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<i>Democracy</i> for the Masses: <br>A Guns N' Roses Special</div><p>by Cindy Klimek</p>

<p>When the makers of Dr. Pepper promised a free can of soda to nearly everyone in the United States if Guns N' Roses released their absurdly overdue <i>Chinese Democracy</i> album during 2008, it seemed like a good bet that most of us would be left thirsty come New Year's. However, Axl Rose soon intimated that the disc would indeed see light of day before the dawning of 2009, and with <i>Democracy</i> getting released on Nov. 23, the volatile frontman finally has made good on that promise. It's been 17 years since GN'R issued its last original full-length efforts, <i>Use Your Illusion I</i> and <i>II</i>, so let's take a look at the long, weird saga that culminated with the arrival of <i>Chinese Democracy</i>.</p>

<p>In a 1992 interview with <i>Rolling Stone</i>, Rose <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/15808548/axl_rose_the_rolling_stone_interview/">said</a>, "I really think that the next official Guns N' Roses record, or the next thing I do, at least, will take some dramatic turns that people didn't expect." This wasn't a surprising statement coming from the notoriously unpredictable Rose, though not even he could have known how eerily prophetic his words would come to be. Plagued by setbacks, including the dissolution of the band's original lineup, a revolving door of new members, the hiring and firing of several managers and Rose's own neuroses and perfectionism, the road to <i>Democracy</i> certainly took some unexpected turns.</p>

<p>Guns N' Roses reportedly began working on <i>Democracy</i> some time in 1995. However, the looming departure of original members Slash and Duff McKagan would cause huge delays in the album's production. By 1998, Rose was the sole founding member remaining. In 1999, after already spending a reported $13 million on <i>Democracy</i>, a revamped Guns N' Roses released the song "Oh My God" as part of the <i>End of Days</i> soundtrack. In an interview with MTV's Kurt Loder that same year, Rose <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15vCI0FyXK8">announced</a> that he hoped to have <i>Democracy</i> out by 2000. From 2001 through last year, the band hit the road five different times for tours supposedly in support of the album that often were marred by heavy cancellations. Several songs earmarked for <i>Democracy</i> were performed during these treks. In December 2006, a tentative March 2007 release was announced, but that date came and went. Then, in March of this year, Dr. Pepper delivered its aforementioned promise, Rose responded and the rock world continued to sit and wait. Fans got their first official taste of <i>Democracy</i> when the song "Shackler's Revenge" was included on the soundtrack to the <i>Rock Band 2</i> video game, which hit stores in September. A snippet of another tune from the disc, "If the World," was heard during the credits of the film <i>Body of Lies</i>, which premiered in October. Finally, a solid Nov. 23 release date was announced, with <i>Democracy</i> set to be issued as a CD and vinyl disc exclusively through Best Buy outlets and at the retailer's website, as well as a and digital download via iTunes.</p>

<p>On Nov. 19, GN'R began streaming <i>Chinese Democracy</i> in its entirety at their MySpace page, proving that the album did indeed exist. The 14-track recording offers a wide array of sonic flavors, including strings, horns, electronic beats and sampled audio segments. Industrial-metal influences are prominent in "Shackler's," "Scraped" and the title track. "Better," "There Was a Time" and "Sorry," meanwhile, are eclectic-sounding mid-tempo rock laments. "Street of Dreams" and "This I Love" are piano-driven power ballads. And "If the World" fuses elements of Middle Eastern music, flamenco and Euro disco. As eclectic as it may sound, though, <i>Democracy</i> -- at its heart -- delivers plenty of elements reminiscent of Guns' classic early material: soaring pop- and hard-rock hooks; blazing guitars; and, of course, Rose's incomparable spine-tingling banshee wail.</p>

<p>While Rose and the assorted GN'R members and alumni will have to wait and see how well the album is received, both hopes and expectations are running high. First single "Chinese Democracy" already has topped the iTunes general music store chart in six countries, and it also became the No. 1 rock song on the U.S. iTunes store tally. No word yet about a tour in support of the disc, but rumor has it Rose is gearing up to make a big promotional push. So the question stands, now that <i>Democracy</i> is finally being brought to the masses, are they ready to accept it?</p>

<p><b>Patience Is a Virtue</b>: "It's not about being a control freak. It's about being maybe smart enough to go, 'No, that's a bad idea.' That's all it's about -- keeping the ability to at least have a shot as opposed to something that's just an obvious disaster. I want to make a good record. I don't want to throw a brick. This cannot be Shaq at the free-throw line." --Axl Rose <a href="http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/20338/">talking about</a> <i>Chinese Democracy</i>'s delays in a 2006 interview</p>

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<p><b>Random Facts</b>: Besides Axl Rose, keyboardist Dizzy Reed is the current Guns N' Roses member with the longest tenure in the group, having joined the band in 1990; GN'R's present-day lineup also includes bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardist/programmer Chris Pitman, drummer Frank Ferrer and guitarists Richard Fortus and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal . . . <i>Chinese Democracy</i>'s title track has peaked at No. 5 on <i>Billboard</i>'s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart . . . The press release announcing Dr. Pepper's promise to give everyone in the United States a free can of soda if <i>Chinese Democracy</i> was released this year excluded former Guns guitarists Slash and Buckethead; in response, Axl Rose issued a statement saying, "As some of Buckethead's performances are on our album I'll share my Dr. Pepper with him" . . . Basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal allegedly rapped on one of the tracks that did not make it onto <i>Democracy</i>, while Queen guitarist Brian May recorded a part for the song "Catcher in the Rye" that also apparently didn't make the final cut . . . Writer Chuck Klosterman has penned two reviews of <i>Democracy</i>: one as an April Fools' joke in 2006, and, recently, a critique of the actual album.</p>