AXL ROSE - ROSE HIRES TOP SVENGALIS TO MANAGE GUNS N' ROSES

AXL ROSE has hired music mogul IRVING AZOFF and fellow svengali ANDY GOULD as GUNS N' ROSES' new management team. The rock supergroup has been without a manager since Rose publicly fell out with longtime handler Merck Mercuriadis in 2006, but, as he prepares to release the long-awaited Chinese Democracy album, it appears the powerful frontman wants heavyweights behind him. Azoff has long been associated with the Eagles and the former MCA executive has also managed the careers of Christina Aguilera and Van Halen. Gould previously worked for top talent agency The Firm.