Riverport Amphitheatre

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Lore & Background

The lore of Riverport centers on the July 2, 1991 incident, often called the Rocket Queen Riot. During "Rocket Queen," Axl Rose pointed out a fan taking still pictures, shouting, "Hey, take that! Take that! Now, get that guy and take that!" When security failed to remove the patron, Rose jumped into the audience, tackled the person, and took the camera himself. He then struck members of the audience and security before being pulled offstage. Grabbing his microphone, he angrily announced, "Well, thanks to the lame-ass security, I'm going home!", slammed it down, and left. Guitarist Slash followed by telling the crowd, "He just smashed the microphone. We're out of here," which infuriated the audience and ignited a three-hour riot causing dozens of injuries. The event was recorded on videocamera by Robert John, who was documenting the tour. Rose faced charges for inciting the riot but was not arrested until nearly a year later because the band had toured overseas. A judge eventually ruled he did not directly incite the riot. Guitarist Izzy Stradlin reflected on the danger, noting the 1988 Donington festival where two fans died, asking, "What's to stop us having some more people trampled, because the singer doesn't like something?" Rose later claimed his security team made four separate requests to remove the patron, all ignored. He also reported bottles thrown at band members, weapons allowed in by venue security, and refused enforcement of drinking limits.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of that night began with a dispute over photography during "Rocket Queen." Axl Rose identified a fan taking still photos and demanded security intervene. When they did not act, Rose personally entered the crowd to seize the camera. After tackling the individual and striking others, he returned to stage only to declare his exit due to inadequate security. His departure left guitarist Slash to inform the stunned audience of the situation, a statement that instantly turned frustration into chaos. The resulting three-hour riot saw dozens injured as the crowd reacted to the band's abrupt abandonment. In the aftermath, tensions remained high between the band and the venue. Rose cited ignored requests from his security team regarding the photographer, along with complaints about bottles thrown at performers, weapons entering the arena, and a lack of enforcement on drinking limits. These grievances led the band to replace traditional acknowledgments in the liner notes for Use Your Illusion I and II with the phrase "Fuck You, St. Louis!" The band did not return to the region until July 27, 2017, when they played an incident-free show at the Dome at America's Center during their Not in This Lifetime... Tour.

Reader's Guide

The Riverport Amphitheatre is located in Maryland Heights, Missouri. It hosted the infamous July 2, 1991 concert by Guns N' Roses on the Use Your Illusion Tour. The venue was renamed the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre following the incident. Fans seeking to understand the history should note that this location saw Axl Rose jump into the crowd during "Rocket Queen" over a photography dispute. His subsequent exit sparked a three-hour riot with dozens of injuries. Key details for visitors or researchers include the specific date, July 2, 1991, and the fact that the incident was captured on video by Robert John. The band's response to the venue management included a direct insult in their album liner notes, writing "Fuck You, St. Louis!" instead of thanks. It took until July 27, 2017, for Guns N' Roses to return to the region, performing at the Dome at America's Center without incident. The site is significant not just as a concert venue, but as the location where a live performance transformed into a historic riot.

Did You Know?

• The incident is also known as the Rocket Queen Riot because it occurred during the chorus of that specific song.
• Axl Rose was not arrested until almost a year after the riot because the band had traveled overseas to continue their tour.
• Guns N' Roses replaced the traditional acknowledgments in Use Your Illusion I and II liner notes with "Fuck You, St. Louis!"
• The band did not return to the region for 26 years, playing an incident-free show on July 27, 2017.
• Robert John, who was documenting the tour for the band, captured the entire riot on videocamera.