Might also have to do with the fact the Black Ice is everything you’d expect from AC/DC while Chinese Democracy is AT LEAST a grower and nearly chokes on its own ambition until you get used to it.

I like CD better, but I can’t blame the public for buying into BI, all things considered.

both suck. may have been cool in 1994.

Its pretty obvious even on the surface that once Best Buy bought all the albums, they wanted to spend as little on advertising as possible to sell CD. Wal-Mart sank a lot of promotion into this and very smartly attached all of their existing AC/DC stock (and new merchandise) to this “train”. Prediction: Axl’s next CD will be available online only through iTunes to start, and then everywhere.

You can’t simply rely on your record being promoted by companies like Best Buy. In today’s music industry, the band has a lot more legwork to do than it did even 10 years ago. You can’t rely on management and marketing to “make you big” now. One band worked harder than the other and are now reaping the rewards. If you’re not gonna immediately tour on a record then kiss your sales good-bye.

Both are fantastic albums.

The other obvious fact is there are 4,000+ Wal Marts and less than 1,000 Best Buys. Chinese has sold 1/5 of what Black Ice has sold.

I think Axl is going for a long-term approach as he stated he has some interviews scheduled ‘intentionally for later on’.

Black Ice is what you’d expect from AC/DC. Chinese is not necessarily what you’d expect from Guns N’ Roses. Pretty easy to understand the sales difference.

The thing that strikes me about the difference is the actual bands. AC/DC has always been and no-nonsense, no-bullshit, no-drama, no-whining rock and roll band. They play music the best way they know how. There’s no scandals, no whiners, no posers. They’ve maintained a pretty stable line-up over the years, and that stability has produced one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time. AC/DC fans know Angus, Malcolm, Brian, Cliff, and Phil by name. Can anyone name all the members of Guns? That band has been marked by whine after whine after pose after pose. There’s been more nonsense coming from the Guns way than the Bush camp. I was a huge Guns fan a few years ago, but I won’t buy the new album because Axl’s attitude has just gotten to be ridiculous. AC/DC deserves every bit of success they get, they’ve worked hard for over 30 years to get the sales and the respect they have. Guns has worked hard for over 20 years to get nothing.

asy, axl took the risk a new band, new sounds, ac keept the line, so people know what are buying talking about ac, about guns only real fans or new kids buy the album, beside the fact walmart is bigger and handle it better than bb, pretty simple

You could really analyze a few thinks, like, say, the demographic: AcDC is a sex and rock n’ roll band down to the core, with little creativity and almost laughable lyrics, though the music is somewhat decent. Guns and Roses were doped, over-fucked, and rocking venues left and right – what about now? No one can even name a member, much less a whole line-up –Axl, and who??

Walmart is probably the only business in America that continues to see profits rise, and that can be accounted for by their devoted consumers. Best Buy is a decent store, however, the whole mysteriousness behind Chinese Democracy just kind of faded when we heard the songs. Say what you want, but ACDC made the better album. Granted, that isn’t saying much, but it certainly indicates some accountability. Really, it just comes down to the fact that both albums are mediocre.

Chinese Democracy>>>>>>>Black Ice

ac/dc rock
g’n'r suck
simple

Maybe “Chinese Democracy” isn’t selling because all the hardcore fans downloaded the demos, bootlegs, and live cuts 5 years ago. Between all the articles and interviews I’ve read about the album(dating back to 1999) and listening to the album a few times, you can tell it was probably going to be an industrial rock/metal album and Axl probably spent the last 3-4 years stripping away all those elements that would have made the album sound like something that would have come out in 2000 (example: that lame, played-out drum sampling at the beginning of “Better”, that sounds like something you would’ve heard on a Sevendust or Staind album). Maybe, just maybe, “Chinese Democracy” isn’t the earth-shaking composition that Axl thinks it is. He should’ve just released everything he had recorded(I heard he supposedly had 3 albums worth of material). I was disappointed that “Crash Diet” didn’t make it on the album. I like the updated version and it could’ve been the song that really made people take another look at G N R. Chances are Axl is either going to blow his head off with a shotgun or reunite with the old lineup. I also predict he’ll tour with Metallica again this summer.

The reason why “Chinese Democracy” isn’t selling:

No Country For Old Men…

It’s not selling because it’s not a very good album.

Nobody cares about Axl Rose anymore

i have both albums and Chinese democracy is way better..black ice is just the same old thing.no fun to listen to..

Probably because it’s not all that good, was way overhyped, and is about 10 years late. And AC/DC actually made a good record and toured. Has nothing to do with WalMart or Best Buy and to think otherwise is ridiculous. I’m glad it bombed. And strongly disagree with the review of the record that RS gave it.

“Chinese Democracy” is boring. People don’t by boring shit

GnR’s was weaker than AC/DCs. At least AC/DC’s was their style, but GnR’s was all new, and while interesting and decent, just a big miss.
AC/DC ROCKS

made as well saved my money n pulled out my back in black album n guns isn’t guns , no one wants hear that funky new age shit they want raw rock n roll that guns used to play wat a dissappointment

Having your album in Wal-Mart is a huge advantage over Best Buy. It’s like having your album in a Best Buy, Safeway, Home Depot, Walgreens, and Kohls all at the same time. In some areas it’s the only place to buy shit, music or otherwise.

Chinese democracy is a Pro tools experiment…black ice is ACDC’s same boring sound Death Magnetic is better than both

“Chinese Democracy” is superior to “Death Magnetic” and “Black Ice” in every way…The album was so complex it just went over the typical headbangers head…too complicated for them…it wasnt about getting drunk and laid….

AC/DC outsold GNR because every hillbilly trailer trash red-neck in the country shops at Wal-Mart and likes AC/DC blasting in their oversized pick-up truck. And none of them can appreciate good music like Axl put out on Chinese Democracy!!!

