“I Can’t Continue Any Longer”: Guns N’ Roses’ Former Manager Alan Niven Speaks Out in Harsh Critique of the Band…
Los Angeles, CA – May 13, 2025 — Alan Niven, the former manager of Guns N’ Roses during their meteoric rise in the late 1980s, has unleashed a scathing critique of the legendary rock band, declaring, “I can’t continue any longer,” in a candid and emotional interview that’s causing a stir among fans and industry insiders alike.
Niven, who managed Guns N’ Roses from 1986 to 1991 and was instrumental in the success of their debut album Appetite for Destruction, did not hold back his frustration and disappointment with the band’s current state. His comments, made during a podcast appearance on Rock Talk Weekly, reflect a deep sense of disillusionment.
“Guns N’ Roses was a band that once had purpose, power, and authenticity,” Niven said. “Now, they’re just coasting on nostalgia, and frankly, I can’t watch it happen anymore. I can’t continue any longer pretending this is the same band I once helped shape.”
Niven’s discontent appears to be directed particularly at the band’s ongoing reunion tour, which began in 2016 and has continued in various forms through 2025. While the tour has been commercially successful, critics have noted the lack of new material and the heavy reliance on decades-old hits. According to Niven, the band has become more about preserving its brand than evolving as artists.
“There’s no risk, no fire, no hunger,” he continued. “It’s a traveling museum piece, not a living, breathing rock and roll band. The magic is gone.”
He also took aim at frontman Axl Rose, suggesting that Rose’s long-standing control over the band has stifled creativity and prevented collaboration. “Axl was always a complex figure, but back then, he had vision,” Niven said. “Now, it feels like he’s more interested in image and legacy than the actual music.”
The comments have struck a nerve in the music world, particularly among die-hard fans of the band who remember Niven’s tenure as a golden era. It was under his management that Guns N’ Roses released their most iconic records, including Appetite for Destruction and GN’R Lies. He was also a key figure in negotiating their rise from Sunset Strip hopefuls to global superstars.
Despite the negativity, Niven insists his criticisms come from a place of care and concern. “I loved that band like family. That’s why this hurts. But someone has to say it. They’ve become a parody of what they once were.”
Representatives for Guns N’ Roses have not responded to requests for comment.
Fans are divided over Niven’s remarks. Some agree with his sentiment, echoing concerns about the lack of innovation and the over-commercialization of the band’s recent endeavors. Others view his comments as bitter and unnecessary, suggesting that the band is simply giving fans what they want.
As the debate continues to unfold online, one thing is clear: the legacy of Guns N’ Roses remains a deeply emotional topic—not only for fans, but for those who were there from the beginning. And for Alan Niven, that legacy seems to have lost its meaning.
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