Valvulado: Guns N' Roses

Chinese Democracy is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. Released on November 23, 2008, by Geffen Records, it was the first Guns N' Roses studio album since "The Spaghetti Incident?" in 1993, and their first album of original studio material since the simultaneous releases of Use Your Illusion I and II in 1991.

In the mid-1990s, amid creative and personal differences, guitarists Slash and Gilby Clarke, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Matt Sorum all either quit or were fired. Only singer Axl Rose and keyboardist Dizzy Reed remained. In 1997, they began work on the album with guitarists Robin Finck and Paul Tobias, bassist Tommy Stinson, drummer Josh Freese, and keyboardist Chris Pitman.

The album underwent a protracted recording process, delayed by personal and legal problems and Rose's perfectionism. The lineup shifted several times, incorporating guitarists Buckethead, Richard Fortus and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and drummers Bryan "Brain" Mantia and Frank Ferrer. Guitarists Brian May and Dave Navarro and vocalist Sebastian Bach also took part in the recording sessions. Producers including Mike Clink, Youth, Sean Beavan, Eric Caudieux, Roy Thomas Baker and Caram Costanzo worked on the album across 15 studios. Though Geffen planned to release Chinese Democracy in 1999, it was delayed and completely re-recorded in 2000. With costs reportedly exceeding $13 million, it became the most expensive rock album ever produced, and Geffen pulled their funding in 2005. After missing an announced March 2007 release date, it was finally released in November 2008, dogged by online leaks and legal disputes.

Preceded by the title track as a lead single, Chinese Democracy debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); however, it did not meet sales expectations in the U.S. It received generally favorable reviews, achieved international chart success, and has sold over one million copies in Europe.

Chinese Democracy (2008)