DEAL ACCEPTED: Netflix Releases Documentary “The Heart of the Rose’s: A Journey Through Team and Band” Chronicling Guns N’ Roses 2024 Championship Season…see more

DEAL ACCEPTED: Netflix Releases Documentary “The Heart of the Roses: A Journey Through Team and Band” Chronicling Guns N’ Roses’ 2024 Championship Season… See More

In a twist no one could have predicted, Netflix has dropped the ultimate crossover documentary of the decade: The Heart of the Roses: A Journey Through Team and Band. The documentary follows not just the legendary rock band Guns N’ Roses, but also a surprise side of their 2024 lives — their unexpected involvement with a semi-professional sports team that went on to win a national championship.

Yes, you read that right.

The docuseries, released globally this week, blends rock ‘n’ roll with locker room grit, telling the previously untold story of how Guns N’ Roses — led by frontman Axl Rose — unexpectedly became the spiritual and financial backbone of the small but determined LA Heartbreakers, a minor league football team on the verge of collapse.

From Stadiums to Sidelines

The documentary opens with Axl Rose attending a charity football game in late 2023. What began as a casual appearance quickly turned into a full-fledged passion project after Rose met the Heartbreakers’ underdog roster — a team facing eviction, financial ruin, and obscurity.

Moved by their story, Axl proposed something bold: Guns N’ Roses would sponsor the team for the 2024 season — not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and musically.

“They needed a spark,” Rose says in the first episode. “And we were kind of looking for one too.”

What followed was an extraordinary year of training, music, and madness as GNR and the Heartbreakers forged an unlikely brotherhood. Slash even composed a special walkout anthem for the team, and Duff McKagan worked with the team’s nutrition coach to revamp their training diet. The result? A record-breaking season, an undefeated playoff run, and a championship nobody saw coming.

Behind the Scenes, Behind the Music

The Heart of the Roses offers rare backstage access to both the band and the team. It follows the Heartbreakers on their journey from obscurity to glory, all while capturing the band’s parallel path — from recording their final album Final Echo to rehearsing for their One Last Rose farewell tour.

The most emotional moments come in Episode 4, when Axl gives an impromptu halftime speech during the championship game, rallying the team from a 17-point deficit.

“You think this is about football?” he tells them. “This is about finishing what you started — just like we’re doing.”

The Heartbreakers went on to win in overtime.

Reactions and Reviews

Fans and critics alike have praised the documentary for its raw emotion and unpredictable storyline.

“Who knew Axl Rose had a coach’s heart?” one reviewer wrote. “It’s Ted Lasso meets Almost Famous — and it’s glorious.”

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 96% critic score and a 98% audience rating just two days after release. Twitter and TikTok are flooded with reactions, and the final episode’s locker room scene is already being hailed as one of the most powerful moments in recent sports-documentary history.

What’s Next?

While both the band and the team reached the peak of their respective journeys in 2024, Axl hints in the final moments of the series that this may not be the end.

“There’s more heart out there,” he says. “Maybe we’ll find it again.”

Whether it was a farewell tour, a championship season, or a deeper look into what unites performers and athletes, The Heart of the Roses has proven one thing: passion is universal — whether you’re on stage or on the field.