Alan Niven, the former manager of GUNS N’ ROSES, has launched a lawsuit against the iconic rock band in an effort to stop them from interfering with the release of his highly anticipated memoir, Sound N’ Fury: Rock N’ Roll Stories.
Originally slated for a July 5, 2025 release, Niven’s book has experienced multiple delays. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, with a new release date set for March 31, 2026.
According to a lawsuit filed on November 3 in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona — first reported by Blabbermouth — Niven alleges that GUNS N’ ROSES has “blocked publication of the book through repeated threats to Niven and contact with” his publisher, ECW Press.
The complaint details a letter sent by the band in May 2025, citing a confidentiality clause from a 1991 buyout agreement with Niven. Niven’s legal team argues that the agreement was not signed by all band members, and points out that members of GUNS N’ ROSES have previously spoken publicly about Niven and even encouraged him to write the book. Additionally, Niven has shared stories from his time with the band in interviews and public appearances 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 already garnered significant preorders,” Niven’s attorney notes in the lawsuit.
Niven, who managed the band from 1985 to 1991, is seeking a declaratory judgment that the contract is non-enforceable, a declaration of non-breach, and claims of tortious interference with contract or business expectancy.
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