Alan Niven, teh ex-manager of Guns N’ Roses, has intensified his ongoing dispute with the band by taking legal action, while simultaneously seeking permission to publish his autobiography titled sound N’ Fury.
As reported by Loudwire,legal documents submitted on November 3,2025,indicate that Niven is demanding a jury trial. He alleges that members of the band are attempting to obstruct the release of his memoir based on an unenforceable agreement.
The central issue in this lawsuit pertains to a confidentiality agreement established back in 1991. As he prepared for the publication of Sound N’ fury, representatives from Guns N’ Roses referenced this agreement in a letter sent in May 2025, asserting it was connected to his departure from their institution.
Niven’s position is clear: since not all relevant parties signed this clause, it lacks enforceability. He highlights that while members such as slash, Duff McKagan, and Izzy Stradlin did sign it, there is no evidence of Axl Rose’s signature. The filings also reveal that Izzy Stradlin has remained silent regarding this issue, creating ambiguity about who exactly is trying to prevent the book’s release.
Niven argues that too much time has elapsed for such restrictions to be valid. He maintains that he and other band members have openly discussed their shared history for years without any objections until now.Additionally, he claims someone within Guns N’ Roses encouraged him between 2015 and 2018 to document his experiences.
“Members of GNR have publicly commented about me; one even urged me to write my memoir,” states part of the court documentation concerning over a decade-long situation involving Niven.
This legal confrontation has reportedly led to significant delays in publication and financial repercussions for his publisher due to alleged interference from Guns N’ Roses. Consequently,he seeks compensation specifically related to these disruptions.
The court documents describe the original agreement as excessively broad with privacy terms “written in large strokes.” Both parties had consented not only on confidentiality but also on how they would manage sensitive details arising from their collaboration. However,< strong>Niven contends that such language does not encompass insights gained after their separation and reiterates that all involved must sign for any enforceability—again emphasizing Axl Rose’s lack of signature as crucial evidence.
The two sides have historically exchanged narratives about their pasts which could potentially breach those agreements if interpreted strictly. notably,< strong>Niven mentions being invited multiple times by guns N’ Roses for participation in various past projects and documentaries directly or indirectly associated with them; initially facing no opposition when announcing plans for his memoir.
This dynamic shifted dramatically when on May 9th ,2026 ,his attorney received correspondence accusing him outrightly violating said deal while threatening injunctive relief along with monetary compensation should he continue promoting or publishing content related to Sound n’ Fury . With negotiations failing thus far ,he now seeks declaratory judgment clarifying future actions moving forward .
An crucial aspect worth noting is how< em >Sound n ’Fury< / em > goes beyond mere backstage anecdotes concerning just Axl Rose’s era alone; rather offering insights into< strong>Niven’s career intersecting alongside iconic figures like< strong>The Rolling Stones ,Aerosmith ,Clarence Clemons ,Whitesnake & Elton John among others – material which stands independently nonetheless amidst current disputes .
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