The recording runs 140 minutes and features the 20-track set list, including four new songs from the GNR's (supposedly) forthcoming new album, Chinese Democracy.

Meanwhile, co-founding guitarist-co-writer Izzy Stradlin, who has released his last two albums overseas only, has given the go-ahead for his latest effort, River, to be issued on the independent Bilawn Records label. According to a Bilawn spokesperson,

Stradlin, who has a historic distaste for "stoking the star-maker machinery," chose the tiny company because it was co-owned by recording engineer Shawn Berman of Rumbo Recorders, the facility traditionally used by GNR members past and present.

The spokesperson told allstar that the album will be available on the company's Web site (http://www.bilawnrecords.com) in about two weeks, and should roll into retail stores shortly after. The album also features former Stradlin bandmate Duff McKagan.

Meanwhile, McKagan's own project, Loaded, with ex-Presidents of the United States of America guitarist Dave Dederer, has also recorded a CD, Dark Days, which made its debut in Japan in late July and will likely find a modest home in North America in the near future.

-- Sorelle Saidman