Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy took nearly a decade to make and features a laundry list of musicians including Buckethead, Primus drummer Bryan Mantia, and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck. The lineup also included Queen guitarist Brian May , who was cut from the album despite recording parts for it.
In an interview with Guitar World, May recounted his time recording for Chinese Democracy. May said he didn't see much of vocalist and then-Guns N' Roses mastermind Axl Rose throughout the process, but he did hear from him on the phone despite being within walking distance.
"He was working in his house, and I was working in the studio at the bottom of the hill with his engineer at the time, and he only rarely came down. Now and again he would call in and get all enthusiastic and talk a lot, and then he'd be gone again. I don't think any of what I played actually got onto the album."
May also revealed he still has the mixes of Chinese Democracy with his guitar parts on it. He adds those mixes will remain unreleased "out of respect for Axl." So here's hoping there's a reissue at some point that includes the May mixes, right?
"But I could understand if Axl wants to have an album which reflects the work of the members of the band as it is, right now. I do have mixes of the tracks with my guitar on, work tapes at the time, but they will remain private, out of respect for Axl."
Guns N' Roses would eventually be rejoined by guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan in 2016. The band would go on to release two Chinese Democracy-era songs named "Hard Skool" and "Absurd" in 2021, and according to guitarist Slash they're working on two more. Check both those out below.
