Dr Pepper’s promise to give away a free 20-ounce soda to every person in America if Axl Rose and Guns N’ Roses released their new and controversial album “Chinese Democracy” ended with a mess to the frustration of all the parts involved.

Although it took the rock band 14 years to complete the new record, their lawyers did not need more than two days to criticize Dr Pepper for their clumsy, un-kept promise. The company promised in March to give a can of its 123-year-old soft drink if Axl Rose releases “Chinese Democracy” by the end of 2008. The company based its promise on the fact that the Guns N’ Roses’ lead singer failed many deadlines before this one. But this time he did.

Guns N’ Roses released their new album on Sunday. Dr Pepper gave Americans 24 hours to go to the company’s Web site and get a coupon redeemable for a can of soda. As expected, the huge wave of traffic crashed the site and the deadline was extended to Monday.

“This was one of the largest responses we have ever received for a giveaway,” Dr Pepper said in a statement. “We’re happy we were able to satisfy the thirst of so many Dr Pepper fans.”

Many fans who tried to access the Web site and were blocked were irked by the situation and Axl Rose’ was even more frustrated with the company’s “appalling failure to make good on a promise it made to the American public,” that he decided to sue. His lawyers demanded Dr Pepper a public apology in four major news papers (The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times), and “appropriate payment” for taking advantage of their album’s release.

The other part involved in this was China, of course. They were also angry with the album’s title. The Chinese officials described the Guns N’ Roses record as a "venomous attack" on the nation.