You are not logged in. Please register or login.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
I don't know how Slash and Duff, after all these years in the business, didn't know how royalties worked. Seems like it was a knee-jerk decision, imo.
I think some of the problems are that fans are also way too protective of their own beliefs (fantasies?) about who's to blame over the breakup that there's a tendency to get vitriolic over any story that doesn't jive with their version, and people are also protective over Axl. It's 50/50.
There's no lost connection to music on my end, or the majority of posters here.
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
Boys, if even his employees can't get in touch with Axl, than how could his enemies? I'm not surprised that after they didn't get the money (I still find it mysterious that one day it was all directed to Axl), they sued.
BTW haven't you got tired of all the past bullshit and fan fantasies and counter fantasies? I'm afraid a lot of GN'R fans followed Axl's footsteps and lost their connection with music and only here for drama and conspiracy theories. Some day we'll make a beer ad, too.
Or play the Super Bowl with Fergie, which is far worse.
I'd much rather be associated with beer drinking.
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
Btw, here's a brief press release addressing the lawsuit from March 6th, 2006:
The following press release, which was sent earlier, is the official response from W. Axl Rose in regards to the lawsuits filed by Saul "Slash" Hudson and Michael "Duff" McKagan. A version of this release was also sent out over the Business Wire through the Entertainment Wire National with Trades, but was edited and did not contain all of the information intended. The attached release is the version that should be used in all reporting of Mr. Rose's reply to the lawsuits and all inquiries about this discrepancy should be directed to Mr. Howard Weitzman, Esq.
---
W. Axl Rose, on Friday March 3, 2006 responded to one of Saul "Slash" Hudson's baseless lawsuits by filing a counterclaim asking the Federal Court to confirm his ownership of his own creative works. Slash and Michael "Duff" McKagan had previously filed cases both in Federal Court and in the Los Angeles Superior Court making numerous false allegations about Axl. Mr. Rose believes that once apprised of the true facts the Judge or Jury deciding these lawsuits will rule in Axl's favor on every issue before them.
More surprising to Axl are recent media reports that Slash (Saul Hudson) is claiming that he has always been supportive of Axl Rose and the new Guns N' Roses. Slash's actions in recent years have in fact been anything but supportive. Besides the lawsuits filed against Axl Rose, claiming, among other things, that Axl does not own the copyright in the songs that Axl co-authored with his former Guns N' Roses band mates, Slash has continually made negative and malicious statements about Axl in order to garner publicity for himself.
As an example the Federal lawsuit Hudson and McKagan filed was based on a faulty premise from the start. What Hudson and McKagan attempted to portray as egregious misconduct by Axl was in fact -- as Slash and Duff have learned -- nothing more than a clerical error committed by ASCAP. Had Slash and Duff or their representatives bothered to pick up the phone the clerical error could have been easily sorted out without the need for filing an utterly baseless lawsuit which one can only assume had been filed for the purposes of self-publicity at Axl's expense.
The lawsuit also attacks Axl's integrity as Slash and Duff, in a vindictive attempt to aggrandize their own stature, re-write history through false statements, which have been repeated by the media. Their attacks on Axl stand in sharp contrast to Rose's conduct. Axl has at all times worked diligently to maintain the artistic integrity of the band by choosing with great care which properties to license Guns N' Roses songs to and refusing to participate in what he believed were potentially embarrassing projects. He has fought to avoid the release of material that does not live up to the highest of standards demanded by the band's history and it's followers. Axl chose not to respond through the media while taking the high road in the face of Slash and Duff's attacks. Hudson and McKagan, by contrast, have told ever changing - and false - stories regarding the formation of the band and its history and believe that the band's catalogue should be exploited without careful consideration - for the Guns N' Roses brand and their loyal audience - or Axl's input as if it were fast food by anyone willing to pay for it.
For over 10 years Slash, a consummate press, photo and media opportunist and manipulator, has attacked Axl Rose on a number of levels. Slash's actions whether in or out of Guns N' Roses have been a complete betrayal across the board of his alleged friendship and business relationship with Axl and the so called brotherhood and band loyalties that are supposed to have existed. Instead Slash has publicly attempted, by soliciting public and media support, to take credit for something that was not his or anyone else's to take, notwithstanding that Slash played a major part in the success of the band as Axl has continually acknowledged.
