Guns N' Roses Files Lawsuit against Greatest Hits

[badapple81]

Its out in some countries.. and already being sold around the world on ebay

Wonder if this means the GH could become a rare collectors item?

[privatereserve]

THis is some funny ass shit.  Has anyone tried buying the GH hits today in the us.  I;m sure some gunners have.  Is it still on the shelves?

Its not out yet....

Are you sure??

[Mattman]

"W. Axl Rose is joined by former band members Slash and Duff McKagan in bringing the action against Geffen Records."

OH ... MY ... GOD.

who will be the first?!

humm... well... me then:

"A REUUUNNNIIIOOONNNNN??!?!?!!"  

Actually, I don't think that really means anything like a reunion.  I read yesterday in an interview with Slash in Hit Parader that he hasn't talked to Axl in "about eight years".  I'd say what happened was Slash and Duff heard about the lawsuit, agreed, and so their lawyers contacted Axl's lawyer to lend Slash and Duff's support to the lawsuit.  It's really not a big deal, I don't think.  Unfortunately.

[darknemus]

Geez, I'm gone all day setting up a Network - and I get to come back to this?  Wow.. what fun  

Ok, here's my take on this.  And by the way, just want to say, great job, Pilferk - your answers and explanations are as informative as ever and I, for one, appreciate it.

A. Slash / Duff involved in the lawsuit along with Axl - No matter what, I think I can only view this as a 'good thing' - I realize it doesn't mean they're sitting down at Spagos over a nice Chateau Briand or something, bit it does at least create hope that they can eventually work out their differences - even if its 5-10 years down the road - and we might, far, far down that road, approach that dreaded 'R' word.

B. What this does to the release of "Chinese Democracy": Honestly?  I think it accelerates the process.. that is, *if* GNR can force, via contract, release of CD on a specific timetable once the masters are handed over.  Let's just say for a moment that there is no injunction issued and GH comes out in the US market.. lets FURTHER say that the remaining contractual obligation to Geffen consists of 1 New Release and 1 GH (I think there was another live disc in there, too - but not sure about that)  So.. Axl says "You know what, fuck this" - releases CD to Geffen, which gets released to us.  Bingo!  Contract over.. if there's another live disc clause in there, too - then you just hand over the soundboard recording of MSG - done.

At that point, Axl's value to a new label increases, big time.  He's got 2 current releases out there (GH & CD. AND he's just completed (or is in the middle of) a tour on CD's material.  All of a sudden, the red headed recluse looks more like the rapidly growing dollar sign to a new label.  Plus, there's no outstanding obligation to Geffen.. its pretty much a blank check (that is, if CD is as successful as I think it will be)

C. My thinking on the results of the lawsuit: Honestly, I dont see Axl being found in breach of the contract - because if that were an issue, I think Geffen would have sued him long ago for such.. there's got to be *something* in that contract that is keeping them from 'calling out the dogs' on Axl - even if the guy hasn't said anything in 15 months.  I would absolutely LOVE to see that contract.. its gotta be a doozy

D. If nothing else, this is gonna lead to some sort of 'war of words' between the parties involved, I think.  I cant WAIT to read Geffen's argument in court, or, even better - the GNR attorneys argument.. I'm pretty certain those transcripts will be available.. or at least I hope so.

I think the next few weeks are gonna be filled with all sorts of twists and turns - so buckle your seatbelts, the ride will be starting momentarily.

-darknemus

[Jizzo]

Here is what I hope comes out of this. The representatives of Slash Duff and Axl sit down and agree to a 2 disc "Ultimate"/ "Essential" CD. Disc one is the Singles. Its tracklisting is quite similar to the GH without Sympathy or Ain it Fun. Estranged replaces it. Disc 2 is Called Underground and Unearthed.
It has 16 tracks
1. Mr Brownstone
2. Its So Easy
3. Rocket Queen
4. DTJ
5. Don't Damn Me
6. Dust N Bones
7. Pretty Tied Up
8. Sympathy for the Devil
9. Jumping Jack Flash
10. Crash Diet
11. Going Out of My Head
12. Anything Goes (Alternate)
13. Unreleased Hanoi Rocks Cover (TSI Era)
14. Unreleased Stooges Cover (TSI Era)
15. Another Cover we don't know about
16. An original Unreleased Track

 I can dream can't I?

[insupportofaxl]

  to all the posters who contributed some great theories on this.


