Meet the First Female Member of Guns N' Roses, Melissa Reese
Yes, you did indeed read that title correctly.
Here’s the rundown in short: in 2016, Guns N’ Roses decided to go on a partial reunion tour. It’s well known that there was a menagerie of drama within the band, and as such, Axl Rose had been the only original member since the mid 1990s. However, in a very surprising turn of events, famed guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan agreed to rejoin the band in order to partake in the reunion tour.
Here’s where it gets interesting ― the band needed a keyboardist to tour with them. Enter, Melissa Reese.
She was just 25 years old at the time that she received the phone call from producer Caram Costanzo, who worked on GNR’s studio album “Chinese Democracy”. According to her interview with Rolling Stone, written by Andy Greene, Reese thought he was kidding. “You know I’m a chick?” she asked him, half-jokingly. “A girl in Guns N’ Roses? Really?”
Around the age of 13, Reese met songwriter Tom Whitlock. While Whitlock and Reese’s views for her future differed drastically (Whitlock wanted to make Reese the next Taylor Swift, while Reese herself leaned more towards urban music, and had more of an affinity for rap and hip hop), Reese says that Tom’s heart was in the right place. Even though it didn’t work out, the experience opened Melissa up to a world that would change her life forever.
Fast forward a few years, and Melissa would meet Bryan “Brain” Mantia, the drummer for Guns N’ Roses from 2000-2006. The two hit it off and began songwriting and recording together for various different soundtracks. After Mantia left Guns N’ Roses, he began working on albums with Melissa full time, and they even recorded the entire soundtrack of the 2011 movie, Detention.
Reese’s friendship with Mantia would come in handy more than she could ever expect. In 2016, Mantia was the first person that Guns N’ Roses called in reference to Reese joining the band. According to Andy Greene’s piece, Mantia only hesitated briefly, as he was concerned about the toll that touring would take on Reese. But that concern was fleeting, and he quickly told the band that Reese was perfect for the job. “I said, ‘She’ll fucking kill it,” he says. “‘She sings background. She does programming. She’s classically trained. She’s got perfect pitch. She could help in tons of ways for what that job calls for in that band, which is a utility type of role.'”
Four years later, Reese has remained with the band. She still works with Mantia on the side to produce and record, and she’s said that she sometimes is working right up until she has to go on stage. Despite any doubt or apprehension she may have had at the very beginning, Reese has fully become a part of the GNR family. She refers to the guys as her “older brothers” and has said that they’re very protective of her.
As for what she wants to accomplish next?
In regard to future aspirations, Reese said, "Basically, I want to do this female Trent Reznor thing. He has Nine Inch Nails, but he also is an exec at Apple and he's scoring film with Atticus Ross. That's my model, and what I plan on being and doing. Also, I want to be the first half-Asian female EGOT winner. I really, really, really, really swing for the fences.”
Personally, I’d really like to see her succeed.
Here’s the rundown in short: in 2016, Guns N’ Roses decided to go on a partial reunion tour. It’s well known that there was a menagerie of drama within the band, and as such, Axl Rose had been the only original member since the mid 1990s. However, in a very surprising turn of events, famed guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan agreed to rejoin the band in order to partake in the reunion tour.
Here’s where it gets interesting ― the band needed a keyboardist to tour with them. Enter, Melissa Reese.
 |
| Photo by Katarina Benzova |
She was just 25 years old at the time that she received the phone call from producer Caram Costanzo, who worked on GNR’s studio album “Chinese Democracy”. According to her interview with Rolling Stone, written by Andy Greene, Reese thought he was kidding. “You know I’m a chick?” she asked him, half-jokingly. “A girl in Guns N’ Roses? Really?”
But Constanzo was serious, and it was quickly affirmed that he had called the right person.
Up until this point, the only women who had played with Guns N’ Roses were backup singers, keyboardists, and brass instrument players ― and none of them had ever been indoctrinated as official band members.
While Reese may not have known the keyboard parts to the entire GNR lineup, most of which were released before she was even born, she's gifted musician who works hard and is able to catch on quickly.
Fortunately for her, these skills were present within her from a young age. Reese grew up in a large household, partially raised by her grandparents, as her parents spent a lot of their time traveling and focusing on their own careers. She also lived with her two older sisters, both of which played instruments from a very young age. According to her interview with Rolling Stone, Reese’s grandmother was a devout Catholic who grew up in the Philippines. She spurred Reese’s musically creative nature by singing religious songs to her from a very young age.
