Alan Niven: The Wild Ride of Guns N' Roses' Unconventional Manager
Guns N' Roses, known for their hedonistic lifestyle and internal conflicts, required a manager who could handle their wild ways. Alan Niven stepped up to the challenge from 1986 to 1991, guiding the band to success before being fired by Axl Rose. Niven's unorthodox methods and fantastical stories have become legendary in the music scene.
One infamous incident involved Niven inviting A&R man Tom Zutaut for dinner, spiking his food with LSD, leading to a psychedelic trip that lasted for days. Despite his own experiences with drugs, Niven took drastic measures to keep the band members in check, even resorting to "kidnapping" them to rehab facilities under the guise of press interviews.
Niven's clashes with Axl eventually led to his dismissal, but his concern for the band's safety was evident when he gifted them with a submachine gun and ammo in the wake of the LA riots. Despite his controlling nature, Niven also relied on the police to keep the band in line, once even sending them after Axl to ensure he made it to a show on time.
While Niven's past antics may have been seen as amusing, recent legal battles with the band over his memoir have soured the relationship. The once wild and free-wheeling manager is now embroiled in a legal dispute with Guns N' Roses, showing that even rock 'n' roll legends have their share of drama.