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This version of the Guns n’ Roses’ banned album cover is being used to promote its residency at Hard Rock Hotel’s Joint. A more explicit version of the artwork, used on its website, depicts the woman with a breast exposed and her underwear below her knees which, critics say, strongly suggests sexual assault.
By Tom Gorman (contact) 
Published Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 | 1:10 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 | 3:38 p.m.
A Clark County commissioner said she regrets the commission’s decision to temporarily rename Paradise Road to Paradise City Road to promote Guns N’ Roses concerts because an ad for the iconic group’s concerts depicts what appears to be a sexually assaulted woman beneath the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign.
“Paradise City” is among the band’s best-selling songs. Guns N’ Roses will be resident artists at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel through Nov. 24. Paradise Road runs alongside the Hard Rock.
The ad is a revised version of the group’s banned cover of its first album, “Appetite for Destruction.” The cartoon-like drawing depicts a robotic monster lurking over a skeletal robot, with a disheveled woman sprawled on a sidewalk, her underwear pulled down below her knees and her blouse opened, exposing a breast. The “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, and another that reads “Welcome to Paradise Sin City” have been added to the drawing for the current concert promotion.
The artwork appears on the group’s website selling tickets to its shows at the Joint, and a somewhat sanitized version — no exposed breast and no underwear — is used in mainstream advertising including newspaper promotions and taxicab placards.
When the Sun posted the story Monday about the street name change, a reader responded, “So with this ad, do you really think violence against women doesn’t resonate? Why would the county commissioners not recognize this demoralization of women and then go ahead and name a street after this band?”
Commissioner Mary Beth Scow, who represented the county at the ceremony commemorating the temporary name change, said she was unaware of the ad promoting the concert that the county was throwing its support behind.
“I hadn’t seen the advertising before the media event,” she said Tuesday. “It’s clearly inappropriate. Maybe it’s the risk of doing business with a rock band, but I guess we’ll have some remorse over this decision. It’s a lesson learned.”
A spokeswoman for Safe Nest, a woman's shelter, said the county should rescind the street name change and that the Joint and the rock band should apologize and stop using the image because it promotes acceptance of violence against women.
"It’s very frustrating to see approval — almost a celebration — of rape and violence against women," said Lisa Lynn Chapman. "Our community has enough issues with domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and so many other violent issues that to have this being paraded around town on taxicabs and in advertising is very offensive."
Even the toned-down version of the ad reflects violence, because of the torn garments, and allowing that sort of image "makes it easier to perpetuate a culture of violence against women," Chapman said. Guns N' Roses "should not be rewarded (with a street name in its honor) for this kind of insult against our community."
Neither the Hard Rock Hotel nor Guns N' Roses returned calls seeking comment.
A spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority offered an “Oh, boy” when told of the promotion's artwork and then deferred to county government officials for comment.
The county prepared a street sign for Paradise City Road for presentation to the group on the assurance that promoters would reimburse the county the $300 cost of making it. There were no plans to actually post the sign on street corners.
Scow said she thought she had done due diligence before attending Monday’s event, saying she even looked to the lyrics of “Paradise City.”
She said she liked the song’s chorus: “Take me down to the paradise city, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty ...”
Welcome to Las Vegas which was once the gaming capitol of the world to now being a hangout for groupies who follow rock bands. Ms. Scow what did you expect. Due diligance? Hardly.
LV needs a new commissioner. It's a cartoon. There is no sexual assault. It's entertainment. If you don't like it, ignore it. Chill. Move on.
If I'm not mistaken, the original painting (from back in the 1970's) was supposed to depict the punishment of assault. It is NOT to represent an endorsement. But hey, if we're going to start getting onto casinos for offensive marketing, why was O'Sheas allowed to dress a little person up as a Leprechaun? Why are latino stereotypes permitted to persist with "Rio Rita"? What about Fitzgerald's portrayal of the Irish?
Commissioner Mary Beth Scow, why have you waited until now to finally try and "stand up" for other people?
Why doesn't Safe Nest ever speak out about TV advertisements that portray men as imbeciles, or even encourage domestic violence against men? Men do get beaten and even sexually assaulted as well. Oh, wait. They're a woman's shelter, who cares about what happens to men as far as they're concerned.
My point is that if we're going to complain about one thing, then lets complain about everything equally. And to whomever the commenter was that brought this up, congratulations on an epic troll my friend.
For Real. Obviously we're dealing with people that don't remember their youth.
It's called freedom of speech....deal with it.
@DMCVegas - Just so you know, Safe Nest does offer programs that help men who suffer from domestic abuse. Your argument resonates with that of a 16 year old boy. Grow up, do some research, and then maybe we can have an educated discussion on why this type of depiction of a woman is offensive.
"It's very frustrating to see approval -- almost a celebration -- of rape and violence against women," said Lisa Lynn Chapman. "Our community has enough issues with domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and so many other violent issues that to have this being paraded around town on taxicabs and in advertising is very offensive."
