26 Facts About Richard Fortus

Richard Fortus was born on November 17,1966 and is an American guitarist.

Richard Fortus is a member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he has recorded one studio album, since 2002.

Alongside his work in Guns N' Roses, Richard Fortus is a former member of Love Spit Love, Thin Lizzy, and The Dead Daisies.

Richard Fortus began learning violin at 4 years old and the drums a year later.

Richard Fortus studied at the Conservatory of the Arts in St Louis and Southern Illinois University and played in several youth symphonies in the St Louis area.

Richard Fortus joined this NYC outfit for club dates and festivals over a three-year hitch that included dates in Europe and culminated with the recording of the band's third CD, Ten Wines from Job's Vineyard.

In 1999, Richard Fortus was contacted by Guns N' Roses to audition as a potential replacement for the departing Robin Finck.

Richard Fortus was touring Europe as guitarist for Enrique Iglesias in May 2002 when he got a call from his friend Tommy Stinson asking him to fly out to audition for the band.

In Guns N' Roses, Richard Fortus plays both rhythm guitar and occasional lead guitar.

Richard Fortus really likes the pocket that Brain sets and the two of them click with Tommy so we finally have the real deal rhythm section, as Richard is a proven professional.

Richard Fortus recorded guitars for the band's 2008 album Chinese Democracy and appears on the live release Appetite for Democracy 3D.

Richard Fortus has been present at every tour since 2002, most recently at the Not in This Lifetime.

In 2013, Richard Fortus joined the Dead Daisies with the likes of Jon Stevens and Dave Lowy as well as Guns N' Roses bandmates Frank Ferrer and Dizzy Reed.

Richard Fortus left the Dead Daisies in 2016 to focus on Guns N' Roses.

Richard Fortus has collaborated with techno-rock musician BT on several occasions, including touring with him in 2000.

In March 2008, Richard Fortus was one of the guest guitarists for the reunion shows of X Japan at the Tokyo Dome.

Richard Fortus played with them three more times in 2018: on April 10 and 11 at Zepp Divercity and on April 14 at Coachella.

Richard Fortus played guitar on their first record, Where the Storm Meets the Ground, and is a personal friend of lead singer Pernille Rosendahl and lead guitarist Johan Wohlert.

Richard Fortus provided guitar for former The Replacements and Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson's two solo albums.

Richard Fortus recorded a cover of the "James Bond Theme" for Guitar Hero World Tour and later played the song live as a solo spot during Guns N' Roses's 2012 tour.

Richard Fortus has collaborated with singer-songwriter Lasse Kvernmo in a project called Saivu.

Richard Fortus has recorded or toured with acts such as Rihanna, N*SYNC, Nena, and Ben Folds, among others.

Richard Fortus briefly joined Thin Lizzy as lead guitarist in 2011.

On November 5,2005, Richard Fortus's partner gave birth to a daughter, Paisley Piper Richard Fortus.

Richard Fortus gave birth to a second child, Clover Blue Fortus, on January 6,2008.

Richard Fortus suffered a broken shoulder blade, a broken collarbone, six broken ribs, a broken toe, a bruised lung, a lacerated liver, and a concussion.