80s Music Central News

Axl Rose has filed a $20 million lawsuit against Guitar Hero III manufacturer Activision.  According to Rose, he only gave permission for the appearance of the song "Welcome To The Jungle" to the company as long as Slash and his new band Velvet Revolver weren't featured.  Rose had previously licensed "Sweet Child O' Mine" to them for Guitar Hero II.  But for those that purchased Guitar Hero III in 2007, Slash was on the game's cover.  According to Rose's legal papers, "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 by emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle,' "  The other sticky issue was the promotional use of the song "Sweet Child O' Mine" in the promotional campaign for Guitar Hero III and not II which it was licensed for.  Skip Miller, Guns N' Roses' legal advisor, has said, "This lawsuit is about protecting Guns N' Roses and Welcome To The Jungle, and it's about holding Activision accountable for its misuse of these incredibly valuable assets.  The relief we are seeking is disgorgement of profits and compensatory and punitive damages."  Activision have yet to release a comment.