Spinner

Axl Rose Sues Former Manager Over 'Secret Plan' to Force GNR Reunion

Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses)Most music fans would love to see the classic Guns N' Roses lineup reunite, sure, but everybody also knows by now that bandleader Axl Rose will have none of it. However, according to Rose, that common knowledge wasn't enough to stop his former manager, Irving Azoff, from trying his best to get the old band back together. The extent to which he attempted to do so instigated Rose, on Monday, to file a significant lawsuit against him to the tune of $5 million. This is actually a countersuit against Azoff who is suing Rose for $1.9 million in unpaid management fees. Rose is the only original member of the band.

Rose claims that Azoff used deception and even sabotage during GNR's 'Chinese Democracy' cycle to try to achieve his goal. According to a report on TMZ, Rose directly accuses Azoff of "devising and implementing a secret plan to set up Rose and the band for failure so that Rose would have no choice but to reunite with the original Guns N' Roses members."

Furthermore, Rose's countersuit says that the initial lawsuit Azoff filed against him in March uses Rose's adopted childhood name, William Bailey, in an attempt to inflict additional distress on the musician. In 1986, Rose legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose and, according to the suit, has confided to Azoff in the past that his former name "carries significant emotional damage."

Through a spokesperson, Azoff tells Spinner, "On advice of counsel, I cannot respond at this time but will discuss in my upcoming book, 'My Life with William Bill Bailey'."

In addition to formerly managing GNR, Azoff is the executive chairman of Live Nation Entertainment and is something of a power management guru: past and current clients include the Eagles, Neil Diamond and Van Halen. No word on his involvement in past Van Halen reunions.

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Bryan

gnr r a bunch of sellout douchebags, n axl is a fuckin asshole, i dunno how u could like someones music when in real life he is a fuckin dick, fuck gnr.

June 02 2010 at 1:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Bryan's comment
LILLIE

no dont fuck gnr fuck axl yes but the name gnr still represents some of the best music of my childhood... while i agree w the words u used to describe axl ... its not cool to say fuck gnr... and by the way if u feel that strongly against axl and gnr what the hell are u even reading anything to do about either one in the first place?

June 16 2010 at 8:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Barry Slain

Chinese Democracy?
The best thing they have ever released?

Are you deaf as well as stupid, Niall???

May 19 2010 at 12:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Barry Slain's comment
PTR

Come on man, no need to call him stupid or deaf just because you didn't agree with his opinion. But anyway, Chinese Democracy IS a good album but definitely not the best.The "Holy Trinity" of GnR were Axl, Slash, Duff, and Izzy... when they broke up and went their separate ways you can tell by listening to their respective records that they have the old Guns sound and feel. Just my two cents.

May 21 2010 at 1:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Niall

I've followed GnR since the beginning and love all their early stuff. Having said that I honestly believe that Chinese Democracy is the best thing they have ever released which is why I don't care if they re-unite. Axl is the talent, and as long as he is making music, I'm happy! (RIP RJD)

May 19 2010 at 7:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ann Kellacher

get over yourself...no way can you call Slash "talentless". Both Slash and Axl are talented individuals and along with the other original members have moved on. The media have done a good job of maintaining any idea of a "feud" for idiots like you to spout complete nonsense.

May 19 2010 at 6:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LINDSY

GO AXL.I HOPE HE WINS.THIS HORRID BLOKE HAS TRIED TO UPSET HIM BEFORE.AS FOR A REUNION.AFTER WHAT SLASH SAID ABOUT HIM HE WOULDN'T EVEN WANT TO WIPE HIS BOOTS ON A TALENTLESS TEDIOUS GUITAR PLAYER LIKE HIM.

May 19 2010 at 5:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to LINDSY's comment
LILLIE

that it is so wrong a true GUNS N ROSES FAN likes all the members slash axl duff izzy and steven the origneal cast.... axl cant help it that he is a perpetual ass i will always love his vocals but think about it who was guns nroses axl dont have the right to maintain that name when he is the only remaining member it should go to slash izzy and duff who were trying to put somthing together... 3 vs 1 they have the more power... i still love axl as a muscician but his people skills suck!!!! AND AXL LOOSE THE CORN ROLLS DUDE!@!!!!

June 16 2010 at 8:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply