Is "Chinese Democracy" Close? Axl Rose Gets Top Management Team

The folks at Dr. Pepper may be handing out soda sooner than they thought. Yesterday, Axl Rose announced that Guns N' Roses will now be represented by Irving Azoff (who most recently handled Guns spinoff project Velvet Revolver) and Andy Gould. Rose's band hasn't had management since December 2006, when he split from former manager Merck Mercuriadis. Axl didn't reveal any other details, but the watch for the 13-years-in-the-making album Chinese Democracy is back on. Azoff, the former top executive at MCA, has managed Christina Aguilera, Eagles and Van Halen, among others. Gould is a former member of talent agency the Firm and has most notably managed Rob Zombie. It's probably safe to say that if these two guys can't whip Axl into shape, then Chinese Democracy will likely remain a legend.

Related Stories:
• Guns N' Roses: The Early Years Photo Gallery
• Axl Rose Is "Back in the Saddle," Back On Our Stereos
• Axl Rose Thanks Dr. Pepper For Supporting "Chinese Democracy"

• 
  MUSIC The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments
• 
  MOVIES & TV 'Game of Thrones': The Show Vs. the Books
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Facebook IPO vs. Shareholders
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive: Garbage Rip Through 'I Think I'm Paranoid'

Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter