Chinese Democracy [Limited Collectors Box]

About Chinese Democracy [Limited Collectors Box]

Chinese Democracy is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on November 23, 2008 by Black Frog and Geffen Records. It was their first album since 1993's "The Spaghetti Incident?", and their first album of original studio material since the simultaneous releases of 1991's Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II. 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 a release date for March 2007, it was finally released in November 2008, dogged by leaks and legal disputes. more »