Axl Rose is suing his former manager, Irving Azoff, for allegedly trying to make the singer come to his goddamn senses. According to the lawsuit, filed yesterday in Los Angeles, Azoff deliberately botched the promotion for 2008’s low-selling Chinese Democracy and mishandled tour dates for Rose’s current band. This sounds bad, sure, but wait: Axl claims the mistreatment was part of a plan to force him “into a position where he would have no choice but to reunite with the original members of Guns N’ Roses for a reunion tour†— which would have been great!
After Azoff’s well-intentioned cruelty failed to get Axl, Slash, Izzy, Matt, and Duff back together, and the manager was fired, he was so upset that he lashed out by using Axl’s real name: “Out of spite and vindictiveness to cause Rose emotional distress and harm,†Axl’s suit alleges, Azoff used Rose’s real name, William Bailey, when he filed his own lawsuit against the singer in March, even though “Azoff knew that the name William Bailey carries significant emotional damage.†And yesterday, when told of Axl’s lawsuit, Azoff did it again. In a statement, he said: “On advice of counsel I cannot respond at this time, but will discuss in my upcoming book, My Life With William Bill Bailey.â€
If Azoff’s new career in comedy doesn’t work out, though, maybe he can manage Morrissey?
Axl Rose slams Irving Azoff in $5 million countersuit [Esq./HR]
Axl Rose: Guns N’ Roses Was ‘Sabotaged’ [TMZ]