Well, it wasn't 15 years -- Guns N' Roses fans need only wait until this Tuesday (less than 6 months after the official album release) to get the 'Rock Band' version of 'Chinese Democracy.'

With the song 'Shackler's Revenge' already on the 'Rock Band 2' soundtrack, the game version of 'Chinese Democracy' will feature the 13 remaining tracks, available bundled or as individual songs for most platforms. And you don't even need to go to Best Buy to get them -- they'll be offered as downloads beginning next week.

Virtual guitarists take note: For true simulation mode, you may wish to purchase an optional bucket of KFC to place over your head.


Axl Rose Spinner Interview

Nearly 10 years after leaving Guns N' Roses to become a founding member of A Perfect Circle, drummer Josh Freese is still involved in the maelstrom with Axl Rose. And, as Freese tells it, that's a good thing.

During an extensive Spinner Q&A, Rose said that Freese was one of the easiest drummers to work with -- and friendliest. When Spinner spoke to Freese, he took the time to return the compliment. "Everyone always baits me to give them a crazy Axl story," he admits. "I don't really have any. I spent two years in a studio with him [and] I never saw any mood swings. He was never not cool to me. So, I am always quick to defend the guy, even though I know his reality is different than mine. Then again, everyone has a different reality."

Since releasing the long-awaited Guns N' Roses album 'Chinese Democracy' this past November, Axl Rose has said very little about it, taking to message boards and e-mails for the few comments he has made. But if there's one person who could get him to break his silence it's Del James, Rose's longtime friend, road manager and the man whose short story, 'Without You,' inspired the epic clip for 'November Rain.'

James, a music journalist who has covered G N' R for years, dating back to his days at metal mag Rip, as well as in several Rolling Stone articles, spoke with Rose and is sharing the results of that one-on-one exclusively with Spinner. Yes, here he is, W. Axl Rose, letting loose on Slash, answering whether he was trying to make the best album ever and waxing philosophically on when the original G N' R lineup really died.

Del James: As reported, were you, either in your mind or otherwise, trying to create the "best album ever made"?

Axl Rose: No. That's f---ing ridiculous and more negative media nonsense. We were all just trying to do our best for the fans and ourselves.

At any point did you feel or say either you or the band had to make a "masterpiece"?

Of course not -- more unaccountable nonsense. Obviously, media, elements of the public, fans and our detractors had all kinds of things going on such as high hopes, expectations, pressure, naysayers, etc. I don't think anyone would mind discovering a diamond mine and I don't think anyone in any competitive field would get very far if they didn't have dreams, aspirations or simply hope to do well. That said, these types of comments are more from our detractors, pulled out of their ass if not thin air.

Do you feel that your alleged sense of perfectionism has delayed the release of the album?

No. Guns in any lineup wasn't going to release anything all that great any sooner. And no matter how any of us tried, that didn't happen, and often while any number of us were pushing to try and do so with whatever we had going at the time. In regard to so-called perfectionism, I feel that has a lot to do with your goals or requirements with whatever one's doing or creating. Different levels may be required for different objectives. If you're making brakes for a vehicle, what's required? It's all relative, right? You try to make the best calls you can at any given moment and go from there. Generally, when this term is used by others in regard to me or how I work, it's said in a negative way or as an excuse for their shortcomings -- and again by my detractors. Whether they are open about such or not, some people love putting others in a negative light; helps them feel better about themselves. Too many ears and too many stupid comments have proven that.

"One of the two of us will die before a reunion." --Axl Rose

In a recent interview, the Guns N' Roses frontman squashed any remaining glimmer of hope for a reunion with former guitarist Slash.

Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes has a bone to pick with Axl Rose. Still.

The feud dates back to 2006, when EODM played to an unfriendly Cleveland crowd as Guns N' Roses' opener. When Rose took the stage later, he called the band the "Pigeons of S--- Metal," and fired them from the rest of the tour. Hughes, though, seems to view it as a blessing. "When we showed up it was a 25,000 seat arena with 5,000 kids there; not a single one of 'em born when 'Appetite For Destruction' came out," he tells NME Radio. "I remember looking at my manager going, 'Dude, I think we made a mistake, man. Apparently the rock went to Velvet Revolver.'"

Ouch.

Axl Rose broke his silence Thursday night with his first interview -- sorta -- since the release of the 15-plus-years-in-the-making 'Chinese Democracy.' The elusive Guns N' Roses frontman unexpectedly took to the message boards of GN'R-related sites like Here Today ... Gone to Hell and MyGNR.com to answer questions posed by his fans.

"What I have to say a lot of people have no desire to hear," he said regarding his silence. He also responded to an allegation that he was a recluse, prone to ignore fans, writing, "Your misconceptions and fantasies along with your misguided sense of entitlement don't dictate my actions."

It's been almost exactly nine years -- or, more specifically, 3276 days -- since Guns N' Roses officially released a new studio track (operative word being "officially"). Believe it or not, it's been even longer than that since Axl Rose first went into the studio to create the album he's always referred to as 'Chinese Democracy.' However, a democratic process it was not. The album became the stuff of legend (and the punch line of jokes) as musicians and producers came and went, sessions were shrouded in secrecy and the erratic Mr. Rose reportedly shredded millions in expenses with nary a song to show for it.

But ladies and gentlemen, dudes and dudettes -- it's time. At 5:00AM EST this morning, the title track to the band's finally forthcoming album 'Chinese Democracy' officially hit airwaves and the interwebs. The album itself will be available exclusively at Best Buy beginning November 23. Yes, really. So pop open a Dr. Pepper (your next one is on the house), tell the FBI to simmer down and join us as we welcome GNR to the 21st century.