Chinese Democracy

Chinese Democracy is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on November 23, 2008, through Geffen Records and Black Frog. It was their first album of original material since Use Your Illusion I and II (1991), it was also the first to feature none of the classic lineup members aside from vocalist Axl Rose. The album's development spanned over a decade, becoming one of the most protracted and expensive recording processes in rock history, with reported costs exceeding $13 million.

Recorded amid lineup upheavals, legal disputes, and leaks, Chinese Democracy saw Rose collaborate with a rotating cast of musicians and producers, including band members Dizzy Reed, Paul Tobias, Robin Finck, Josh Freese, Tommy Stinson, Chris Pitman, Buckethead, Richard Fortus, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Brain and Frank Ferrer, and producers Youth, Sean Beavan and Roy Thomas Baker. Recording began in 1998 with the intention of producing multiple albums; although more than 50 tracks were completed, Rose's inconsistent studio schedule and repeated re‑recordings caused substantial delays in the project's progress. It is the first Guns N' Roses album not produced by Mike Clink; instead, Rose and Caram Costanzo handled production.

The album blends hard rock with industrial and electronic influences, a shift from the band's previous blues and punk-based music. Upon release, it debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. It was certified platinum, receiving generally favorable reviews for its ambition and vocal performances, though its production and lengthy recording process drew mixed reactions. In the United States, the album was released exclusively via Best Buy, and it was banned in China due to lyrics in the lead single, the title track. The album's release was accompanied by a widely publicized Dr Pepper promotion, with the company offering a free soda to all Americans if the album arrived in 2008. Retrospective assessments have acknowledged its complex legacy, with several critics and publications noting that the album has since developed a cult following and undergone reevaluation, praised by some for its ambition and scope despite the mythology surrounding its prolonged creation.