Former Guns N' Roses Manager Sues Band Over Memoir Dispute

In a recent legal dispute, former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven is suing his former business associates in Arizona over their attempts to stop the publication of his memoir, "Sound N' Fury: Rock N' Roll Stories." Niven, who managed the band during their most prolific period in the 1980s and early '90s, argues that the confidentiality agreement they signed in 1991 has been repeatedly breached by the band members, including singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash, and bassist Duff McKagan, in their own books and interviews.

Niven claims he was not previously threatened with legal action for doing his own interviews that touched on his history with the band. However, he says Guns N' Roses blocked the release of his memoir with a cease-and-desist letter sent to him earlier this year. The former manager is now suing to be able to publish his book, arguing that the band members' own statements have allowed him to respond to their "disparaging" comments.

Prior to his work with Guns N' Roses, Niven also represented the band Great White in the '80s through the '90s and has been involved in other legal battles over royalties and copyrights in the music industry.