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Ugly war among original GNR members
(03-07-2006)
Big texts below, first a very nasty statement from Axl Rose's lawyer talking shit about mostly Slash and below that there is a news article from MTV. Read it and make your own opinion and remember that this is just Axl's side of the story. Here are my own comments about it:
Some statements in this declaration really bother me! First they (Axl through his attorney) claim that Slash basically has never been positive about Axl and that he's been malicious and shit... BULLSHIT!!! Slash, until maybe 2005, always said good things about Axl's projects even though all the fans know they both hate each other since the last GNR show and maybe even before. As a fan of Slash I heard/read dozens of interviews, each time he was asked about Axl and he was always nice and never attempted to stir shit about him, even frustrating fans who knew Axl was wrong on many things. Let me remind you when Slash tried to attend a "new GNR" show in Vegas for new year 2001 and when he was denied entry under Axl's desire. NOW THAT'S MALICIOUS! Now he's trying to cause the breakup of Velvet Revolver with quotes that may not be true, now that MALICIOUS TOO! I personally think Snakepit was far superior as VR but this is just low class from Axl Rose.
Did Slash ever attempted to ruin the new GNR? Hell no, he always said he was optimistic about it! Another thing: Axl, through his lawyer, claims this: "Axl has at all times worked diligently to maintain the artistic integrity of the band". Oh yeah? then Axl performs in front of dozens of thousands fans such horse crap like "Rhiad and the bedoins" and "chinese democracy". The statement also says: Axl refused 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". Oh yeah? Silk Worms live up to the highest of standards demanded by the fans? Catcher in the rye is good compared to Sweet Child O'Mine or Locomotive? How about "Oh my god"? is that the new Mr. Brownstone or the new Don't Damn Me?? In my humble opinion, all the songs released by Slash's Snakepit are superior to any of the "axl rose band" new songs, this guy has such an ego! OK, enough for my rant about this, sorry but I'm pissed off by Axl Rose tonight! And I'd like to add a comment from my best friend from Pittsburgh, he just sent me that on MSN and it makes so much sense: "yea. slash has always been good to us man. He is so nice to his fans. its obvious who the good guy in the band is. axl is a vindictive asshole and he like to play lawyer too much. Listen to this too. im pretty sure axl said not too long ago. it was definitly after october that he hasnt talked to slash in 10 years. how this this tie in with slash coming unnanounced to axl's house".
Here are the two texts, judge them yourself:
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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.
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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 it’s 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 Gun's 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 bandmates.
If there are further queries regarding this statement, please contact:
Mr. Howard Weitzman, Esq
(310) 201-7450 Direct
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In a statement, Rose points to alleged turmoil in Velvet Revolver camp.
Just last month, while speaking to a British radio station, Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash proclaimed that former bandmate Axl Rose's long-awaited, fabled magnum opus Chinese Democracy would finally surface in March. Slash added that he's "always been supportive" of Axl's work with the refurbished GN'R, and that he was glad the world would soon experience Democracy.
But things actually aren't chummy between Rose and his erstwhile GN'R comrades. They haven't been in more than a decade — not since the original members of Guns N' Roses parted ways. A statement released Monday (March 6) by Rose's management, the Sanctuary Group, called Slash's remarks "surprising" and dubbed him "a consummate press, photo and media opportunist and manipulator" who "has attacked Axl Rose on a number of levels."
On Friday Rose filed suit against Saul "Slash" Hudson, seeking a federal judge's confirmation of "his ownership of his own creative works." The filing comes in response to a federal suit filed in August by Slash and bassist Duff McKagan, who accused the GN'R frontman of changing the publisher of the group's copyrighted songs without first conferring with them and then pocketing the royalties. That suit claimed "Rose's actions were malicious, fraudulent and oppressive, and undertaken in conscious disregard of [Slash and Duff's] property rights."
There's no word on what financial damages, if any, last week's filing will seek.
The statement issued in the wake of the suit blasts Axl's former allies, claiming "Slash has continually made negative and malicious statements about Axl [in the press] in order to garner publicity for himself" and that both musicians have made "numerous false allegations about Axl ... [and that] 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."
The most recent suit filed against Axl, according to the statement, "attacks [his] integrity as Slash and Duff, in a vindictive attempt to aggrandize their own stature, rewrite 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."
Moreover, the statement claims Slash showed up uninvited at Axl's door early one morning in October to offer a truce. "Slash came to inform Axl that: 'Duff was spineless,' '[Velvet Revolver frontman] Scott [Weiland] was a fraud,' that he 'hates [Revolver drummer] 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.' "
"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," Howard Weitzman, Axl's attorney, said in the statement. "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 bandmates."
A spokesperson for Slash, McKagan and Velvet Revolver said the band had no comment.
- Chris Harris
Source: heretodaygonetohell.com
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