A Free Soda from Axl Rose—Finally

As promised, beverage maker Dr Pepper yesterday offered a free soda to every American man, woman and child who wanted one in celebration of the release of a long-delayed album by the band Guns N’ Roses.

“Chinese Democracy” has been on hold almost since recording finished back in 1994, and has often been rumored to be on the verge of a public release in the ensuing 14 years. Dr Pepper Snapple Group vowed in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped any time in 2008.

The record finally hit store shelves yesterday.

And starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time Sunday, customers were able to sign up for a coupon for a free 20-ounce soda. The coupons, which will be mailed to registrants, were only available for 24 hours at the site and will be good through Feb. 28, 2009.

“Chinese Democracy” reportedly was held up by clashes between Guns N’ Roses front man Axl Rose and other band members, and then by Rose’s tinkering with the music. Press reports in 2005 said Rose had recorded some 60 songs and that Geffen Records has spent $13 million on the album.

The version released yesterday includes 14 tracks. Rose is now the only original member still in the band; others, including lead guitarist Slash, left to join other groups after the “Chinese Democracy” sessions were finished.

Back in October, when Geffen Records said the album’s release was finally imminent, Dr. Pepper reaffirmed its free drink promise.

“We never thought this day would come,” Dr. Pepper Vice President of Marketing Tony Jacobs said in a release at the time. “But now that it’s here, all we can say is, ‘The Dr Pepper’s on us.’”

Starting last Thursday, visitors could stream the album in entirety from its MySpace Music page, where they could also pre-order the hard copy from Best Buy. Some tracks were leaked online in 2002, and two songs from the album came out earlier this year: one in the video game “Rock Band 2” and another in the soundtrack to the film “Body of Lies.”

Best Buy will be the only brick-and-mortar retailer to offer the new album, with digital versions available and iTunes.

The in-store arrangement mirrors exclusive deals rival Wal-Mart has struck in recent years to sell albums such as AC/DC’s recent release “Black Ice.” A November 2007 deal to sell the Eagles’ last album, “Long Road out of Eden,” only at Wal-Mart for a year proved less exclusive than expected; the album was widely reported to be available at other retailers within a week of its U.S. release.

So far, no one has promised a free drink to every man, woman and child in China.