Axl Rose Files $20 Million Lawsuit Over “Guitar Hero III”

If Axl Rose has his way, there won't be a reunion of the original Guns N' Roses lineup in the real or virtual worlds any time soon.

The lead singer of the 90s rock band has filed a lawsuit against the makers of the Guitar Hero video games for including a likeness of ex-GNR guitarist Slash with the band's Welcome to the Jungle in the most recent version of the game, says the Hollywood Reporter.

In a $20 million lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Rose says that Activision tricked him into releasing the band's signature song for use in Guitar Hero III by telling him that  they would not feature any facsimile of the famous shaggy-haired shredder, or his new band, Velvet Revolver, in the game.

"[Activision] began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and VR prominently in GH III but also promote the game be emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle,'" the complaint states.

The complaint also says that another GNR classic, Sweet Child O' Mine, was used to promote the game online, even though it was only authorized for use in Guitar Hero II.

An attorney for Rose elaborated on the lawsuit.

"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," Skip Miller said to the Hollywood Reporter. "The relief we are seeking is disgorgement of profits and compensatory and punitive damages."

At press time, Activision had not responded to the Hollywood Reporter's request for comment.

Selected Reading: Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, MTV

Contact Us