Chinese Democracy is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on November 23, 2008, by Black Frog and Geffen Records. It was the first Guns N' Roses studio album since the 1993 covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?" , and their first album of original studio material since Use Your Illusion I and II (1991). It underwent a protracted recording process, delayed by personnel and legal problems, label interference, and vocalist/producer Axl Rose's perfectionism. It was the first Guns N' Roses album not featuring classic lineup members Izzy Stradlin, Slash, and Duff McKagan, as well as the first not produced by long-time producer Mike Clink; instead it was produced by Rose and Caram Costanzo.

After the Use Your Illusion Tour ended in 1993, Guns N’ Roses spent several years recording ideas for a new album. However, creative and personal differences between Rose and other members caused the band to fall apart. Slash and McKagan left, while guitarist Gilby Clarke and drummer Matt Sorum were fired. Rose, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and guitarist Paul Tobias were all that remained from the previous lineup by the end of 1997. Filling the lineup with guitarist Robin Finck, drummer Josh Freese, bassist Tommy Stinson and multi-instrumentalist Chris Pitman, the retooled lineup began writing and recording a new album in 1998.

The lineup shifted several times, with Rose wanting to include new band members on the album as they joined, incorporating guitarists Buckethead, Richard Fortus, and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and drummers Brain and Frank Ferrer. In addition to Rose and Costanzo, Pitman, Sean Beaven and Roy Thomas Baker worked on production, alongside engineers Eric Caudieux, Jeff “Critter” Newell, Dan Monti, Billy Howerdel and Jeremy Blair. Guitarists Brian May and Dave Navarro, vocalist Sebastian Bach, orchestrators Marco Beltrami and Paul Buckmaster, and instrumentalists Patti Hood, Suzy Katayama and Pete Scaturro all contributed as guests as the album was recorded across 15 recording studios.

Chinese Democracy languished in development hell for eight years. Geffen originally planned to release it in 1999, but it was delayed and rerecorded multiple times in the early 2000s. The band recorded over 50 songs, intending to release multiple albums. With costs reportedly exceeding $13 million, it became the most expensive rock album ever produced, and Geffen pulled their funding in early 2004. The album was promoted with the decade-long Chinese Democracy Tour, starting in 2001, gaining notoriety for cancelled shows and riots. After missing a release date of March 2007, Chinese Democracy was released in November 2008, dogged by leaks and legal disputes. Rose did not publicly promote the album, blaming the label for lack of support.

Rose expanded on the band’s hard rock style on Chinese Democracy , incorporating elements of industrial rock, electronic rock, nu metal, and trip hop. The release was preceded by the title track as lead single, with “Better” and “Street of Dreams” as promotional singles. The album was distributed exclusively by Best Buy stores in North America. Chinese Democracy debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, and was certified platinum. However, it did not meet sales expectations in the United States. It received divisive but generally favorable reviews, achieved international chart success, and sold over one million copies in Europe. Retrospective reviews have viewed the album more favorably, noting the extended recording process and delays often overshadowed the music.