Guns N' Roses, Chinese Democracy, and the Ancient Art of Patience
Categories: Concert Preview, Manic Meditations
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Inside the club, sweaty bodies writhed and wiggled all over each other like an overturned bucket of earthworms. Rightfully so, as the tunes cranking out of the soundsystem were bonafide party jams.
We were staning in line to grab some grub from the club's official griller when a friend ran up, pointed to a nearby speaker, which was vibrating to the beat of the four-on-the-floor electro-house pumping out of the cabinet. And cupping a hand to my ear, he yelled: "Can you believe it?! This is Chinese Democracy."
Of course, he was joking. The late-night banger inspiring denizens to shake their shit was definitely not Chinese Democracy, the long-awaited, practically mythical album from Guns N' Roses, finally released in 2008.
The seeds for what would eventually become that record were planted in 1994, right after the group's phone-it-in covers album, The Spaghetti Incident?, which cashed in on the still-soaring Use Your Illusion albums popularity without having to actually provide new material.
In the process of imploding -- Axl vs. Slash, everyone vs. drugs, etc. -- GNR was doomed to scrap everything several times. But at least those initial sessions provided the album's name. It wasn't the most productive period of time. However, it was the most progress that would be made on Chinese Democracy in over a decade.
The real Guns N' Roses dissolved in 1996 with the departure of
Chinese Democracy became a contemporary symbol of the unattainable. Deep down, it was what we were all hoping for and working toward. It didn't matter if the record was ever released because the constant waiting taught us the ancient art of patience. Well, until 2008, when our rock 'n' roll stoicism was met with the harsh reality of Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses as released in 2011.
But you know what, who cares? When Axl and whoever is on the payroll these days takes the stage at the American Airlines Arena, they're certain to play a hearty clump of C.D. duds. But you can bet your Ticketmaster service charges that they'll be knocking out all of the hits -- "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Paradise City," "November Rain" -- too.
All you need to do is sit back, wait for GNR's cover of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," lean over to the person sitting next to you, and say, "I hear this one's off Chinese Democracy."
Guns N' Roses. Saturday, October 29. American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. The show starts at 9 p.m and tickets cost $39.50 to $79.50 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Call 305-960-8500 or visit aaarena.com.
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