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Alan Niven, a former manager of Guns N’ Roses during what his lawyers term “their most prolific period” in the 1980s and early ‘90s, has sued his former business associates in Arizona over their attempts to stop the publication of his memoir, Sound N’ Fury: Rock N’ Roll Stories.
In the suit, filed yesterday and obtained by Variety, Niven’s lawyers argue that the confidentiality agreement they signed in 1991 was repeatedly breached by three principal members of Guns N’ Roses – singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagen – in books and interviews, and that Niven himself was not previously threatened with any legal action for doing his own interviews that touched on his history with the band.
Despite that, Niven says that Guns N’ Roses blocked the release of his memoir with a cease-and-desist letter sent to him earlier this year. The former manager says that, in part because of those statements from Guns N’ Roses members, he is allowed to respond to their “disparaging” statements; that storage of the “thousands” of printed books is racking up storage costs; and that Rose never signed the agreement anyhow, among other claims. He is suing so that he can publish his book.
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Prior to Guns N’ Roses, Niven represented the band Great White in the ‘80s through the ‘90s – and brought a suit against its label, Universal Music Group, in 2023. (Great White, outside of the hit “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” is likely most remembered for having headlined a tragic 2003 concert in which 100 people died due to illegal soundproofing and pyrotechnics, and more recently had performed a mask-free show at the height of the pandemic.) In that case, Niven alleged being owed nearly $1 million related to royalties and fees. It was dismissed and is currently on appeal by Niven.
In 2010, Niven also sued Australian band The Brewster Brothers, alleging copyright infringement and seeking publishing royalties as well as the return of two guitars. The judge in that case found in favor of Niven over copyrights to 11 songs, the return of Niven’s guitars and that the band pay him $295.77 in damages, dismissing the other charges.