As better as the AC/DC album was compared to Chinese Endless Demos, I will give Axl the fact that Best Buy did not push the album enough. It wasn’t even at the front of the STORE! I went through 3 different Best Buys while trynig to find a particular DVD and each one was the same… beat-up cardboard displays at the mid-section of the store. No sign. Just the cd’s.

Both are great albuns but Chinese Democracy is far superior, is a masterpiece actually.
Sure that Best Buy screwed up…Wal Mart did a better job on promoting ACDC as reported by the WSJ.
Anyways, GN’R management and Universal were smart enough on the deal and took the money for 1.3 million copies…after all, Best Buy sitted on it’s ass and this will hurt on their pocket in the end…
I can understand why Axl did not do any interviews or promotion, he doesn’t give a fuck, all he wants is to make a good music and he accomplished that.
Chinese Democracy – album of the year

People seem more concerned about CD album sales than Axl himself He stated hes just happy the albums out which was his first priority.. I dont know but last time I checked its pretty hard being #3 in USA and #1 worldwide….. After so many years??? I think hes happy…

Pies

ACDC sucks
Metallica are whores
GNR isn’t GNR anymore

Anyone ever think that ACDC might have made a better album that they personally believed in and personally supported, unlike the hackjob that claims to be in a “band” called Guns n Roses. Heck i’d call Libertad or Contraband a better GnR album than Chinese Demo.

People buy good music, this is an uneven comparison b/c Chinese Demo is bad music. As they say in Detroit Rock City, good tunes is good tunes

Perhaps it would’ve sold better if it were actually Guns n’ Roses.

Ac/Dc Rule! I gotta worship those guys from down under who STILL BELIVE IN ROCK’N'ROLL!

Right on!

I think the article has it right. Axl can get away with not touring or doing interviews if Best Buy REALLY promotes the hell out of it. Best Buy can get away with weak promotion if Axl does his part. If both don’t work hard to promote it though, nothing happens and sales are poor. You can say Axl is an “artist” and shouldn’t have to be troubled with the business part, but, ultimately, if he does not concern himself with it he won’t have an audience to record for. Maybe he already doesn’t, I don’t know. For myself, personally, I’ve heard most of both and wouldn’t spend my money on GnR’s or AC/DC’s albums. Neither has ever done better, for me, than “Appetite for Destruction” or “Back in Black”, so why bother? I’ve already got the best of what they can do, so why do I need to spend money for more, right? Just my humble opinion.

who would of thought that the 2 biggest rock acts of the year are metallica and guns n roses, metallica maybe had the album that proved everyone wrong with death magnetic with their intensity and their songs, guns n roses sounded like a new mix of really good songs and some wtf. but overall guns n roses and metallica should tour and start riots agian

who would of thought that the 2 biggest rock acts of the year are metallica and guns n roses, metallica maybe had the album that proved everyone wrong with death magnetic with their intensity and their songs, guns n roses sounded like a new mix of really good songs and some wtf. but overall guns n roses and metallica should tour and start riots agian

best buy’s fault…yeah, right…not like the album doesn’t suck or anything like that…

I think blaming Best Buy is taking the easy way out. Why would Best Buy even need to promote Chinese Democracy? It’s Guns N’ f***ing Roses, right?! Wrong. It’s Axl Rose, with a bunch of no-names pretending to be GNR. Rock fans are not stupid. They know that this version of the band is GNR in name only. No Slash, no Duff, no Izzy translates to no sales, and rightfully so. Even a 4 star review from Rolling Stone didn’t help! Congratulations Axl. You’ve earned every bit of this.

The only promotion the album is getting is from Axl’s recent chat room rants. Too little too late. There’s only so much Best Buy can do when they don’t even finalize the art work until 2 weeks before the album comes out. And the comparison to Walmart is lopsided, because Walmart can sell clothes and hats and cereal and everything else you can buy anywhere, whereas Best Buy is an electronic/media-only store. The album wasn’t worth the wait, it’s release was anti-climactic, and RS wishes they could take back that ridiculous 4 Star review now. that review was solely put out to try to cash in early on the album’s success/stroke Axl’s ego for an exclusive that never really came.

I think it’s noble of Axl at least to not try blaming anyone here with his content on how the album has been received. And alot of his recent rants online have made sense of a lot of the situation with him and the former GNR members. I still think the album is mediocre at best and deep down he probably wishes it could have came out 10 years ago so there wouldn’t be this ridiculous unreachable expectation for it.

Metallica is the clear winner here. Just when everyone thought they were down and out after being knocked down by their own mistakes (Some Kind of Monster and Saint Anger), they come back with one of the best albums of all time (YES, of ALL TIME) and they need to quote Jack Black from the Tenacious D movie and say: “Oops… sorry. I did not mean to blow your mind!”

On top of that, Metallica let’s you buy the album wherever you want. Forget exclusive deals with corporate giants. That’s not rock & roll. ACDC, of all bands, should know better than that.

Metallica!

The album was JUST RELEASED. It will sell very well over the long term. Anyone labeling this a ‘flop’ is totally misguided.

Chinese democracy is so boring it is painful I wanted to like it, but…can’t

1. AC/DC toured. 15,000 people a night got to hear the best 4 songs on the record live, they did interviews, they did Guitar Hero, etc.

2. AC/DC went to the right store – Wal Mart has 5x the number of stores and it was where people went for other things and then saw the AC/DC Cd at the checkout (at a great price $11.88).

3. The AC/DC promotion IN STORE was great. $9 T-shirts, All The CDs and DVDs featured in the music section, lots of ads.

4. G&R’s CD is not for the general public (or even the passive G&R fan) — AC/DC’s record is a General Audience record (like a PG-13 Movie)which is a strike against their image, but a plus for sales.

Chinese Democracy is a masterpiece. It just shows how sorry and pathetic our taste in music is right now. Thanks American Idol, you deuchebags.

