GUNS N' ROSES' Former Manager (Irving Azoff) Responds To AXL ROSE's Legal Claim

AngelZ · April 12, 2011

Maybe this legal action is, in actual factual actuality, the monumental promotion we've been promised all along!
chinese democracy starts now.
How's it working so far?
between this and a $1.99 cd, its working like a charm
The suit was filed a long time ago yet Chidem did not creep back onto the charts until Best Buy started basically giving them away so you claim that the suit helped promote the album does not hold any water..

i wasnt being serious......

another world tour couldnt bring cd out of the abyss

giving cd away for spare change i found in my couch was the way to go

imagine if lawsuits did coincide with sales, Axl would be on top of the charts

Edited April 12, 2011 by AngelZ

SunnyDRE · April 12, 2011

Maybe this legal action is, in actual factual actuality, the monumental promotion we've been promised all along!
chinese democracy starts now.
How's it working so far?
between this and a $1.99 cd, its working like a charm
The suit was filed a long time ago yet Chidem did not creep back onto the charts until Best Buy started basically giving them away so you claim that the suit helped promote the album does not hold any water..
i wasnt being serious......
another world tour couldnt bring cd out of the abyss
giving cd away for spare change i found in my couch was the way to go
imagine if lawsuits did coincide with sales, Axl would be on top of the charts

i'm guessing you are not being serious again?

AIMIRITE :tongue2:

Ali · April 12, 2011

Rose countersued last May 17, claiming the manager tried to force him to reunite with the original Guns N' Roses band members and failed to properly promote the band's Chinese Democracy CD.
How do you define 'properly promote' ?
While under Azoff management, the album was released. Azoff succeeded where other's had failed.
Azoff (for all we know) got Axl the Best Buy deal. For such an ill received album lacking in hits, Azoff did Axl good.
Since then an now, Axl has appeared on stage with Duff.
Considering Axl did zero promotion of ChiDem I think he has a pretty week argument blaming the lack of promotion on Azoff..If he thought Azoff was not getting it done why didn't he switch Managers then and why not do some interviews and quick videos to promote the release?
I don't think Axl is going to win this one. He may settle with Azoff but I can see him paying the guy something....Since Azoff has an inhouse staff of lawyers he is paying anyway to fight this suit for him he can bleed Axl if the case drags on..Axl should settle and move on............In the end he is going to pay more than the suit was for IMHO just to be the last man standing......

You should read the specific complaints cited in the countersuit before dismissing its validity. There are specifics that are interesting to read to say the least.

Ali

I read the complete countersuit Ali and the accusations are going to be difficult to prove on Axl's lawyers part. Axl complaining that Azoff did not promote him is pretty laughable since he did not lift a finger to promote the album himself even after Azoff was out of the picture and has done nothing to promote it other than tour to this day. We have no idea what plans Azoff might have proposed to Axl only to be rejected same with the record label. Pretty weak defense on his part...Also think he will have a hard time proving Azoff sabotaged ChiDem in an effort to force a reunion.....

Personally I think Axl's lawyers filed the countersuit as a defensive measure..Throw as much shit against the wall and see what sticks and try to muddy the water of Azoffs suit as much as possible...Why did Axl wait for Azoffs suit to file if Azoff fucked him over so badly? if they really had a case it would have made sense for them to file first as we know how much Axl loves to sue people......

When all is said and done I think Azoff either wins a settlement or the suit gets thrown out of court as I doubt Axl gets any money from Azoff...Either way Axl loses in the end as his lawyer fees will most likely exceed the pocket change Azoff is sueing for......

No offense CR, but I think your disdain for Axl is allowing you to dismiss the claims in the countersuit far too easily. Like I said, the fact is that it is the manager's job to arrange promotional and marketing opportunities and the artists' job to execute on those plans. What Axl himself has done on his own as far as promotion isn't relevant to Azoff not honoring his fiduciary duties, and doesn't absolve Azoff of his duties.

We do have an idea that a Van Halen tour was proposed and rumored that never happened. That has never been denied and even back in 2009 there were rumors of that tour going around.

As far as the forcing of a reunion, it will be difficult to prove, but Azoff's history certainly makes it plausible.

