Axl Rose sings new publishing deal

[1234-5678 0]

Rock recluse Axl Rose (search) has signed a multimillion dollar publishing deal, and that isn't sitting well with his former Guns N' Roses (search) bandmates.

 

The deal with music powerhouse Sanctuary Group (search) covers both the back catalogue, which includes hits such as "Sweet Child of Mine," "Paradise City" and "November Rain," as well as Rose's future material, including dozens of new tracks he recently recorded for Universal Music.

 

After burning up charts and selling out stadiums around the world in the late '80s and early '90s, Guns N' Roses endured a bitter split, leaving only Rose and keyboard player Dizzy Reed to soldier on under the GNR banner.

 

Former members Slash (Saul Hudson) and Duff (Michael) McKagan, now part of the band Velvet Revolver (search), filed a lawsuit against Rose last year over who controls the rights to the old GNR songs. The suit is still pending.

 

McKagan's lawyer, Glen Miskel, expressed surprise when told of the Sanctuary deal. He said Rose, Slash and Duff were part of a partnership and "neither Sanctuary nor Axl Rose have provided the remaining partners with a copy of that agreement."

 

Link

 

I like to pay special attention to the part that talks about the "dozens of new tracks" he has recorded.

[Black Lushus 0]

so in layman's terms, Velvet Revolver can't play GNR tunes anymore? or at least produce them on an album?

[BUTT 0]

No, actually, Slash and Duff are mad because they are currently suing Axl, claiming that he has no right to control the contents of the group's catalog. They claim that the three of them signed a deal in 1992 which gave them control over the licensing of their songs and included the provision that if Axl left the partnership, he retained the rights to the name Guns N' Roses. Slash and Duff claim that Axl left the partnership in 1995 and thus he relinquished the licensing rights. However, Axl has continued to veto the inclusion of old GNR tracks in movies (most notably Big Daddy, where the producers wanted "Sweet Child o' Mine" but Axl said he would only allow them to include a version that he recorded with his new band, so the new version of the song was set to be included until Slash vetoed it, and eventually they worked out a compromise where the credits feature a live version of the song with the old band which "morphs" into the new band's version; and also Black Hawk Down, where the producers wanted "Welcome to the Jungle", Axl would only give them a rerecorded version, and Slash vetoed it so it didn't make it in) and Slash and Duff would like the courts to rule that they have the sole discretion the license the songs. However, I have no idea what effect Axl's new publishing deal has on this situation. Either way, no deal could stop Velvet Revolver from playing GNR songs, or anyone else's songs for that matter.

[Neil-o-Mac 0]

They could, it's just that Axl and Sanctuary would get all the publishing royalties (the Velvet Revolver guys would get the performer royalties tho).

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

Fuck, this is like a junior high bitch fest. Call me when fists start flying.

[1234-5678 0]

if Axl left the partnership, he retained the rights to the name Guns N' Roses. Slash and Duff claim that Axl left the partnership in 1995 and thus he relinquished the licensing rights.

Duff was still a member of Guns N Roses until 1997 or 1998 when Tommy Stinson took over bass.

[BUTT 0]

if Axl left the partnership, he retained the rights to the name Guns N' Roses.  Slash and Duff claim that Axl left the partnership in 1995 and thus he relinquished the licensing rights.

Duff was still a member of Guns N Roses until 1997 or 1998 when Tommy Stinson took over bass.

I know, and Slash left in '96. Still, the lawsuit says '95.

[Black Lushus 0]

right, they can play a GNR tune just like any other cover band in the world could at a show...but they can't put one on a future album...correct?

[Guest BrokenWings]

Fuck, this is like a junior high bitch fest. Call me when fists start flying.

Call me when they actually, you know, release something new.

 

Until then, I don't see why people are still talking about them.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

right, they can play a GNR tune just like any other cover band in the world could at a show...but they can't put one on a future album...correct?

That is correct. In fact, VR have been playing It's So Easy, Used To Love Her and Mr. Brownstone at most of their recent shows and I'm hoping they play a few when I go to see them live next Monday night.

 

Tommy has also stated that he hopes to tour Europe to support the release of Chinese Democracy this year, so hopefully all the shit and waiting ends in 2005.

 

UYI

[razazteca 0]

So does have to do with royalties that can be made from XM/Sirius radio?