The law firm representing the current incarnation of GUNS N' ROSES has threatened legal action against an Axl Rose impersonator who has been posting messages on various GN'R message boards claiming to be the reclusive singer.

The following is the letter sent by GN'R's management company, Sanctuary, to various GN'R-related fan sites where the fake Axl messages have appeared:

"To Whom It May Concern:

"This law firm represents W. Axl Rose and the musical group 'GUNS N' ROSES'. We have been advised that without authorization you are submitting posts on various on-line message boards and chat rooms using the screen names 'LatigoBurns' or 'LatigoHammers', signing your posts as 'Axl' and in fact purporting to be Mr. Rose.

"Please be advised that your actions constitute, among other offenses, a wrongful use and misappropriation of Mr. Rose's name in violation of his federal and state common law rights, as well as federal and state statutory rights including, without limitation, rights of publicity, rights under the Lanham Act and certain rights under the Trademark Cyberpiracy Prevention Act. Your actions violate numerous laws that provide for civil and criminal penalties for which you may be liable, and provide Mr. Rose with numerous remedies including, without limitation, injunctive relief and recovery of actual and/or statutory damages.

"Demand is hereby made that you immediately cease and desist from using Mr. Rose's name in any manner, and that you immediately cease and desist from fraudulently holding yourself out publicly as Mr. Rose. In the event that you fail to do so, Mr. Rose has instructed us to vigorously pursue all legal action necessary to protect his rights.

"Nothing contained herein or omitted herefrom shall constitute an admission as to any matter or as a waiver or full explication of our client's rights, remedies, contentions, damages and defenses, each of which is specifically reserved."

(Thanks: Here Today… Gone To Hell!)