Who filed first or second is immaterial to the validity of the claims themselves. Axl was on tour in March of 2010, so who knows, it could be that he was going to deal with the issue after the South American leg of the tour.

There are many more specifics, including tour planning, budget calculations, the 2nd Tokyo date cancellation, the abrupt pulling of the Canadian VIP packages, the draft booklet release, the streaming of the album on MySpace, etc. that Azoff still has to answer about. I'm curious to hear what his defense will be.

I think this will be settled out of court sooner or later. I don't think it will be easy for Azoff to claim he is owed commissions if he did make the mistakes that are claimed. If those allegations are true, then he half-assed his job at best, and is also trying to claim commission for shows that weren't even finalized until after he was out.

Ali

dalsh327 · April 12, 2011

This isn't in defense of Azoff, but he wound up taking control of Ticketmaster, and it's likely he passed on his duties to someone who works for him. That didn't sit well with Axl and he said fuck it.

We don't know what was in the contract. But I'm pretty sure someone like Azoff is going to know everything that was in that contract. But the question is whether or not Axl can have that contract ripped up by Azoff bailing on the band to run TM.

Trilogy · April 12, 2011

This isn't in defense of Azoff, but he wound up taking control of Ticketmaster, and it's likely he passed on his duties to someone who works for him. That didn't sit well with Axl and he said fuck it.
We don't know what was in the contract. But I'm pretty sure someone like Azoff is going to know everything that was in that contract. But the question is whether or not Axl can have that contract ripped up by Azoff bailing on the band to run TM.

Okay,let's start here,firstly the initial lawsuit filed by Azoff was addressed to a PKA,or previously known name,that hasn't been valid for years,that clearly shows malice on Azoffs part,the tweet Azoff sent out is not likely to reflect positively on him either,that said,the "monumental promotion" did not materialize,unless you consider a crappy cardboard tower placed ineffectively among all best buys gadgets during the Christmas shopping season,contrast that with "black ice" as well as "death magnetic" promotions,in addition,the booklet was obviously a fucked up rush job,the three covers were not made available to the general public,the purported VH tour failed to occur,If this countersuit was deemed frivolous it would not be allowed,I'm targeting Azoff and not Gould,who is a drunken buffoon,as well as a puppet for Azoff,I sincerely believe this will be Azoffs undoing,as he is under scrutiny by the antitrust committee since getting the ticketmaster/live nation monopoly,it was high time someone had the balls to stand up to Azoff,with his history of reuniting bands, he may have used his bully tactics to mistreat and manipulate other artists to "cooperate" with him,and his agenda,Chinese Democracy deserved much better promotion than Azoff provided,and it would not surprise me in the least for him to have actually sabotage the Album, I'm betting on GNR to take this pompous,self important,clown down a few notches,the higher you climb,the further you fall,and although admittedly Azoff is a power in the music industry,he is not immune to justice prevailing,or being responsible for his abuse of power,and his shoddy treatment of GNR.

star · April 12, 2011

Rose countersued last May 17, claiming the manager tried to force him to reunite with the original Guns N' Roses band members and failed to properly promote the band's Chinese Democracy CD.
How do you define'properly promote' ?
While under Azoff management, the album was released. Azoff succeeded where other's had failed.
Azoff (for all we know) got Axl the Best Buy deal. For such an ill received album lacking in hits, Azoff did Axl good.
Since then an now, Axl has appeared on stage with Duff.
dude?! what?! are for real?
to get the album out - that is to distribute it is one thing - that's the deal with Best Buy.
ill received album lacking in hits - you fucker!
what is a hit, but a song with a video?
or you still leave in lala lend were you make believe that AFD had hits before any of them got a video?
read some history man! and mind you that was 1987/1989 we are talking about not 2008 when the age of the internet is getting stronger- that is the visual image has become even greater in importance then it did before!
or do you believe that YUI hits are anything but good songs with a video, who got that way to be heard by the masses,
look man, radio is long gone, you hear......... there is were the importance of radio is in marketing a music product.
it's more like the radios need the music this days to be alive.
and you still ask How do you define'properly promote' ?
well that would be a properly promote
- it's about advertising the product man, that is you make a nice video for a song, get it played on the main music-videos channels then hit the internet with it! what else!? dumb ass!
do you doubt that any of the songs from Chinese Democracy that would got a music video, won't become a hit,
that is a rock hit not a pop-hit!? tell me in my face, tell me in my face - it's from zohan -
Chinese Democracy, Better, Shacler's, TWAT, ITW, Sorry, Street of Dreams, Cather, IRS, Madagascar, This I Love, Prostitute, did I left any? B) they all have the potential of becoming with a video.
get interviews with band members - best will be with the whole actual band in one place - as is happened in Dubai or wherever in middle-est! or do you honestly believe that's somebody's else job to do it but the manager?
get a working internet site for the band!
that's about promotion also, capisce?
how is this for a good post?! ha!?
hope you don't get that offended by my adjectives, but your question man, just got to me.
what is a hit, but a song with a video?
Good music sells. Bad music don't sell.
Britney Spears has got the number 1 spot. That's good music?

