What was Axl's best stage "look"/attire?

[RONIN]

I happened to glance through a few pages on the "Axl Attire" thread and couldn't help but shudder a few times.

Axl seems to be considered the "Liberace" of rock in some circles and his dressing style can be erm..."questionable" at best. That leads to the thread title - what was the best look for him in your opinion that has aged well? Referring to his "live"/stage look mostly.

If that's a difficult choice, you can revert to your favorite "classic" look.

 

I like the AFD era style of the late 80's, that looked pretty cool at the time. His "ass-less" chaps period during the "glam" years though, not so good.

Lies Era for the most part looks great. 

1991-1992 were the infamous "Diva" years with the Versace coats and bike shorts. You also had the iconic "Kilt" turn up during this time.

Personally, his best styles for me are the '89 shows during the Lies era, Farm Aid 1990 and in 1993-94 where he gets less flamboyant and finally starts looking normal again by adopting an almost "grunge" look.  Personal favorite is probably the 2000-2001 look oddly enough with the dragon shirts/long coat. He just looks like a veteran rockstar Axl. It's really a shame he didn't stick with that look because it has aged the best along with the '93-94 look.

GLAM Era - Holy Shit.

Jesus...

AFD Era - Classic Axl

"LIES" ERA - Classic Axl. Live look is remarkably low-key and authentic even compared to AFD.

1990 (Farm Aid) - Classic Axl. Tied w/ Lies?

1991-1992 (Village People/Rock God Era) - No words.

Ahnuld/You could be Mine/Terminator Axl circa 1991 warm up shows - Credibility still intact 

]

"Balls" Axl - the ''going to audition for the Village People with my tight shorts so you can see my balls'' look - EvanG

"Union Jack" Axl

"Make America Great Again" Axl

'Madonna' Axl

"Scottish Athlete" Axl

"YMCA/Flaming Homosexual" Axl

"Fashion Diva / Riot" Axl

"Gay Umpire" Axl

"Rocky Balboa" Axl

1993-1994 (grunge era) - umpire vests and bicycle shorts are mercifully retired for "normal" Manson shirts/longer shorts. 1994 brings Grunge style flannel/jeans

1995-1999 (Big Foot Era. Where's Axl?)

 

2000-2001 (Chinese Democracy Round 1/ House of Blues comeback) - Hey...not bad??? Aside from the silk shirt/pj's....he looks normal and... cool?

2001 (Rio 3) Classic look returns but still hurtling towards impending fashion nightmare. The end is near.

"Predator Homie"/Slim Shady Axl - DISASTER

2006-2007  (GQ Rockstar Era) - Metro Axl w/ Predator Braids. Better than 2002 but are they going too far w/ the fashion now? He looks ready to walk the Gucci Runway in Milan. Some WTF moments like the last pic.  Is he wearing mascara?

2009-2014 (Fat Elvis/Aging Pimp/Creepy Uncle Phase)

"Porn Producer" Axl

"SPINAL TAP" AXL

RainCoat Axl - The Man, The Myth, The Legend

"I don't give a shit anymore/ Can I give you a lift?" Axl

"Damn...is that really Axl??" Axl

"Bad Grandpa" Axl

2016 - NITL - Classic Axl w/Pimp Bling

 

2002 onwards has been varying shades of awful, including the much heralded 2006 look where he's outfitted by Versace or some trendy fashion houses and looks very metrosexual with his sleeveless vests. Still light years better than how he looked in 2002 and 2010 imho. 

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by RONIN

[Nice Boy]

I think his interest in hip-hop style influenced the post-1990 attire: leathers out, baseball hats and simple t-shirt in. Also I think he had a kilt a while before it emerged on stage, can't remember where i read that..

p.s. where's the yellow rain coat poll option? lol 

[estranged_85]

This is the Axl i remember the most:

 

1993-94 looked good. with ripped jeans and a t-shit etc.

 

The 2006 era he had a nice style of clothing that fits his age.. both rock and "classy" blended together. Same style as myself would wear.

I would kill for this leather jacket:

 

I hated the 2001-02 era. wtf was that? i feel almost embarrassed when i watch videos of him from that era

2016 clothing all good.

Edited March 21, 2017 by estranged_85

[RONIN]

13 minutes ago, Nice Boy said:

I think his interest in hip-hop style influenced the post-1990 attire: leathers out, baseball hats and simple t-shirt in. Also I think he had a kilt a while before it emerged on stage, can't remember where i read that..

p.s. where's the yellow rain coat poll option? lol 

The Elvis/Pimp Era option 

[-W.A.R-]

1991 era is pretty much Axl Rose but AFD era was his best dressed....always thought his Donington look was cool.

early 2000's till 2006 was horrendous then he got to looking old and being out of shape.

Edited March 21, 2017 by -W.A.R-

[RONIN]

19 minutes ago, estranged_85 said:

I hated the 2001-02 era. wtf was that? i feel almost embarrassed when i watch videos of him from that era

2016 clothing all good.

 

See, that's the "Predator Homie" era. He starts wearing baggy jerseys, braids, etc. from 2002 onwards.

In 2001, he looks different at the House of Blues shows (see below). Rio 3 starts moving towards his 2002 look but he still appears passably normal.

