Dr Pepper issues challenge to Guns 'N Roses

[flvegan]

In what surely is not some covertly orchestrated PR stunt, Dr Pepper issued a challenge to Axl Rose: Release the mythically delayed Chinese Democracy—the first album of new Guns N’ Roses material since 1991’s Use Your Illusion I and II—by the end of 2008, and the company will give a free can (is that redundant?) of its ambiguously fruity soft drink to “everyone in America.” Chinese Democracy, of course, has become a black pit of money and band members—most notably Slash and virtuoso weirdo Buckethead—that Rose has been trying to dig himself out of since 1994. In response, Rose posted the following brief and apparently bewildered press release on the GNR website:

“We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper with our album Chinese Democracy, as for us, this came totally out of the blue. If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead’s performances are on our album, I’ll share my Dr Pepper with him.”

http://www.avclub.com/content/newswire/dr_pepper_issues_challenge_to

Okay, I know what you're thinking...the avclub.com site is part of The Onion, which is where I read this. Can't be real, right?

Well, it is:

Soft drink giant Dr Pepper is so desperate for Guns N' Roses rocker Axl Rose to release his new LP, they are offering free soda as an incentive.

The company has promised that if Rose releases "Chinese Democracy" at any point in 2008, everyone in America will receive a free can of Dr. Pepper, reports PageSix.com.

A company spokesman says, "It took a little patience for us to perfect Dr Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, so we completely understand and empathize with Axl's question for the perfect album."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=25208\

My guess is that Chinese Democracy, like Dr. Pepper, will not be to my liking, either.

[LeftyMom]

1. I dream weird shit when I eat mexican food before I go to sleep.

We'll have a good laugh at this when I wake up. Because I have to be dreaming this. Right?

[flvegan]

2. You're a pepper, I'm a pepper

He's a pepper...

[Giant Robot]

3. Is pepper the new street name for heroin?

[ghostsofgiants]

4. I'm not sure which sucks more, Dr. Pepper or G'n'R.

Though I can't front on November Rain, haha, that song is pretty epic.

[Dr. Strange]

8. G'n'R (in current form) sucks mightily.

Dr. Pepper at least tastes yummy.

[ghostsofgiants]

10. No, no it doesn't.

Dr. Pepper is putrid, nasty stuff.

[driver8]

5. I have a story regarding Dr. Pepper and Axl Rose...

I used to work at a recording studio that Guns n' Roses recorded at, and the guys in the band used it for their side projects as well.

Slash had been in our studio for a couple of weeks and was going to appear on Letterman one night. Axl was also in the studio producing a demo for a local band and was there the night that Slash was on Letterman. It just so happened that I had brought in a six pack of Dr. Pepper that day and had it stashed in our "employee fridge."

A few of us were sitting in one of the lounges watching Slash on tv and someone sat down next to me. I looked over and there sat Axl...and he was drinking a Dr. Pepper.

I went to grab one later and discovered that Axl Rose had drank every one of my fucking Dr. Peppers!! So, I went into the studio he was in, grabbed him around the throat and beat the shit out of him!!

Ok, I didn't do that, but he DID drink my Dr. Peppers!!

[swag]

12. What a son of a fuckin' bitch!

[driver8]

13. I know...can you believe it?!

The nerve of some people!!

[CatholicEdHead]

6. Not going to happen anytime soon

And if it does ever come out it will be like the Native Tongue album from Poison or the New Tattoo album from Motley Crue.

All I need are Appetite for Destruction and Illusion I/II.

[mainegreen]

7. It would be better if they challenged him to not release the album.

The world needs no more GnR.

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. I truly hope that there are no Rick Astley fans at Fresca

and that they don't see this story.

[swag]

11. Love that!

Dissing the shit out of Axl.

[AngryAmish]

14. Freee pop for everyone!! Chinese Democracy reviewed by Spin

"It's been a long time since Guns N' Roses have released an album of new material. Everybody knows this, but it's a fact that bears repeating. If you purchased a kitten on the day that Use Your Illusion I & II arrived in stores, it's probably dead by now. As a consequence, there has been a great deal of pressure on Axl Rose to deliver a record that would validate a 15-year, $13 million wait. There is really only one way for Chinese Democracy to avoid utter and absolute failure: It needs to be the greatest rock album ever made.

Chinese Democracy is not the greatest rock album ever made."

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