2008.10.22 - Press Releases - Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy CD Set for November 23 Release at Best Buy

Joint press release from Interscope/Geffen and Best Buy:
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GUNS N' ROSES CHINESE DEMOCRACY CD SET FOR NOVEMBER 23 RELEASE AT BEST BUY

First Single "Chinese Democracy" Premieres on Radio on October 22

MINNEAPOLIS, October 22, 2008 -- Best Buy and Geffen Records announced that one of the most highly anticipated albums of all time, Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy, will be available beginning Nov. 23 at Best Buy and BestBuy.com on CD, vinyl, and digital downloads. The title track, the first single from the album, was released to radio today, October 22. Chinese Democracy is the first album of new material from one of rock’s most influential bands since the 1991 simultaneous releases of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II.

“The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock n’ roll,” said co-managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould. "We're launching with a monumental campaign developed by Gary Arnold and the Best Buy team that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. Guns N' Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning."

"Chinese Democracy is one of the most highly anticipated albums in music history, and Best Buy is thrilled to deliver this explosive and previously elusive release to Guns N' Roses fans. Longtime fans will be rewarded for their patience and loyalty to this great band, while a new generation of fans will be blown away," said Gary Arnold, Senior Entertainment Officer for Best Buy. "Axl Rose is one of the most dynamic and gifted writers and performers in modern music. Best Buy is excited to work with Axl to make the release of Chinese Democracy THE musical event of 2008!"

"Guns N' Roses is THE premier American rock band," commented Steve Berman, President, Sales and Marketing, Interscope Geffen A&M Records. "Partnering with Gary and everyone at Best Buy to release one of rock's most anticipated and legendary albums is truly a moment in music history. We're thrilled to be able to announce that Chinese Democracy is coming, it's coming this year, and it's coming to Best Buy."

Produced by Axl Rose and Caram Costanzo, the album, which will be released on Black Frog/Geffen Records, includes 14 tracks. "Shackler's Revenge" debuted September 14 through the Rock Band 2 videogame and "If The World" can be heard in the film "Body Of Lies," which premiered on October 11.

Chinese Democracy is being released in three formats: CD, Vinyl LP (with a free digital download of the tracks), and as a digital album. Pre-orders Pre-orders at BestBuy.com/chinesedemocracy begin today.

Guns N’ Roses has sold 90 million albums worldwide, more than 42 million in the United States alone. Appetite for Destruction has sold 18 million copies and reached number one in the U.S. Additionally, the album charted three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Welcome To The Jungle" and “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” 1991’s Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II debuted on the two highest spots on the Billboard 200, the first time an artist achieved this feat.

About Interscope Geffen A&M Records

Combining the legacies of three of the most influential record labels in modern music history, Interscope Geffen A&M Records embarked on a new tradition of musical achievement with its unification on January 1, 1999. Headed by Chairman Jimmy Iovine, Interscope Geffen A&M is a major force in global music, developing chart-topping artists across a wide range of musical genres including rock, rap, pop and alternative. Interscope Geffen A&M Records is part of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) operates a global portfolio of brands with a commitment to growth and innovation. Our employees strive to provide customers around the world with superior experiences by responding to their unique needs and aspirations. We sell consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services through more than 1,150 retail stores across the United States , throughout Canada and in China. Our multi-channel operations include: Best Buy, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers, Magnolia Audio Video and Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co.. Best Buy supports the communities in which its employees work and live through volunteerism and grants that benefit children and education.

Press release from Interscope/Geffen:
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CHINESE DEMOCRACY. NOVEMBER 23.

First Single, 'Chinese Democracy', Debuts Today, October 22

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct 22, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Chinese Democracy has finally arrived. One of the most highly anticipated albums in rock history, the long-awaited Chinese Democracy marks the first album of new material from Guns N' Roses since 1991's simultaneous release of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II. With a frenzied energy, Guns N' Roses arrived on the music scene in the mid-'80s and rock was never the same. Now the enormously influential G N' R is ready to rock once again.

Chinese Democracy (Black Frog/Geffen Records) will be available globally on November 23 on CD and vinyl (accompanied by a free digital download of the tracks), and as a separate digital album.

Produced by Axl Rose and Caram Costanzo, Chinese Democracy includes 14 tracks. The title track and first single from the album, "Chinese Democracy", will be released to radio at 5:00 am eastern time today. Two of the recordings have been recently released--"Shackler's Revenge" debuted September 14 in the "Rock Band 2" videogame and "If The World" debuted October 11 in the film Body Of Lies.

