Free cola if Guns N' Roses album comes out in 2008

According to a press release, the Dr. Pepper soft drink company has promised a free can of its signature soda to "everyone in America" if Guns N' Roses releases its long-delayed new album, Chinese Democracy, in 2008. Dr. Pepper director of marketing Jaxie Alt said in a statement, "It took a little patience to perfect Dr. Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love. So we completely understand and empathize with (Guns singer) Axl (Rose)'s quest for perfection -- for something more than the average album. We know once it's released, people will refer to it as 'Dr Pepper for the ears' because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds -- an instant classic."

Dr. Pepper has started a blog in conjunction with its campaign. Neither Guns N' Roses nor the band's label, Interscope Records, had any official comment.

Rose is not known for having a sense of humor about the protracted wait for the new disc. He reportedly threatened to sue the Offspring a few years ago when they toyed with calling a new album Chinese Democracy: You Snooze, You Lose.

Chinese Democracy has reportedly been in the works since 1995, with Rose the only original member still in the band. According to a report published two years ago by the New York Times, Rose had allegedly burned through $13 million in the studio by that point.

Although a revamped Guns lineup toured successfully in 2006 and Rose tentatively promised that the record would be out last March, it never materialized and little has been heard about it since.