Ex-Guns N’ Roses Manager Takes Legal Action Against Band Over Memoir Dispute

## Alan Niven’s Legal Challenge Against Guns N’ Roses

Former manager of Guns N’ Roses, Alan Niven, has initiated legal action against the legendary rock band. This lawsuit comes in the wake of the group’s attempts to halt the release of Niven’s upcoming memoir, *Sound N’ Fury: Rock N’ Roll Stories*.

### Background on Niven and the Dispute

Niven’s career spans several notable hair metal and hard rock bands from the Eighties and Nineties, but his association with Guns N’ Roses stands out most prominently. His time with the band, covering their formative years and rise to fame from 1986 to 1991, has been pivotal. The crux of the disagreement is centered around a buyout agreement established when Niven departed from the band. Guns N’ Roses asserts that *Sound N’ Fury* breaches a confidentiality clause, a claim that Niven contests, calling the agreement “void and unenforceable.”

### Allegations in the Lawsuit

The complaint highlights that both Slash and Duff McKagan have made remarks about Niven that allegedly breach this agreement. Furthermore, it claims that Axl Rose has made multiple statements regarding Niven that are in violation of the contract.

Interestingly, Niven’s lawsuit points out that Guns N’ Roses has not previously raised complaints when he addressed quotes about himself in media or discussed the band during interviews. Niven also claims that he was invited by band members to participate in documentaries related to them. Between the years 2015 and 2018, a member of Guns N’ Roses reportedly exchanged several emails with Niven, encouraging him to work on the book.

### Niven’s Arguments

To strengthen his case for the unenforceability of the contract, Niven argues that he was in a state of “severe personal distress” when he signed the buyout agreement. He expresses concerns about feeling betrayed by his former employer, the band’s legal representation, and the band itself. Niven claims he was coerced into accepting a buyout much less favorable than what he would have received had he remained with Guns N’ Roses.

### Impact on Publication

Initially scheduled for release in late June, *Sound N’ Fury* is currently facing delays due to a letter sent by Guns N’ Roses’ management to Niven’s publisher, ECW Press, invoking the confidentiality agreement. According to the legal filing, “due to GNR’s threats, *Sound N’ Fury* languishes in a warehouse,” and thousands of copies are printed but not distributed. The expected release date has been postponed multiple times, pushing anticipation for the book to 2026.

### Conclusion and Legal Actions

Niven is seeking a court ruling to declare the confidentiality agreement unenforceable, as well as claims for breach of contract and interference with a contract.

The unfolding of this legal battle raises intriguing questions about the complexities of relationships within the music industry. How will this lawsuit impact both Niven’s career and the legacy of Guns N’ Roses?