Speaking as someone who's first album bought was AFD and is still my favourite, Chinese Democracy is an album I've waited on for years! Every day I go to a GNR board just to hear if there is any news, only to be dissapointed!! For me, as much as I love Slash, Axl is the creative genius behind GN'R and I think the album has the potential to be as influential as Appetite was, if only it would just come out! Like the dude said, listen to The Blues from the 2002 tour, the new band really do kick some serious ass! I love all the new tunes, especially Madagascar and Chinese Democracy, and think that on record these tunes would blow people away! Ah well, At least we have VR, but lets be honest, Weiland isn't fit to lace Axl's ridiculously stupid big trainers.