Fans may be surprised to know that the art for Gun N’ Roses’ debut album, ‘Appetite For Destruction’ wasn’t their first choice. If it were up to Axl Rose, the band would have used a photo of the Space shuttle Challenger blowing up as it climbed into the sky. Whoa. According to a story from Ultimate Classic Rock, the idea was shot down by the record label (big shocker) because it would have been in bad taste to have allowed it. Axl would later explain he meant no harm since that photo was on the cover of ‘Time’ magazine. Uh, they were covering a historical news story/tragedy, Axl….you wanted to use it for shock value. Pure and simple. Look, GNR pushed the envelope and certainly had an edge about them, but they never needed to go the Marilyn Monroe route. Besides, consider (most of) the artwork GNR has chosen over their career and I think it speaks for itself~
