12 Things Axl Rose Actually Wore on Stage During the Use Your Illusion Tour
Peter Still/Getty Images1/12Blasphemous Would-Be Grunge Frontman
Maybe the most classic of Axl’s looks, here we see the frontman sporting short shorts and, presumably, one of Chris Cornell’s flannels with a sacred image revered by millions. The bandanna ties it all together, though it drops Axl’s hair right in Jesus’s face, which is probably worth like 12 Hail Marys.
2/12The Junior Varsity Player
In this daring sports-themed ensemble, Axl borrows his nephew’s Pee Wee football jersey to effectively direct attention to his Dick’s Sporting Goods, if you know what we mean.
3/12The Blue I-Guess-You'd-Call-It-a-Blazer Blazer
Here we have Axl in a wrinkle-free baby-blue jacket with enormous cherry-red elbow pads for a look that says, “I might be a deranged English professor!” Some people would wear a shirt under this, but that would look ridiculous. (This best matches with Spandex biking shorts that get super-uncomfortable when he stands like that.)
4/12The Guy Who Clearly Didn’t Personally Know Anyone Killed by Charles Manson
Because who among us hasn’t worn a Manson T-shirt in front of 60,000 screaming Japanese people? Pairs best with a middle finger, a defiant, preemptive response for anyone who says, “Um, real people died.”
5/12The Saloon Outlaw
John Wayne ain’t got nothing on his fringe game, hell no.
6/12God Bless America
Here Axl rebelliously pairs a YMCA towel with patriotic, snug-tastic bike shorts. Because nothing shows support for America during wartime like tucking a flag around your wang.
Peter Still/Getty Images7/12Anarchy in...Your Closet
During the European swing of the Illusion tour, Axl thoughtfully showed his appreciation to his British hosts by wearing a giant Union Jack–themed (four separate ones, by our count) leather motorcycle jacket and, oh, this is weird, tight boy shorts—again.
Youtube8/12The Violent Bear
For his St. Louis performance as Unhinged Stage-Leaping Lunatic #1, Axl dons a constable hat and luxurious mink shawl, because when you’re about to vault yourself into a crowd in a rageoholic blur, it’s important to remain warm. (Unrelated: Izzy looks solid back there.)
9/12The Pretty Hate Machine
Wisely jumping on the Nine Inch Nails train early—seriously, he was like right on top of that—Axl pairs the classic NIN “Sin” logo (which, we’re just noticing, incorporates a trumpet) with the bathing suit your dad wore on last year’s cruise. Real talk: Hat is pretty legit.
Getty Images10/12Dude Who Hits Up Own Merch Table
We’d crack a joke about this, but if you were in Guns N’ Roses, you’d probably wear your own stuff, too. Somewhere, Kanye West was taking notes.
MTV11/12Colonel Fishnet
Axl looks serene and thoughtful in this blanket that he found in my grandmother’s trunk. It was knitted by Aunt Charlotte, and did you know her daughter Susie is getting married this summer? No, Susie, from the flower shop, she used to live on Elm, you remember her, she had a pretty voice, dated that veterinarian. Now that’s a job with a future! (Unrelated: This outfit was useless in the cold.)
Tumblr12/12Basically Nothing
The only one of these we’re sure we’re not seeing on the reunion tour.