More about: Guns N Roses
Rape crisis group slams controversial artwork
Las Vegas resort Hard Rock Hotel & Casino had to change their promotional posters for the upcoming Guns N Roses dates - as it depicted a woman who appeared to have been sexually assaulted.
The posters were advertising the band's four-week run at the venue, but were changed after rape crisis groups said that artwork glorified domestic violence and could re-traumatise victims.
The art, by Robert Williams, was originally used for the cover of the band's Appetite For Destruction album but was later changed after several music retailers refused to stock the album. It shows a robot standing by a woman who is slumped on the street and appears to have been assaulted.
The casino released a statement in response to the controversy, saying, "Hard Rock Hotel & Casino regrets that the Guns N' Roses advertising for their current shows has offended any member of the community. The resort has decided to further modify the art and began the process of changing the materials."
Hard Rock International added: "Hard Rock International does not condone the advertisement or any depictions of sexual violence."
Banned: the controversial cover art for Appetite For Destruction.
The criticism came from Hannah Brook, executive director for Las Vegas' Rape Crisis Center, who said to Las Vegas Review Journal: "This type of advertising is simply unacceptable. Not only for just the victims and the message of violence it brings, but also for the community in general."
She added: "This is not the type of message we want to portray to tourists that are coming to our city. We want them to know it's a safe place to come, and by putting a message out there with Las Vegas above it is concerning."
Guns N' Roses are playing 12 shows at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's The Joint, and the final gig will be on November 24.
The worst album art of 2012: Plan B, Adam Lambert and more
Delilah ''From the Roots Up'': The album title is not, as you might expect, referring to Delilah''''s transition from aspirational child to adult pop star. It is of course discussing the trials of D.I.Y. home hair colouring, and the pitfalls that lay in wait for the would-be amateur colourist.
Plan B ''Ill Manors'': Logo stencilled in a razor blade? Check. Hood up? Check. Backdrop of East London council estate? Check. Puffing on a cigarette (yougetme)? Check. Golly he%u2019s hard.
Adam Lambert ''Tresspassing'': For a lad about to sneak onto someone else''''s land and creep around for a while, he''''s wearing a lot of make-up and sporting a pretty high maintenance quiff. In fact, we''''re starting to think Adam Lambert isn''''t prepared for trespassing at all!
Maroon 5 ''Overexposed'': Maroon 5 paid Matt Groening to go to the woods armed only with some crayons and a load of acid, deciding that whatever the resulting sketch was, it would be used as artwork for their album. This isn''''t true. Mildly amusing though, right?
Cheryl ''A Million Lights'': Who''''s that? Not sure... Massive hair, smoky eyes, pouty lips. Nah can''''t think. Oh wait we''''d know that hideous tribal hand tat anywhere!
B.O.B. ''Strange Clouds'': B.O.B. and his fellow hip-hop airline pilots recently went on strike, claiming that the staff lounge at Heathrow Airport was confusing, rainy and generally just too conceptual.
Nicki Minaj ''Pink Friday (Roman Reloaded)'': As if Nicki Minaj wasn''''t ghastly enough, her people decided to try and make you feel even more ill by knocking this brain-hurting image together. Maybe a nice summer dress with a backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales next time eh?
Alabama Shakes ''Boys and Girls'': This swirling maelstrom of emotional colour makes us think of Whistlers nocturnes, and there''''s clearly a Picasso influence at work here. How else could you explain the abstract arrangement and bold foregrounding?
Jack White ''Blunderbuss'': Jack White is great. Not only does he keep making incredible music, but he insists on satirising the music industry by using pseudo-ominous and semi-creepy album artwork. He''''s so funny. Wait, he''''s NOT joking? Oh.
Two Door Cinema Club ''Beacon'': A baffling image from the Irish trio on their second album - which was only out-weirded by their ''''Sleep Alone'''' single sleeve featuring an even bigger bum. This would look good in our front room though...
Frank Ocean 'Channel Orange': Hmmmm, must remember to top up our pay as you go mobile phone.
More about: Guns N Roses
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