Its easy to try and think of GNR aas the old GNR. That’s the justification for not understanding or appreciating the album. AC/DC has not changed one iota over 20 years. There’s something to be said for that too. More people want “Back in Black 2″ than new music. It’s that simple. Chinese Democracy is too “content rich” for most. Awesome album.

when everyone pass the axl/slash page and understand that chinese democracy wasn´t appetite for destruction 2, then everyone realized how masterpiece chinese is. music as life has to move on. chinese is great, better than far that anything out there (sorry) listen the musica and read the lyrics and you will understand. by the way, a little more promotion from best buy wouldn´t harm either.

I went to Best Buy on the day of the release, and I must say that it was virtually impossible to find the damn album. I went over to the cd section, and there were no cds at the front of the aisles or even under the letter “G.” I finally saw this tiny little kiosk for the album, which looked like it had been trampled on, standing near the checkout. There were no signs up and nothing heralding its release or the fact that you could only purchase it there. Best Buy did nothing to help promote this album. Not a damn thing. Regardless of graphic deadlines and everything, they could have very easily had black banners with the name of the album and group on it. Something. The album deserves a lot better than the shoddy release it was given. Axl should have tried for Target.

Everyone’s talking about Chinese Democracy. No one’s talking about Black Ice. It’s just more proof that Chinese Democracy is hard for a lot of people to understand. No thinking has to go into Black Ice. that’s another reason its selling more. AC/DC could sing about bestiality and necrophilia and if it had the same 3 chord structure people would buy it and crank it. If it works, keep doing it. Axl obviously has followed his muse, and has produced a great body of work.

Facts are that in todays music business you better have a freindly radio smash hit or be willing to do the proper prommotion and plaster your face everywhere to sell records. Best Buy only has something like 1000 stores in the US…which is why sales are down in the US, yet very good overseas…Walmart has something like 5000 plus stores…Walmart did a fantastic job of promoting the album with t shirts, video games, etc. Axl has given no interviews, no music video, and the fact its been 15 years since their last release…people just dont know about the album yet. Chinese is a good record, not great but good…Axl never put himself out in the media as a whore like most artists, he could care less about music sales, he just wants people to hear the music finally with an open mind. Kudos to him for not selling out over the last 15+ years.

AC/DC delivered. WalMart promoted. Axl didn’t deliver for more than a decade and now his fans have grown up. He is a moron and no one cares anymore. GnR is dead unless Slash, etc are in it.

Those boys in AC/DC are just a bit smarter than the f’d up pile of crap that Axl has become.

These days the music landscape has changed. Artists need 3 things to hace a hit. A great single, heavy touring and good promotion. Axl’s solo album had neither the buzz worthy single, no or complete lack of proper promotion and of course, they aren’t touring. While I’ve been a lifelong GN’R fan and I’m 27, I feel the current album is way too heavy for most people who buy music. JUst look at the charts. Do you even feel anything off ‘CD’ will appeal to the people today? It’s better off being played on AOR stations. I personally enjoyed most of the songs and have them stuck in my head. ‘Better’, ‘Chinese’ and ‘Sorry’ are my faves. Axl really needs to go all out and make a killer clip for the ‘Better’ single. Maybe that’ll turn things around. Hello, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, anyone? History has a funny way of repeating itself!

Chinese Democracy is a great album once you get use to the sound and the fact that it’s not Slash. It takes a few spins to get it.

I haven’t even heard one of the songs on the radio yet and Best Buy did a terrible job of promotion. Most people probably don’t even know you can only get it at Best Buy.

Best Buy took a dumb on a golden opportunity. I bet no one ever does an exclusive deal with them ever again. They’ll take their business to Wal-Mart instead.

Chinese Democracy’s flopping has nothing to do with Best Buy. AC/DC continue to tour and release albums. They didn’t wait since 1991 to release a new record, and with only Angus Young in the lineup. Lineup changes can hurt a band’s record sales. Deep Purple’s greatest records with the best lineup sold more than the (still good) Coverdale-Hughes era records. With GNR, Axl waited too long to release a new record. Look how much has happened. When Use Your Illusion I & II were released, hair metal was still around, right before Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden hit. We’ve had the rise of hip-hop (rap’s new name over the last few years), the rise and fall and eventual return of boy bands (Jonas Brothers, New Kids on the Block reunion) and R&B hitmakers like Beyonce and Kanye taking sales figures away from rock acts. The market is fractured. AC/DC still sells because they still tour as a band, and have released records over the last few years, and didn’t make their fans wait almost 20 years for new music. Think about it, The iPod generation that drives much of music downloading and sales was born AFTER GNR ruled the charts and magazines. The world has changed. More buyers apparently want AC/DC instead. They have the hertiage – the Bon Scott stuff still is the best – with a massive back catalog, compared to GNR’s output. Yes, AC/DC has been around longer (maybe another factor in why their new disc is outselling GNR) I think a lot of fans are disappointed that Slash and Duff aren’t on the new disc. Had it been the original lineup, or least Axl, Slash and Duff, it would have sold more. The same for The Who’s (great) “Endless Wire.” It sold respectfully, debuting at No. 7 or 8 on Billboard, but even more people would have bought it had John Entwistle been alive and on it.

Metallica will NEVER tour with axl rose again.Ever.

Chinese Democracy is far far more complex and structured than Black ice which is the same old but successful ACDC, that being said id prefer to be playin “black ice” or “rock n roll train” than “Shecklers Revenge” in my car…
and the lack of sales is totally Best Buys and Axl’s fault

Wal Mart/Best Buy. It’s all irrelevant. As irrelevant as the new “Guns N Roses”. If Chinese Democracy was released with the original band it would have done huge sales. The fact of the matter is that this is a bad GNR cover band. I don’t care if Axl ownes the rights. It’s still an Axl Rose solo ablum and everyone can see through Axl’s shit. Oh plus the album sucks. Could that possibly have anything to do with it. Take a bow Axl and quickly walk away…you’re done. Goodnight Cleveland!!!

Whatever said it best. This isn’t complicated. Chinese Democracy with it’s complex arrangments, fancy production, and “deep” songs lacks a single hummable hook. Nothing on it sticks in your head. It just kinda sucks.

