Alan Niven, the former manager of GUNS N’ ROSES, has sued the band in order to publish his autobiography, titled Sound N’ Fury: Rock N’ Roll Stories.
According to the lawsuit, as supplied to Consequence by Niven’s publicist, GUNS N’ ROSES have allegedly threatened Niven over the publication of the autobiography, copies of which have been printed by ECW Press and are currently languishing in a warehouse.
Niven is accusing GUNS N’ ROSES of invoking the confidentiality clause he signed in 1991 when he parted ways with the band, insisting that at least one member of GN’R even encouraged him to write the book.
“Due to GNR’s threats, Sound N’ Fury languishes in a warehouse. In a letter written in May, 2025, GNR invoked the confidentiality clause in its 1991 buyout Agreement with Niven (the ‘Agreement’) and has blocked publication of the book through repeated threats to Niven and contact with ECW.
GNR takes this position despite the following facts (among others): the Agreement was not signed by all of its members (a material term); GNR’s members have commented publicly on Niven; one member encouraged him to write the book; and he has been speaking about his time in GNR for over a decade.
Sound N’ Fury’s publication has been delayed for months, even though it received a favorable review from the Los Angeles Times, and has received many preorders.”
Per the lawsuit, “Defendant GNR is a California partnership composed, on information and belief, of W. Axl Rose, Saul Hudson p/k/a Slash, and Michael “Duff” McKagan.”
Niven is suing for declaratory judgment of non-enforceability of contract; declaratory judgment of non-breach of contract; and tortious interference with contract or business expectancy.
In addition to managing GN’R from 1985 through 1991, the New Zealand-born Niven has worked with the likes of SEX PISTOLS, GREAT WHITE, and Nikki Sixx. He reportedly was dismissed from GUNS N’ ROSES in 1991 at the request of Axl Rose.
As of this posting, Sound N’ Fury: Rock N’ Roll Stories is currently available for pre-order via Amazon, with a March 31st, 2026 release date listed, although it’s availability can change depending on the outcome of the lawsuit.