"The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock 'n' roll," said Irving Azoff and Andy Gould, Guns N' Roses' co-managers, "and we're launching with a monumental campaign that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. Guns N' Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning."

"Guns N' Roses redefined the American rock band and became a global music icon," added Steve Berman, President, Sales and Marketing, Interscope Geffen A&M Records. "We're incredibly excited that Chinese Democracy will be heard worldwide through Geffen Records and the Universal Music Group."

Seventeen years ago, the two previous original albums from one of rock's most intense and compelling bands, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, were issued simultaneously, a first for any contemporary artist. Debuting #2 and #1, respectively, they featured three gold hits with "November Rain" (#3), "Don't Cry" (#10) and the previously released Top 30 "You Could Be Mine" from the film Terminator II: Judgement Day, plus another Top 40 with "Live And Let Die." Each album went seven times platinum.

The band's 1987 full-length debut Appetite For Destruction has sold more than 28 million copies worldwide (18 times platinum in the U.S.) and is among the biggest-selling albums in history. The #1 album notched three Top 10 hits--the gold anthem "Welcome To The Jungle" and #1 "Sweet Child o' Mine" plus "Paradise City." 1988's #2, five times platinum G N' R Lies yielded the gold Top 5 "Patience." After the Use Your Illusion duo, 1994's "The Spaghetti Incident?" cover album reached #4 and platinum.

In 1999, a live album earned gold and in 2004 the band's only Greatest Hits collection peaked at #3 and earned quadruple platinum. Overall, Guns N' Roses has sold more than 90 million records worldwide.

Related article in Rolling Stone, October 22:
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Guns N’ Roses Officially Announce “Chinese Democracy”: Pre-Orders Start Today

Guns n’ Roses released a statement today officially confirming the arrival of Chinese Democracy on November 23rd. “The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock n’ roll,” said Irving Azoff and Andy Gould. They also added that Best Buy would be launching a “monumental campaign that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself.” Pre-orders begin today for the 14-track album co-produced by Axl Rose and Caram Costanzo (Pearl Jam’s No Code, Rage Against the Machine’s Evil Empire). Chinese Democracy will be available on CD, digital download and vinyl (with a free digital download option) through Geffen Records and Black Frog (Rose’s publishing company). Follow the jump for the official press release.

MINNEAPOLIS, October 22, 2008 – Best Buy and Geffen Records announced that one of the most highly anticipated albums of all time, Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy, will be available beginning Nov. 23 at Best Buy and BestBuy.com on CD, vinyl, and digital downloads. The title track, the first single from the album, was released to radio today, October 22. Chinese Democracy is the first album of new material from one of rock’s most influential bands since the 1991 simultaneous releases of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II.

“The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock n’ roll,” said co-managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould. “We’re launching with a monumental campaign developed by Gary Arnold and the Best Buy team that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. Guns N’ Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning.”

“Chinese Democracy is one of the most highly anticipated albums in music history, and Best Buy is thrilled to deliver this explosive and previously elusive release to Guns N’ Roses fans. Longtime fans will be rewarded for their patience and loyalty to this great band, while a new generation of fans will be blown away,” said Gary Arnold, Senior Entertainment Officer for Best Buy. “Axl Rose is one of the most dynamic and gifted writers and performers in modern music. Best Buy is excited to work with Axl to make the release of Chinese Democracy THE musical event of 2008!”

“Guns N’ Roses is THE premier American rock band,” commented Steve Berman, President, Sales and Marketing, Interscope Geffen A&M Records. “Partnering with Gary and everyone at Best Buy to release one of rock’s most anticipated and legendary albums is truly a moment in music history. We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Chinese Democracy is coming, it’s coming this year, and it’s coming to Best Buy.”

Produced by Axl Rose and Caram Costanzo, the album, which will be released on Black Frog/Geffen Records, includes 14 tracks. “Shackler’s Revenge” debuted September 14 through the Rock Band 2 videogame and “If The World” can be heard in the film Body Of Lies, which premiered on October 11.

Chinese Democracy is being released in three formats: CD, Vinyl LP (with a free digital download of the tracks), and as a digital album. Pre-orders at BestBuy.com/chinesedemocracy begin today.

https://web.archive.org/web/20081025005730/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/10/22/guns-n-roses-management-officially-announce-chinese-democracy-release/