Chinese Democracy Update: Dr. Pepper Ponies Up The Pop

With all the hoopla over the November 23 release of the long-delayed Guns N' Roses opus Chinese Democracy, perhaps the biggest news of all came today from the makers of Dr. Pepper.

It seems that the soda pop manufacturers have decided to be good corporate citizens and pay up on a certain bet they made with America earlier this year. Back then, when most observers still saw Chinese Democracy as an Axl Rose pipedream that would likely never see the light of day, Dr. Pepper made a very public bet where they promised to give every person in America free pop if the album was actually released this year.

"We never thought this day would come," Dr Pepper VP of marketing Tony Jacobs was quoted as saying in Billboard today. "But now that it's here all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

To claim the free soda, fans will need to visit DrPepper.com on November 23, which is also the day that Chinese Democracy arrives in Best Buy stores (where it is being exclusively sold). At the website, they can download a coupon which can then be redeemed for a refreshing 20 oz. Dr. Pepper at any of the zillions of places where the soft drink is sold. The coupon is only available for 24 hours and will expire on Feb. 28.

So is this a colossal corporate blunder or simply part of the most brilliant, and well orchestrated marketing scheme ever?

We'll let you decide. In the meantime, drink up America.