Chinese Democracy flopped because Axl Rose is a joke. He took a record that should have taken 18 months at most to create and spread it over almost two decades. His fan base is older and have evolved in their tastes in music. You can’t take that many years to make one record and expect it to have the same urgency that the older GNR records did. It’s a whole lifetime ago. Hair bands have been out for many years and it’s an extremely hard sell to the young music fans out there who never heard of GNR until now. With Axl not doing interviews or touring it’s no wonder. He’s a trip.

Michael Schirmer=idiot
GNR=not hair band
Michael Schirmer’s album release date=never
Chinese Democracy=great album

Free can of Diet Dr. Pepper if Michael Schirmer releases his CD by Dec 31st

Is the album good? I think so.

But times have changed. CD was the most stolen album on the Internet — that hurt sales the most. Not doing interviews or touring hurt sales. And giving it to Best Buy was a mistake.

All in all, it’s bad promotion and changed times. Yeah, a lot of rancor about the old lineup hurt — and a lot of people hate the album because it’s not Appetite. Ultimately, I think musicians and deep-lovin’ rock fans will champion the record — but as far as sales, that’s not gonna help.

One thing: Yes, GnR came out of the hair metal scene — but they weren’t hair metal. Hell, that’s a big reason they were so loved. They were darker, edgier, felt like the real thing — whatever that is — and also, their songs were better. So, citing CD slow sales because hair metal is dead isn’t accurate.

I also read in a newspaper that BestBuy is facing financial problems, probably that’s the reason they did a shit promotion. Wal Mart is one of the few companies that was not hit by the economy crisis.

Anyways…..the album is out, i give a rat’s ass abou sales because i can finally hear it and it is AWESOME…u have to agree that after 15 years Axl is still one of the best frontman/singer ever…no one was able to replace him, just tell me a name….just the fact of too many people commenting proves it…

Axl kicks ass…

Death Magnetic sucks, it is true. So when putting Chinese Democracy in perspective, it looks pretty good. As far as comeback albums(G-n-R, ACDC and Metallica) Axl won by a longshot!

GNR had a record 8.4 million streams on MySpace from the Thurs. before it’s release to the day of its release, and to date Chinese Democracy has sold less than 400,000 copies.

Sure, there were plenty of people who heard it for free and decided not to buy it. But imagine how many copies could have been sold had they not offered free airplay of every single Chinese Democracy song on MySpace (I just checked their MySpace page and you can still listen to it for free in its entirety).

Don’t get me wrong, I think there’s a lot of valid blame to go around, but I think the poor sales of Chinese Democracy may be the truest example of why the music industry is imploding and CD sales have declined app. 20% every year for the past two to three years – labels, managers, and retailers are failing to responsibly manage and market their artists and recordings in a rapidly changing technological and economic environment.

Who cares if it sells or not. It’s up to you if you want to buy it. If you do, then listen to it. If you like it, fine, play it to death. If you don’t like it,fine too, sell it or throw it away. I bought it, i like it, I’m playing it and I’m enjoying it.

Everyone seems to be ignoring a key fact: maybe no one wanted to buy and album from a band with one original member left?

Or maybe the music isn’t that good.

Chinese Democracy is great ,I bought it and IMO its the album of the Year , I don’t care anything about sales , and I think AXL doesn’t care too . Its important to mention that many songs were available on internet for many years and many people don’t buy the CD cause they have the MP3 illegal songs

Q: What’s worse than muslim extremism?

A: Chinese Democracy.

People shop Wal-Mart every week for everyday needs. I imagine some shoppers went to get a gallon of Milk, shaving cream and thought.. “hey there is the new AC/CD” (right next to a colorful rack) “I think I’ll pick it up.”

Best Buy on the other hand isn’t a place you shop everyweek. So I’m sure there were plenty of impluse sales of Black Ice where as you had to make plans to buy Chinese.

Also I downloaded my copy of Chinese from iTunes, not a luxery a AC / DC fan has at this time.

Welcome to the jungle.That’s showbiz.Not everyone gets to stay as topdog in the music biz.Every dog has his day.Rust never sleeps.It’s only teenage wasteland.

No one is talking about Black Ice. Everyone is talking about Chinese Democracy. Black Ice is like what John Lennon once called “wallpaper music”, i.e., something to have on in the background while u slip a date-rape drug to your girl or play some war-themed XBOX video game. Chinese Democracy is an album you get INTO and absorb; it covers a lot of ground for relationships, mistrust, paranoia, love, heartache, hope, and pain. On record, Axl’s grown up. No need to brag about decadence. He’s lived it. Now the other stuff shines through. AC/DC doesn’t have to worry about thinking too hard. They haven’t grown up and don’t have to. They will always have a built-in audience for what they do. They’re like KISS without the makeup, but with (slightly) better musicianship.

You Decide …
“Black Ice”is wildly old school, has great song writing, AC/DC like lyrics, and is an overall great record, but has no deeper, more substantial meaning.
“Chinese Democracy” is controversial and against the grain, something different. Look back to the ’80s and see Axl and company surrounded by hair bands, what do they do? Create something new, original and innovative.

Let’s be real here. If Axl wanted to know the world if he’s back, thenhe should’ve gone out. Done interviews, Rolling Stone magazine could’ve put him on the front cover(could have been a great story too), done late night tv shows like Letterman, Leno, Jimmy Kimmel & Conan, MTV/VH-1 would had done a cool documentary on what the fuck Axl was doing the last 15 years. But Axl’s attitude ruined it. You can’t blame Best Buy with this. Yeah Best Buy spent all that money to put it Axl and Universal & may have screw themselves by doing that without something in return from Axl or the record label. There’s no video for the title track or “Better”. Axl just didn’t give a shit. Oh Universal records lost too because they paid Axl to record this CD, $15 million worth.
AC/DC won this round hands down. Plus Metallica won, despite the music going down, Metallica new CD has sold over a million copies while GnR new CD will pick up dust. Case closed.

when rockers decide to become artists (John Lennon as a good example) something changes.AC/DC are still rockers but Axl is now definitely a rock artist. I like rockers and rock artists but rock artists can never be rockers again once they become rock artists.

