Richard Fortus

b. 1966 in St. Louis

Guns N' Roses today

Richard Fortus (born November 17, 1966) is an American guitarist. He has been a member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses since 2002 and has recorded one studio album with them. Fortus has also collaborated extensively with The Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler and former Guns N' Roses bandmate Frank Ferrer. Aside from lead singer Axl Rose and keyboardist Dizzy Reed, Fortus is the longest-tenured member of Guns N' Roses, having been with the band continuously since 2002. Alongside his work in Guns N' Roses, Fortus is a former member of Love Spit Love, Thin Lizzy, and The Dead Daisies.

Early life

Fortus was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He began learning violin at 4 years old and the drums a year later. Fortus studied at the Conservatory of the Arts in St. Louis and Southern Illinois University and also played in several youth symphonies in the St. Louis area.

Personal life

On November 5, 2005, Fortus's partner gave birth to a daughter, Paisley Piper Fortus. She gave birth to a second child, Clover Blue Fortus, on January 6, 2008. In September 2015, he was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash, causing him to miss dates with the Dead Daisies. Fortus suffered a broken shoulder blade, a broken collarbone, six broken ribs, a broken toe, a bruised lung, a lacerated liver, and a concussion. On December 10, 2016, Fortus married Stephanie Howlett, a St. Louis–based attorney. The couple resides in St. Louis County, Missouri, with their two daughters.