Edited March 21, 2017 by RONIN

[estranged_85]

2 minutes ago, RONIN said:

 

See, that's the "Predator Homie" era. He starts wearing baggy jerseys, braids, etc. from 2002 onwards. In 2001, he looks different at the House of Blues shows. Rio 3 starts moving towards his 2002 look but he still appears passably normal.

yeah in 2001 he looked somewhat okey except for some strange clothing only a guy from "cops series" would were. But in 2002 for me the whole "band" were just a big i did like the musicians that were in the band (bucket,mantia) but not in GN'R.

[-W.A.R-]

i do dig the pants he wears nowadays with the leather patching...i think they run $1200-$1600.

[RONIN]

21 minutes ago, -W.A.R- said:

1991 era is pretty much Axl Rose but AFD era was his best dressed....always thought his Donington look was cool.

early 2000's till 2006 was horrendous then he got to looking old and being out of shape.

Donnington look is classic. 

Maybe I should have rephrased the question because the bike shorts era (Illusion Axl) is winning this poll. Classic? Maybe...but again, this is the fur coat/bike shorts era. 

[Fitha_whiskey]

Summer of 1991 Axl was the pinnacle of a rock frontman, performance and style wise. The UYIs weren't out yet, but they were playing songs off them. Axl's voice was at its absolute finest, he was focused, and his athleticism live was absolutely unmatched. He was wearing the bike shorts & kilt, but only t-shirts or shirtless and that was it. Very simple but matched his crazy athleticism at that time.

GnR was the best live band ever that summer.

[bucketfoot]

If he mixed the cycling shorts with the handlebar 'tache and cornrows, bare chested with a few accessories, that would be his best look. Possibly the yellow raincoat added for special occasions.

Edited March 21, 2017 by bucketfoot

[Darkenchantress]

I was too distracted looking at that gorgeous guitarist playing rhythm in the back  but I think Axl looks better on the SCOM video. Leather pants, bandana, simple rocker style. So yeah, AFD era for me.

Edited March 21, 2017 by Darkenchantress

[Powerage5]

2006 is my favorite look.

[ChristmasFnatic]

As ridiculous as it is, UYI era is cool! Also the late 80s. 

 

WTF happened between 2006-2010?! The change is too big in a short time.

[AlexC]

The only 2 eras that don't seem excessively flamboyant to me are AfD era and now. Everything in between was weird as fuck or at least had one striking element that made you cringe.

[double talkin jive mfkr]

1990 farm aid hands down looks cool bad ass and with all the integrity in the world 

that being said i do like the 2000-2001 vegas look a lot, he really should've worked hard to maintain that classier look 

also i do think he looks at his best of all time in the Yesterday's video 

Edited March 21, 2017 by double talkin jive mfkr

[bucketfoot]

Slash pouting on that 1st picture! WTF's he doing?! 

[AlexC]

Also, would you consider his AC/DC attire separate from NITL? He seems to tone it down somewhat for them.

[RONIN]

41 minutes ago, AlexC said:

The only 2 eras that don't seem excessively flamboyant to me are AfD era and now. Everything in between was weird as fuck or at least had one striking element that made you cringe.

Lies looks pretty stripped down and authentic. What was your issue with the 2001 Vegas look? No braids, just jeans and a coat...(not sure if he wore the dragon shirt and sweats earlier in the show or if he dumped them for the second HOB show)

40 minutes ago, double talkin jive mfkr said:

1990 farm aid hands down looks cool bad ass and with all the integrity in the world 

that being said i do like the 2000-2001 vegas look a lot, he really should've worked hard to maintain that classier look 

also i do think he looks at his best of all time in the Yesterday's video 

Agreed on all counts. Lies era looks badass also and aged well. The Vegas look aged the best, he looks like a veteran in those. Had he come out looking like that at the MTV VMA's, that would have gone over a whole lot better.

 

35 minutes ago, AlexC said:

Also, would you consider his AC/DC attire separate from NITL? He seems to tone it down somewhat for them.

Sure and he looks a lot better without the bling in AC/DC (ac/dc fans seem to think he's still too blinged out and Liberace-ish). I still feel he hasn't shaken the "bling" enough for NITl. The hats, costume changes (cowboy jacket in particular) is distracting as hell.

 

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by RONIN

[AlexC]

Just now, RONIN said:

Lies looks pretty stripped down and authentic. What was your issue with the 2001 Vegas look? No braids, just jeans and a coat...(not sure if he wore the dragon shirt and sweats earlier in the show or if he dumped them for the second HOB show)

I'd count his Appetite and Lies look as the same era. Too similar to separate.

I was just going off his Rio 2001 look. I just assumed he looked the same at the HOB show. I just thought his silk dragon shirt and joggers made him look like a weird Hugh Heffner type wannabe. Very "uncool" imo. Plus those strange little mini type braids in his hair before he went full blown Predator made him look like an odd forest elf or some shit.

[Słash]

AFD Era

[Epson]

 

[EvanG]

Which one is the ''going to audition for the Village People with my tight shorts so everyone can see my balls'' look?

Edited March 21, 2017 by EvanG

[Darkenchantress]

4 minutes ago, EvanG said:

Which one is the ''going to audition for the Village People with my tight shorts so you can see my balls'' look?

UYI era Rockstar Diva Axl 

[RONIN]

6 minutes ago, EvanG said:

Which one is the ''going to audition for the Village People with my tight shorts so you can see my balls'' look?

1 minute ago, Darkenchantress said:

UYI era Rockstar Diva Axl 

Exactly