T-minus 1 hour 15 minutes till show time. I'm pumped.

What's the point in predicting the album's potential commercial success? Will it make you enjoy seeing  it released more? Really though what's the point then in speculating on anything for that matter. I get people are excited. I'd say be wary of it cause we've seen this song and dance before. What I dont' get is why when people predict it's success it's gravy and when others predict it may tank or not even happen it's pointless. I dont' get upset at people's optimism. Why do people get up set over the "negative" opinion.  Unless of course something deep down allwos you to realize there's probably a good chance that side of the arguement will be right.  I listen to so much music that doens't get any commercial success whatsoever but I dont' give a shit about that either. It has nothing to do with my personal tatse but if we're going to discuss marketing tactics by this band be prepared to deal with the opinion of those who feel it may tank.  It's a two way street.

Coldplay's 2005 X & Y sold roughly 8.5 million copies worldwide. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb sold over 10 million copies.  How is Coldplay outselling U2?

U2 owns everyone when it comes to marketing and promotion. That's all I'm saying. If Gn'R and U2 come out at the same time U2 will be every where while everyone else fights for scraps. I dont' believe Gn'R can go toe to toe with U2 in album sales. Nor can they in the touring department.  We'll see I guess. I think Gn'R cleans up over Metallica but not U2. Axl will be lucky to have a hit single in my opinion. Thats' key in selling an album. U2 is guaranteed to have  a  hit single.  I'm not here to preach U2 but for anyone to think a Gn'R record coming out at the same time as a U2 record is a good thing is a bit weird to me. Chinese Democracy will not feed off  "Solar Eclipse"(or whatever they name it). If anything they'll be hurt by it as U2 will swallow up all promotional avenues first and foremost. Bono and the rest of U2 wont' shy away from interveiws, they wont' shy away from covershoots, they won't want to not talk about their album.  Then you've got Bono's political stuff that media outlets will wanna touch on  now that U2 the band is again relevant with an album.  How does Gn'R honestly go toe to toe with that?

Gn'R vs Metallica in this regard?    Good luck with that Lars

Oh it can easily be stopped. Everyone assumes that because it's on Rock Band that it's gonna be a single sooner than later. It's absolutely conceivable to think it comes out on Rock band and never hits the radio. In Gn'R world that's far from far fetched. There's no proof whatsoever that a  new radio single is coming. At least not at the moment.  One song on a  video game doesn't mean a guaranteed album release. Not sure where this line of thinking came from.  When is Shackler's Revenge available for purchase on itunes? Exactly.   Has anyone thought that this is simply a new way for Axl and Co. to create a smokescreen and buy more time. The touring method ran dry, the impact that leaks have is minimal now compared to the past so this could very well be just a  new stalling tactic.

I dont' see anyone denying the reach of Rockband compared to HD.

Oh My God was originally thought to be the comback of Gn'R and that flopped. Again though Rockband is bigger than a movie sondtrack.

It makes no difference though. Each time it's bigger and more relevant and each time it falls on it's face. I don't see the difference here really.  Just more of the same. People who preach they won't believe it untill they have a solid release date or actually hear a single on radio are once again going back on those words allowing their emotions and excitement to take over completely.  Maybe it's different for me since none of it excites me anymore. I mean the album could come out next week and will I buy it?  No. So maybe it's just easier for me to stay "grounded" for lack of a better word.

One thing people are forgetting or refusing to aknowledeg or just don't know about is this "relase date time frame" is scheduled to happen around the same time as U2's new album. Is that the actual plan? After all this time they're gonna put out an album at or around the same time as a U2 release? Talk about bad timeing for Gn'R. They arent' that stupid are they? This is reason enough for me to believe it's not happening. Unless it's an ego thing and Axl wants to go head to head with an absolute giant. Good luck.