From 1986 to 1991, Alan Niven served as Weapons N’ Roses supervisor. Following a declining relationship between him and Axl Rose, Niven was fired by the frontman. In a brand new interview with Louder Sound, Niven recalled getting the decision from Rose that he was being let go.
“Did I see it coming? No. Was I shocked? No,” Niven stated. “It could have been stylish to have had dinner and agreed to go our separate methods, acknowledged with honor what we achieved collectively, however Axl is Axl. Thank God he gave himself to rock’n’roll and he’s not a despot operating a rustic.”
He went on to say that in an try to keep away from persevering with to cope with Rose, he voluntarily gave up tens of millions of {dollars} in fee rights.
“I paid tens of millions to get Axl out of my life. And right here’s how: I had a 17 per cent fee in perpetuity. That implies that something launched, mastered or negotiated in the course of the time period of my contract was commissionable ceaselessly,” Niven defined.
“My unique contract was renewed in ’89 for an extra three or so years. It could expire in 93. On the time it was renewed I used to be provided a elevate to twenty per cent. I turned it down. Axl fired me in ’91. That implies that the gross sales of [Guns N’ Roses 1987 album ‘Appetite for Destruction’], [1988 album] ‘Lies’ and [1991 album] ‘Use Your Phantasm’ have been all commissionable – ceaselessly.
“To get Axl out of my life, I offered these rights again to the band for $3.5 million. I didn’t wish to cope with him once more. Now that’s a good chunk of change, however Geffen had solely paid royalties on about 5 million albums whole at the moment. Think about how a lot I had nonetheless coming. [‘Appetite’ alone has sold 30 million copies.]
“The settlement I took isn’t anyplace near what I used to be due and had earned. And after you pay the taxman his third, and your companions [‘the Stravinski Brothers’ credited on ‘Appetite’ were Niven and two silent partners], it’s not fairly the identical golden egg. However that’s how burnt out and disillusioned I used to be.”