"Chinese Democracy" is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on November 23, 2008, by Black Frog and Geffen Records. It marked the band's first album since The Spaghetti Incident? (1993), and the first with original studio material since Use Your Illusion I and II (1991). The album's production process spanned over eight years, delayed by personnel changes, legal disputes, label interference, and the perfectionism of frontman Axl Rose. It was the band's first album without founding members Izzy Stradlin, Slash, and Duff McKagan, and the first not produced by Mike Clink, with Rose and Caram Costanzo taking over production duties.
The band began working on Chinese Democracy after the conclusion of the Use Your Illusion Tour in 1993. However, numerous personnel changes occurred, including the departure of key members due to creative differences with Rose, and the hiring of new musicians. In 1998, Rose, keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarists Paul Tobias and Robin Finck, drummer Josh Freese, bassist Tommy Stinson, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Pitman began writing and recording new material. The album, originally intended for release in 1999, was delayed multiple times, with the lineup shifting and additional musicians like Buckethead, Richard Fortus, Bumblefoot, Brain, and Frank Ferrer joining the band.
The album's production became notorious for its long delays and escalating costs, reportedly exceeding $13 million, making it the most expensive rock album ever produced. Chinese Democracy was promoted with the Chinese Democracy Tour (2001–2011), which was marred by cancellations and riots. After missing an initial release date in March 2007, the album was finally released in November 2008. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum. Despite a long and tumultuous production history, the album received generally favorable reviews, with praise for Rose’s vocal performance and the instrumentation, though some critics felt the production sounded dated.
In the years following its release, Chinese Democracy achieved commercial success internationally, selling over one million copies in Europe. Critics have continued to reflect on the album's protracted recording process, noting that the delays and the shifting lineup often overshadowed the music itself. Nonetheless, Chinese Democracy remains a significant and controversial part of Guns N' Roses’ legacy, representing both the band's internal struggles and their eventual return to the studio after a long hiatus.
