Rumors surface about possible November release date for band's long-delayed album.
After years of inveterate delays, empty promises and false alarms, it looks like hell's first-ever snowball fight could go down this November. That's if the latest reports on Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy — an LP the band's sole original member, Axl Rose, has been working on for well over a decade with a handful of producers, racking up a production bill estimated at more than $13 million — are to be believed.
While there's been no official announcement yet (per usual), it seems we may finally be close to a genuine, authentic, set-in-stone release date for Rose's long-awaited magnum opus. But of course, Rose's manager, Andy Gould, won't confirm recent reports that the sixth GN'R album could be in stores before year's end. MTV News contacted Gould's office last week to inquire about the release date but were told he wouldn't be commenting. (The release date of Chinese Democracy has been prematurely expected so many times that we wrote a Newsroom blog post about all the false alarms back in July.)
Yet, according to Rolling Stone's Web site, Gould reportedly told 900 Best Buy employees — during some sort of mystery convention held last week in Dallas — that Chinese Democracy would hit the streets on November 25; Interscope last listed the album's release date as March 2007. Gould also declared that the record would be a Best Buy exclusive, and even previewed three of the album's tracks — this all according to a man who claims his nephew works for Best Buy and was present for the big reveal.
Several calls left with Best Buy's public-relations department were not returned as of press time, but this deal has been rumored for weeks, with several news outlets citing unnamed sources "close to the negotiations" who claimed the release of the disc was imminent. Meanwhile, other rumors have suggested Wal-Mart would be the album's exclusive retail carrier.
In what some believe is a strong sign we could be closer than ever before to hearingChinese Democracy, one song from the oft-delayed record, "If the World," was chosen to accompany the closing credits of Leonardo DiCaprio's forthcoming film,"Body of Lies," which hits theaters nationwide October 10. A mastered version of the same song — which is a speedy, riff-heavy tune, reminiscent of "Night Train" and "Dead Horse" — leaked online earlier this year.
It's worth noting that, way back in 1991, GN'R's track "You Could Be Mine" was the second to surface from the band's perpetually postponed Use Your Illusion albums, and it also appeared on the soundtrack to "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." At the time, some hinted that the song's inclusion on the film's soundtrack helped encourage Axl and the boys to push forward the albums' release date. The first song released from those conceptual companion efforts was "Civil War," which appeared on a charity compilation in 1990.
The first recent sign that the release of Chinese Democracy could be nigh came this summer, when Harmonix and MTV Games announced that "Shackler's Revenge," a track from the album, would be making its worldwide debut on the forthcoming game "Rock Band 2." So, while questions of "if" and "when" continue to remain unanswered, the signs are there, giving fans new hope that Rose will soon deliver on his decade-long promise. But, as with everything in Guns N' Roses Land, nothing's official until Axl says so.
GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal jammed with theGN'R tribute band NOVEMBER RAIN at the "Rock & Roll Ball" this past Friday night (September 26) at the Munchaba Lounge, located at 58 Gardiners Avenue in Levittown, New York. Thal co-hosted the event with professional wrestler/actor Brimstone, according to a press release.
A couple of photos taken during this past Friday's jam can be viewed below.
The event, which happens every Friday night at Munchaba Lounge, has already brought together many rock celebrities, including Lita Ford, Evan Seinfeld (of BIOHAZARD), and members of ANTHRAX and LIFE OF AGONY with some of the hottest up-and-coming bands from the area for the best party on two legs.
Thal recently inked a deal with DEEP/BCD Music Group. His latest CD,"Abnormal", which was released on July 1 via all digital outlets, will be made available in October. The DEEP/BCD Music Group version of the album will include an exclusive bonus track not available anywhere else.
"Abnormal", the follow-up to Thal's previous offering, "Normal", is a hard rock album flavored with a light-hearted mix of different styles and genres, with catchy hooks and blistering guitar work. It contains "17 powerful, well-delivered tracks" featuring Thal's "incredible lyrics and seriously intense skills on the guitar," according to a press release. Drawing influences from such diverse artists as the SEX PISTOLS, THE BEATLES and FRANK ZAPPA, the CD is "sure to appeal to fans of GUNS N' ROSES as well as musicians everywhere."
The October issue of Brazil's Rock Brigade magazine features an interview with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Rock Brigade: How was to record "Shackler's Revenge" [the newGUNS N' ROSES song which is featured on the Rock Band 2soundtrack]? You did the solo (with your fretless), some rhythm in the pre-chorus and the last shredding in the ending, right?
