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Guns N’ Roses star slams Guitar Hero

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Guns N’ Roses star slams Guitar Hero

Axl Rose threatens legal actions for use of songs in Activision games

Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose has slammed Activision and its Guitar Hero series for using his band’s songs without permission.

The star wrote an open letter to fans suggesting he may be seeking legal action, according the NME.

While he confirmed he did not object to former Guns guitarist Slash’s involvement in Guitar Hero III, Rose claimed the songs ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ had been used in an “unauthorised” state.

“Slash being in Guitar Hero is fine, but no when Activision in using ‘Jungle’ unauthorized,” he wrote. “I wasn’t broadsided. 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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that time again

posted by holdmykidney Dec 18, 2008 at 2:12 pm
1
holdmykidney

ahh. free publicity seeking time, now, is it? Rather than making the issue at the point the game was actually released you can actually complain over a year later when you a: have new material out and b: have seen that there is a sizable profit to try to claim a chunk.

democracy indeed

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Re: that time again

posted by Emily Briggs Dec 18, 2008 at 3:49 pm
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Emily Briggs

I totally agree with you, it's a case of let me throw my toys out of my pram again!!!!!! why can't Axl just grow up, enjoy the money he made in Guns, and shut up.
What has it got to do with him anyway, weather any of them appear on a game, and as you rightly say it's all a little to late, is it because your new album is rubbish you wanted to drum up a bit of publicity.

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Re: Re: that time again

posted by Duh Dec 18, 2008 at 9:25 pm
3
Duh

Hurka Durka

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Re: Re: that time again

posted by Birdman18 Dec 18, 2008 at 9:39 pm
4
Birdman18

i agree with you that its a little late to be complaining about the guitar hero issue..but i do agree with axl to the extent that they should have gotten the rights, because under contract, axl rose owns the naming rights, hell, all the rights to anything guns n roses..back in the 90's the band members all signed a contract stating they only own rights to the songs, not the actually band name or its representation.. but i believe with the songs, all members who wrote said song and listed with credits get a say.. i could be wrong.. its a bunch of legal nonsense and really has more to do with axl and slash's personal feud than anything...axl is a strange individual, like most singers and artists in the music space...which the new album isnt half bad.. i'm kind of diggin it right now

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Re: Re: that time again

posted by bobby fore Dec 19, 2008 at 1:30 am
5
bobby fore

What A D-bag his new-old lame album is so lame he has to try and make a buck on the gaming industry,go back to the dope house where u been for the last 12 years and od

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Re: Re: that time again

posted by tim Dec 19, 2008 at 3:49 am
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tim

axel is such a douche...

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Re: Re: Re: that time again

posted by LeeC Dec 22, 2008 at 8:44 am
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Clearly, you people know nothing about game content licensing but show the attitude of those people who probably download an artist's music.

I hope he does take them to court. An industry that complains so much about piracy should know better than to use songs without the correct licensing. Regardless of whether he has an album out or not, illegal is illegal... FACT!!!

And I know for a fact, if I was a musician and something was making a profit through use of my material without me receiving royalties, because of not getting the right licensing, I'd be wanting a slice of that pie.

People will buy that game because of those specific songs if they are into G'n'R. Which means Axl is directly responsible for increasing sales of that game, to a percentage of the buying public. So you tell me how his claim isn't justified... if you can.

Anyone who is into G'n'R will have this album anyway, it certainly won't boil down to trying to lure the current generation from Miley Cirus or Pussycat Dolls, or other "similarly talented" artists. Perhaps, that is the kind of music most of you should stick to "buying".

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Re: Re: Re: Re: that time again

posted by LeeC also Dec 22, 2008 at 7:58 pm
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LeeC also

Ok, I'll tell you where you are wrong. As Axl points out, Slash has as much right to perform that song as anyone else from G'n'R. The song does not state that is by G'n'R but that is who made it famous so there is no rights issue with regard to the claim that G'n'R perform it. Bad argument but you presented well that I'm sure anyone who fancies joining a bandwagon for the sake of it will understand!!!

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: that time again

posted by MrJolly Dec 23, 2008 at 4:03 pm
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Bottom line - Axel got new heavyweight management not that long ago, they managed to get CD pushed out the door and you can expect them to set about maximising the income from GNR licensing and recovering anything they think is owing from anyone...

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vaxalmola

posted by GuimiDilt Sep 24, 2009 at 8:08 pm
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