Axl Rose Hall of Fame Induction Rejection: 'I Respectfully Decline My Induction as a Member of Guns N' Roses'

Axl Rose has respectfully declined his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as a member of Guns N' Roses.

I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of 'Guns N' Roses,' Rose wrote in letter obtained by the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.

Rose's announcement comes after months of speculation as to whether the band's front man would appear with his former band mates at the April 14 ceremony in Cleveland.

Despite his unwillingness to participate, the Hall of Fame responded to Rose on Thursday with a statement that completely disregarded his request to not be inducted.

We are sorry Axl will not be able to accept his induction in person, the organization said in a statement.

As lifelong Guns N' Roses fans have known, Rose, 50, and guitarist Slash, 46, haven't shared a stage since 1993. The bad blood between the former band mates has haunted the legacy of the group and shot down any hopes of a reunion.

He hates my guts, Slash told Rolling Stone earlier this month. It's over a lot of different stuff; I don't even know. There's just no communication between us.

In his induction rejection letter, Rose said, I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, 'damned if I do, damned if I don't' scenario all the way around.

Nevertheless, Rose's absence from the ceremony will be viewed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame community as nothing less than a snub.

Despite his estranged relationship with the original band members, Rose has made an effort to regroup under the same band name.

The revamped Guns N' Roses recorded and released an album, Chinese Democracy in 2008, which, despite debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, undersold domestically and received mixed reviews from music critics.

Separately, the musician was recently linked to 25-year-old songstress Lana Del Rey. Earlier this month, the two were spotted piling into the same SUV, after hanging out at Hollywood's famed Chateau Marmont.

Read the full text of Rose's letter at the LA Times.