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8 reasons why Chinese Democracy stiffed
And Axl Rose himself is part of the problem
Joe Bosso and Michael Leonard, Thu 4 Dec 2008, 4:25 pm GMT
It was perhaps no surprise that The Killers' album Day & Age beat Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy to Number 1 in the UK.
But the failure of Guns N' Roses to hit top spot in the US, where the band's first album is a staple of classic rock stations from coast to coast, is more of a surprise.
And what's going to hurt more is that Chinese Democracy didn't even come close to the Number 1 spot. Figures from the US reveal that the Top 3 sales for the current chart were:
1. Kanye West: 808s And Heartbreak – 450,000
2. Taylor Swift: Fearless - 267,000
3. Guns N' Roses: Chinese Democracy - 261,000
That's still a decent sale in tough times, but AC/DC's Black Ice, the first album from the band in seven years, shifted 784,000 copies in its opening week. As with Chinese Democracy's exclusive distribution via Best Buy, Black Ice went out only through Wal-Mart.
Geffen is "frustrated"
There are already reports of grumblings around the GN'R camp about the Best Buy deal and its (lack of) promotion, though it's also been noted how Axl Rose has done no promotion whatsoever himself on his record.
True, Axl Rose is threatening to sue Dr Pepper for 'misusing' the band name in their recent giveaway promotion, but that's hardly the same as making the late-night talk show rounds and giving interviews to the music press.
"You would have thought after spending 15 years on an album you might do a few weeks promotion" Geffen insider
"The label is really glad to have him back," says an insider at Geffen Records. "But it is frustrating because the album would have had a much better chance of going to Number 1 if he had only been prepared to show his face. You would have thought after spending 15 years on an album you might do a few weeks promotion."
Yes, you would think that. But when it comes to Axl Rose, little makes much sense. So without further ado, here are...
MusicRadar's 8 reasons why Chinese Democracy has stiffed
1. You took too long, Axl
As noted, 15 years is an awful long time to make an audience wait for a new album. "People forgot about him" says Gary Cee, program director for the classic rock station WPDH in Poughkeepsie, New York.
"Axl Rose doesn't seem to exist anymore" Gary Cee of classic rock station WPDH
"He doesn't seem to exist anymore. AC/DC, Metallica - the audience has a sense that they're doing things, there's a connection there. With Guns N' Roses, there's no connection anymore."
2. Chinese Democracy isn't a masterpiece
Cluttered, unfocused and bloated, Chinese Democracy makes The Spaghetti Incident sound like a classic. Trad Guns N' Roses fans don't want dated (as in, recorded in 1998) attempts at industrial nu-metal. They want Guns N' Roses, as in killer guitar riffs, slam-o hooks and unadulterated, hair-raising vocals. Axl, you forgot that bit over the years.
User comments (8)
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Maybe this is just proof of why bands dont reunite unless its the majority of the original band.... Axl needs to find some other way of making it in the music buisness, like being a producer, although listening to this album, maybe not....
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Personally, i like this album. It might not be as great as Appetite, but expecting a 40-something Axl Rose to write another album of glam-punk anthems is ridiculous. The biggest problem with this album (partly because of Axl's refusal to admit its a solo thing) commercially is the fact that everyone WILL compare it to Appetite.
There is something about it that has a unique appeal, you can really hear the attention to detail and intensity of Axl's madness throughout it, people complain its not rough sounding but i would say the production on it is flawless (and its not too loud).
One thing from Axl's perspective that i can't help but think plays a part in his lack of promotion is the cost. Geffen fronted $13m for this, Axl will surely have to pay that back out of his royalties, so its gonna have to sell a lot before it will even break even for him, but if it sells nothing its Geffen's loss not Axl's. No real incentive to promote it then.
And lets not forget the fact that most of it had been leaked ages ago. -
Well I must be CRAZY because I think it is a great album. absolutely perfect for the most part of it anyway. I think Better is a great song as is chinese democracy, catcher in the rye and IRS.
But being the GNR fan i am ofcourse i hope for a reunion of the origional band. however AXL did a great job with the new record. hope it isnt another decade before the next one. -
As far as i can see, Axl Rose lost his his marbles a long time ago. Some of the stuff that was going on when Gn'Rs were at their peak was quite unbelievable, they were actually making a lose on thier biggest world tour mainly due to Axl hosting themed parties after every show. Also who does he think he is arriving 2 hours late for a show, it shows no respect for fans who lets get it straight got him to where he was. The new Gn'Rs album should be branded the Axl Rose Experience, because it has little or know association to the original Gn'Rs
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Excellent synopsis in the article. Especially the parts regarding lack of promotion and marketing. However......
Now that I think about it.....maybe their marketing was done and it was marketed properly - if you get the drift?
Beyond that anyway - you can't polish a turd as they say.
Sorry, it's a turd. He polished it for way too many years in fact hoping for a shine.
I know a few folks have found a few tracks they kind of like. Not good enough.
I know it's been stated many times already but there's too much techno crap going on in it.
The fans didn't want that. They wanted to rock. It's no more complicated than that.
Oh yeah - buckhead is creepy. The dude can play like a mofo but has some real issues I think. A perfect marriage forrany band axl fronts. IMO anyway.
Jim. -
The new record is a dead horse that shouldn't be flogged any longer, much less saddled. MusicRadar has called this thing right from the beginning. Axl has lost his marbles and can't even be bothered to chase them.
Oh well.
Hope Slash and Duff can get a good singer for VR. -
Slash bla, bla, bla, Slash bla, bla, bla.
Is last band album didnt sell much, did it ?
The GNR "magic" was the old team, but that is the past.
1. Kanye West - Maybe Axl Rose didnt use enough Auto-tune, lol ! -
Lets face it - Axl Rose is a hasbeen, If he gave a shit about anybody except himself the original members who left would still be in the band and Chinese Democracy would have released a whole lot sooner than it did and it would have rocked cause it would have had Slash and Duff on it but unfortunately it stinks!
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Tue 9 Dec 2008, 10:45 am GMT