Robert Cianflone, Getty Images Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose is certainly one of the most beloved, but also detested musicians in rock history. It’s almost impossible to run into anyone who doesn’t have an opinion on Rose as a human being, but the GN’R icon recently partook in an interview that went pretty deep into the mind of one of rock’s most polarizing figures. In Rose’s in-depth interview with USA Today , the singer attributed the lengthy process of writing the ‘Chinese Democracy’ album to mental abuse caused by former Guns guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan . “[Slash and McKagan] did more damage to my ability as a writer,” claims Rose. “To those three, it was all crap. It beat me down so much. At the time of the [‘Use Your Illusion’] tours, Slash and Duff said, ‘You’re an idiot, you’re a loser.’ I didn’t write for years. I felt I was hindered for a very long time. I was also trying to figure out what I wanted to say, when it’s right to be venting and when you’re digging a bigger hole. Lyrics on ‘Chinese’ took a long time.” Rose also explored the idea of how the classic GN’R lineup could have lasted longer. “Maybe if we could have worked together in the way ‘Appetite’ was put together. I was really naïve,” says the singer. “I thought the success of that record would bring everyone together more. It did the exact opposite. They got success and wanted to run in their own directions. I thought they’d go, ‘Whoa, it did work.’ But they wanted to do their own huge bigger success off of Guns.” On the possibility of a truce amongst the classic members, Rose comments, “I feel that ball’s not in my court. I’m surviving this war, not the one who created this war.” Additionally, when asked about fans who consider the current Guns N’ Roses lineup as illegitimate, the singer simply responded, “They can think whatever they want. I’m not interested in their opinions.” Rose says that the band is currently writing and working on their next release, and added, “[The next album] will come out sooner.” Check out the full Axl Rose interview at USAToday.com . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/slash-wife-critiques-axl-rose-jimmy-kimmel-appearance-weighs-in-on-his-weight/” title=”Next: Slash’s Wife Criticizes Axl Rose’s Appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel'” align=”center”]