Guns N’ Roses splits with longtime member, seeks replacement

A legendary rock band has split with a longtime member and needs a replacement for a forthcoming tour.

Guns N’ Roses announced “the amicable exit of Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in their storied run” on Wednesday. “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.”

Update: Guns N’ Roses announced Thursday that Isaac Carpenter, who played in Duff McKagan’s side band Loaded, will replace Ferrer on drums. Carpenter also co-founded the hard rock band Loudermilk and worked with artists like Awolnation, Adam Lambert, A Perfect Circle, Barbarians of California, Black Lab and as a film and TV session musician.

According to Billboard, Ferrer became a member of the Axl Rose-led rock band in 2006, taking over from Bryan “Brain” Mantia. Ferrer was a GNR member for nearly two decades, longer than percussionists Mantia (2000-2006), Steven Adler (1985-1990) and Matt Sorum (1990-1997).

Ferrer appeared on Guns N’ Roses’ most recent studio album, “Chinese Democracy,” and played with the reunion lineup of Rose, Slash and McKagan at their most recent live performances including at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Upstate New York and Mexico’s Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in 2023. Ferrer’s career also includes work with The Beautiful, Love Spit Love, The Psychedelic Furs and PSSR.

Guns N’ Roses is set to begin touring again May 1 with a series of concerts in South Korea, the Middle East and Europe.

Loudwire suggested seven drummers as potential replacements, including Adler (who played on GNR’s first two albums), Sorum (who also performed with GNR members in Velvet Revolver), Mantia (who also contributed to “Chinese Democracy”), Brent Fitz (who played with Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators), Josh Freese (who briefly played with Guns N’ Roses before joining A Perfect Circle in 2000), Jamie Douglass (who played on two McKagan solo albums) and Carpenter.

Guns N’ Roses is one of the best-selling rock bands of all time, known best for ‘80s and ‘90s hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “November Rain,” “Paradise City,” and “Welcome to the Jungle.” The group, including Rose, Slash, McKagan, Adler, Sorum, Izzy Stradlin, and Dizzy Reed, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.