In October of 2005 Slash made an unannounced 5:30 AM visit to Axl Rose's house. Not appearing to be under the influence, Slash came to inform Axl that: "Duff was spineless," "Scott was a fraud," that he "hates Matt Sorum" and that in this ongoing war, contest or whatever anyone wants to call it that Slash has waged against Axl for the better part of 20 years, that Axl has proven himself "the stronger." Based on his conduct in showing up at Rose's home, Axl was hopeful that Slash would live up to his pronouncements that he wanted to end the war and move on with life. Unfortunately that did not prove to be the case.
Mr. Rose's attorney Howard Weitzman commented, "Axl regrets having to spend time and energy on these distractions but he has a responsibility to protect the Guns N' Roses legacy and expose the truth. Axl believes he has been left with no alternative but to respond to these lawsuits. It would have been Axl's preference to resolve disputes with Slash and Duff in private. The courthouse is not his choice of forum. However, Axl could no longer sit quietly and allow the continuing dissemination of falsehoods and half-truths by his former band-mates."
If there are further queries regarding this statement, please contact:
Mr. Howard Weitzman, Esq
(310) 201-7450 Direct
Courtesy of http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/arti … icleid=150
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
Actually it dates back to 2005:
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2005--In response to a "frivolous" lawsuit filed against Guns N' Roses leader W.Axl Rose by two former band members claiming Mr. Rose attempted to change the copyright status and the royalty stream earned by the disgruntled pair when they worked with the band Mr. Rose's attorney, Howard Weitzman stated: "This is a classic case of premature accusation. If someone had taken the time to investigate or ask about this situation before rushing to judgment they would have learned that ASCAP (the entity that collects money for songwriters) made a clerical error and failed to appropriately divide and distribute the royalty's owed for the first quarter of 2005 to Axl and the former Guns N' Roses musicians. The amount ASCAP mistakenly sent to Axl's publisher was never received by Axl nor was he ever made aware of the error. The publisher alerted ASCAP to the error, returned the money immediately and asked ASCAP to remedy the situation by distributing the funds appropriately."
Weitzman further comments: "Rather than pick up the telephone and contact Axl or his representatives, his former partners scurried to file a lawsuit that contained false statements about Axl rather then making an effort to learn the truth regarding ASCAP's mistake. Slash and Duff have an unfortunate pattern over the past few years of filing sensational but baseless lawsuits for the purpose of generating anti-Axl propaganda. It is clear that Slash and Duff are looking for another opportunity to spread untruths about Axl in an effort to hurt his reputation and to alienate his fans while at the same time creating a profile for themselves.
"Contrary to allegations in the lawsuit, Axl has never denied that others made substantial contributions towards the success of Guns N' Roses, but there is little doubt as to who was the creative catalyst behind the group's success."
Inquiries should be directed to:
Howard Weitzman, Esq.
Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machingter & Kinsella
1900 Avenue of the Stars
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 201-7450 Direct Phone
(310) 201-4445 Direct Fax
hweitzman@ggfirm.com
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
I remember reading news articles at the time, and it was heavily covered. MTV also reported on it, and Slash blew it up quick after the money didn't show. But like Weitzman and Rose said above, it was a clerical error.
The lawsuit was dropped fairly quickly. Don't remember if Duff dropped first, or they both did at the same time, but I also remember Slash's camp saying he was then gonna sue ASCAP (saving face), but I don't think that ever happened.
This kind of thing did not help their relationship one bit. Does anybody remember or know if this lawsuit outed the infamous "Slash visit" or was that reported seperately and Weitzman just re-referenced it?
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
From USA Today:
LOS ANGELES Aug 26, 2005 — Two former members of the rock band Guns N' Roses have sued frontman Axl Rose for allegedly naming himself sole administrator of the group's copyrights.
The suit was filed Aug. 17 in federal court by Slash and Duff, otherwise known as Saul Hudson and Michael McKagan. It accuses Rose of profiting from their revenue shares to the tune of about $500,000 a year.
The suit claims Rose directed the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers to send all publishing royalties to his publishing company, bypassing the band's other partners.
Rose is "suffering an apparent attack of arrogance and ego. He is no longer willing to acknowledge the contributions of his former partners and bandmates in having created some of rock's greatest hits," the suit said.
Rose's attorney, Howard Weitzman, said the singer had asked to receive only his portion of royalties, and that the overpayment was due to a clerical error by the society. He said Rose had returned the extra funds to the organization.
