Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy nosedives on the charts

An insider offers his thoughts

Joe Bosso, Wed 10 Dec 2008, 5:43 pm UTC

Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy nosedives on the charts

Can anything stop GN'R's downward spiral?

For Axl Rose, it's bad times. A week ago, his much-anticipated album Chinese Democracy debuted to less-than-stellar chart showings - in the UK it was handily beat by The Killers' Day & Age, and in the US it did even worse, coming in at Number 3 behind Kanye West and Taylor Swift.

And now it appears that the raging apathy of once-fervent Guns N' Roses fans continues.

Final sales figures are still coming in, but in the UK, Chinese Democracy dropped off the Top 10 and slid to Number 11. And in the US the story is even grimmer, where the record nosedived to Number 18 - a 78 percent drop-off from its first-week sales.

Some see a turnaround

With radio stations turning a deaf ear to the album, it would seem that the goose that is Chinese Democracy is cooked. But some insiders close to the Guns N' Roses camp still view the record as a long-term winner.

Bob Chiappardi, the New York City-based CEO of Concrete Marketing, has worked with Guns N' Roses since the Live Like A Suicide EP. Recently, his company worked on TV ads for Chinese Democracy and serviced the album to gentlemen's clubs in the US. According to Chiappardi, the record has yet to receive its moment in the sun.

"It's going to follow the same kind of life of the Kid Rock record, where songs keep coming" Bob Chiappardi, Concrete Marketing

"We all expected a situation with the numbers falling off," says Chiappardi. "First off, it's not in every record store in the country, which doesn't help. But I hope it's going to follow the same kind of life of the Kid Rock record, where songs keep coming - then we'll have really good numbers by summer."

Believe in ballads

Radio's resistance to the title cut is "disappointing," says Chiappardi, but he believes that several of the album's ballads "are going to come through. Maybe not on a November Rain basis, but there's some tracks there."

Above all, Chiappardi claims that Chinese Democracy needs time and nurturing. "The record is like a unicorn - there's a legend around it," he says.

"It's hard to explain. I think once the smoke clears, it'll rise to the top."

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User comments (4)

Rock105Rick

Thu 11 Dec 2008, 9:40 pm UTC

The headline of this article is nothing but hyperbol.
I'm sorry Mr. Bosso but this article was not researched and I'm calling "bullshit". If you would like to know how GNR is doing on the radio in the states visit the chart listings on this site www.radioandrecords.com (our Industry standard).
GNR on US Active Rock charts:
#11, 990 spins last week, down -71
GNR on US Alternative Rock charts: (yes it crosses over 'cause it's a "hit")
#38, 313 spins last week, down -137
GNR on US Rock charts: (this is the target demograph)
#5, 332 spins last week, down -16
US Rock radio, all formats, is playing the hell outta this song. Though, I admit, it's time to push a new single, "Chinese Democracy" the song, has peaked. And Chiappardi is correct. This album will produce steady singles and sales similar to the lastest Kid Rock CD
Why are people saying this album is flopping? It didn't go through the roof like AC/DC's "Black Ice" but, no one, no one, expected the AC/DC phenomon. "Chinese Democracy" has shown extremely strong sales compaired to any album, from any genre, released since the Industry hit the gutter 5 years ago.
If the album were titled: Axl Rose - "Chinese Democracy" no one would be bitching that it isn't "Appetite for Destruction Pt. 2". People need, and will get over it. It's a solid album, with many, many good songs.

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mutantdog

Thu 11 Dec 2008, 1:40 pm UTC

The more i think about this, the more i think that the commercial failure of this album is something of a victory for Axl. Record sales are rarely a good source of income for musicians anyway, especially in the current musical climate. Nevertheless the fact he managed to rinse $13m out of Geffen to produce an album that sells so little is really quite an achievement. Axl will make a nice packet off the tours, and no doubt even more off the (innevitable) reunion whenever that happens. Geffen are the ones out of pocket here, its unlikely the (recoupable, not refundable) advance will ever get paid back in full. The point is its not Axl that loses out here, he's made the album he wanted to make and there are a fair few people, myself included, that fully appreciate for what it is.

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dirktrex

Thu 11 Dec 2008, 11:42 am UTC

Being a GnR fan for years and my humble opinion is Axl must drop the rights to the name because he is nothing without Slash, Duff, Steven and Matt. I added Steven Adler's name because honor should be given for the work his done before Matt joined. The downward spiral is understandable as the music on this album lacks the input of Duff. Not a bad album but not worth the money I spent. Izzy should consider joining up again with the Duff, Slash and Matt. Buckethead, you guys are good but change the bands name to something new as you have to fill enormous shoes.
Regards
T-Rex

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MrGawain

Wed 10 Dec 2008, 11:47 pm UTC

I like the album- but I can also understand why people don't. Most albums these days have a signature sound and are aimed at a particular market- Nickelback sound like Nickelback all the way through their album. Beyonce sounds like Beyonce. Coldplay sound like Coldplay (or Satch depending on your opinion). Guns n' Roses are hard to pinpoint. Is it heavy metal? Is it good old rock and roll? Is it Robbie Williams style piano ballads? R n' B? Video game shred? Is it original? Is it Guns n' Roses?
I've heard people say that Michael Jackson's Thriller wouldn't be a hit today because of its identity crisis. This is Axl's Thriller. I do however think it'll sell some more when people see them on tour- but not enough to justify the hype, money, time or ego.

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