The much-bigger-in-the-US-than-here fizzy drink Dr Pepper has challenged Axl Rose to release his several-millennia-in-the-making new album 'Chinese Democracy' by the end of the year, and has vowed to give every single person in the States a free can of the drink if the band does so, which is a lot of cans.
Guns N Roses' follow up to the last album of original material, 'Use Your Illusion' back in 1991, has not only been a long time coming, but has had numerous unfulfilled release dates. This time last year we were assured we'd have a 2007 release.
The drinks company say they have made the offer simply because they are fans of the band, and that while they understood "Axl's quest for perfection", they were increasingly keen to hear the results of his long labours.
The band quickly responded to the offer, posting on their website: "We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper with our album 'Chinese Democracy'". Dr Pepper's spokesman said there would be a can of the drink for everyone in America, bar Guns N Roses' former and estranged guitarists Slash and Buckethead, though Rose said on the band's website: "As some of Buckethead's performances are on our album, I'll share my Dr Pepper with him".
Whether the fizzy drink can succeed where Rose's label, management and 100,000s of fans have failed in getting 'Chinese Democracy' into the shops remains to be seen.
Talking of Rose's management, the rocker has announced that he and the band will now be represented by Irving Azoff and Andy Gould, who will replace former manager Merck Mercuriadis who Rose stopped working with in late 2006, reportedly over disagreements regarding 'Chinese Democracy'. On the new managers, Rose said: "We are very excited and look forward to working with them and hope our relationship proves beneficial for everyone, especially the fans".