Axl Rose even hates the cartoon version of Slash. The Guns N' Roses frontman is suing the makers of Guitar Hero for $20m (£12.6m), claiming they "spun a web of lies and deception" by including an animated Slash in the video-game version of his band. Slash left the group in 1996.
According to his claim, Rose licensed Welcome to the Jungle to Guitar Hero III on the condition that any reference to the departed guitarist or his new band, Velvet Revolver, would be omitted. But in early versions of the game, a Slash-like character could be seen parading around the stage in the guitarist's trademark top hat, sunglasses and nose piercing. When Rose discovered this, he claims he demanded the song be removed from the game; Activision allegedly told him the Slash character was just a trade-show PR stunt.
But when Guitar Hero III was finally released in October 2007, not only was the cartoon Slash included in the game's cover art – three Velvet Revolver songs were soon available as downloadable add-ons. "[Activision] began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and [Velvet Revolver] prominently in Guitar Hero III," the suit argues, "but also promote the game by emphasising and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song Welcome to the Jungle." Rose also claims Sweet Child o' Mine, licensed for Guitar Hero II, was improperly used to promote Guitar Hero III.
One of the highest-grossing video games of all time, Guitar Hero III has amassed more than $1bn. "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," Rose's lawyer insisted.
Despite embarrassing festival gigs this summer, Guns N' Roses are still plodding across the globe. Guitarist DJ Ashba recently said they have been "throwing around a bunch of ideas" for a new album, "and it should be good". We'll believe it when we hear it.
