Axl Rose sues Activision
He's furious that Slash was in GHIII.
Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose is suing Activision for $20 million, claiming the publisher breached an agreement not to use the likeness of former guitarist Slash in Guitar Hero III.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rose's claim states, "[Activision] began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and VR [Velvet Revolver] prominently in GH III, but also promote the game by emphasising and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N Roses and the band's song Welcome to the Jungle."
Apparently Rose rescinded permission for Activision to use Welcome to the Jungle in the game when he heard that Slash was to feature. The publisher then allegedly lied to the singer, insisting Slash's likeness was there just for the purposes of a trade show.
Rose is also unhappy that Activision used Sweet Child O' Mine in advertising for Guitar Hero III, claiming the song was only licensed for Guitar Hero II.
"This lawsuit is about protecting Guns N' Roses and Welcome to the Jungle, and is about holding Activision accountable for its misuse of these incredibly valuable assets," explained Rose's lawyer Skip Miller. "The relief we are seeking is disgorgement of profits and compensatory and punitive damages."
This isn't the first time Activision has run into trouble regarding the use of rock star's likenesses in the Guitar Hero series. Back in 2009, Courtney Love threatened to "sue the s***" out of the publisher for how it portrayed her late husband Kurt Cobain in Guitar Hero 5.