1991.06.01 - Geffen press release [incomplete] - Guns N' Roses don't require the media contracts rumored

by **Blackstar** Wed Dec 12, 2018 3:33 am

Many thanks to @troccoli for sharing this with us, and for the amazing collection of GN'R memorabilia he has made available on his site. The original images of the press release can be found here:
http://www.troccolitm.com/mediapressrelease.html?1185755396484

-------------
Unfortunately the second image is small and I couldn't read it
-------------

GEFFEN RECORDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1st, 1991

GUNS N’ ROSES DON’T REQUIRE THE MEDIA CONTRACTS RUMORED

(Los Angeles, CA) – “The rumors about Guns N’ Roses supposedly mandatory contracts for writers and photographers have gotten out of hand,” says Bryn Bridenthal, vice president of media & artist relations for Geffen Records, the band’s label. “The truth is the band simply hasn’t been doing interviews because finishing their new albums and concentrating on launching their first headlining arena tour has taken priority.

“Talking about a couple of albums people can’t hear because they aren’t done yet, makes for a pretty one-sided conversation. Plus, because of problems with bootlegs and leaks to radio, even when they are finished, there won’t be any pre-release cassettes. This will be a security release. But, as the band starts doing the interview part of their jobs again, reporters will see for themselves there aren’t any [?] to a free press. It’s just another in a long line of GnR related misconceptions. I’m always amazed at how this band can agitate people without even trying.”

Bridenthal admits there was a GN’R media contract earlier this year – written by the band’s international publicist to lend off some press the band was having trouble with in England. “When some American reporters got copies of it at the Rock In Rio festival in January, I explained they shouldn’t worry about it. It didn’t seem like anything to be secretive about because it wasn’t relative to their authority here. A few people, in their enthusiasm, sent signed contracts to the band’s management, but that certainly didn’t get any interviews done. It’s about timing, not contracts, and we don’t have a confirmed release date yet for the albums.”

"Guns N’ Roses do ask reporters to tape record their interview and check all direct quotes against the tapes for accuracy, and to agree not to license their interview for any unauthorized biographies or merchandizing without permission. I can’t imagine anyone having problems with those requests."

[...]

by **Blackstar** Mon Jan 14, 2019 9:50 pm

The Courier Journal, June 29, 1991:

1991.06.01 - Geffen press release [incomplete] - Guns N' Roses don't require the media contracts rumored LX7DtChC_o

TRANSCRIPTION:
-------------------------

Publicists for Guns Ν’ Roses are now claiming that published stories about the band requiring journalists to sign a restrictive contract before interviewing them are inaccurate.

A press release from Bryn Bridenthal of Geffen Records said that such a contract — requiring journalists to obtain the band's absolute approval of a story before running it — did exist, but pertained only to a small number of journalists in England with whom the band had “trouble.”

In addition, the release said, bund members have not been doing interviews with anyone because they’ve been concentrating on finishing their new record and gearing up to tour.

Those statements are a little puzzling to Spin magazine, which reprinted the contract in its June issue.

In a phone interview from her New York office, Lauren Spencer, Spin's senior editor of music, said she was given the contract by the hand’s publicity agents six months ago. “They were actually asking all writers to go ahead and sign the contract if they wanted to get an interview with Guns N’ Roses," she said. “Basically, that was the story we got."

While no one explicitly told Spin the contract was mandatory, no one told the magazine that it was meant only for British journalists either, Spencer said.

"What they said was, ‘You want an interview? Look over this contract. Let us know,’" she said. "The bottom line is that the band isn’t doing interviews anyway. It was just kind of offensive that they would in the first place be introducing the contract. Whether it was a joke, I don’t know.”

1991.06.01 - Geffen press release [incomplete] - Guns N' Roses don't require the media contracts rumored

1991.06.01 - Geffen press release [incomplete] - Guns N' Roses don't require the media contracts rumored

Re: 1991.06.01 - Geffen press release [incomplete] - Guns N' Roses don't require the media contracts rumored