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China Nixes Chinese Democracy

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

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2008 9:08 AM CST
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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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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Guest
Dec 16, 2008 4:33 AM CST
The more important point here is that the government we owe more money to outside of Japan, the government we have off shored most of our manufacturing to, the government that has made only profitable merchant in our country right now Walmart, will ban music for a title or a reference. Kinda sucks when your sugar daddy is that much of a censor. It won't be long before they are censoring here to through the influence of our indebtedness to them. At least their working population seems to stick together. Here, we let the elite manipulate us to hate the UAW, though white collar or blue collar, we are seeing things slide away, while we don't question at all how much the floor traders are taking home in the financial institutions bailed out with real money.
Shannonals
Nov 23, 2008 10:07 PM CST
Sales will tell the truth
Guest
Nov 23, 2008 4:00 AM 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.

Geffen admits 'Chinese Democracy' has little chance
Reuters

Review of long-awaited 'Chinese Democracy'
Boston Herald

 
China • censorship • Falun Gong • rock bands • Guns N' Roses • rock music • Chinese officials • Axl Rose • Chinese Democracy

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