Axl Rose Launches $20 Million Lawsuit Against 'Guitar Hero' Over Slash Character

Players of 'Guitar Hero' will likely have to bid farewell to the Slash character featured in the popular video game now that Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose has launched a $20 million US lawsuit against Activision, the company behind the wildly successful 'Guitar Hero' franchise.

Rose states in the suit, which was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, that he only signed off on the company using the GNR classic 'Welcome to the Jungle' in 'Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,' and never agreed to have the ex-GNR lead guitarist referenced in the game.

Despite Rose's strict instructions, a dead ringer for his former bandmate and later Velvet Revolver mainstay is featured in the game and on its cover. (As if the dude sporting dark glasses and a top hat with dark cascading curls could be anyone besides Slash.)

"Activision was keenly aware of Rose's concerns in these regards," the suit claims, "and began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and [Velvet Revolver] prominently in 'GH III,' but also promote the game by emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle.'"

Watch 'Welcome to the Jungle' Live, 1988