Maybe Axl will read this and use one of them in court

Was this the big 'announcement' Mysteron was referring to?

On a side note......[wave] Axl.....no one is gonna buy that piece of shit GH...we all want CD so don't stress too much over it  

[Thumper]

http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx

GUNS N' ROSES' Petition Turned Down - Mar. 15, 2004
 
  The U.S. District Court in L.A. turned down GUNS N' ROSES' petition today seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Geffen Records seeking to prevent the label from releasing a greatest hits record from the band, according to Hits Daily Double. The suit claimed that GNR hasn't "been given the opportunity to approve the choice of songs, the artwork, the release date or the re-mastering done on the tracks included on this compilation." Today's decision clears the way for the album to come out as scheduled on March 23. A press statement from the band stated that the greatest hits set would "hinder the release of the band?s long-awaited new studio album 'Chinese Democracy'." Sources say that the label has advanced Axl Rose $10 million over the past six years for production of the album, which was slated to come out last year in the fourth quarter, but remains unreleased.  

[darknemus]

http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/index.aspx

GUNS N' ROSES' Petition Turned Down - Mar. 15, 2004
 
  The U.S. District Court in L.A. turned down GUNS N' ROSES' petition today seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Geffen Records seeking to prevent the label from releasing a greatest hits record from the band, according to Hits Daily Double. The suit claimed that GNR hasn't "been given the opportunity to approve the choice of songs, the artwork, the release date or the re-mastering done on the tracks included on this compilation." Today's decision clears the way for the album to come out as scheduled on March 23. A press statement from the band stated that the greatest hits set would "hinder the release of the band?s long-awaited new studio album 'Chinese Democracy'." Sources say that the label has advanced Axl Rose $10 million over the past six years for production of the album, which was slated to come out last year in the fourth quarter, but remains unreleased.  

Well damn, that was fast.  Just the beginning, though, I'm afraid.

-darknemus

[insupportofaxl]

Okay, so we are back to square one.  I guess the only way to show your support for GNR (now Slash and Duff too)......is to not buy this GH compilation.

How many chances can GNR have to appeal this or whatever?  If the court turned down the injuntion, does that mean the court doesn't deem it worthy as a court case?

[darknemus]

Okay, so we are back to square one.  I guess the only way to show your support for GNR (now Slash and Duff too)......is to not buy this GH compilation.

How many chances can GNR have to appeal this or whatever?  If the court turned down the injuntion, does that mean the court doesn't deem it worthy as a court case?

Nope, it just means the specific judge the case went in front of didnt feel there was enough cause to issue an injunction at this time - doesn't mean that the case, itself, has no merit.  Just that the initial arguments weren't compelling enough for an injunction to be issued.

-darknemus

[badobsession81]

i thought that greatest hits, and not CD, was slated for release in the fourth quarter of last year??


what the hell is going on?!?!?!?!?!

$10m!!!!

[Eternal Flaming Sword of Death...]

Here is what I hope comes out of this. The representatives of Slash Duff and Axl sit down and agree to a 2 disc "Ultimate"/ "Essential" CD. Disc one is the Singles. Its tracklisting is quite similar to the GH without Sympathy or Ain it Fun. Estranged replaces it. Disc 2 is Called Underground and Unearthed.
It has 16 tracks
1. Mr Brownstone
2. Its So Easy
3. Rocket Queen
4. DTJ
5. Don't Damn Me
6. Dust N Bones
7. Pretty Tied Up
8. Sympathy for the Devil
9. Jumping Jack Flash
10. Crash Diet
11. Going Out of My Head
12. Anything Goes (Alternate)
13. Unreleased Hanoi Rocks Cover (TSI Era)
14. Unreleased Stooges Cover (TSI Era)
15. Another Cover we don't know about
16. An original Unreleased Track

 I can dream can't I?

Goota agree with the track listing, and I don't mean to get off topic, but where did this song "Going Out of my Head" come from ? Is it available? Anyone heard it? I heard that the Hanoi Rocks cover never happened because Slash couldn't learn the song!?  I think it was "Beer and a Cigarette," anyone else know?

[L.A.RAIDER]

So GH has already been released in Lisbon right?  And now it looks like it will be released in the U.S.  So we can pretty much expect the following:
          1) GN'R play the RIR4 show with the old setlist.
          2) We get no new songs, but we certainly get a long rant.
 The idea of C.D. coming out sooner because of this is actually possible.  Under the assumption GN'R wanted to finish all 3 albums before touring(as Axl said) A settlement may come out of this which releases C.D. now and allows for time to finish the other two albums at a later date.  It seems to me Geffen is 'flexing some serious muscle' and Axl might have to finally give in.        