Wooo hoooo!
Go AC/DC!!!!
We

I mean:

” Wooo Hoooo!
Go AC/DC!!

We love you, Brian!
We love you, Bon!

Not to mention, Angus, Malcolm, Phil and Cliff!
You guys invented reinvented rock N’ Roll!!

Craig Amabello Reports in from the Edge of Twilight and Madness:

Axl Rose and Company is not Guns and Roses and Chinese Democracy is not Capitalism at it’s finest! What’s up with the sick game of still calling this band Guns and Roses? Everybody knows THAT band died shortly after their masterpiece “Welcome to the Jungle” in 1987.

It would have been cooler to call it “The Axl Rose Project kicks out the Jams with the help of NIN drummer Josh Freeze and other assorted, Talented guests”… I truly wanted to Love this album… But it just seemed like Axl spent a drunken, Wired, Pilled up??… Delusional 2 weeks slamming out some Gonzo shit, slapped it together… and then called it Chinese Democracy.

I don’t know Who, or How… BUT… Somebody must have STOLEN the REAL Chinese Democracy album Masters…. Because this Retreaded, Weird, Garbage, CAN NOT BE the labor of 15 years of Axl’s love and talents!

As far as AC/DC goes… They are and always will be… what they set out to be from the days with Bon Scott… One of the Coolest, most basic, Rawest, Rock and Roll bands to ever APPEAR on Planet earth!

Black Ice, is exactly what you would expect from AC/DC… Basic Rock and Roll kicked out at a full tilt boogie… After all these years, these guys are Masters of the Craft of Rock and Roll, but that’s just the problem… They are so damn good and have done so many albums. The band has covered every possible angle you could, making their GREAT Basic Rock and Roll music for so long that they finally have nothing left to say. I am Positive that this is a true labor of love and talent from the Young brothers and Brian Johnson… As much as I hate to say it… It’s Boring!

But even when boring… AC/DC are still one of the Greatest Rock and Roll bands ever, that basically haven’t changed their line up since poor ole Bon Scott Died.

AC/DC Embody what “TRUE” Rock and Roll is all about. Age does not seem to matter or to have changed them. The kick ass Riff Rock Music pouring out of their Bodies, hearts and Souls at a Steady pace that Kills many of the weaker of the human species has kept these boys young forever. Throw on top of that… lyrics and melodies that are at times, funny, raunchy, deep, deceptively simple and full of double entendres that make you think, smile, Bang your head and still want to fuck… This is what keeps them light years ahead of Axl’s Guns and Roses.

As far as distribution goes…. Axl having picked Best Buy as an exclusive Distributor blows his fiber thin, last shred of Coolness. It seems about as cool and Hip as the 1950’s May-tag Repair man being your lead singer and Sears and Roebuck being Guitar and Bass in your new Wimp Rock band.

And as far as AC/DC’s choice of Wal-Mart as Soul Distributor…. Rock and Roll has finally become… true “DEVIL Music”. (with SOUL being what they STEAL from all things it wraps its tentacles around)…. This truly makes my heart bleed and something deep inside me scream… I am shivering and want to curl up in a ball in the corner and shake with child like fear…. Knowing, deep down, what this means to the FUTURE of Rock and Roll…. When we put it in the hands of these corporate creatures and throw all common sense to the wind… It truly is a Sad day for REAL Rock and Roll!

that the MONEY LUST is still so strong…. That even a great band like AC/DC, who have already sold over 150 million albums world wide, still feels the need to cut a deal with the DEVIL to push even more units…. just shows poor judgement all around.

What would the late great Bon Scott think? What happened to just making Cool Rock and Roll like Highway to hell and saying to HELL with the ESTABLISHMENT?

KIDS…. In a way…. We all LOSE…. While the big Soulless, Conglomerate, Corporate machine Steals the heart and soul from the very last thing I ever thought it would ever get its greedy lil hands on….. Rock and Roll has finally Rolled over Beethoven and gone Corporate!

We need a New HERO… Someone to save us from this Hell that we have brought down upon ourselves in the name of MONEY. The Gods have Forsaken us ALL and left us to eat of the raw, rancid meat that lays rotting in the bowl for us few beggars to fight over the last maggot filled remains.

Thoughts from the edge at dawn from Craig Amabello… The X-Hollywood Reject And Truly Demented Reporter of life in this Twisted American Dream that we have all become swept up in.

chinese democracy=a good record that took talent to make
black ice=shitty only because ac dc was good for awhile, but now they’re just like fall out boy and my chemical romance, spitting out the same songs 1000 times. fuck ac dc.

That’s not the real story, walmart did great with ACDC, Best buy not so great with gnr, but circuit city just did the return of Heavy D and I don’t think a soul knows about it. I stayed home and downloaded all three off limewire now the suing has stopped.

I can’t believe Axl ripped off Best Buy so bad. 1.3 million guaranteed copies? HAHAHAHAHAHA

acdc talks about getting girls in their new album but the 70 years old. their is no way you can vibe out to and acdc album and enjoy it. guns n roses at least has some songs that you smoke a blunt to and chill and listen to it and get thrown totally different sounds and melodies and grooves that in my opinion that not to many bands can touch right now.

What two songs were sent to the strip clubs?

Chinese Democracy is the album of the year!
The album just continue to grow and grow at you, a real masterpiece from Axl. It has deep lyrics and exiting sound and a lot of cool stuff.

Black ice is sooooo boring, why it sells is a mystery. Its because of promotion and that its not challenging the audience probably. Same situation for the Metallica album. Hetfield is a media whore who have lost his soul.

Chinese Democracy = Album of the year and next year.
Sorry = Song of the year and next year.

15 years and Kurt was right. Guns N’ Roses newest album is crap.

Kurt Loder? Cause u cant mean Cobain. He blew his head off.

LOL,Axl destroyed G-n-R almost 18 years ago,he is an idiot that thought he was some sort of rock god.

