Free Dr Pepper for everyone in the US! (also some new album)

[Losonti Tokash]

That's right, kids, Chinese Democracy is really, really coming out this time.

October 22, 2008 – Best Buy and Geffen Records announced that one of the most highly anticipated albums of all time, Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy, will be available beginning Nov. 23 at Best Buy and BestBuy.com on CD, vinyl, and digital downloads. The title track, the first single from the album, was released to radio today, October 22. Chinese Democracy is the first album of new material from one of rock’s most influential bands since the 1991 simultaneous releases of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II.


“The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock n’ roll,” said co-managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould. “We’re launching with a monumental campaign developed by Gary Arnold and the Best Buy team that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. Guns N’ Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning.”

“Chinese Democracy is one of the most highly anticipated albums in music history, and Best Buy is thrilled to deliver this explosive and previously elusive release to Guns N’ Roses fans. Longtime fans will be rewarded for their patience and loyalty to this great band, while a new generation of fans will be blown away,” said Gary Arnold, Senior Entertainment Officer for Best Buy. “Axl Rose is one of the most dynamic and gifted writers and performers in modern music. Best Buy is excited to work with Axl to make the release of Chinese Democracy THE musical event of 2008!”

“Guns N’ Roses is THE premier American rock band,” commented Steve Berman, President, Sales and Marketing, Interscope Geffen A&M Records. “Partnering with Gary and everyone at Best Buy to release one of rock’s most anticipated and legendary albums is truly a moment in music history. We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Chinese Democracy is coming, it’s coming this year, and it’s coming to Best Buy.”

Produced by Axl Rose and Caram Costanzo, the album, which will be released on Black Frog/Geffen Records, includes 14 tracks. “Shackler’s Revenge” debuted September 14 through the Rock Band 2 videogame and “If The World” can be heard in the film Body Of Lies, which premiered on October 11.

Chinese Democracy is being released in three formats: CD, Vinyl LP (with a free digital download of the tracks), and as a digital album. Pre-orders at http://www.BestBuy.com/chinesedemocracy begin today.

[TithonusSyndrome]

Ugh. Do people still care about this band? Like, hasn't the blues-rock thing been done into oblivion even before they came out - and they add a vocalist who sounds like he's choking on his own phlegm into the mix and hoped to take off? This is self-necrophilia on a level that disturbs me.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I'm lost, how does the free Dr. Pepper figure in?

[General Zod]

I'm lost, how does the free Dr. Pepper figure in?

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Many have tried, but so far nobody has been able to pry the decade-in-the-works Guns N' Roses album "Chinese Democracy" from the hands of lone remaining original member Axl Rose.

Now, Dr Pepper thinks it's up to the challenge. The soft drink company says it will give a free can of Dr Pepper to "everyone in America" (excluding ex-Guns members Slash and Buckethead) if "Chinese Democracy" arrives anytime during the calendar year 2008.

Rose responded on his band's web site (http://www.gunsnroses.com) that the band was "surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper." But the offer did not prompt him to rose to the challenge.

"Chinese Democracy" was most recently scheduled for release in March 2007, but promptly vanished from the schedule without a new date being set. Rose said at the time that all the recording had been completed, but there were some "scheduling difficulties."

It will be the first album of fresh Guns N' Roses material since the 1991 sets "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II." Rose has reportedly burned through $13 million in recording expenses for "Chinese Democracy," and also burned his bridges with the bandmates who helped him turn Guns into one of the biggest rock groups in the world by the early 1990s.

[Havok]

Ugh. Do people still care about this band? Like, hasn't the blues-rock thing been done into oblivion even before they came out - and they add a vocalist who sounds like he's choking on his own phlegm into the mix and hoped to take off? This is self-necrophilia on a level that disturbs me.

We are in agreement once again.
As good as they may have been, or could have been, this... this is just like another self indulgent Axle Rose train wreck.

[TithonusSyndrome]

For shits and giggles, it might be amusing to hop on a time machine and visit different worldlines where this album came out in 1999, 2001, 2004, etc, etc, and see how much Axl's prima-donna attention-seeking motivations caused the album to reflect whatever music was popular at the time, because I can guarantee you that had this album come out not long after their contribution to the "End of Days" soundtrack as intended, it would've been a completely different beast with completely different musical leanings.

[Havok]

For better or worse though?

[TithonusSyndrome]

I dunno; how do you like your suck? With nu-metal, generic industrial, blues-rock or something else?

[Havok]

Maybe a little Gangsta Rap.

[Losonti Tokash]

I was never more than a casual GnR fan (my brothers were the ones who grew up with those guys), but I'm somewhat interested in this. I've only heard Shackler's Revenge though, so the rest of the album could be shit.

Besides, like I said, free Dr. Pepper.

[General Zod]

You know, maybe if Pepsi or another company like Dr Pepper made the same challenge to 3d Realms, we could actually see Duke Nukem Forever released sometime in the next 10 years.

[Mayabird]

Who cares about the music? I get a free Dr. Pepper, and that's what matters.

Unfortunately, it's a little tricky. The only day that the coupons will be available is November 23rd, and we'll have to log on to the Dr Pepper website to get it. Also, the coupons expire in February. So, they won't actually be giving a free Dr. Pepper to everyone, only people who are so addicted to it that they'll actually go through all the hassle to get the coupon. Like me.

[The Spartan]

Who cares about the music? I get a free Dr. Pepper, and that's what matters.

Unfortunately, it's a little tricky. The only day that the coupons will be available is November 23rd, and we'll have to log on to the Dr Pepper website to get it. Also, the coupons expire in February. So, they won't actually be giving a free Dr. Pepper to everyone, only people who are so addicted to it that they'll actually go through all the hassle to get the coupon. Like me.

