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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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China Nixes Chinese Democracy

Album title means new G'n'R record faces wall of Chinese censorship

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(Newser) – China's government-owned music monopoly has told record stores not to waste their time trying to order the first new Guns N' Roses album in 17 years, the Wall Street Journal reports. Officials say the title alone—Chinese Democracy—would probably be enough to doom it, but a reference to the banned Falun Gong movement finishes the job.

The band's many Chinese fans—wary of attracting government attention by searching for news about the album online—are split on Axl Rose's intentions. Some think the singer is trying to meddle in a political system he doesn't fully understand, while others think anything that shakes up the establishment rocks. "Rock 'n' roll, as a weapon, is an invisible bomb," says one.

Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses perform at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, August 29, 2002.
Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses perform at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, August 29, 2002.   (Getty Images)
A security guards stands in front of a barricade while enthusiastic fans dance as Chinese rock band AK47 performs on the Modern Sky Music Festival in Beijing, China Tuesday, Sept 30, 2008.
A security guards stands in front of a barricade while enthusiastic fans dance as Chinese rock band AK47 performs on the Modern Sky Music Festival in Beijing, China Tuesday, Sept 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
A rock fan surfs the crowd during a performance at the Midi Music Festival in Beijing Wednesday May 2, 2007.
A rock fan surfs the crowd during a performance at the Midi Music Festival in Beijing Wednesday May 2, 2007.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Rock fans dance during a performance at the Midi Music Festival in Beijing Wednesday May 2, 2007.
Rock fans dance during a performance at the Midi Music Festival in Beijing Wednesday May 2, 2007.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
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A track from Guns N' Roses' album Chinese Democracy.   (marttorn)

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It's like a walk in the park from a cell
And now you're keeping your own kind in hell
When your great wall rocks blame yourself.
- Lyric from Chinese Democracy's title track

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6 comments
VIEWING:
 
vendetta
Nov 22, 08 3:42 PM CST
Guess what, most of AMERICA is not going to waste its time ordering this CD. No one cared about guns and roses 10 years ago let alone today. Not to mention most of the album has been leaked on the net like 3 years ago, lmao. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
ILoveElizabethWolff
Nov 23, 08 12:03 AM CST
You're an idiot. I'll definitely be purchasing this. I don't steal or pirate music.
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IN RESPONSE:
grissell
Nov 23, 08 4:00 PM CST
The only people buying this are "nostalgic" GnR fans. Anyone who's actually heard the tracks won't waste their time, including anyone who liked what the band did on past releases. The new songs are garbage, and it's borderline pathetic that it took this long from them to toss this crap album together.
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vendetta
Nov 23, 08 7:34 AM CST
Thats because you are a moron and don't know how to do it. Keep paying 16.00 for a cd douche. Reply
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0
Shannonals
Nov 23, 08 10:07 PM CST
Sales will tell the truth Reply
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0

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