Axl used to have more costume changes during a concert than Cher,the guy lost his mind.

To call this band G-n-R is an insult to the old fans.

and whether you like AC/DC or not ,you have to admit that they have held steady over the years and cranked out some great songs.

I’m tired of the “you need to play Chi Dem several times before you get it”. Why does this album get such a free pass, something that others don’t?

Music is subjective. You like what you like. If you already like a band, you are predisposed to like their new music.

It’s no big secret. This album was listened to, it’s just that those who listened didn’t buy.

Blame it on anything you want, but if people LIKED it, they would have bought it. Simple.

darkness on the edge of town was far more anticipated. gnr could only hope to be mentioned in the same breath as that awaited release.

Only commenting on the availability aspect of this argument, I just moved to an area that has a Best Buy from one that doesn’t. Among my former residential population of 40,000, Wal-Mart is far and away the dominant retailer. The parking lot is packed throughout the daylight hours and into nightfall. “Chinese Democracy” won’t be available in that city, but “Black Ice” is, and any interested Guns N’ Roses fan either will have to buy it online or drive an hour to get to the nearest Best Buy for a copy. On the other hand, as others already have noted, Wal-Mart promoted the hell out of AC/DC before “Black Ice” went on sale — about two months’ worth, in fact, with teaser cards in the CD racks both in the front of the store and in the music section, notifying potential buyers of the release date.

Wal-Mart also has stocked plenty of AC/DC catalog product in its stores — not just “Back in Black,” but about six or seven other titles — for about $7 to $9 per disc. Wal-Mart essentially is selling the band, not just the album. It’s the same approach that was taken for the Eagles’ “Long Road Out of Eden” last year: Make the band’s entire output available right beside the new release, and watch the sales multiply. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see Best Buy stock up on Guns N’ Roses catalog to push alongside that old-looking cardboard “Chinese Democracy” kiosk.

It’s just another “Best Buy exclusive” release, as its stickers always proclaim, no matter how exclusive or even anticipated it might be.

Only commenting on the availability aspect of this argument, I just moved to an area that has a Best Buy from one that doesn’t. Among my former residential population of 40,000, Wal-Mart is far and away the dominant retailer. The parking lot is packed throughout the daylight hours and into nightfall. “Chinese Democracy” won’t be available in that city, but “Black Ice” is, and any interested Guns N’ Roses fan either will have to buy it online or drive an hour to get to the nearest Best Buy for a copy. On the other hand, as others already have noted, Wal-Mart promoted the hell out of AC/DC before “Black Ice” went on sale — about two months’ worth, in fact, with teaser cards in the CD racks both in the front of the store and in the music section, notifying potential buyers of the release date.

Wal-Mart also has stocked plenty of AC/DC catalog product in its stores — not just “Back in Black,” but about six or seven other titles — for about $7 to $9 per disc. Wal-Mart essentially is selling the band, not just the album. It’s the same approach that was taken for the Eagles’ “Long Road Out of Eden” last year: Make the band’s entire output available right beside the new release, and watch the sales multiply. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see Best Buy stock up on Guns N’ Roses catalog to push alongside that old-looking cardboard “Chinese Democracy” kiosk.

It’s just another “Best Buy exclusive” release, as its stickers always proclaim, no matter how exclusive or even anticipated it might be.

I bought both albums and enjoyed both of them. Yes Best Buy and Axl could have done more for the new album. Yes Walmart is evil and I felt dirty after buying Black Ice there. But in the end both bands have given music that sounds good… Yea I know there are a few Axl haters here that cant appreciate it.

I think that fans were smart enough not to fall for this sham as G -n- R. Hopefully with the magnificent flop that was Chinese Democracy, we will see a real G -n- R release. Fans want Guns and Roses, not an W. Axl Rose solo project.

lots of people are comenting how Chi Dem grows listen after listen. i totally undestand and i felt the same. about the sales i don’t have a clue. axl and the band aren’t promoting either so i guess it’s both things. rolling stone could do us a favor and find out when they’ll tour. thanks in advance.

those acdc motherfuckers are smart as hell. Deal with the devil? Totally. Since day one.

Let’s face the facts, AC/DC will always sell albums for the shear fact that they always deliver what they are known for, and that is true grit rock and roll.

Marketing, and promotional aspects aside, There are numerous reasons why Chinese Democracy flopped…

Guns’N'Roses.. collectively as it is today, is nothing more than an Axl Rose side project. An attempted swan song from an aging rock monarch clearly looking to re-establish his place in a spotlight-to-a-scene which faded out years ago. If this new album is the epitome of what Axl’s true vision of Guns’N'Roses should have been.. Well then I’m sorry, I’d prefer the lame duck version. Don’t get me wrong, Chinese Democracy in itself is a great record…is it all that it was cracked up to be?..

In some aspects, Yes.
My overall opinion, No.

However, Axl didn’t promise the greatest record of the century, he didn’t promise anything, what he has given us, ( and what we should focus on) is a decent rock album that nonetheless, should be appreciated.

Name another album that got a “free pass” about multiple listens. If you ahve the patience to listen to ANY album, you’ll probably listen to it more tha once. “Chi Dem” has many layers to it, and is fairly complex in its arrangements, lyrics, and production, quite unlike “Black Ice” and, to a certain degree, “Appetite for Destruction”. Axl has done something no one thought he could, which was release a great rock record minus Slash and crew. That’s good enough for him, and, after about 20 spins, DEFINITELY good enough for me.

well i think the anwser is very clear why ac/dc still does so well and the fact is they are more consistent with their work and they always deliver the goods man axl’s old news he has to try a little harder to come back show a little effort

ACDC kicks ass, gnr sucks it

i went to an ACDC concert and i loved it. if gnr would of toured, i probabaly would of went

Might also have to do with the fact the Black Ice is everything you’d expect from AC/DC while Chinese Democracy is AT LEAST a grower and nearly chokes on its own ambition until you get used to it.

