Dr Pepper has a pop quiz for Guns N' Roses: Where's Chinese Democracy, already?!
In an effort to move the band's long-awaited album toward a release date, the soda purveyor has offered to gift everyone in America (except former bandmembers Slash and Buckethead) with a free soft drink if Democracy comes out anytime in 2008.
The oft-delayed album—the band's first since its 1993 cover album, The Spaghetti Incident—has been in the works for more than a decade and has reportedly rung up over $13 million in recording expenses so far.
It was last slated for release in March 2007, but the big debut was canceled due to "scheduling difficulties," Axl Rose, the sole remaining original GNR member, said at the time. So far, no new release date has been set.
In a statement on the band's official website, Rose said he was "surprised and happy to have the support of Dr Pepper...as for us, this came totally out of the blue."
He did not provide any indication as to whether the band would rise to the challenge, though he did say he would be happy to share his complimentary Dr Pepper with Buckethead, as some of the guitarist's performances appear on the album.
For now, Dr Pepper is willing to wait a little longer.
"It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper’s special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love," the company said in a statement.
"So we completely understand and empathize with Axl's quest for perfection—for something more than the average album."