10 Most Expensive Rock & Metal Albums Ever Made

Guns n' Roses have had a long, complicated and messy career. Following 1993's The Spaghetti Incident?, staples members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum left the band due to feuds with singer Axl Rose. Only Rose and Dizzy Reed remained, and they decided to push on and make a new album.

Taking ten years and using a number of different line-ups - including Brian May, Buckethead, Dave Navarro and Sebastian Bach - Chinese Democracy was finally released in 2008. But where did all the money go? The simple answer is: Axl Rose.

Rose was a nightmare during production. He rarely turned up to the studio, and when he did he was late and overly perfectionist about his role and the sound of the album. The session musicians and the engineers were on enormous monthly retainers which massively increased the cost of the record, aided by Rose's inconsistency. The recordings themselves took place over 15 different studios.

And on a weirder note, Buckethead had a chicken coop made in the studio during his time with the band.

When it was released (finally) it was met with a favourable if underwhelming reception given its long completion. Sales didn't meet expectations in the 'States, and it only hit around one million copies in Europe.

Slash, McKagan and Rose are all back together now and have buried the hatchet, so maybe we're in for a future album that goes a little more smoothly for everyone involved.