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Guns N' Roses: The Making of Chinese Democracy

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M

Mr. Tibbs

Member
On the 8th anniversary of Chinese Democracy's release, TeamRock have posted a deep dive into a single year of the troubled Gn'R record's production that highlights the troubles which come with sky high expectations and accompany the pursuit of perfectionism. I think it might be of interest for fans of development hell projects.

On October 12, 2001, a month after the September 11 attacks on America, and five days after the first coalition bombs dropped on Afghanistan, a group of musicians sat in front of a TV in a Los Angeles recording studio and watched the news.

“Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Pakistan, Indonesia and Iran today,” said the newscaster, “as the Islamic world continues to protest against the US-led bombardment of Afghanistan.”

The screen showed riot police firing tear gas, black smoke billowing out of burning cars, protestors hurling petrol bombs. “Thousands of Islamic militants fought with police in the Pakistani city of Karachi, setting fire to cars, buses and an outlet of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Let’s go over to our Foreign Affairs Correspondent…”

But one of the group was already on his feet. Buckethead wasn’t going to take it any more. “That’s fucking IT!” he was yelling, as the screen showed images of the Karachi KFC with flames licking out of its windows. “They’ve gone too far now! I’m joining the fucking army! They are not going to hit KFC, no fucking way! That’s it – I can’t record anymore. I’m joining the army – now we really are at war!”

And with that, he grabbed his KFC bucket hat, collected some things from his specially built chicken coop in the studio, and left. Some of the guys stayed on a while, but not a lot got done that day.

It was no biggie, really. After all, what’s one day when the album you are working on is already seven years in the making, two years past the deadline set by the record company, and millions of dollars over budget
Click to expand...
 
G

ghostjoke

Banned
Decado said:
How does it cost millions of dollars to record an album? Is studio time that expensive?
Click to expand...

When you have a small rotating army of musicians/producers on the payroll for 14 years, each needing equipment, add in studio costs and Axl's eccentricities, the costs stack up.
 
J

janoDX

Member
Chinese Democracy is a great album now that 5 years have passed since it's launch.

It might be a mess on the production, but a beautiful mess came out from it. But I would love an entire Chinese Democracy remaster with the band playing now.
 
B

Badabing

Time ta STEP IT UP
I'm all in because I did like the album quite a bit but also VERY interested in the Buckethead stories. It is very rare to get any kind of dialogue from Buckethead, and most other collaborators who worked with him just say he's a weird dude.

I thought Chinese Democracy includes some of a bucket heads coolest work, even if he didn't record on the final album.

I'm a huge Buckrthead fan myself
 
D

DarkJediKnight

Member
there's some really awesome songs on the album. It doesn't have the raw energy or tightness of GNR, but you can clearly see AXL's talent on this.
 
S

Sulik2

Member
janoDX said:
Chinese Democracy is a great album now that 5 years have passed since it's launch.

It might be a mess on the production, but a beautiful mess came out from it. But I would love an entire Chinese Democracy remaster with the band playing now.
Click to expand...

Slash is absolutely slaying chinese democracy and better on the current tour. Made those songs his own.
 
J

jett

D-Member
Buckethead is an absolute nutjob, the chicken gods bless him.

Can't believe it's been eight years since Chinese Democracy. That's absolutely insane to me, feels like it was just yesterday when I was listening to leaked material. I really enjoyed it back when it came out, but I haven't given it a listen in a long time.
 
N

norm9

Member
Hehe, people surprised Buckethead is weird.

I was an ardent defender of Chinese Democracy. A couple misses on the albim, but the hits were real good hits and made up for it.
 
F

FelixTheSexranger

Member
I remember when hanging out in 3D Realms forums, people's were predicting which would be realesed first : Duke Nukem Forever or Chinese Democracy. Disappointment was big when CD came first and last of the people lost their fate on DNF.

But that was 8 years ago?!? Time sure does fly.
 
R

Reagan's BR

Banned
I followed that album closely so while that wasn't new to me it was a great read.

Bucket is good but absolutely crazy and not a good fit for GNR. Chinese Democracy is a great album but isn't a great GNR record. Still, probably in my top 25 albums of all time.

The Chinese Democracy material has sounded great with Slash on tour. All they need is to get Izzy back and get Adler or Sorum-somebody, because Frank is often too fast or too slow.
 
H

HStallion

Now what's the next step in your master plan?
plop said:
If this isn't just an article showing nothing but a picture of someone shitting on a microphone, it's not an accurate portrayal.
Click to expand...

I was thinking a movie of axle doing a single gigantic line of coke the entire running length
 
P

PigSpeakers

Member
I'll never forget how in the album's liner notes, everyone is saying their special thanks to people. Buckethead's list seems relatively normal with people like friends, family, mom and dad etc. But then he lists something like the giant three-headed robot of doom.

I'll have to look it up to get the specifics.

Chinese Democracy was a legitimately good album. I was around 18 or 19 when it came out and it was exclusively on sale at Best Buy. I didn't even really like GNR at the time, but I knew there was huge hype around the album and its status as vaporware. I bought it and it still blows me away how good it sounds. There's so many intricacies to the album that probably get looked over. And the dynamics on the opening track are incredible even on my crappy ford focus speakers.
 
R

RareFantasy64

Member
PigSpeakers said:
I'll never forget how in the album's liner notes, everyone is saying their special thanks to people. Buckethead's list seems relatively normal with people like friends, family, mom and dad etc. But then he lists something like the giant three-headed robot of doom.

I'll have to look it up to get the specifics.

Chinese Democracy was a legitimately good album. I was around 18 or 19 when it came out and it was exclusively on sale at Best Buy. I didn't even really like GNR at the time, but I knew there was huge hype around the album and its status as vaporware. I bought it and it still blows me away how good it sounds. There's so many intricacies to the album that probably get looked over. And the dynamics on the opening track are incredible even on my crappy ford focus speakers.
Click to expand...

Speaking on the intricancies, I only recently found out axl plays an accoustic guitar during the first solo on TWAT
 
P

PigSpeakers

Member
I found it. Not nearly as exciting as I remember it.

Buckethead would like to thank:
My family and friends, Tom and Nancy Carroll, and Stan Diamond, for their support, Axl and the Guns N’ Roses family for the opportunity. Lastly, thanks Giant Robot.
Click to expand...
 
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