What Axl Rose and Kanye West have in common

Axl Rose from Guns N' Roses. Photo / AP

Axl Rose behaves like Kanye West if you make him angry, according to former Guns N' Roses bandmate DJ Ashba.

Ashba was the band's lead guitarist from 2009 until last year, and though he mostly enjoyed his time with the group, he says behaviour of Rose was sometimes just like that of the outspoken and temperamental rapper.

Kanye West has some characteristics in common with Axl Rose. Photo / AP

"It got difficult here and there," he tells US radio station SiriusXM. "He's definitely, definitely a unique character...

"He has a very tight-knit circle and I was fortunate enough to be part of that. And he's always treated me like gold. I have not a bad word to say. Although I do know if you cross him he can turn more into the Kanye side of things (sic)."

West has been hitting headlines due to a series of Twitter rants, including one in which he claimed his new album, The Life of Pablo, was the "best album of all time".

He was also caught on tape raging about his small stage set for his performance on Saturday Night Live, and threatening to quit the show.

After the peak of Guns N' Roses' popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the group went through years of acrimonious line-up changes and sporadic performances.

However, in January it was announced that Duff McKagan and Slash, members from the band's golden era, would be rejoining Axl for a series of gigs including a scheduled slot at US music festival Coachella in April.

- AAP