So the final figure for Guns n` Roses `Chinese Democracy` and at 261,200 sales and a number 3 debut in the USA, it can officially be called a fuck-up.
Just to qualify that conclusion, 261,200 sales in one week for nearly any other act would be a brilliant result but Guns n` Roses isn`t any other act.Any other act doesn’t spend 15 years and $14 million making an album. Any other act doesn’t do the album, then re-do the album, then re-do the album again. Any other act doesn’t tie up a studio for 5 months just to get the new drummer to replicate note for note everything that the departing drummer just did perfectly.
No folks, ‘Chinese Democracy’ is a fuck-up because considering all of the self-indulgence and over-indulgence and all of the hype that went into it, it was greeted predominately with a yawn from the general public.
Not since Michael Jackson’s ‘Invincible’ has an unlimited cash-flow black-hole like ‘Chinese Democracy’ tanked so bad.
And now, the finger-pointing will begin.
The big question that is already being asked behind closed doors is who fucked it up?
Everyone involved with this Rock n’ Roll Titanic will be scrambling for a life-boat.
Did it tank because of the Kevin Cogill, the guy who leaked the downloads?
Did it tank because of Best Buy, the exclusive retailer for the album in the US?
Did it tank because of Axl taking too long to put it out?
Did it tank because Axl didn't do any publicity for it?
Did it tank because it just isn’t very good?
You can be sure that all of these questions are being asked at a very senior level today but don’t expect any answers.
The good thing is that ‘Chinese Democracy’ was finally released so we can put that all behind us now.
Will there ever be another Guns n’ Roses album? Let’s hope only if it is from the real Guns n’ Roses band. I’m up for another 15-year wait. Are you?