Thal: If I remember right (barely remember anything more than five minutes ago, haha) it was one of the first songs we worked on. I played all the solos — the fretless solo followed by the fretted solo, the end tapping stuff and the bends over it — also the rhythms throughout the song with all the riffing in them.
Rock Brigade: What do you think about the song?
Thal: I like the energy and groove. The vocals really grab ya. I don't think it's what people expect, like tasting somethin' for the first time... it takes a second to take in the info and sort it, then ya gotta taste it again, and ya start getting to know what you're tasting, trying to define it, and figure out if ya like it or not. That's how you know it's something unique, not your standard... chicken dinner.
According to RollingStone.com, the GUNS N' ROSES "Chinese Democracy" album track "If The World" — a version of which leaked earlier this year — will appear in the upcoming Leonard Dicaprio/Russell Crowe movie "Body of Lies", in theaters October 10. The track features the guitar work of GN'R guitarist Robin Finck, as well as Buckethead, who left the band in 2004. The song plays during the closing credits of the movie, but it won't appear on the soundtrack album.
According to Billboard.com, Best Buy will be the exclusive retailer for"Chinese Democracy", which is tentatively due on November 25.
Former QUIET RIOT and current HOOKERS N' BLOW guitarist Alex Grossi has issued the following update:
"I am EXTREMELY excited about a project that I am currently involved in.Dizzy Reed [GUNS N' ROSES keyboardist] is doing a solo record that is being produced by Del James (If you have never heard of Del, do yourself a favor and Google him, trust me).
"This record is by far one of the coolest projects I have ever been involved in, in that it is not just a band, but a bunch of random musicians from a wide variety of genres who are collectively contibuting to the project.
"I am very proud to be playing along with the likes of Mike Duda andMike Dupke of W.A.S.P., Adrian Young of NO DOUBT, Richard Fortus,Tommy Stinson and Frank Ferrer of GN'R, Bobby from BIOHAZARD.... and it has been especially meaningful to see my former QUIET RIOTbandmates Frankie Banali and Chuck Wright perform on a couple tracks.
"Del has an amazing ear and excellent musical instincts, and Dizzy's songs are top-notch and very unique. I feel this record is going to be one we are all proud of."
theexaminer.com has a curious article about Jonh McCain being the Axl Rose of American Politics.
It's hard to tell what's really been of greater anticipation. This debate that took place tonight between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain or the latest buzz on the anticipated release of the new Guns'n'Roses' album Chinese Democracy?
The latest rumors regarding the release of Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy have been swirling around message boards this week. The first rumor is that the long-awaited album will be released exclusively through Best Buy on November 25th. The source of the multi-tiered rumors is a supposed “vendor convention” that Best Buy had on Wednesday in Dallas, Texas. Reportedly, Guns manager Andy Gould told the 900 employees the news about Chinese Democracy before previewing three songs from the album. Cellphone recordings of the event were later distributed through GNR fanforums. Gould also reportdly alerted the crowd that “If The World” would also be featured in the closing credits for the upcoming Leonardo DiCaprio/Russell Crowe film Body of Lies, which was confirmed by message boarders on movie websites (like IMDB) who happened to catch a press screening of the film yesterday. The number of witness accounts, evidence and message boards involved makes it hard to believe this is all just a hoax, but this is Axl Rose we’re talking about, so we’ll believe it when the press release reaches our inbox. Still, we’re cautiously looking forward to Chinese Democracy and free Dr. Pepper on November 25th.
My nephew is an employee at Best Buy. He is currently in Dallas for a big vendor convention. I was talking with him through AIM when I heard some pretty crazy news. Here are the details...
- 900 Best Buy employees were invited to listen to some new Guns N' Roses tracks.
- My nephew met with an English man in his 50's - dark hair, slicked back, dark skinned guy - said he was one of the band's managers.
- The "manager guy" then presented 3 new tracks from the forthcoming "Chinese Democracy" album - which he said "should be" released around Thanksgiving.
- The album is also to be released as a "Best Buy exclusive" - deal was finished in the last 48 hours.
- He also said that the Best Buy employees were the first to hear these songs outside of the label.
- The three songs were not named by the manager.
- Their manager said that there are to be 15 tracks on the album.
Ok, now some more details. Someone decided to record these songs on their PDA phone - and I've listened to them. The songs are as follows (in order they were played)...