There is no law against being offended.....yet.
I'm sorry, but with the city slogan of "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas", what exactly would you expect?
All this drama is well over 20 years too late. This was depicted in the original artwork in the appetite for destruction album. And I fail to see how it celebrates sexual assault in any way shape or form. Depicts it yes, celebrates it, no.
Dont' let the self-righteous "do-gooder" crowd run with this... we simply cannot live life to the approval of small groups of easily offended people.
I believe I have a voice in this because I have been through it ALL. So therefore, hear what I have to say. My first reaction was not how you reacted to it. I saw it as a way of expressing what is really going on in this town. We have a very high rate of domestic violence, the highest rate of men killing women, handbiller's on every part of the strip demoralizing and degrading women. All it would take is an obscenity law and our county or state won't even touch that. We are super high in teen pregnancies and high in child abuse. This painting to me represents truth of what is happening to women in THIS city So before you condemn the art, take a look at your city. Art is meant to express the reality, in an artistic way and that is what was done. If you want to focus any attention on violence against women, focus it in the schools. The elementary schools- because as a very observant parent, and someone keenly aware of domestic violence, that is where it is all starting and where it can be nipped in the bud if more effort was made to educate children about this issue.
Commissioner, we live in a state with legalized gambling, legalized prostitution (excluding Las Vegas and Reno), open saloons that never close and a lots of strip clubs and porno joints. We celebrate debauchery, parties and everything else that is illegal everywhere else.. Remember, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". Its to late to close the door, chalk this off to rock and roll foolishness. No one is going to beat their wife or girl friend over an album cover or concert promotion. See you at the concert on Saturday.
"I hadn't seen the advertising before the media event," [Commissioner Mary Beth Scow] said Tuesday. "It's clearly inappropriate."
Coming in late, I see the naysayers have already been thoroughly thrashed, beginning with FreedomRadio's excellent suggestion.
Chapman's attack is understandable, since her paycheck depends on even cartoon violence against women being a constantly hot issue in the public eye. She's not a public official who swore an oath under penalty of perjury to support, protect and defend the Constitutions. The Commissioner did.
"The fact that society may find speech offensive is not a sufficient reason for suppressing it. Indeed, if it is the speaker's opinion that gives offense, that consequence is a reason for according it constitutional protection. For it is a central tenet of the First Amendment that the government must remain neutral in the marketplace of ideas." -- Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell, 485 U.S. 46, 55-6 (1988)
Guns N Roses are has-been worthless wastes of anyones attention. Let them go to California and sit with Manson and learn some more his songs so they can sit on vacant fire hydrants in the middle of Fargo, North Dakota in the middle of January and screech the junk they think is relevant.
"It's called ,a busted out rock group"
"Guns N Roses are has-been worthless wastes of anyones attention."
Deathtrap, Klaus -- and this ain't even the Gunners. It's Axel's band masquerading under the former band's glory, a vital ingredient being Slash's guitar work. Which is now absent.
"Well Mike, I'm abnormal." -- Frank Zappa, on being asked by Mike Douglas "Your latest album is called Zoot Allures -- how do you come up with such names for your records?"
It's just an album cover and I've seen worse stuff on covers from the 60's I think someone just wants a big donation.
This isn't "Guns and Roses", it's the "Axl Rose Band".
Axl was and continues to be the voice of GNR. Just because Slash aint playing guitar..the voice of GNR is still there, not some wannabe trying to sound like Axl. That makes them more of an original than if Slash had someone singin GNR tunes with him.
And a "busted out rock group"..seriously, who is coming to see your band. Oh that's right..you don't have one. I'd much rather be a "busted" millionaire, than whatever you guys are. Or a has-been..rather than a "never-was"!
Thanks though, now I know we won't run into any of you whiners at the concerts
Thanks. I will plan NOT to visit Las Vegas during the Guns N Roses stay at the Hardrock. I enjoy the strip but when the hotels attract metal rockers or other disruptive individuals, I stay away. JMO.
Fine by us..their residency at Hard Rock will generate more revenue for the city than you ever could.
You would think our citizens would be more welcoming to a venture that generates income and supports jobs here.
By all means, this is something the commissoners should focus on, because really, this is one of the bigger issues in Las Vegas and Clark county they should be spending time on....
You people really have to be kidding me. DMCVegas, you really think that the other depictions you mentioned, while offensive, even compare to an ad celebrating my sex being sexually asaulted. If it's a little late to be taking offense to this album cover, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! It's high time we take offense to such revulsion AS LOUDLY AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! And pleeeeease don't give me some BS about how this ad is not celebrating sexual assault. Perhaps this was not the artist's original intent but it's pretty clear that what it's being used for now. Get real.
If these women are so concerned about violence against women, then why do they not also protest the Christina Aguilera video "Your Body" which depicts her luring men into places for casual sex only to butcher and kill them? I guess as usual the domestic violence groups only find it offensive when women are victims of violence but couldn't care less about male victims. Actually those groups trivialize the number of male victims there are at the hands of women.