As if the production of Guns N' Roses new studio album weren't difficult enough, a new issue has arisen with the release of Chinese Democracy (read our review here).

The band's lawyer has hit out at soft drink manufacturer Dr Pepper after they promised to give every person in America a free can of their drink to celebrate the release of the new record.

The company issued the statement earlier this year, months before the record's release date was announced. They pledged to provide a free can of the drink if "Axl Rose to finally release[s] his 17-years-in-the-making belabored masterpiece, Chinese Democracy, in 2008."

Now, Axl Rose's lawyer, Alan Gutman has hit out at the company for failing to uphold their commitment, claiming their online redemption scheme was an "unmitigated disaster which defrauded customers.

"The entire point of your campaign has been to use public interest in Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses as a lure to increase consumer awareness of Dr Pepper. Dr Pepper was completely unprepared for the traffic to its site."

The website in question has been all but inaccesible for the whole period when redemption was allowed.

Gutman is calling for an extension to the time people can redeem their vouchers, and full page apologies in several major American newspapers.

Posted In Latest Music News, Nov 27 2008. Words - Josh