All photography by TAMARA LEE ©2011
Following Guns ‘n Roses’ long awaited show at the Pacific Coliseum last week, a friend asked me if I thought it had really been Axl on stage; or some really good Axl impersonator. Hard to say. All the press was asked to shoot back at the soundboard (mid-stadium) and short of a $4000 lens that could investigate his pores, I was at a loss. Additionally, he was wrapped up in highly inconspicuous (yet fashionably rockin’) attire that may have suggested he was actually an Axl-like CIA plant, out on some sort of head-banging spy-mission. Welcome to the Jungle, indeed.
Though one thing I can say beyond doubt is it 
sure sounded like Axl, and man did he sound good! When comparing with other 90’s anthem bands that use sing alongs to hide their whiskey-weathered vocals (Hetfield, I’m looking at you); Axl proved that he can still wail with the best of ’em. What’s more, he showed energy like a young lad; feverishly running across the gargantuan stage and never missing a note; stopping only to strike the occasional pose. The other guys did well also, even if not one of them were from the original deal. So, real Axl or not, the performance came off quite like we had always imagined it would. And considering that his very loyal fanbase has been known to riot from time to time, well… wise move, Rose… wise move.
SEE FULL GALLERY HERE