The 30 Wildest Moments From Guns N’ Roses’ Use Your Illusion Tour you need to know…

The Use Your Illusion Tour (1991–1993)  stands as one of the most ambitious, chaotic, and legendary rock tours in history. Spanning 194 shows across 27 countries, it was a whirlwind of musical brilliance, backstage drama, and onstage mayhem. Here are 30 of the wildest moments from this iconic tour:

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1. Rock in Rio II Debut (January 1991)

Guns N’ Roses introduced several new songs at Rock in Rio II, setting the stage for the upcoming tour. The massive crowd witnessed the band’s evolving sound and lineup.

2. Axl Breaks His Foot (May 16, 1991)

During a performance at The Ritz in New York, Axl Rose broke his foot after jumping off a speaker. He quipped to the audience, “You ever heard the expression ‘break a leg’? Well, I just did.”

3. Philadelphia Altercation (June 13, 1991)

In Philadelphia, Axl confronted a fan who had an altercation with the band’s photographer. He challenged the fan from the stage, leading to the fan’s ejection and the show’s continuation.

4. Riverport Riot (July 2, 1991)

At the Riverport Amphitheatre in Missouri, Axl leapt into the crowd to confiscate a camera from a fan. After returning to the stage, he abruptly ended the show, sparking a riot that resulted in numerous injuries and significant property damage.

5. “Get in the Ring” Chant (June 10, 1991)

During a show at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Axl encouraged the crowd to chant “Get in the ring!” This chant was later incorporated into the song of the same name on Use Your Illusion II.

6. Brian May Joins on Stage (June 13, 1992)

Queen’s guitarist Brian May joined Guns N’ Roses on stage at Wembley Stadium, performing “Tie Your Mother Down” and “We Will Rock You,” delighting fans with this collaboration.

7. Montreal Riot (August 8, 1992)

During a co-headlining show with Metallica, James Hetfield suffered burns from pyrotechnics, cutting their set short. Guns N’ Roses’ delayed performance and Axl’s early exit due to vocal issues led to a riot, causing extensive damage.

8. Rain During “November Rain” (November 30, 1992)

In Bogotá, Colombia, a light rain began as the band played “November Rain,” stopping as the song ended. Axl later remarked on the coincidence, noting the song’s popularity in Colombia.

9. Santiago Chaos (December 2, 1992)

In Santiago, Chile, Axl arrived two hours late and intoxicated. During the show, objects were thrown on stage, leading Axl to stop the performance. The event ended with arrests and a fan’s death two days later.

10. Budapest Bomb Scare (1992)

The band faced delays due to a bomb scare at Prague Airport, arriving in Budapest just 20 minutes before their scheduled performance. Despite the chaos, they managed to perform for 70,000 fans.

11. Hungarian Folk Song Tribute

In Budapest, Axl and Slash performed “Tavasziszel,” a Hungarian folk song previously covered by Queen, as a tribute to the local audience.

12. Axl’s Piano Antics

During a show, Axl demanded, “Gimme piano!” while unknowingly standing atop the instrument as it rose from beneath the stage, leading to an impromptu performance.

13. Slash’s “Godfather” Solo

Slash captivated audiences with his rendition of “Theme from The Godfather,” showcasing his guitar prowess during extended solos.

14. Axl’s On-Stage Rants

Axl often used the stage to express his frustrations, dedicating songs like “Double Talkin’ Jive” to critics and making pointed remarks during performances.

15. Buenos Aires Interpreter Incident (December 5, 1992)

After objects were thrown on stage in Buenos Aires, Axl halted the show and used an interpreter to warn the audience against such behavior, threatening to end the concert.

16. Duff Hit with Bottle (April 4, 1993)

In Sacramento, bassist Duff McKagan was struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd, leading Axl to end the show prematurely and admonish the audience.

17. Shannon Hoon’s Naked Pizza Delivery (June 16, 1993)

Blind Melon’s Shannon Hoon delivered a pizza on stage while naked during a show in Switzerland, later joining the band to play bongos.

18. Charles Manson Cover Release (November 23, 1993)

Guns N’ Roses released a cover of Charles Manson’s “Look at Your Game, Girl,” hidden as a bonus track, sparking controversy due to Manson’s criminal history.

19. Axl’s Manson T-Shirts

Axl frequently wore T-shirts featuring Charles Manson’s image during the tour, further fueling controversy.

20. Soundgarden’s Discomfort as Opening Act

Soundgarden, opening for Guns N’ Roses, felt out of place amidst the tour’s excesses, leading to tension and their nickname “Frowngarden” among the crew.

21. Axl’s Feud with Nirvana

A backstage confrontation at the 1992 MTV VMAs between Axl and Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain highlighted the animosity between the bands, culminating in a tense exchange.

22. “Get in the Ring” Song Controversy

The song “Get in the Ring” directly called out music journalists by name, showcasing Axl’s disdain for the press.

23. Extravagant Stage Production

The tour featured elaborate stage setups, including multiple stages and a crew of 130, earning the “Crew of the Year” award in 1991.

24. Financial Struggles Despite Success

Despite the tour’s massive scale, the band didn’t turn a profit until 1993 due to extravagant costs.

25. Axl’s Frequent Tardiness

Axl’s habit of arriving late to shows led to frustration among fans and contributed to several incidents during the tour.

26. Use Your Illusion Video Trilogy

The ambitious videos for “Don’t Cry,” “November Rain,” and “Estranged” showcased the band’s grand vision and became iconic representations of their era.

27. Axl’s On-Stage Costume Changes

Axl often changed outfits mid-show, sometimes during instrumental solos, adding to the theatricality of performances.

28. Tribute to Freddie Mercury

At the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, Guns N’ Roses performed “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” honoring the late Queen frontman.

29. Axl’s Piano Performances

Axl incorporated piano solos into shows, including renditions of Black Sabbath’s “It’s Alright,” showcasing his musical versatility.

30. July 17, 1993: The Final Show

Two and a half years, 27 countries and 194 shows after it began, the Use Your Illusion Tour finally came to a close on July 17, 1993, at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a standard set for the time, mixing Illusion singles and deep cuts, Appetite classics and plenty of covers. Oh, and more pizza delivery, this time from guest drummer Cozy Powell (Black Sabbath, Whitesnake), who mercifully donned a Domino’s delivery boy uniform instead of walking onstage in the buff. July 17, 1993, marked the last time Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan would play together onstage for nearly 23 years, until they reunited in 2016 for the massively successful Not in This Lifetime tour.