Chinese Democracy they had cost $12 million." On March 26, 2008, media reported that soft drinks manufacturer Dr Pepper would offer a free can of its product to everyone in America—excluding former Guns N' Roses guitarists Buckethead and Slash—if the band released "Chinese Democracy" in 2008. Later that day, Rose wrote of his surprise at the company's support on the Guns N' Roses website, and said he would share his Dr Pepper with Buckethead as "some of Buckethead's performances are on "Chinese Democracy"". After it was announced that the album would be released in 2008, Dr Pepper confirmed that it would uphold
Chinese Democracy million in damages against Geffen for the unauthorized use of the samples. In May 2010, Azoff's company Front Line Management sued Rose over unpaid concert fees. Shortly afterwards, Rose filed a $5 million counter-lawsuit against Azoff claiming Azoff had "sabotaged" the release of "Chinese Democracy", among other issues. The suit claimed Azoff had "purposefully spoiled the "Chinese Democracy" album art, botched a sales deal with Best Buy, and even leaked songs online". The lawsuit was settled in 2011. "Chinese Democracy" is banned in the People's Republic of China because of perceived criticism in its title track of the Chinese government