Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has defended Axl Rose after the Guns N' Roses singer failed to show up for the band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The controversial rocker issued an open letter to the public earlier this week to explain his absence from the 27th annual ceremony in Cleveland, and his name was greeted with boos by the 6,000 capacity crowd when mentioned by Armstrong, who was on stage to present the rest of the band with the honour.

The 40-year-old then spoke of his admiration for the wayward star, after telling the audience to ‘shut up,’ adding: "Most singers are crazy. I can vouch for that.

“He is one of the best front man to ever touch a microphone. Sometimes you have to look back at chapters of your life to move forward." 

The band themselves, who performed a brief set with Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy at the show, didn’t acknowledge Rose directly in their speeches, however drummer Matt Sorum commented:

"I want to thank the other bandmates that aren't here tonight [and tell them] that I love and respect them and I'm honored to have been on stage playing music with them."