Britney fans like Britney music. That's their choice, and not ours to judge, weather you or I like her music or not. It makes sense to say, Britney must have more fans than Axl does right now.

amacfantasy · April 12, 2011

Rose countersued last May 17, claiming the manager tried to force him to reunite with the original Guns N' Roses band members and failed to properly promote the band's Chinese Democracy CD.
How do you define'properly promote' ?
While under Azoff management, the album was released. Azoff succeeded where other's had failed.
Azoff (for all we know) got Axl the Best Buy deal. For such an ill received album lacking in hits, Azoff did Axl good.
Since then an now, Axl has appeared on stage with Duff.
dude?! what?! are for real?
to get the album out - that is to distribute it is one thing - that's the deal with Best Buy.
ill received album lacking in hits - you fucker!
what is a hit, but a song with a video?
or you still leave in lala lend were you make believe that AFD had hits before any of them got a video?
read some history man! and mind you that was 1987/1989 we are talking about not 2008 when the age of the internet is getting stronger- that is the visual image has become even greater in importance then it did before!
or do you believe that YUI hits are anything but good songs with a video, who got that way to be heard by the masses,
look man, radio is long gone, you hear......... there is were the importance of radio is in marketing a music product.
it's more like the radios need the music this days to be alive.
and you still ask How do you define'properly promote' ?
well that would be a properly promote
- it's about advertising the product man, that is you make a nice video for a song, get it played on the main music-videos channels then hit the internet with it! what else!? dumb ass!
do you doubt that any of the songs from Chinese Democracy that would got a music video, won't become a hit,
that is a rock hit not a pop-hit!? tell me in my face, tell me in my face - it's from zohan -
Chinese Democracy, Better, Shacler's, TWAT, ITW, Sorry, Street of Dreams, Cather, IRS, Madagascar, This I Love, Prostitute, did I left any? B) they all have the potential of becoming with a video.
get interviews with band members - best will be with the whole actual band in one place - as is happened in Dubai or wherever in middle-est! or do you honestly believe that's somebody's else job to do it but the manager?
get a working internet site for the band!
that's about promotion also, capisce?
how is this for a good post?! ha!?
hope you don't get that offended by my adjectives, but your question man, just got to me.
what is a hit, but a song with a video?
Good music sells. Bad music don't sell.

Britney Spears has got the number 1 spot. That's good music?

Britney fans like Britney music. That's their choice, and not ours to judge, weather you or I like her music or not. It makes sense to say, Britney must have more fans than Axl does right now.

The problem is not that we are judging Britney fans, it's that you are saying if music doesn't sell in a certain region then it must be bad music and as I said earlier it's a fallacy to believe what is most popular must also be the best.