1. Chinese Democracy
2. If the World
3. There Was a Time
First of all, my nephew said that everyone loved the songs, even though they were played on a crappy convention hall sound system. He's not a huge Guns fan like I am - as a matter of fact he's not even really into their old stuff - but he REALLY dug these new songs. He said Axl's voice sounds like another guitar track! The manager introduced "If the World" as a song to be played during the credits of a new Leo Dicaprio and Russell Crowe flick called "Body of Lies". He introduced "There Was a Time" as Axl's favorite. My nephew said this song was everyone else's favorite as well.
The songs sounded pretty much the same as the previous versions. If the World sounded a bit different, like it has a voice synth in the middle of the song where Axl has a longer lyric bridge. Some of the song's effects sounded different as well, but I can't tell if it's a result of the fact that they were recorded in a hall on a PDA. Man, this is the most exciting news I have heard in a while - even though I don't usually get my hopes up too much. Although I am a huge ol' school Guns fan, I just love the new stuff. Who cares if it's only Axl, it sounds awesome. Look at what the rest of GNR did. As much as I love Slash and Duff, VR was a huge let-down for me. I absolutely LOVE all of the the new GNR tracks I've heard so far, and I'm beyond excited to finally buy the 50 or so copies of Chinese Democracy I plan on buying!
There is proof of this actually happening, and there are recordings of the 3 songs circulating.
Fatally Yours recently conducted an interview with longtime GUNS N' ROSES co-writer and Axl Rose associate, video director/author/journalistDel James. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Fatally Yours: What are you doing on Dizzy Reed's (keyboardist fromGUNS N' ROSES) record?
Del: Dizzy is in the process of recording his solo album. Dizzy is a great songwriter but not very many people know this. I've known Dizzy has a record in him for a real long time. I co-wrote some of those songs but they were already great ideas before I ever got involved. He's fucking good. And the list of people who have jumped on board to help Dizzy, to play on his solo record, 'cause it's not a case of five guys in a band who have rehearsed these songs inside out…. So some of the GN'R guys, likeFrank Ferrer on drums, Richard Fortus on guitar, Tommy Stinson on bass, they've all come down. Frankie Banali from QUIET RIOT played some drums. Adrian from NO DOUBT played drums on a song. Mike Dupke from W.A.S.P., Mike Duda from W.A.S.P. played some bass,Greg Coates from THE BANGKOK 5 played bass, Chuck Wright, guitarists include Todd Youth from DANZIG, MURPHY'S LAW and D-GENERATION. Alex Grossi. Whitey Kryst from IGGY POP. Ricky Warwick from THE ALMIGHTY…Bobby fucking Hambel. Oh man,Bobby from BIOHAZARD comes down to the studio, says hello to me, right? I ain't seen this guy in like eight years. We hug and going on tour the next day. I'm like, "Hey, Bobby, so what are you doing right now?" and I'm holding the guitar. He knows that I can't play the fucking guitar so Bobby wound up playing a killer solo on a song called "Cheers To Oblivion". And that's how it's been. There's been a bunch of talented friends getting involved because every one is supportive and believes inDizzy Reed the musician, the songwriter with a phenomenal voice. His voice is the secret weapon to the whole project. Dizzy and I are producing it.
Fatally Yours: Axl seems to get a bad rap. Any misconceptions you'd like to set straight about Axl?
Del: Almost everybody knows that Axl Rose and I have been gang tight for over twenty years. Earlier you asked me about loyalty. I've never met a more loyal person than Axl. He's loyal to a fucking fault. That guy always shares the credit, always gives opportunities, and hell, is willing to take less of a cut in terms of money just to make sure that his band and crew are well taken care of. It's unheard of. Every tour we've even done, members from other bands' crews are begging to jump on our crew. Treat people that way you want to be treated, right? From a personal perspective, it fucking bothers me to no end when people with their own personal agendas or who don't know what the fuck they're talking about write books or give interviews about Axl. And let's not forget that a lot of these journalists writing about him don't necessarily like Axl. You could make a case that personally they hate him so you really think they're going to go out of their way to present a fair story? I mean really, how can you objectively write about someone you have no contact with? How accurate can a biography be when all of your information comes from second-hand sources or is hearsay? One of these days, Axl is going to set straight a lot of the misconceptions about himself and the history of GUNS N' ROSES and people ain't gonna know what hit ‘em.
