Here Today... Gone To Hell!

OK, so I read the article regarding Chinese Democracy being banned in China, which can be found here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122728243679848085.html?mod=todays_us_page_one

Of particular interest was this paragraph:

"Some Chinese artists, loath to be branded as democracy campaigners, declined valuable offers to help illustrate the album. "I listened to their music when I was little," says Beijing visual artist Chen Zhuo . He was "very glad" when GN'R asked to buy rights to use his picture of Tiananmen Square rendered as an amusement park -- with Mao Zedong's head near a roller coaster. Then, Mr. Chen looked at lyrics of the album's title song and, after consulting with his lawyer and partner, declined the band's $18,000 offer. "We have to take political risks into account as artists in China," says the 30-year-old."

I did some research on the artist in question and he appears to be a digital artist who works along side another guy called Huang Keyi.

After a few Google searches, I found some of their works entitled Carnival No 1, 2, 3, etc.  I then stumbled across what is clearly the picture described in the article - you can see Mao's head next to the roller coaster:


(http://www.timeout.com.hk/media/content/large/10217_bigpic-bg.jpg)

What does everyone else reckon?  This would have been PERFECT for Chinese Democracy as it represents East meets West.  I love the image and now have it as my new desktop.

If anyone is interested in seeing the other pictures in the Carnival series, go here:

http://www.798photogallery.cn/EN/photographer/photographer_54.html

Note - this is pure speculation on my part but I think the evidence is quite strong.  Here is Mudkicker's interpretation of the album artwork as it would have been:

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c382/axlism/cdcoverrr.jpg)

That's a cool picture.

That's very Pink Floyd appropriate. :yes:

I prefer the album artwork we did get.

i dont understand why he declined the offer, because he could be in trouble? or because he didnt like the lyrics?

Very Buckethead ;D

It says he consulted his Lawyer which indicates he may have gotten into trouble from the authorities in China.

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c382/axlism/cdcoverrr.jpg)

oh ok thanks  :peace:

Haha Nice work!

When he says trouble he means jailed, black listed meaning not able to work, or killed.  I have a friend who's wife is from China and some of the stories he has told me is terrifying.  He says for the most part visitors are safe and if you piss them off they kick you out but that is about it.  However villages have being sold to corporations and when the people stood up they just sent the army in and killed all the men. 

Wow that is pretty wild... nice post, thank you. I like that alternative cover!

Axl has a thing for big red objects in artwork I think, all of this CD artwork reminds me of the rape cover monster from AFD.

well it's actually interesting how similar this piece of art is to Robert William's artwork, not so much "appetite for destruction" but if you look into some of his other works, it's very similar.

That is very cool

or maybe it was for the booklet

lol i like it. I don't think it real but i like it  :beer:

Remember the 1st listings on Amazon a couple months back? They had at one time different covers available ( cover A and cover B)

This was the basis for my theory - the alternative cover was pulled and Azoff mentioned issues with the CD cover in an interview leading up to the launch.  Shortly afterwards the 2nd cover was pulled.  The article states that the artist consulted his lawyer and pulled out of the deal so this could well haver been the alternative cover.

I have now found the gallery in Hong Kong that has this work and am enquiring about buying it. :)

Very cool, thanks for the work.

I think the one with the bike is much better.  : ok:

I love this!

It's cool but it's too busy. The real one has a classic, Zeppelin/Who feel.

I like the one with the bike better. The alternative artwork is cool also.   : ok:

Too bad.
That would've been so much better, though I dont think Axl ever wanted to give his bike away.

Maybe they wanted it in the booklet...

I like the bike but I wouldn't mind this artwork being released at some point in the future.

Good work Mudkicker, you're very talented.  And probably very handsome.

I like the bike, glad they went with it...I read somewhere on here that the reason the 'alternate cover' was a no-go was the artist feared repercussions from Chinese Gov't once he saw/heard what it was to be used on...I wish I could find the post - also said he was only getting like $15k for the artwork.

for gods sake !!!!!!!!!!! thuuuuuuuuuuuuuuphmpsss

that looks like a cheap-ass (Sims) cover !!!!!!!!

the bike is cool !!

A cool pic but it kind of "screams" at your eyes too much, if you know what I mean. Just my opinion though, wouldn't mind seeing it on an album cover in the future, like somebody else said, but for now I love the current cover, being that Axl talked about that artwork so long ago and I've been trying to imagine it ever since. Was only too cool to actually see it. :smoking:

lol indeed, i was thinking the same thing

I honestly think both covers work perfectly, but ultimately the one they went with is a bit more iconic. I think they made the right choice.

But damned if that second cover doesn't look fantastic, and I think you're correct in your assumption that this may have been the allegedly planned "Cover B". I would've loved to see this artwork end up in the liner notes, I think it would have been right at home.

I like it. But the original artwork is better.

A while ago (Im talking a couple of months maybe) I saw a poster for Chinese Democracy which featured a 'pop-art' picture of Axle wearing late 19th century chinese style clothes holding chop-sticks infront of himself with a blue background with the album title running across the center of the picture. I nearly bought the poster, but didnt have the $20 they were asking at the time so I didnt bother. Wish I had now.

Im not saying this was ever going to be the album's cover, but it is interesting none-the-less.

We definately need a picture of this!  Where did you find it?  Anyone else have this by any chance?

I think it was for the back of the book, the bike pic was always gonna be on the front.

I received an email from the Hong Kong gallery that represents these artists confirming that this particular piece is sold out - there were only 7 copies made and they sold for $7700 USD each.  I have asked if she knows what the intended use for CD was and will post here if she provides any info.

The artist who did the red star with people http://soemo-fine-arts.com/work?id=2607

And some of those will be resold for a huge amount of money.  To bad I would love to have a nice print of this but that price range is about 7600 out of my price range