Guns and Roses at Dawn

• 3rd Feb 2005

More public dirty washing from the split Guns N' Roses camp as it is reported that Axel Rose has signed a multi million dollar publishing deal with Sanctuary, without telling his co-writers, the estranged Slash and Duff McKagan.

Since splitting GnR have endured many bitter legal and personal wranglings, with only Axle and keyboard player Dizzy Reed remaining in Guns N' Roses. Ex members Slash and Duff McKagen are now part of the band Velvet Revolver and filed a law suit last year over copyright issues which is still pending.

McKagan's lawyer, Glen Miskel, expressed surprise when told of the Sanctuary deal. He said Rose, Slash and Duff were part of a partnership and “neither Sanctuary nor Axl Rose have provided the remaining partners with a copy of that agreement.” He added Rose is trying to transfer copyright interests in songs which “are not owned by Mr. Rose.” Guns N' Roses' manager Merck Mercuriadis, who just so happens to be CEO of Sanctuary Group, said he didn't want to comment beyond the announcement of the deal.