I like CD better, but I can’t blame the public for buying into BI, all things considered.

To comment on the marketing: I also agree that Best Buy could have done more. Not just with Chinese Democracy, but with any of their “exclusive” titles. Even after a google search, I remember not knowing what Elton John’s “The Red Piano” exactly IS, and when I found out what I wanted to know, it certainly wasn’t from Best Buy. When I bought “Chi Dem,” I wanted the vinyl and had to ask someone who worked there to show me where it was — it wasn’t in the boxed set section where they keep records for Metallica and Coldplay. Signing up with Wal Mart gets tons of exposure and hype. An exclusive with Best Buy gets – at best – a 2ft-wide kiosk and your picture in the weekly ad.

Chin Dem definetely grows on you, just like some of the songs from any of GnR’s earlier CDs did and eventually became some of the best and most memoralble rock songs of all time. Lets be honest here, if you are a true GnR fan, meaning you know all of their work from Appetite to Spaghetti, you will pay attention to all the work that went into making Chin Dem. If on the other hand, you’re still hung up on more of the same of Appetite, don’t bother listening to Chin Dem because you’ll probably complain your way through it, and reminisce about the good old days. That was 22 yrs. ago, hopefully we’ve all done some growing up since then.
Unlike the Appetite fan, the true consitent fan will recognize some similarities between Chin Dem and the Illusions CDS and understand that this is what Axl had in mind all along for the album.
Is it an Axl project?? Yes and no.
Yes… It took yrs. to put together some of the best rock musicians of our time to come up with the sound he was looking for..Anything wrong with that?? He didn’t fire Slash and the gang, they left. They obviously didn’t agree with creating a different sound. And no…Have you listened to some of the solos on Chin Dem?? I don’t think Axl can play guitar, base or drums that well. What about the arragenments, both musical and vocal?? Have you read all of the credits at the end of each song? There are many other names there other than Axl Rose’s.
If you really listen to the CD, I think you’ll find that it’s pretty clear that a true artist feeds on creativity not the same repetition of sound AC/DC has.
I just saw AC/DC this past Sat. in Ft. Lauderdale, they were great..yes, it’s true grit hard rock.. I loved it, but it all sounds the same. Turn on any rock station, listen to a few notes and even before Bonn starts singing, you know your listening to AC/DC. If you consider that to be creativity, then don’t bother calling yourself a critic because there isn’t anyting to be critical about, it’s all the same.
And since when is 46 a has been or aging?? I saw the new GnR in 2006. Their on stage chemistry was good, Axl looked good..still charming as ever..sounded good..the band looked like it was enjoying the performance..the audience responded affirmatevely. What else do you need?? Didn’t even remember Slash and the gang after Wel. to Jun.
I have tried my hardest to be a VR fan. I’ve tried hard to listen for amazing solos and rifs similar to those from the old GnR; Slash is a f….n genious in those unmatchable old GnR songs..What happened to him?? I saw VR last yr. and was even more disappointed when they only played for 55 min. and 3 out of the songs they did were old GnR ones.
“Wake up” it’s almost 2009, give the new CD a chance. You’ll remember that Appetite wasn’t an overnight success. And as Appetite did, Chin Dem is destined to become another great one, whether Axl or the band members do interviews. Whether you continue to believe that’s it’s an Axl project or not..Or whether Best Buy did its “best” to advertise it, in time Chin Dem will be considered one of the best.

Buon Natale!!!

When’s the official Chinese Democracy tour start or is the last 5 years of half ass concerts considered their tour? If people are already considering the album sales a massive disappointment then just wait for the tour. That sucker will hit bottom so hard it will knock Axl’s wig off.

To anyone who honestly complains about AC/DC sounding the same you’re an idiot. They make good old rock n roll and they’re are one of the best bands to do it. No one can write like them no matter what you say about the simplicity or similarities. You just want something to complain about. However, when they’re still being played long after we’re all gone we’ll see who actually knows what they’re talking about and who’s opinions are worth valuing.

If you are listening to Black Ice and don’t hear any parallels to Back in Black, then you are an idiot.

Chinese Democracy is the album of the decade. Don’t care about best buy or wlmart. People who like music don’t care where they buy their stuff.

I think Chinese Democracy is really good maybe even pretty close to appetite. I know what you think it isnt good but if you listen to it more you will definately like it. I gave it a chance and now i love it!

People in America need to realize jus what got America in this shape…”cheap” yes so-call cheap items from a foreign land.

quote*Wal-Mart firmly believes in local procurement. We recognize that by purchasing quality products, we can generate more job opportunities, support local manufacturing and boost economic development. Over 95% of the merchandise in our stores in China is sourced locally. We have established partnerships with nearly 20,000 suppliers in China. *end quote!

Now! if there be 182 country’s making items for the world to buy and they have only 5% of the pie in China…duh! This company makes the nice people of China support their currency(yuan) by keeping it in their country working for the people there…. but with the “yuan” going up in value and the US dollar going down…all the foreign items that the American consumer buys thinking it is cheap has went up in price.

People…its all about the currency and to keep a currency strong you got to keep it floating around the country you live in so it can work for you. For the past 12 years all them US dollars are being shipped overseas to a foreign bank and with the American worker not making anything for the foreigner to buy the “we the people” have to turn to the “second” largest employer in America(Uncle Sam) to sell “we the people” debt in order to get all them dollars back!

50 years ago a foreigner would had given their left nut for a US dollar or a Hershey’s chocolate bar and today the same foreigner has got Uncle Sam and the American consumer by both all the while Hershey is moving the chocolate factory to Mexico. Wake up! America and think “MADE IN AMERICA.”

Thanks…..Bruce!
y ou have jus sold your soul for the only word tat the few fat farmers with the penmanship of a poet didn’t put in tat piece of paper back in 1776…….”cheap.”

God Bless America cause people like you have no idea how tat star got in the name when there wus a hyphen there while Sam wus alive.

Greedy people will never pass through those pearly gates with wealth in their pockets not even with a RED cent….

