The votes are in for "Chinese Democracy" and Confuscious say, "Not too shabby"!
The Guns and Roses timeline:
- 1994 - Use Your Illusion I and II are released and Guns and Roses goes on hiatus until further notice.
- December 1994 - Lead guitarist Slash begins a long lasting feud with singer Axl Rose that would eventually lead to the bands demise.
- 1998 - A bootleg recording of a new song from a mystery group surfaces and sparks rumors that the new sound is actually Gun and Roses working with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. This was later debunked.
- 2001 - Rumors swirl again of a possible Guns and Roses reunion along with Slash. A performance was allegedly set to take place at an AMA or VMA show on live tv. Although several people report the group rehearsing backstage, the band never materialized on stage.
- 2002 - After years of nothing but hearsay, Axl Rose appears on VH1 Classics to say that a number of new songs are in the works along with a new album. Ironically, it was already given a title of Chinese Democracy when decoded, is actually meant tongue-in-cheeck as something that will never take place in our lifetime. Was this a real story, or was Axl screwing with us?
- 2003 - A sloppy group of studio musicians come together and surprise everyone with an appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards. Though the group went by the moniker, Guns and Roses, the only familiar face was Axl Rose. A "mini tour" was announced as well as a release date for the new album. Sadly, after only a few concerts, Rose fired the current lineup and thus began several years of new release dates for the new CD.
- 2007 - In April, a final release date for Chinese Democracy is set. Axl Rose quickly changes his mind again and then says the album is on hold due to legal issues. Rumors come around again late in the year that 2008 would finally see the new album come to fruition.
- 2008 - In April of this year, Axl Rose hand deliversdemo reels to his record label to show he is serious this time. Several new tracks are on the reels and left in an office where they ended up missing. They resurface at the end of the month much to everyone's surprise, on a record company employee's blog that offers listeners a chance to hear the songs first on his website. Axl's attorneys file a "cease and decist" order to take the 5 tracks down. By this time it was too late. Hackers had already found a way to download the songs. 16 tracks remain under tight security. The album is finished, done, it's over. It sits on the shelf for now and still no release date confirmed...but hey, at least it's done.
It was on Use Your Illusion II that the song "14 Years" appeared approximately 14 years ago. Coincidence? Maybe however, the fans were taken for a long ride for a decade and a half. I never saw what all the fuss was about with this group anyway. In the late 1980's they came like wildfire and Axl Rose was placed on a pedestal as an "Icon" for whatever reason. It wasn't just the music that reeled people in, it was all about the drama. The dark history. The drugs, booze, abuse, and estranged relationships of the band that made them appealing. The run down and neglected boyhood home of Axl Rose in LaFayette, Indiana had a long line of onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of any of Axl's relatives. The joint was turned into a shrine by fans, but later condemned.
I guess I am one of the last folks in the world to get a hold of these five songs. It took some time and was kind of risky considering where you find them online can result in your downloading a potential virus as well. Although I'm not exactly a fan, I do have all of GNR's material on CD just because I can. I figure my neutral stance would work well in reviewing what we've all been waiting to hear for all these years. I was really surprised. The music is done quite well. It's a bit of a change in sound for Axl and the band...whoever they are. If there's a radio station out there that still has rock in their arsenal, chances are you'll hear these soon, if not already. There's two possible albums with two versions of cover art. I don't know if the 21 songs will be on one disc or two either. All I know is, Axl better not drag his feet after this hits stores because they guy is flirting with 50 already. I can't imagine another 14 year buffer zone between albums with a 64 year old Axl on lead vocals. Although I was tempted to place these songs on my blog, the fact remains, Axl STILL has more money than me, and more lawyers than me. You're on your own but, it's worth the effort to look for these!
