, it was getting towards the end of his visit and the guys thought they'd give him a memorable send off. They built a ramp at the end of the yard and spent the afternoon trying to jump it. I was pissed off because I wasn't allowed to join in, and so I spent a lonely afternoon watching the action through the windows. "I see you standing, standing all alone." Everytime Axl rode past he would pull faces at me and generally show off. He would disappear from view and then I could hear a *crash* *bang* at the other end of the yard. My brother came in to see how I was doing and said that they had decided on a band name - Rocket Queen. And that is what they called the bicycle. If they could jump the ramp it would all come true.

The fun n' games all came to a halt when one of the guys twisted his ankles but they did jump the ramp! Axl came in and he and I had a chat about music, the band, Erin, publicity, the future, this n' that...Next thing you know it was time for him to go, he jumped on the back of his mate's 350 Suzuki and rode off.

He and I kept in touch over the phone and he would often pop up when I least expected it. I remember calling him in the studio a few times. In the mid 80s he called me to say that the band had been signed but the name had changed to Guns N' Roses. My middle name is Rose. Axl told me to look out for the album credits because Barbi Von Grief was me. He teased me and said Von Grief because, well, I have always been a hand full. It is also a reference to Charlie Brown and Lucy (and the rest of the gang). I saw him again in 1990 when I made a trip to California (There Was A Time).

That being said, let's get back to the album cover. Though I most enjoyed being dinkied around the neighbourhood by Axl Rose, it did take some persuading! I remember telling him quite earnestly that dinkying on hadlebars was illegal. That cracked him up and he said that I would never be a Rock N' Roller if I always played by the rules.

All these years later, the front cover of the album brings back so many memories - it's nice to see that Axl did take my concerns into account and put a basket on the back - much safer to get around in!