  Axl Rose. |
Axl Rose has set a tentative new release date of March 6 for the forever-delayed Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy album.
The operative word being "tentative," as explained by Rose in an open letter on GunsNRoses.com.
"We would like to assure the fans that, though tentative, everything in our power will be done to meet this date. Once it is finalized and official you will be notified as soon as possible."
In the letter, Rose also confirms he has fired his longtime manager Merck Mercuriadis, and that GNR has cancelled four west-coast U.S. dates in January in order to ensure the proper eight-week set-up time for Democracy.
At one point this year, GNR fan sites were pointing to a Nov. 21 release date for the album that has been 12 years in the making.
LAVIGNE/FURTADO DISCS
Napanee native Avril Lavigne is talking about her new disc, The Best Dam (sic) Thing, due in April, on her MySpace webpage.
The single Girlfriend will be out in February. The album, which contains only three slow songs, was produced with the help of her SUM 41 rocker-husband Deryck Whibley, My Chemical Romance producer Rob Cavello and songwriter Dr. Luke.
Meanwhile, Nelly Furtado is working on a new album of entirely Spanish-language songs. The Victoria, B.C., native grew up speaking Portuguese and learned Spanish at school and has previously sung a few songs in Spanish.
INCOMING
Billy Talent sold out a Boxing Day charity show at the Opera House in eight minutes. Joining the band at the show, which will benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, will be Alexisonfire and Moneen. Billy Talent's drummer, Aaron Solowoniuk, announced in February of this year that he had been diagnosed with MS a number of years ago ... New York band Gym Class Heroes pull into the Opera House on March 9 as part of Canadian Music Week, with tix, $15, available now at TicketMaster, Soundscapes and Rotate This ... The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus headlines the Sub City Take Action Tour, which plays the Phoenix on March 18. Special guests will be Emery, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, A Static Lullaby, and Kaddisfly. Tix, $20, are on sale now at TicketMaster, ticketmaster.ca, Rotate This, Soundscapes or by phone at 416-870-8000.