Regular Dr. Pepper is okay. I'll stick with my Dublin Dr. Pepper.

[Havok]

If I got a six pack of Berries and Creme Dr. Pepper, in glass bottles, I would but the album.

[General Zod]

Who cares about the music? I get a free Dr. Pepper, and that's what matters.

Unfortunately, it's a little tricky. The only day that the coupons will be available is November 23rd, and we'll have to log on to the Dr Pepper website to get it. Also, the coupons expire in February. So, they won't actually be giving a free Dr. Pepper to everyone, only people who are so addicted to it that they'll actually go through all the hassle to get the coupon. Like me.

Just hope that the Dr Pepper website doesn't wind up crashing from server traffic overload.

[DPDarkPrimus]

Who cares about the music? I get a free Dr. Pepper, and that's what matters.

Unfortunately, it's a little tricky. The only day that the coupons will be available is November 23rd, and we'll have to log on to the Dr Pepper website to get it. Also, the coupons expire in February. So, they won't actually be giving a free Dr. Pepper to everyone, only people who are so addicted to it that they'll actually go through all the hassle to get the coupon. Like me.

Just hope that the Dr Pepper website doesn't wind up crashing from server traffic overload.

I'm sure they will be available for printout on all sorts of message boards as well.

[YT300000]

Ugh. Do people still care about this band? Like, hasn't the blues-rock thing been done into oblivion even before they came out - and they add a vocalist who sounds like he's choking on his own phlegm into the mix and hoped to take off? This is self-necrophilia on a level that disturbs me.

What, they didn't take off? When both parts of Use Your Illusion came out simultaneously, they sold 7 million copies each - the last time someone tried that kind of release of multiple albums was KISS at the height of their popularity, and they bombed it. The point is that GN'R is the last great rock n' roll band, and though the current band and new songs (at least the half dozen I heard when I saw them live in 2006) don't sound the same, they still feels the same. There was already a big stylistic shift amongst the first couple albums, but the emotion was constant, and it's still there. Sure, it took Axl a decade to finish this album, but that's hardly new - he first wrote November Rain and Don't Cry around 1983, he just didn't feel they were perfected until 1990.

So who still cares? I do, and so should everyone that grew up in the 90's hating the steadily worsening pop and rap, and thought that Kurt Cobain was a waste of oxygen. Because this was the band that adopted a style that had never been less popular not for any commercial gain, but because it resonated with them. And anyone who's ever heard Estranged can feel it too.

Besides, are you saying you don't like Bumblefoot?

[tim31]

Who cares about the music? I get a free Dr. Pepper, and that's what matters.

Unfortunately, it's a little tricky. The only day that the coupons will be available is November 23rd, and we'll have to log on to the Dr Pepper website to get it. Also, the coupons expire in February. So, they won't actually be giving a free Dr. Pepper to everyone, only people who are so addicted to it that they'll actually go through all the hassle to get the coupon. Like me.

Try living in Australia where the only time it was widely available was the mid to late 90's. Just long enough to hook me in, then they stopped producing it. Now I pay AU$2.50(USD$1.55) per 12oz can at an importer.

*shakes*

Oh, and Tith, here's one for the books: I agree with you 100%

[Mayabird]

Try living in Australia where the only time it was widely available was the mid to late 90's. Just long enough to hook me in, then they stopped producing it. Now I pay AU$2.50(USD$1.55) per 12oz can at an importer.

*shakes*

My parents told me stories of when they were English teachers in the semi-boonies of Japan. They couldn't get things like Dr. Pepper where they lived, so once a month they'd take the train to Tokyo on an expedition to get imported goods (Dr. Pepper, Snickers bars, stuff like that), and then bring them back in backpacks filled with ice to keep them cool.


And I still haven't tried the Dublin Dr. Pepper (that's the one made with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, right?) but it's on to-do list. But I do want to wait until I'm in a situation where I can get a steady supply of it afterwards, in case it is so much better that I don't want to go back.

[Havok]

I figured Dublin Dr. Pepper just has booze in it.

[Phantasee]

I figured Dublin Dr. Pepper just has booze in it.

I didn't want to say anything, but this is exactly what I thought as well.

I might try it, though. I know I've enjoyed different sodas more when it's cane sugar instead of the corn syrup shit. I've never really enjoyed regular Dr. Pepper, to be honest.

[charlemagne]

Well I love Appetite and both Illusion, but I can't say that I'm still excited about Democracy, mainly because Axl Rose is such a huge dick, and also because G'n'R without Slash is just not G'n'R. It's like back in the early 80ies when Rod Evans of Deep Purple MKI tried to tour as Deep Purple but it was just him and 4 random guys.

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

Ugh, Dr Pepper. Gimme a sweet tea (Hay Bawls, good idea: Southerners can game, too!) with an FPS (say the Orange Box or a CoD/MoH box set) instead and we can talk

[Tsyroc]

I figured Dublin Dr. Pepper just has booze in it.

That would be the Flaming Dr. Pepper.

No Dr. Pepper in it at all but supposedly tastes just like DP after you blow out the flames.

[Losonti Tokash]

Ugh, Dr Pepper. Gimme a sweet tea (Hay Bawls, good idea: Southerners can game, too!) with an FPS (say the Orange Box or a CoD/MoH box set) instead and we can talk

That's just weird. Everyone knows that FPS can only come with GAMER FUEL MOUNTAIN DEW (it tastes like gummi bears).

But Guitar Hero 4 and KFC have some bizarre cross-promotion going on so who knows what could happen in the future.