Born in United Kingdom · Nationalities British, American — Culture / media / celebrities

Slash

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “Second federal lawsuit against Axl Rose over copyright administration and royalties” and “Axl Rose's legal and public counterattack against Slash”.

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Profile No. 2429 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Slash

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

8Documented controversies
7Sources
0Conviction

I. Documented controversies

01

17 August 2005–May 2006

Second federal lawsuit against Axl Rose over copyright administration and royalties

Civil / administrative proceedings

Slash and Duff brought federal proceedings accusing Rose of presenting himself as the sole administrator of Guns N' Roses copyrights and receiving royalties that should have been shared.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Protagonist is the complainant

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
  2. [2]
    U.S. District Court, Central District of California / Justia docketSaul Hudson et al v. William Bailey et al, 2:2005cv06028Court recordVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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02

March–May 2006

Axl Rose's legal and public counterattack against Slash

Civil / administrative proceedings

Rose responded with a counterclaim and a public campaign accusing Slash and Duff of spreading false allegations and rewriting the band's history. The federal copyright litigation was closed in May 2006 following a joint stipulation.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    PollstarAxl Fights BackPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. District Court, Central District of California / Justia docketSaul Hudson et al v. William Bailey et al, 2:2005cv06028Court recordVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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03

années 1980–2005

Severe heroin and alcohol addiction

No legal proceedings

Slash has publicly described a long period of heroin and alcohol addiction, particularly severe after his departure from Guns N' Roses.

State of the evidence
Admitted by the person
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Guardian / The ObserverThis much I know: SlashPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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04

2004–2005

First Slash–Duff lawsuit against Axl Rose over band assets and licensing

Civil / administrative proceedings

Slash and Duff McKagan sued Axl Rose, alleging that he had improperly claimed control of the band's assets and blocked licensing of songs for films, causing them to lose revenue.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Protagonist is the complainant

Sources · 1

  1. [1]

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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05

March 2004

Legal action against Geffen seeking to block 'Greatest Hits'

Civil / administrative proceedings

Slash, Axl Rose and Duff McKagan jointly attempted to prevent Geffen from releasing a "Greatest Hits" compilation, citing, in particular, the absence of artistic and contractual approval. The judge rejected their urgent application and the album was released.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Protagonist is the complainant

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesGuns N' Roses suit gets tossedPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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06

vers 2001

Heart condition and defibrillator implant amid addiction

No legal proceedings

Slash explained that at the age of 35, after years of alcohol and drug abuse, he required an implantable defibrillator because of heart problems.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Guardian / The ObserverThis much I know: SlashPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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07

October 1996

Departure from Guns N' Roses after lasting breakdown with Axl Rose

No legal proceedings

Slash officially left Guns N' Roses after years of tensions with Axl Rose over the band's direction, operations and control.

State of the evidence
Admitted by the person
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

1986

Rape allegations filed then dropped in Guns N' Roses' early years

Case dismissed / dropped

While Guns N' Roses was negotiating its recording contract, rape allegations were made against Slash and Axl Rose. A contemporary Los Angeles Times interview reported that the charges were subsequently dropped.

Course of the proceedings
  1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesGUNS & ROSES: BAD BOYS GIVE IT THEIR BEST SHOTPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.

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