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Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose slams 'Guitar Hero'

Frontman accuses Activision of 'low life chicanery'

December 18, 2008 | 16 Comments
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Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose has slammed Activision, the makers of computer game 'Guitar Hero', for using his band's songs in the game.

In an open letter to fans, the singer hinted that legal proceedings may occur, saying that "it'll need some sorting".

Rose said that he didn't object to former Guns guitarist Slash being involved in the game, but claimed that the songs 'Welcome To The Jungle' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' were being used in an "unauthorised" state.

"Him [Slash] being [in] 'Guitar Hero''s fine but not when Activison is using '…Jungle'… unauthorized," he wrote in the garbled letter.

"I wasn't broadsided," he continued. "I read about it as it moved along but Activision continually denied it right up to the release. That's some low life chicanery on all their parts.

"Yes, Slash was in Guns and on '…Jungle' and he has rights to perform it, but not to be represented in this context in association with Guns. And since they weren't granted the license it'll take some sorting."

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Comments (16)

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jovus

Dec 18, 2008

Axl Rose:Please go away. Millions of parents will buy this game for their kids. (except for those in New York after the "Gov" takes all their money) This has everything to do with personal annimosity, doesn't it Axl. You should be happy that this game keeps your music alive. After all why did it take you over 20 years to release "Chinese Democracy" if you were concerned about relevence.

barrinho

Dec 18, 2008

Don't know what he's moaning about as having his songs on Guitar hero would make more kids to buy guns and roses records and more money for him. Why bother going to all that effort to sue.

joejoetaytay

Dec 18, 2008

Axl, you pathetic, pathetic man.

joehaith2

Dec 18, 2008

Seen as Axl now has the taste for letters here is one for him and anyone else who cares to read.Dear Axl Rose, Piss off back under that rock you have just crawled out from under after 17years.Lots of loveThe vast majority of the human race.

bragdad

Dec 18, 2008

oh fuck off Axl, its the same shit every week, how can I make more money by suing people to take the disctraction off my piss poor album

theeggster

Dec 18, 2008

Axls got every right to say where his music can be used. The guy is a one off,a real man go Axl do your thing.

feeder_1986

Dec 19, 2008

Isnt it about time we started a campaign against Axl Rose and his consistant moaning. That thing who is now just a monster of his former self needs to be reigned in and publicly told to shut up. The Chinese Democracy album is ok but lets be honest the only old part about the long awaited album is the name thats been circulating for god knows how long.

ferriter101

Dec 19, 2008

ahh u bunch of smug indie twats when was the last time an indie band tried to push them selves and do something different?not since the eighties every over form of music as overtaken indie for orginality but still indie fans are a bunch of self righteous twats!!

guyp16

Dec 19, 2008

he complained cos he can't play his own songs

Boris

Dec 19, 2008

Sick on you has been git

wom390426

Dec 19, 2008

Not only does he have the right to say how his music is to be used...but Slash is gaining publicity for himself and all things that he is involved in(Velvet Revolver). This being said, Slash should of used something from the VR discography. But then...we all already know that Guns n' Roses is far superior to Velvet Revolver.

betterthandoherty

Dec 19, 2008

Why has he waited until one year after the game came out to say something? and why has he waited until two years after guitar hero 2 came out which also had his shit music on it?

ellozee

Dec 19, 2008

'Axls got every right to say where his music can be used.'not really 'his music' though is it?i'd probably say slash had more of a right to it than axl. and this is just purely pathetic.

Bigshoutout

Dec 21, 2008

On top of that Axl used to rebel about the kinda people hes turned into, bitter, uptight snobs who can't start suing and dissapointing fans.

7571whitehead

Dec 21, 2008

Axl just wants more money off Activision. Just shut up and benefit from the money you make from guitar hero publicising your songs. Either way Axl is making money. so why don't you do it by doing nothing, rather than putting down a perfectly good game!!!

ShadowSlash

Jan 18, 2009

Just to let you know ferriter101, Guns N' Roses are Heavy Rock, not 'Indie'. Anyway, Axl Rose needs to get off his high horse and stop thinking he's brilliant. If he hadn't have been thinking he owned Guns N' Roses, and hadn't tried to gain legal custody of GN'R, then he'd still be part of an amazing band, with Slash, Izzy, Duff and Matt still in there. Not have an average album out with a band that can hardly play. I know I don't know his personal stuff and what's going on with him but he needs to stop trying to own Guns N' Roses and focus on making up with the people he's shit all over and get some proper music out. He's a really good singer but, as far as I know, a control freak too. He can't control everything, especially what Slash (quite rightly) sells to Guitar Hero.