Axl Rose To L.A. Artist -- I Didn't Write That Graffiti Hate Message

Axl Rose recently fired off a cease and desist letter -- claiming an L.A. photographer is spreading lies about him in a vulgar attempt to capitalize on his fame ... all so she can sell her photographs.

Here's what happened, Laura London -- an L.A. based photographer -- has an exhibit Downtown called "Once upon a time ... Axl Rose was my neighbor."

Laura claims her main piece -- a photograph of a garage door with "Sweet Child O'Die you R 1 of many nothing special " spray-painted on it -- is a picture of Axl's garage from years ago.

According to the cease and desist letter, Laura advertised the piece claiming Axl himself spray-painted the garage during a fight with his then wife, Erin Everly.

But the Guns N' Roses frontman claims that statement and the photograph are "outrageous, false, fabricated and highly defamatory."

The letter, drafted by Axl's attorney, states ... "Mr. Rose never spray-painted anything. Your salacious and inflammatory statements are plainly designed to garner attention and line your pockets with money."

Axl is demanding an apology, and wants the art show cancelled.