Axl Rose will remain as frontman for Guns N' Roses, despite a report on Wednesday (May 21) that he "is considering retiring." A source close to the band emphatically denies the rumor, telling Ultimate Classic Rock that "there is no truth whatsoever to this report."

The timing of such a departure would have been shocking, indeed. Last night, they kicked off a nine-day residency Wednesday in Las Vegas. They're coming off a celebrated reunion with Duff McKagan in Latin America, and have recently played ferocious gigs in Pennsylvania and at Rock on the Range.

However Radar Online, citing its own unnamed sources, said that “band members have been told their calendars are free following Vegas. Axl is considering retiring and it’s done. Band members and support staff were surprised when told the news and are actively looking for work.”

The whirring rumor mill added still more intrigue to GNR's second run inside the Joint at the Hard Rock.

As this series of Vegas shows approached, guitarist DJ Ashba said even he was unsure of what was in store. “Our goal is to do a show that’s completely different than the last one we did there,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I’m excited to see what it is myself. There’s a lot of talk of really exciting stuff to be done this time.”

Tickets for the remaining dates of the Vegas residency can be purchased here.

Update - Guns N' Roses have responded to this story in a more official manner:

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