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November 24, 2008
Long-Awaited Guns N’ Roses Album ‘Chinese Democracy’ A Hit
I’m not sure how many copies of this new album will sell. I also do not know where it it will end up on the charts, but this album is already a hit with me. The new album landed on Best Buy store shelves yesterday and it has also been made available by the group on MySpace, where it is said to have broken records there for number of listeners.
To be honest, I’m not even a Guns N’ Roses fan and I don’t have any of their albums. However, any album that attracts negative comments from the oppressive Communist government of China deserves accolades in my book.
With news of the release of Chinese Democracy, the government of China apparently felt the need to respond.
An article in a government-controlled publication called the Global Times used the headline: “American band releases album venomously attacking China.” It then went on to say that, “unidentified Chinese Internet users had described the album as part of a plot by some in the West to grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.”
I think I know which Chinese internet users they are talking about. The ones with the drab-looking green uniforms and the matching caps with the red star on them. You know, like the ones driving the tanks in this picture.
It’s not surprising to hear an oppressive government like the one on China talk about democracy that way. It’s not a word that’s particularly popular with the leaders in that part of the world since it threatens their power and control of the citizenry.
The good news is that there are probably many Chinese citizens who will get to hear Chinese Democracy since file sharing and pirating of DVD disks and music CDs is quite popular in that country.
Although sharing music by way of file sharing networks and copying of CDs can be a touchy subject, I’d be curious to hear what the guys that recorded the album think of that activity where China is concerned.
It’s doubtful that the government would ever allow an album entitled Chinese Democracy be distributed in that country, so I’d have to say that I’m in favor of Chinese rock fans getting their hands on this album by any means available. It seems unlikely that it will be taking any money from the pockets of the artists or the music industry in this case.
Gee, do you think this post will be enough to get my site blocked by the famed “Great Firewall of China?” I’d have to say I would consider it an honor.
November 6, 2008
Classic Rock Briefs For November 6, 2008
Queen’s Brian May Baffled By Missing Tracks on Guns N’ Roses Album
Already making news with the release of a new album, Brian May, of the group we now know as Queen And Paul Rodgers, is also making news with his reported exclusion from an album by another group that is soon to be released.
May recorded some guitar tracks for the long-awaited Guns N’ Roses album Chinese Democracy, but has recently learned that those tracks may not have been included. Recorded in 1999, May’s work was to be included on a song entitled “Catcher N’ The Rye,” and was indeed heard on a leaked version of the album a while back.
Since then, a fan who claims to have seen the album’s liner notes reported on May’s personal website that there is no mention of May’s contribution. Full Story.
Oliver Wakeman Set To Make Father Proud on Yes Tour
With legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman bowing out of the upcoming Yes tour, his son Oliver will be sitting in for him, and doing his best to recreate the Yes experience that fans expect. A feat that is probably more difficult in view of the fact that Yes frontman Jon Anderson will not be touring with the group this time.
According to bassist Chris Squire, the younger Wakeman is living up to his dad’s reputation, and despite the uncertainty over whether he will don his father’s trademark silver cape, his performance is otherwise described as realistic.
“Don’t know if he’s going to go as far as the cape but he’s pretty realistic with the rest of the way of handling the big keyboard," Squire said after time spent rehearsing with their new keyboardist.
Carrie Underwood Cuts Loose On Politically Active Celebrities
This is one of those times when we take a little detour away from classic rock news and veer a little into the realm of another genre. Besides, I’m actually a fan of Carrie Underwood’s music. She is my favorite America Idol winner so far. She had me when she belted out Heart’s “Alone” during season four.
This time however, what we are hearing from Underwood has more to do with politics, and less to do with music than might otherwise be expected. The hugely successful country star is speaking her mind about fellow celebrities that publicly support political candidates.
Although Underwood does not name names, for some reason a voice in my head keeps whispering, “The Boss, The Boss.” Seriously though, he stands out as one of the most – if not the most – active celebrity campaigners of this recently (and mercifully) completed campaign.
Carrie Underwood’s recent comments are relevant here for two reasons. First, I happen to like her and her music. I don’t listen to a lot of country music, but when I do, it’s likely to be Carrie Underwood. Secondly, I happen to think she’s right on the money with her stance on this subject, which makes me like her even more. Full Story.
August 18, 2008
Guns N’ Roses To Release Album That’s Been Delayed Fourteen Years?
You’ve got to admit that 14 years is a long time to work on an album. But where this particular story is concerned, perhaps there is a political element that has been holding its release back.
Guns N’ Roses album is entitled Chinese Democracy, which surely seems to leave the impression that the album’s content may have some elements of activism mixed with the music. I’m sure that I’d be hard pressed to find an American citizen who does not think democracy in The People’s Republic of China is not a good idea, but I suppose that some pressure from people in high places could be the reason behind the long delay in this case. After all, we sure do a lot of business with China these days. Just check out the shelves at your local retailer.
News of a possible impending release of Chinese Democracy certainly comes at an opportune time with the Summer Olympic Games in full swing in Beijing. What better time to make a political statement regarding a push for democracy in the world’s largest and most powerful remaining Communist country?
Talks are reportedly underway that may bring Chinese Democracy out of the shadows and onto store shelves through one of those exclusive deals that seem to be getting so popular these days. Wal-Mart and Best Buy are mentioned as possible partners in this release, but sources say that there is also the possibility of a deal with a record company as well.
Tracks from the album have already been leaked on the internet, so there are probably more than a few fans that have heard the entire album by now.
I don’t know how many metal fans there are in China, but I suspect they’ll be hard pressed to get their hands on this particular album when it is released. The government will no doubt classify it as "dangerous" and say that it interferes with China’s internal affairs, just like they say about everything else that has to do with giving human beings rights that they should be granted from the beginning.
There are always ways to get around the barriers erected by dictatorial regimes, so assuming that there are metal fans in China, I suspect a few of them will find a way to land a copy of Chinese Democracy in one form or another. Who knows? Maybe it might even help fuel the desire for more freedom that we all know exists in the hearts and minds of a whole lot of people living in that country.