[Jizzo]

Well it sucks that they said no to it. hopefully Axl just releases the damn thing.

[Thumper]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=musicNews&storyID=4573413&section=news

Geffen Records Prevails Over Axl Rose Lawsuit
By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday cleared the way for Geffen Records to release a greatest-hits album next week from the rock band Guns N' Roses over the objection of its lead singer, Axl Rose.

Rose sued Geffen, a unit of Universal Music Group under Vivendi Universal, seeking to prevent the best-of collection from being released, claiming he was not consulted on the choice or remixing of material for the album.

He was joined as a plaintiff in the suit, filed last Friday, by two band members from the original lineup -- guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan -- even though their rights to the Guns N' Roses name was signed over to Rose years ago when they left the group.

But U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer denied their request for a temporary restraining order, allowing Geffen to issue the album as planned next Tuesday. A hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction was set for next month.

"Their lawsuit is meritless," Universal Music spokesman Peter LoFrumento said. "Fortunately, since the court has denied their application for a temporary restraining order, the album will be released as scheduled on March 23."

According to the lawsuit, Rose objected to the selection of songs for the compilation album, the timing of its release, the album's artwork and the re-mastering of the original tapes.

The album features 14 tracks in all and eight of Guns N' Roses' hit singles, including "Welcome to the Jungle, "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child O' Mine" from the mega-selling 1987 album "Appetite for Destruction."

The group's last studio album, "The Spaghetti Incident?," was issued in 1993. A 2002 MTV appearance by a reconstituted Guns N' Roses, with Rose as the lone member from the band's heyday, helped spark interest in the group's new lineup, but a subsequent U.S. tour was cut short.

The suit, which accuses Geffen of trademark infringement and breach of contract, says the label is barred under its contract with Guns N' Roses from altering its master recordings without the band's permission.

A statement from Rose's manager added that the greatest-hits set "will hinder the release of the band's long-awaited new studio album, 'Chinese Democracy."'

Geffen officials had no further comment on the dispute. But a source familiar with the situation said the label has been waiting seven years for Rose to deliver "Chinese Democracy" and has poured $13 million into production of that album after repeated promises that he was about to finish the project.

"Every year there's been a new reason why Axl is not done with the record," the source told Reuters, adding that Geffen went ahead with the greatest-hits package only because Rose failed to come through with "Chinese Democracy." "Had he delivered this record like he promised seven years ago, this would not be happening right now."

A representative for Rose was not immediately available for comment.

[darknemus]

I found this part particularly interesting:

The suit, which accuses Geffen of trademark infringement and breach of contract, says the label is barred under its contract with Guns N' Roses from altering its master recordings without the band's permission.

So, doesn't that definitely suggest there was a re-mastering?  And yet we've heard responses from some people that there was no remastering.. weird.

lol.. this is totally unrelated, but I'm watching some "Rebirth of the Taliban" on the Science channel.. there's a girl from Pakistan doing the commentary.. she just said she grew up in a Liberal Islamist society - she said "I grew up listening to Guns n' Roses & U2" - just thought that was amusing.

-darknemus

[Jizzo]

13 million dollars?  

[bill213]

Hey guys the little coming soon thing under the news on GNRONLINE.com has been taken off.  I think we may get a message or something on there protesting the greatest hits soon.

[just_one]

Hey guys the little coming soon thing under the news on GNRONLINE.com has been taken off.  I think we may get a message or something on there protesting the greatest hits soon.

keep dreaming

[Doc Emmett Brown]

lookie here:

"Every year there's been a new reason why Axl is not done with the record," the source told Reuters, adding that Geffen went ahead with the greatest-hits package only because Rose failed to come through with "Chinese Democracy." "Had he delivered this record like he promised seven years ago, this would not be happening right now."

Moreover, the lawsuit is "meritless".  If that is not a slap in the face, I dont know what is.  The courts appear 'sympathetic' to Geffen (understandably so).

As has been mentioned plenty of times:  Axl's contract must be one helluva contract.

But there is only so many times you can keep delaying!  

There's only so many times you can replace drummers, guitarists, and producers before the shit hits the fan!  

AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!