Axl Rose opened up about a recent TMJ struggle during Guns N’ Roses’ show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday, Aug. 12, according to Billboard. The singer said the condition had left one side of his mouth numb and that he had dental work just two days earlier.
Rose discussed the issue while introducing bandmates Slash, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus and Isaac Carpenter. He joked that he felt like Bugs Bunny was “in my ear” and said the experience made singing more difficult.
TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder, affects the jaw and can cause pain or popping sounds, according to the Mayo Clinic. Rose told the crowd that doctors and dentists had advised him to avoid chewing, but he quipped that singing requires stretching his face in ways that make the problem hard to ignore.
Even while talking about the condition, Rose kept his comments lighthearted. He said some of the sounds he hears while performing make it seem like his jaw could fall off, move to the side or get stuck that way.
Guns N’ Roses performed a three-hour set as part of its 2026 World Tour, with songs spanning the band’s catalog and a few side projects. Public Enemy opened the show.
