When Axl Rose takes the stage tonight at The Bottleneck, 737 N.H., don’t expect to see the iconic metal-head sporting braids and a football jersey as he has on Guns N’ Roses’ recent “Chinese Democracy” tour. And don’t expect to hear new songs like “Madagascar” or “Silkworms.”

That’s because this Axl isn’t really Axl at all. He is Eric “Slick” Seedman, frontman for Lawrence-based GN’R tribute band Sweet Band O’ Mine. If it were up to Seedman, Axl Rose would never have aged past 1987 — the year “Appetite for Destruction” spawned three Top 10 singles and taught the youth of America how to “dance with Mr. Brownstone.”

“‘Appetite’ is raw, angry and (expletive) up — the way it should be,” Seedman said. “Guns N’ Roses should have stuck with what they are, and rock and roll should have stuck with what it was.

“We’re doing what they should be doing.”

Like the volatile Rose, Seedman is a bit of an enigma. A 26-year-old drifter who dabbles in movies, music and minor league baseball, Seedman discovered metal when he was 14. Those bands — GN’R, Judas Priest, AC/DC and Iron Maiden — offered an escape from the banality of growing up in a small central Kansas town. With his blazing red mane of hair, gaunt figure and gutter-rat fashion sense, Seedman is a dead ringer for Rose.

“Axl is close to who I am as a person anyway: always angry,” Seedman said. “My basic wardrobe consists of stuff that’s like that: hot pink leather pants, some black leather. I like wearing leather all the time and I always go sleeveless. I’ve worn bandanas for the longest time.”

Tonight’s show will be the second performance for Sweet Band O’ Mine. Seedman auditioned more than a dozen musicians for the inaugural concert last January before selecting the final four: Bill McShane (Ultimate Fakebook) as bassist Duff McKagan, Doug Minner (Sufferbus) as lead guitarist Slash, Jo Jo Longbottom (Podstar) as second guitarist Izzy Stradlin and Kliph Scurlock as drummer Steven Adler. This year Ken Pingleton (Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers) will fill in for Scurlock, who is on tour with The Flaming Lips.

For McShane, whose real band is known for its unabashed hooks and rock showmanship, the decision to participate in Sweet Band O’ Mine was a no-brainer.

Sweet Band O'Mine singer Eric Slick Seedman, left, and guitarist Jo Jo Longbottom rehearse for their upcoming Gun N' Roses tribute.

“I grew up listening to all the horrible stuff anyway: Slaughter, Poison, Ratt, Cinderella, Dokken,” he said. “Sitting down and re-learning (‘Appetite for Destruction’) reminded me how great the record was.”

The band performs in full costume, a task that has often proved more difficult than learning the music.

“It’s hard to focus on playing guitar when I’m trying to worry if my hat’s on straight,” said Minner, who wears Slash’s trademark top hat. “Last year I had to duct tape the hat to the wig. When I took the wig out I ripped the lining off the hat. We’re lucky the wedding place we rented it from took it back.”

But barring any unforeseen fashion problems, Sweet Band O’ Mine promises a faithful, if not flawless, rendition of “Appetite for Destruction.”

“You either do it real or you (expletive) it up,” Pingleton said. “For one night, we’re trying to become Guns N’ Roses.”