Guns N' Roses formed in the mid-1980s and recorded such hit songs as "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child o' Mine."
Hudson and McKagan filed a suit against Rose last year, alleging the singer had wrongly claimed ownership of the group's assets after he quit the group in 1995. It also claimed that Rose had blocked Hudson and McKagan from licensing the band's recordings to movie producers. The case is pending.
Rose is the only member of the band who retains the right to perform under the Guns N' Roses name. Hudson and McKagan are now part of the rock band Velvet Revolver.
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
I think Slash did a perfectly fine job of keeping this feud going, and feeding the beast with the media.
Seriously this time -- fuck Slash. Now he's trying to say he didn't start it? Actions speak louder than words, simple as that. I'm surprised Duff has anything to do with him, but Axl even in the chats has said from the get the biggest threat from Slash is the legal ramifications, and stuff like this is probably what he's talking about. If Axl cuts a fart and waves it in Slash's direction, he's got a fucking hotline to the ghost of Robert Kardashian.
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
From MTV (Slash & Duff side) Aug. 17, 2005:
It's been over a decade since the original members of Guns N' Roses went their separate ways, but their feud is still going strong.
Slash and Duff McKagan filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles on Wednesday against Axl Rose, accusing the GN'R
frontman of changing the publisher of the group's copyrighted songs without their consent and pocketing the royalties.
The lawsuit follows Rose's multimillion-dollar publishing deal with Sanctuary earlier this year, in which he sold the publishing rights to the GN'R back catalog. "Suffering an apparent attack of arrogance and ego ... Rose recently decided that he is no longer willing to acknowledge the contributions of his former partners and bandmates in having created some of rock's greatest hits," the lawsuit reads.
Though the Sanctuary deal was reported on by the press, Slash and Duff claim they weren't aware of the scope of Rose's dealings — which they say he "omitted and concealed" — until their expected royalty payments for the first quarter of 2005 didn't arrive in the mail. "When the ASCAP check didn't come, we called and they looked into it," McKagan's lawyer, Glen Miskel, said. "We didn't know all the facts at first."
Miskel said that only last week did they discover that Rose had notified ASCAP on or around May 26 that he was switching over the publishing from Guns N' Roses to Black Frog Music Publishing (which he owns) and Kobalt Songs Music Publishing (which is a joint venture with and handles the administration of Sanctuary's publishing). Consequently, the ASCAP check for the first quarter of 2005 — some $92,000 — went to Rose and "his accomplices" instead, the lawsuit contends.
"Rose's actions were malicious, fraudulent and oppressive, and undertaken in conscious disregard of [Slash and Duff's] property rights," the lawsuit reads. They're seeking damages for fraud, copyright infringement and breach of fiduciary duty, among other things.
Sanctuary could not be reached for comment by press time.
- Smoking Guns
- Rep: 330
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
I think it was Adler Tose was referencing when discussing fear of being sued.
- Mikkamakka
- Rep: 217
Re: Slash Blames Media For Axl Feud.
Axlin, I know that now, that Axl Rose officially became the synonym of failure, it's a hipster thing to defend him and not care about reality. You'd probably find HTGTH a better place than you used to.
But maybe, just maybe, Slash N' Duff tried to pick up the phone. Maybe they called the Axl camp, but nobody answered. You portray Slash like he'd be The Devil manifestated who possessed poor little Duff's free will, but Duff really seems to be az independent man (since he survived alcoholism) and he's the one who has a university degree in economics/booking or what. He knew what he was doing and why he was doing it.
Maybe, just maybe it wasn't a publicity stunt, or the suspected evil-doing to hurt Saint Axl once again. Maybe, just maybe they've learnt from the past that this is the only effective way to defend their interest. Remember, they were dealing with a guy who managed to get the band's name from them; who later left their band; and started a new band with the same name and they were invited as employees. You should think of this first when you're trying to define dirty legal moves. What Axl did is so ugly in every possible terms, that the others can't even come close, even if they were suing Axl 24/7.
BTW the trial shows that what Duff and Slash sad was right. Their money was cut short. I find it amazing that you act like the hate-heated press release of Axl's lawyer would be the truth.
Also, I think that trying to rewrite past, or at least trying to battler over it again and again is Axl's fans last shelter from the reality. That we're talking about a musician who only cash grab once in a while with the old hits and has no intention of making new music. The definition of a has-benn, I guess. But these debates are good for you to hide the truth even from yourselves.
