It used to be the sex drugs and rock and roll that created the controversy for Guns N’ Roses – but now, it looks like politics has been brought into the mix of madness for the veteran group, with China banning their new album Chinese Democracy.
It’s taken G’N’R 17 years to procure the album, but the lengthy wait wont pay off for Chinese fans of the group. China’s government owned music importation arm has red flagged the record, simply because the title of the album contains the world “democracy”.
While the fans aren’t allowed to be overtly vocal in protest of the move, there certainly will be feelings of disappointment.
Guns N’ Roses have a massive following in China, with the groups hits “Welcome To The Jungle” and “Don’t Cry” proving to be especially popular during China’s rebellious era, in particular following the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators.
Hoping to gather shards of information, Chinese fans have taken to the web, and have used evasive search engine queries to avoid detection from Chinese authorities – many simply type in “Chinese Democraxy” or “Chi Dem” to scramble government surveillance.
But ultimately, copies of the album won’t be shipped to China’s shores – and illegal obtaining of copies could carry significant penalties.
Added to the album’s culturally and politically offending title are specific references to Falung Gong, a spiritual movement labeled an illegal cult by China, in singer Axl Rose’s lyrics.
"If they were missionaries. Real time visionaries. Sitting in a Chinese stew. To view my disinfatuation. I know that I'm a classic case. Watch my disenchanted face. Blame it on the Falun Gong. They've seen the end and you can't hold on now,” Mr. Rose sings in the title track from the album.
Rose, 46, the only original member of GN'R remaining, declined to comment on the issue.