Chinese Democracy According to "Rolling Stone", engineer Andy Wallace, who had worked with Nirvana, Sepultura, Slayer, and Bad Religion, was working on the album that year. Stinson stated that year that most of the album had been recorded collaboratively in 2001, and had been "pretty much done" since then. On December 14, on the Guns N' Roses website, Rose announced the cancellation of four shows, citing the need for more time to work on "Chinese Democracy". He also announced that the band had ended their relationship with Mercuriadis, and announced a tentative release date of March 6, 2007, the first time the
Chinese Democracy studios. Though Geffen planned to release "Chinese Democracy" in 1999, it was delayed and completely re-recorded in 2000. With costs reportedly exceeding $13 million, it became the most expensive rock album ever produced, and Geffen pulled their funding in 2005. After missing an announced March 2007 release date, it was finally released in November 2008, dogged by online leaks and legal disputes. Preceded by the title track as a lead single, "Chinese Democracy" debuted at number three on the "Billboard" 200, and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); however, it did not meet sales expectations