Oddly enough, this entry has nothing to do with the Olympics.
Anyone who has paid attention to rock for the last 20 years has likely heard of what must be the biggest bust in rock history, Guns N' Roses fabled album "Chinese Democracy". "Wait, GNR?" you say, "They aren't even still together are they?"
Yes in fact, technically they are, though only barely, and maintaining their credibility as the most disappointing and out of control band in history (Yes, The Who and Keith Moon were crazy, but they were only responsible for one mass crushing and the deaths of 11 people, whereas GNR has not only had that, but at least a half a dozen riots in cities around the world, and has played less than half of the scheduled dates in most of their tours.)
Now comes the news that finally, after going through a dozen band members, a half dozen spectacularly failed tours, several riots, and 14 years of recording, word comes that Chinese Democracy may finally be released this year.
How ridiculous is this? Well, in 2003, The Offspring threatened (in a joke) to name their new album "Chinese Democracy (You Snooze, You Lose)" Wait, The Offspring? you say. Yes, that's right, that semi-novelty, punk-metal band from the late 90s early 00s. Yes, in the time they've been working on this album, a band has risen from obscurity, had some big hits, released 5 platinum albums, made a joke about the GNR album, and then faded away back into obscurity.
How ridiculous? The Dr Pepper company has promised to give every single citizen of the US a can of Dr Pepper if the album is released in 2008 (naturally assuming they'd never have to pay up). Of course, they're excluding former Guitarists Slash and Buckethead, they'll have to pay their own dollar.
I just wonder, at this point, how could an album possibly live up to the incredible baggage of this one? And I'm firmly in the camp that says that Izzy Stradlin was the real heart of that band, and he left in 1991 (right around the last time they were relevant), but now the only one left from the original line-up is Axl, and his unique methods of screaming seem to have destroyed his vocal cords.
Truly I have no idea how to feel about this album. I still celebrate Appetite for Destruction as one of the greatest rock albums in history, but paying attention to it all is starting to hurt.
Notes:
Wikipedia article on Chinese Democracy's sordid history
Harmonix announces track from Chinese Democracy included in "Rock Band 2" game coming in fall
HA! Turns out the Offspring have a new album out, too, and they beat GNR by months releasing it in June.
Posted by ktismael at August 18, 2008 4:59 PM