Part 7/11:

These cracks in the foundation culminated in the dismissal of several key members and exorbitant legal fees that became unsustainable. By mid-1994, their financial outlook had worsened, seeing their reserves drastically decrease from $13.5 million to just $2.1 million in just 18 months, with the band losing an estimated $150,000 per week that they were not touring or recording.

The Great Divide: 1994 to 1996

The situation continued to deteriorate in 1994 as Guns N' Roses transformed from a band into a fractured business structure. The initial equal songwriting credits became contentious, with Axl Rose demanding 100% of the rights to several hit songs. The ongoing trademark disputes, band member exits, and solo ventures eroded whatever financial stability remained.