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Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy. Yes, it's real.

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8. … but a nice little earner

If your face and aura fitted, Chinese Democracy was a gravy train. In 2005, The New York Times put the monthly payroll at $11,000 per bandmember, $6,000 per tech and $14,000 for the chief engineer.

9. It's a running joke in the media

In April 2006, Spin ran an online 'review' of Chinese Democracy by Chuck Klosterman, subsequently revealed as an elaborate April Fool's Day hoax. How Axl must have laughed…

10. It's taken eight guitarists to get here…

"I spent an hour-and-a-half at the studio." Dave Navarro

Discounting the web forum tittle-tattle, that's – deep breath – Slash, Gilby Clarke, Paul Tobias, Gary Sunshine and Buckethead, along with current axeslingers Richard Fortus, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal and Robin Finck.

"He's not always easy to work with." Brian May is diplomatic about Axl Rose

11. … and that doesn't include the celebrity guests

The nicest man™ and biggest ego™ in rock formed an unlikely alliance in the early stages of Chinese Democracy, as Brian May laid down a solo for Catcher N' The Rye. "He's not always easy to work with," was the Queen guitarist's diplomatic assessment. May's solo has since been dumped off the album.

12. Dave Navarro only lasted an afternoon…

How many egos can you fit into a top LA recording studio? Only one, it seems. "I spent an hour-and-a-half at the studio," shrugs the Jane's Addiction peacock, who played the solo on 1999's stopgap track, Oh My God. "It just never worked out."

13. … and Zakk Wylde not much longer

Ozzy's grizzly sideman was briefly in the frame circa 1995. "I had a blast with those guys, but nothing ever materialised," he recalls. "It could have worked out. At the time, you had Slash, Duff and Axl, so it was almost like the original lineup. But that's when Black Label Society happened."

14. The backroom boffins had it tough

Failure to recreate the sound in Axl's head was punishable by sacking with rolling heads including producers Mike Clink, Sean Beavan, Youth, Roy Thomas Baker and Moby. "Being the most successful rock star on the planet for a few years really took a psychological toll," theorised Moby..

15. … and playing drums wasn't a picnic, either

As Axl tried to capture the drum sound of Smells Like Teen Spirit, Chinese Democracy's turnover crept up to Spinal Tap proportions, with Matt Sorum, Bryan 'Brain' Mantia and Josh Freese all warming the stool for current thumper Frank Ferrer. Ever thought of just asking Dave Grohl and Butch Vig?

16. It gave employment to the world's oddest guitarist

Buckethead: Yes, he has a bucket. On his head.

Staring out from the eyeslits of a Halloween-style mask, communicating through a glove puppet and never pictured without his trademark KFC bucket hat, session ace Brian 'Buckethead' Carroll was the obvious candidate for the oddest album in rock history. He arrived in 2000 – and quit four years later.

He might be a little strange, but Bucket can play.