Showbiz News
-
-
-
Loading
Loading
Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose is once again at the centre of controversy, after the band’s former manager Alan Niven claimed that the singer now pockets 50 per cent of the group’s earnings, and insists on having total control over their operations.
Niven, who managed the legendary rock outfit from 1986 to 1991 during their meteoric rise to fame, made the explosive comments during an appearance on the Appetite For Distortion podcast, a show dedicated to all things GNR. Speaking ahead of the release of his new book Sound N’ Fury: Rock N’ Roll Stories, Niven pulled no punches as he reflected on his tumultuous time with the band, and especially his fractured relationship with Rose.
“It’s a control thing with Axl,” Niven said bluntly. “Here’s another little snapshot that is illuminating and goes to forming a correct perception. Axl takes 50 per cent of the income of Guns N’ Roses now. 50 per cent, OK? That, to me, is anathema. He is not Guns N’ Roses.”
Niven’s comments paint a picture of a band that, in his view, has strayed far from its original democratic spirit. “They were five individuals. It was a chemistry. It was a moment,” he explained. “But Axl wants to be in control of everything all the time. And look what that gets you. A boring solo record and a thing of punk covers. And that’s it.”
While Rose has long been known for his perfectionist tendencies and tight grip over the GNR brand, particularly during the chaotic years that followed the departure of original members Slash, Duff McKagan, and others, these new claims reignite the debate over whether Guns N’ Roses today is a true band or merely a vehicle for its famously fiery frontman.
Fans may recall the band’s turbulent history, from delayed albums to high-profile fallouts and an eventual reunion of core members for the "Not In This Lifetime" tour. While the tour was a commercial juggernaut, questions have lingered about the internal dynamics of the group behind the scenes, and who’s really calling the shots.
So far, there’s been no official response from Rose or the current GNR camp regarding Niven’s claims. But with Sound N’ Fury set to delve even deeper into the band’s early years, and more revelations likely to follow, the rock world may soon be hearing a lot more about the internal power plays that have shaped one of music’s most legendary, and divisive, acts.