Trilogy · April 12, 2011

Rose countersued last May 17, claiming the manager tried to force him to reunite with the original Guns N' Roses band members and failed to properly promote the band's Chinese Democracy CD.
How do you define'properly promote' ?
While under Azoff management, the album was released. Azoff succeeded where other's had failed.
Azoff (for all we know) got Axl the Best Buy deal. For such an ill received album lacking in hits, Azoff did Axl good.
Since then an now, Axl has appeared on stage with Duff.
dude?! what?! are for real?
to get the album out - that is to distribute it is one thing - that's the deal with Best Buy.
ill received album lacking in hits - you fucker!
what is a hit, but a song with a video?
or you still leave in lala lend were you make believe that AFD had hits before any of them got a video?
read some history man! and mind you that was 1987/1989 we are talking about not 2008 when the age of the internet is getting stronger- that is the visual image has become even greater in importance then it did before!
or do you believe that YUI hits are anything but good songs with a video, who got that way to be heard by the masses,
look man, radio is long gone, you hear......... there is were the importance of radio is in marketing a music product.
it's more like the radios need the music this days to be alive.
and you still ask How do you define'properly promote' ?
well that would be a properly promote
- it's about advertising the product man, that is you make a nice video for a song, get it played on the main music-videos channels then hit the internet with it! what else!? dumb ass!
do you doubt that any of the songs from Chinese Democracy that would got a music video, won't become a hit,
that is a rock hit not a pop-hit!? tell me in my face, tell me in my face - it's from zohan -
Chinese Democracy, Better, Shacler's, TWAT, ITW, Sorry, Street of Dreams, Cather, IRS, Madagascar, This I Love, Prostitute, did I left any? B) they all have the potential of becoming with a video.
get interviews with band members - best will be with the whole actual band in one place - as is happened in Dubai or wherever in middle-est! or do you honestly believe that's somebody's else job to do it but the manager?
get a working internet site for the band!
that's about promotion also, capisce?
how is this for a good post?! ha!?
hope you don't get that offended by my adjectives, but your question man, just got to me.
what is a hit, but a song with a video?
Good music sells. Bad music don't sell.

Britney Spears has got the number 1 spot. That's good music?

Britney fans like Britney music. That's their choice, and not ours to judge, weather you or I like her music or not. It makes sense to say, Britney must have more fans than Axl does right now.

The problem is not that we are judging Britney fans, it's that you are saying if music doesn't sell in a certain region then it must be bad music and as I said earlier it's a fallacy to believe what is most popular must also be the best.

Imo, if some lame asswipe likes the Brittany shit,let them fall prey to their own tastes, its peer pressure and the temporal songs de jour that has the USA in its lethal grip of monotony,at the present time,you can lead a horse to water but if they prefer refuse and contaminants,leave them to it

blake-a-mania · April 12, 2011

strange isnt it how the media reports these things

Death and Taxes said of the suit

"Not willing to face up to the fact that it was a complete dud, Axl Rose is suing his former manager Irving Azoff for allegedly sabotaging sales of comeback album Chinese Democracy."

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/tag/axl-rose-sue-irving-azoff/

cant find the other example i was thinking of right now, but so many of them seem to acting like Axl is the bad guy for sticking up for himself, his band and HIS intellectual and creative property. I find that disgusting journalism!

can you imagine if somebody that the media liked more like Elton John or Bowie were in a similar position to Axl right now? they would be hailed as the saving grace of music and bastians of truth sticking up for the smaller artist again the big bad Azzoff. why do they still have to be negative about Axl?

Lines&Noses · April 12, 2011

Rose countersued last May 17, claiming the manager tried to force him to reunite with the original Guns N' Roses band members and failed to properly promote the band's Chinese Democracy CD.
How do you define 'properly promote' ?
While under Azoff management, the album was released. Azoff succeeded where other's had failed.
Azoff (for all we know) got Axl the Best Buy deal. For such an ill received album lacking in hits, Azoff did Axl good.
Since then an now, Axl has appeared on stage with Duff.
Considering Axl did zero promotion of ChiDem I think he has a pretty week argument blaming the lack of promotion on Azoff..If he thought Azoff was not getting it done why didn't he switch Managers then and why not do some interviews and quick videos to promote the release?
I don't think Axl is going to win this one. He may settle with Azoff but I can see him paying the guy something....Since Azoff has an inhouse staff of lawyers he is paying anyway to fight this suit for him he can bleed Axl if the case drags on..Axl should settle and move on............In the end he is going to pay more than the suit was for IMHO just to be the last man standing......
You should read the specific complaints cited in the countersuit before dismissing its validity. There are specifics that are interesting to read to say the least.
Ali