Guns N' Roses announce album release date

Axl Rose has announced his intention to release Guns N Roses' new album on March 6.

The singer confirmed that 'Chinese Democracy' will finally see the light of day in an online posting yesterday (December 14).

Although it was hinted that the album might appear this year by his management (who declared there were “13 Tuesdays” left in the year back in October, referencing the fact that US albums are released on a Tuesday), Rose has told fans the album will now appear in 2007.

“To say the making of this album has been an unbearably long and incomprehensible journey would be an understatement,” he wrote of the record’s long delay. “Overcoming the endless and seemingly insanity [sic] of the obstacles faced by all involved, notwithstanding the emotional challenges endured by everyone: the fans, the band, our road crew and business team has at many times seemed for all like a bad dream where one wakes up only to find they are still in the nightmare and unfortunately this time it has been played out for over a decade in real life.”

However Rose said he was now hoping ’Chinese Democracy’ was finally ready to go.

“It takes approximately eight weeks for an album to hit the shelves once it has been turned in to the record company,” he wrote. “That being said this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee, but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6. This is the first time we have done this publicly for this album. Any and all other dates have been made up by others for their own reasons. We would like to assure the fans that though tentative, everything in our power will be done to meet this date. Once it is finalised and official you will be notified. If we are delayed for unseen reasons you will also be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date, and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience.”

In order to be able to complete the record, Rose explained that he had to cancel several dates on their US tour.

“Due to the schedule of these particular shows, valuable time needed by the band and record company for the proper setup and release of the album ’Chinese Democracy’ would be lost,” he said. “Rather than delay the album yet again, all involved have decided to remove these shows from GNR’s schedule.”

The cancelled dates are:

Sacramento (January 10)
Bakersfield (11)
Reno (13)
San Diego (16)