Album
Chinese Democracy
Chinese Democracy is the sixth studio album by Guns N' Roses, released on 23 November 2008. It was their first collection of new material since the two Use Your Illusion albums of 1991, and Axl Rose was the only classic member left, working with a shifting cast of players and producers. Recording began in 1998 and dragged on for over a decade, with more than 50 tracks completed and costs reported at over $13 million.
The sound moves away from the blues and punk roots of the early records, blending hard rock with industrial and electronic touches. It entered the Billboard 200 at number three and went platinum. Reviews praised its ambition and vocals, though the production divided opinion. Later critics have often revisited it more kindly, and it remains a fascinating, overstuffed record to hear for yourself.
Chinese Democracy: tracklist, credits and charts
14 tracks · 1:11:27Tracklist
- 1Chinese DemocracyJosh Freese and Axl Rose4:43
- 2Shackler's RevengeCarroll, Costanzo, Mantia, Rose, Scaturro3:37
- 3BetterRobin Finck and Axl Rose4:59
- 4Street of DreamsReed, Rose, Stinson4:47
- 5If the WorldChris Pitman and Axl Rose4:54
- 6There Was a TimeHuge, Reed, Rose6:41
- 7Catcher in the RyePaul Huge and Axl Rose5:53
- 8ScrapedCarroll, Costanzo, Rose3:31
- 9Riad n' the BedouinsAxl Rose and Tommy Stinson4:10
- 10SorryCarroll, Mantia, Rose, Scaturro6:15
- 11I.R.S.Huge, Reed, Rose4:29
- 12MadagascarChris Pitman and Axl Rose5:38
- 13This I LoveAxl Rose5:34
- 14ProstitutePaul Huge and Axl Rose6:16
- Produced by
- Eric Caudieux, Caram Costanzo, Chris Pitman, Axl Rose
- Recorded at
- Battery (London), The Bennett House (Franklin), Can-Am (Tarzana), Capitol (Hollywood), Cherokee (Hollywood), Electric Lady (New York City), IGA, Studio at the Palms, Rumbo (Canoga Park), Soundtrack, Sunset Sound (Hollywood), Townhouse (London), Village Recorder (Los Angeles), Woodland Ranch
- Recorded
- 1998–2007
- Mixed by
- Caram Costanzo, Axl Rose, Andy Wallace
- Engineered by
- Caram Costanzo, Billy Howerdel
- Label
- Universal Music Ltda.
- Length
- 1:11:27
Line-up
- Buckethead · guitar, acoustic guitar
- Frank Ferrer · drums (drum set)
- Robin Finck · guitar, keyboard, acoustic guitar
- Richard Fortus · guitar
- Paul Huge · guitar, piano
- Chris Pitman · keyboard, bass, background vocals, synthesizer, 12 string guitar, electronic drum set, mellotron
- Dizzy Reed · keyboard, background vocals, piano, synthesizer
- Axl Rose · keyboard, lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer, piano, background vocals, French horn
- Tommy Stinson · bass, background vocals
- Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal · guitar
- Bryan “Brain” Mantia · drums (drum set), electronic drum set
- Eric Caudieux · electronic drum set, drums (drum set) · guest
- Pete Scaturro · keyboard · guest
- Sebastian Bach · background vocals · guest
- Suzie Katayama · French horn · guest
- Caram Costanzo · drums (drum set) · guest
- Patti Hood · harp · guest
Singles
- “Chinese Democracy/Shackler's Revenge” · 22 October 2008
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart · 2008 | 2 |
| US Billboard 200 · 2008 | 3 |
| Argentine Albums (CAPIF) · 2008 | 1 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) · 2008 | 1 |
| European Albums (Billboard) · 2008 | 1 |
| Finnish Albums · 2008 | 1 |
| New Zealand Albums · 2008 | 1 |
| Polish Albums · 2008 | 1 |
| Slovenian Albums (IFPI) · 2008 | 1 |
| Swiss Albums · 2008 | 1 |
All 35 charts
| Taiwanese Albums (Five Music) · 2008 | 1 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums · 2008 | 1 |
| US Hard Rock · 2008 | 1 |
| US Top Rock Albums · 2008 | 1 |
| German Albums · 2008 | 2 |