Miss Liberty has a tear in her eye today because of people like you…..

you make me sick!

the headline of this article SHOULD be “Chinese Miracle: How to sell a great album without selling your soul” Considering the fact that 1)the market was very limited 2) no schmaltzy promotion or interviews, and 3) major leaks of most of the songs on the album, it STILL went #1 worldwide the week of release. Incredible.

rockers don’t have a soul

I don’t know what your smoking,
but clearly you need to switch to decaf.

Rock exists in it’s experience .it seems to me there is no set of rules or bigger meaning. How then can we talk of rockers selling their ’souls’? It goes back to those crossroads and the road they chose and that’s why we love them.

AC/DC will sell millions every album because they are just creating Back in Black over and over again. That’s a business, like McDonald’s, although we all know the Big Mac patties keep getting smaller every year to keep the prices down.

Axl is content to just create good music that means something personally to him, even if it doesn’t sell. That’s an artist, idiots.

Chinese Democracy is one of the best composed rock albums of all time. Prostitute, This I love, Street of Dreams, Sorry and Better are amongst the best songs ever written by the band Guns n Roses (circa 1987-present). By only mentioning the aforementioned songs, I feel somewhat guilty for the apparent slight of the remaining songs on the album. Of the 14 songs on the record, each and every track has merit, some more than others, but not one song on this record could be considered “filler”. In this ay and age, I appreciate a record with 4 or 5 decent songs. The last record which I purcahsed which reached the level of Democracy was Stadium Arcadium. Stadium is an outstanding record, but it’s a double…and 10 tracks on Democracy (in my opinion) are equal to or surpass the 10 strongest songs on the Chilli’s record. Am I disappointed that CD is faring better? Absolutely. because I want Axl to continute making music. And if he is given the cold shoulder by the consumer, be may just walk away and return to he reclusive life he has lived since the Use Your Illusion tour ended. In conclusion, those who proclaim that the record is sub par due to the absence of Slash and company are severely misguided. Try taking a listen to Libertad and Contraband sometime and tell me how many of those songs could make the final cut on CD…MAYBE Fall to pieces, Gravedancer and Illegal i…. This is coming from someone that owns a autographed top hat from Slash and saw Revolver 3 times in person. Shalsh is a great guitarist, and a very charismatic figure. W. Axl Rose is a musical genius. Period.

Okay 8 years since last AC/DC recording,we have black ice.”Black Ice plods along,like driving on an Australian outback dirt road”,never changes,boring goes on for ever.There ya have it black ice,will sell millions,another hopeless effort from a great live band,that really hasn’t produced anything in the studio of interest since the mid 8O’s

AC/DC is one of the few bands whose sound did not alter, and I applaud them for that! I love that they still stick to their rock n roll roots, why fix what’s not broken?
But Gnr COMPLETELY metamorphisized into this industrial metal band with a whole new line-up and sound, heck their not even Guns n Roses ! They’re Axl and friends.

To me AC/DC is MUCH more loyal to their fans.

AC/DC is one of the few bands whose sound did not alter, and I applaud them for that! I love that they still stick to their rock n roll roots, why fix what’s not broken?
But Gnr COMPLETELY metamorphisized into this industrial metal band with a whole new line-up and sound, heck their not even Guns n Roses ! They’re Axl and friends.

To me AC/DC is MUCH more loyal to their fans.

SJB7994

GET A CLUE…
CHINESE DEMOCRACY SUCKS!
CANT GIVE THE ALBUM AWAY…

WHAT A JOKE…BUCKETHEAD, TOMMY STINSON
FAG WITH DREADS (AXL)
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ROCKS HARDER…

METALLICA > GUNS N ROSES
BACKSTREET BOYS > GUNS N ROSES
HILARY DUFF > GUNS N ROSES
JOHN MAYER > GUNS N ROSES
NEIL DIAMOND > GUNS N ROSES
NEIL SEDAKA > GUNS N ROSES
TIM MCGRAW > GUNS N ROSES

GUNS N ROSES = DONE
HANG IT UP NO ONE CARES
TOUR = FLOP LIKE CHINESE DEMOCRACY NO ONE CARES!

i didnt want the album to sell. i have enough money. im gonna go screw my housekeeper now….

i didnt want the album to sell. i have enough money. im gonna go screw my housekeeper now….

I find it ironic that people have been blogging so much horse-sh*t about singles from Chinese Democracy being promoted for play in strip clubs.

I have heard AC/DC (as well as a list of bands so numerous that I could not begin to list them all…but that includes Neil-f*ucking-Diamond) played in strip clubs for years!

Fortunately, you don’t hear much Tim McGraw there though…

Once Guns N’ Roses start touring and doing videos things will get better. it’s a good album and deserves to seel well. if it doesn’t, axl made good music and thats all that matters.

1988 MTV interview
Kurt Loder:Do you think Appetite will sell well?
Axl:I don’t care if it sells 2 fuckin copies. i made the record i wanted 2 make!

A phone conversation, sometime in the next 5 years:

“Hey, man, how are things?”

“Is that Axl? Woah, man, how’d you get my number?”

“That’s not important. Slash, we gotta talk. How bout gettin together with Duff and goin’ over some old stuff in a rehearsal studio? Maybe we could like, tour and stuff… Izzy might even be into it…”

“You’re about to get evicted from your mansion, aren’t you?”

“yeah…. but you’re not doin so great these days, are you?”

“well… snake food is gettin kind of expensive…”

“so how bout gettin together?”

“woohoo! thought you’d never ask!!”

I like both of them. But I do prefer Chinese Democracy. Black Ice is another dupliciate of Back In Black. Yeah.. Black Ice is not bad but it means it cannot be as good as the original is..ever! Maybe nobody expected it.

But I don’t understand Axl’s way, either. If the album sucks, I don’t even care. But it is an album that should not be dumped & forgotten without least efforts like music videos & tours. At least it’s better than most same old albums released nowadays. It’s a shame.

People who need Slash are the luckiest people in the world…