Guns 'n Roses CD in '05

Guns 'n Roses bassist Tommy Stinson promises that the group's long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy", will appear before there are democratic elections in the People's Republic.

"It's really close," he tells the Toronto Sun newspaper in today's edition. "There are a few small things to finish up, and some negotiating with the record company. So I'm guessing it'll be released sometime in the New Year, and of course we'll tour the world afterwards."

Stinson says "Chinese Democracy" sounds "a little like the old GUNS, but a lot deeper lyrically. There's more introspective and socially minded stuff, and musically it takes a lot more risks than they ever took. It's going to be amazing."