| Norwegian Albums · 2008 | 2 |
| Scottish Albums · 2008 | 2 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 2008 | 3 |
| Austrian Albums · 2008 | 3 |
| Ireland 2 · 2008 | 3 |
| Israeli Albums Chart · 2008 | 3 |
| Italian Albums · 2008 | 3 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) · 2008 | 3 |
| Belgian Albums (Flanders) · 2008 | 4 |
| Dutch Albums · 2008 | 4 |
| Hungarian Albums · 2008 | 4 |
| Mexican Albums · 2008 | 4 |
| Russian Albums (2M) · 2008 | 4 |
| Swedish Albums · 2008 | 4 |
| Danish Albums · 2008 | 6 |
| Spanish Albums · 2008 | 8 |
| Portuguese Albums · 2008 | 9 |
| French Albums · 2008 | 10 |
| Greek Albums · 2008 | 10 |
| Belgian Albums (Wallonia) · 2008 | 19 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Platinum |
| Australia · 2008 | Platinum |
| Belgium · 2008 | Gold |
| Brazil · 2024 | Platinum |
| Denmark · 2008 | Gold |
| Finland · 2008 | Platinum |
| Germany · 2008 | Gold |
| Greece · 2009 | Gold |
| Hungary · 2008 | Gold |
| Ireland · 2008 | Platinum |
| Italy · 2014 | Gold |
| Japan · 2008 | Gold |
| New Zealand | Platinum |
| Poland · 2009 | Platinum |
| Russia · 2008 | Gold |
| Sweden · 2009 | Gold |
| United Kingdom · 2013 | Platinum |
| United States · 2009 | Platinum |
| Europe · 2008 | Platinum |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
79.0
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
3.6k
ListenBrainz listeners
234k
Wikipedia views, last 12 months
43k
Deezer fans (all editions)
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Full discography →
Live ?!★꩜ Like a Suicide
1986
Appetite for Destruction
1987
EP
1988
G N’ R Lies
1988
On Tour Now!
1991
Use Your Illusion I
1991
Use Your Illusion II
1991
The “Civil War” EP
1993
“The Spaghetti Incident?”
1993
Use Your Illusion
1998
Live Era ’87–’93
1999
Greatest Hits
2004
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2014
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2022
The best of 2008
All of 2008 →
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Weezer
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Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + wikidata; also seen: 2008-11-22 (musicbrainz)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 22 November 2008 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 23 November 2008 | |
| Wikidata | 23 November 2008 | |
| US release | 23 November 2008 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 22 November 2008 | earliest UK or European date |
14 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | BR | Universal Music Ltda. | 602517906075 | other |
| 2008 | AU | Geffen | 602517906075 | other |
| 2008 | AR | Geffen | 602517906075 | other |
| 2008 | US | Geffen | other | |
| 22 November 2008 | JP | Geffen | other | |
| 22 November 2008 | XE | Black Frog | 602517906075 | other |
| 22 November 2008 | JP | Universal International | 4988005544957 | other |
| 22 November 2008 | JP | Universal International | 4988005544964 | other |
| 23 November 2008 | US | Black Frog | 602517906075 | other |
| 23 November 2008 | — | Geffen | 00602517906099 | other |
| 23 November 2008 | CA | Black Frog | 602517906075 | other |
| 23 November 2008 | US | Geffen | 602517906075 | other |
| 23 November 2008 | GB | Geffen | 602517906075 | other |
| 25 November 2008 | XE | Black Frog | 602517906136 | other |
Cover art sources
itunes · upscaled: minor: best source 1424x1412, upscaled to 1500 (x1.06)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| itunes ✓ | 1424×1412 | upscaled: minor: best source 1424x1412, upscaled to 1500 (x1.06) |
| coverartarchive | 1280×1280 | upscaled |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |