Chinese Democracy Timeline

1994
to 2007
Writing and recording process of the Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy
The historical background of Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy spans two decades and millions of dollars. Touring legs began in 2001, and the recording process included many starts an...
1997
to 2000
Guns N' Roses replace Slash with Robin Finck
In 1997 Finck signed a two-year contract with Guns N' Roses as the replacement for Slash (who had quit the band at the end of the previous year) and began work on what was ultimately to b...
1998 Mar Guns N' Roses replace Duff McKagan with Tommy Stinson
Cover album "The Spaghetti Incident?" was released in 1993, after which the relationships between band members began to deteriorate and core members began to leave. Rhythm guitarist Clark...
2000
to 2004
Buckethead joins Guns N' Roses
Buckethead achieved a higher public profile as lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses from 2000 to 2004. He recorded the often-delayed album Chinese Democracy with the band and appeared live on...
2001
to 2008
Robin Finck joins Guns N' Roses again
Shortly after the tour ended in 2000 he returned to Guns N' Roses, playing four shows with them in late 2001 followed by a brief tour of Europe and Asia in mid-2002 and a live appearance ...
2004 Mar 30 Buckethead quits Guns N' Roses
In March 2004 Buckethead left Guns N' Roses, according to his manager, because of Guns' inability to complete an album or tour.
2006 Guns N' Roses replace Buckethead with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal
Thal joined Guns N' Roses before they embarked on a world tour in 2006, filling the position vacated by departed guitarist Buckethead. He made his live debut with the band at the Hammerst...
2006 Dec 14 Axl Rose fires the manager of Guns N' Roses, announces that Chinese Democracy will be released in March
Axl Rose issued a press release on Guns N' Roses' official website on December 14, 2006. Entitled "An open letter to the fans from Axl", Rose announced the cancellation of four concerts t...
2007 Feb 22 Guns N' Roses announce that Chinese Democracy will not be released in March
Despite Axl Rose's announcement, the new Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy was once again delayed. On February 22, 2007, the band's road manager, Del James, issued a press release def...
2008 Nov 23 Guns N' Roses officially release Chinese Democracy
Chinese Democracy is the fifth studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released in November 2008 on Geffen Records. It is the band's first studio album since "The Spaghetti...
2009 Mar 23 Guns N' Roses replace Robin Finck with DJ Ashba
On March 23, 2009 Ashba was announced the new lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses replacing Robin Finck, who had left the band to rejoin Nine Inch Nails. He is currently on tour with the band...