Former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven revealed details about the band’s current financial structure in a recent interview with Appetite for Distortion.
“Here’s another little snapshot that is illuminating and goes to forming a correct perception. Axl takes 50% of the income of Guns N’ Roses now,” Niven stated. “50%, okay? He is not Guns N’ Roses.”
“Guns N’ Roses were a collective,” he continued. “They were five individuals. It was a chemistry. It was a moment.”
“But Axl wants to be in control of everything all the time,” Niven added. “And look what that gets you. A boring solo record and a sh*tty thing of punk covers, and that’s it.”
Niven managed the band during their rise to fame in the late 1980s. His statements provide insight into the current business structure of the legendary rock band.
Metal Injection reported that the band’s ‘Not In This Lifetime Tour’ has achieved remarkable success since its 2016 launch. The tour ranks among the highest-grossing tours in music history.
Forrester indicated the band’s plans for another major tour in 2025. This upcoming tour is expected to generate substantial revenue.
The current financial arrangement marks a dramatic shift from the band’s early days. Niven’s comments highlight how the band previously operated as a collective unit with shared decision-making and more equitable profit distribution.
The band maintains its position as a major force in the rock music industry. Their reunion tours’ success and continued commercial viability make these financial arrangements particularly significant.
