2006.02.17 - Entertainment Weekly - 5 Great Pop Culture Mysteries: Chinese Democracy

5 Great Pop Culture Mysteries

WHEN CAN WE HEAR CHINESE DEMOCRACY?

In 1994, Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses entered an L.A. studio to begin recording their new album, Chinese Democracy. Twelve years later, there's still no new album — and the reasons why are cloudier than Lake Erie. What's certain is that in that time, Rose has parted ways with the old band members, worked with dozens of producers and musicians, and, according to reports, spent more than $13 million on studio time, recording gear, instrument rentals, and support staff — while releasing just one original recording back in 1999. The cornrowed singer gave GN'R fans a little hope in mid-January when he promised that ''people will hear music this year,'' but the band's label, Geffen, doesn't have the album on its release schedule. Says Rose's manager Merck Mercuriadis, ''He's almost finished and he's confident that it will come out this year,'' though he wouldn't confirm a date. Or a month. Or a friggin' season.