Axl Rose, the lead singer of iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, is reportedly suing the makers of Guitar Hero for £12.6 million.
According to news service Reuters, Rose claims that video game developer Activision fraudulently persuaded him into letting them use the famous Guns N’ Roses song “Welcome to the Jungle” in their popular game Guitar Hero III.
Rose says that as a condition of letting them use the song, he was promised by Activision that they wouldn’t include any characters based on his estranged former bandmate Slash, nor his band Velvet Revolver.
Rose claims they breached this condition in Guitar Hero III, as a ‘Slash character’ appears and Velvet Revolver songs are included. This, according to the GNR singer, emphasises and reinforces an association between Slash and Guns N’ Roses, in relation to the Welcome to the Jungle song.
For this issue and others relating to the use of the song in online promotions, Rose is reportedly seeking £12.6 million from Activision. It is assumed that the firm will have professional insurance in place to be able to defend against the allegations and pay out in damages if Rose should win his case.
Skip Miller, Rose’s legal representative, commented on the case by saying:
“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.”