In addition to this, Reese mentions a story about the first time that she actually played music. She says, “I hate saying this, because I feel like such a douche telling this story, but one day my sisters were learning Bach beginner pieces that you learn in a piano book, and my parents heard somebody practicing, and they assumed it was one of my sisters. I was only three or four. They walked in and saw that I was playing and that I learned the piece by ear.” Clearly, she was very talented and had a special ear for music from a very young age, not many musicians can necessarily say the same.
From there, her parents encouraged her musicality by creating what she refers to as a “makeshift musical bootcamp”. She spent the majority of her time at her Montessori school learning music, and then devoted her extracurricular time to practicing piano and voice lessons, all while attending dance and acting classes. A heavy schedule, indeed.
Up until this point, the only women who had played with Guns N’ Roses were backup singers, keyboardists, and brass instrument players ― and none of them had ever been indoctrinated as official band members.
While Reese may not have known the keyboard parts to the entire GNR lineup, most of which were released before she was even born, she's gifted musician who works hard and is able to catch on quickly.
Fortunately for her, these skills were present within her from a young age. Reese grew up in a large household, partially raised by her grandparents, as her parents spent a lot of their time traveling and focusing on their own careers. She also lived with her two older sisters, both of which played instruments from a very young age. According to her interview with Rolling Stone, Reese’s grandmother was a devout Catholic who grew up in the Philippines. She spurred Reese’s musically creative nature by singing religious songs to her from a very young age.
In addition to this, Reese mentions a story about the first time that she actually played music. She says, “I hate saying this, because I feel like such a douche telling this story, but one day my sisters were learning Bach beginner pieces that you learn in a piano book, and my parents heard somebody practicing, and they assumed it was one of my sisters. I was only three or four. They walked in and saw that I was playing and that I learned the piece by ear.” Clearly, she was very talented and had a special ear for music from a very young age, not many musicians can necessarily say the same.
From there, her parents encouraged her musicality by creating what she refers to as a “makeshift musical bootcamp”. She spent the majority of her time at her Montessori school learning music, and then devoted her extracurricular time to practicing piano and voice lessons, all while attending dance and acting classes. A heavy schedule, indeed.
 |
| Melissa onstage in Vegas / Photo by Katarina Benzova |
Around the age of 13, Reese met songwriter Tom Whitlock. While Whitlock and Reese’s views for her future differed drastically (Whitlock wanted to make Reese the next Taylor Swift, while Reese herself leaned more towards urban music, and had more of an affinity for rap and hip hop), Reese says that Tom’s heart was in the right place. Even though it didn’t work out, the experience opened Melissa up to a world that would change her life forever.
Fast forward a few years, and Melissa would meet Bryan “Brain” Mantia, the drummer for Guns N’ Roses from 2000-2006. The two hit it off and began songwriting and recording together for various different soundtracks. After Mantia left Guns N’ Roses, he began working on albums with Melissa full time, and they even recorded the entire soundtrack of the 2011 movie, Detention.
Reese’s friendship with Mantia would come in handy more than she could ever expect. In 2016, Mantia was the first person that Guns N’ Roses called in reference to Reese joining the band. According to Andy Greene’s piece, Mantia only hesitated briefly, as he was concerned about the toll that touring would take on Reese. But that concern was fleeting, and he quickly told the band that Reese was perfect for the job. “I said, ‘She’ll fucking kill it,” he says. “‘She sings background. She does programming. She’s classically trained. She’s got perfect pitch. She could help in tons of ways for what that job calls for in that band, which is a utility type of role.'”
Four years later, Reese has remained with the band. She still works with Mantia on the side to produce and record, and she’s said that she sometimes is working right up until she has to go on stage. Despite any doubt or apprehension she may have had at the very beginning, Reese has fully become a part of the GNR family. She refers to the guys as her “older brothers” and has said that they’re very protective of her.
 |
| Melissa with GNR bassist Duff McKagan / Photo via @themelissareese on Instagram |
As for what she wants to accomplish next?
In regard to future aspirations, Reese said, "Basically, I want to do this female Trent Reznor thing. He has Nine Inch Nails, but he also is an exec at Apple and he's scoring film with Atticus Ross. That's my model, and what I plan on being and doing. Also, I want to be the first half-Asian female EGOT winner. I really, really, really, really swing for the fences.”
Personally, I’d really like to see her succeed.
You can keep up with Melissa on Instagram @themelissareese.
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