Chinese Democracy first official release of new Guns N' Roses material since 1999's "Oh My God". (The entire album was made available for the game on April 14, 2009 as downloadable content) It was followed by "If the World", which plays during the closing credits of the 2008 film "Body of Lies". "Billboard" announced a firm release date for "Chinese Democracy", November 23, 2008, on October 9. In the US, the retail release is sold exclusively through Best Buy. The first single, "Chinese Democracy", was released on October 22, 2008. It was debuted on the Opie and Anthony show broadcast by KROQ-FM.
Chinese Democracy band had publicly given a release date. In an interview held during the launch party for Korn's 2006 tour, Rose told "Rolling Stone": In a 2006 "Rolling Stone" article, Sebastian Bach described "Chinese Democracy" as "epic" and "mind-blowing": "It's a very cool album—it's badass with killer screams, killer guitar riffs, but it's got a totally modern sound. The word for it is 'grand.' It's fucking epic. [Axl has] reinvented himself yet again." Bach also described the album as having "the rawness and the power of "Appetite for Destruction", but it also has the grandiosity of 'November Rain'." Rose said in