The Guns und Roses record, “Chinese Democracy” is out. Now, we all heard about the “free Dr. Pepper” hype/jive. Let me ask you this; did anybody think that when Dr. Pepper said everyone gets a free one if the record comes out this year…did anybody think that you were just going to be able to walk in to the quick shop and say, “I’m here, Axl put the disc out, give me my free Dr. Pepper”.
No. Nobody thought it was going to work that way. It’s just another scam, no big deal. Dr. Pepper, which I’m sure is part of some huge conglomerate, was going to use this as a way to build a database that the actual worth of is negligible because, how much useful information can you get from an internet profile? That stuff is overrated anyway but, we’re talking about soda pop here and Dr. Pepper should have a good handle on their demographics as it is but, maybe they want to sell your info to some other batch of jackals, who knows?
So, they made it a hassle to get the freebie and the website crashed because so many people hit it when the specified one day arrived. Who didn’t see that one coming?
That’s rock and roll right? You roll with it and move on because it has nothing to do with being a rock star, right?
No!
Rock and Roll is having a badass lawyer who attacks the giant food and beverage conglomerate immediately while garnering even more publicity while getting you (the rock star) more spending cabbage.
Guns N’ Roses’ lawyer is Beverly Hills-based Alan Gutman and the following quotes come from Billboard.
Mr. Gutman, how would you describe Dr. Pepper’s marketing campaign?
“unmitigated disaster which defrauded customers.”…
“exploitation of my clients’ legendary reputation and their eagerly awaited album”…
“brazenly violated our clients’ rights.”…
“complete fiasco.”…
“The entire point of your campaign has been to use public interest in Axl Rose and Guns N’ Roses as a lure to increase consumer awareness of Dr Pepper.”…
“raw and damaging commercial exploitation of our clients’ rights,”….
“even more damaging in light of your shoddy execution of your disingenuous giveaway offer.”
Gutman is demanding that Dr. Pepper extend the offer period, print full page apologies in the major fish wraps and send along some money.
Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about! That’s rock and roll children.
From Reuters.
Many have tried, but so far nobody has been able to pry the decade-in-the-works Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” from the hands of lone remaining original member Axl Rose.
Now, Dr Pepper thinks it’s up to the challenge. The soft drink company says it will give a free can of Dr Pepper to “everyone in America” (excluding ex-Guns members Slash and Buckethead) if “Chinese Democracy” arrives anytime during the calendar year 2008.
Rose responded on his band’s web site (http://www.gunsnroses.com) that the band was “surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper.”
You know sometimes a recording artist just has a hard time “letting go” of a project. Maybe Axl is having problems getting the liner notes together or, something like that.
C’mon Axl, I’ve been hearing about this record for ten years, I’d like to hear the record. Any record that takes that long; I want to hear it. And, I want a free Dr. Pepper too.
It will be the first album of fresh Guns N’ Roses material since the 1991 sets “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II.” Rose has reportedly burned through $13 million in recording expenses for “Chinese Democracy,” and also burned his bridges with the bandmates who helped him turn Guns into one of the biggest rock groups in the world by the early 1990s.
Woah! $13 Million is a lot of recording expenses. I could see how old Axl would be wanting to make sure that everything is just right with the release. After you already have 13 Mil into the thing, you don’t want to have some screw up with the artwork or, anything like that. Damn, $13 million-That’s remarkable.
Look at it this way Axl; You have sunk $13 million into the project but, Dr. Pepper is willing to make a huge commitment just to hear the thing. A free can of Dr. Pepper for “everyone in America”, do the math. At $5.00 a twelve pack and roughly 300 million people in America at any given time…Dr. Pepper is willing to shell out $99 MILLION! Just to hear a record! That, of course, is if everybody in America has a can, I mean everybody-Slash, Buckethead, Jeff Tweedy, Flavor Flav-everybody. So, it will probably be a little less than the $99 million but, still a big gesture on the part of DP.
So, whad’ya say Axl? Ready to throw a little Chinese Democracy our way?
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