In the Guns N’ Roses-Dr Pepper Feud, Everyone’s a Winner, Right?

Two weeks ago Plano-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group reported a third-quarter drop; right, who didn’t? Said Sgt. Pepper Larry Young on November 13, “Without a doubt, this is one
of the toughest environments the beverage industry has faced in many
years. With disposable incomes falling, consumers are thinking harder
about what they buy.” And, only a few months divorced from Cadbury, Dr Pepper on Wednesday filed a notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it’s looking to raise a little extra dough-re-mi; right, who isn’t?

But among the soda-maker’s good news-bad news, this random note: Axl Rose is pissed at the Pepper. In March the company promised to give away a can of the soda to every human in the U.S. and A. should Guns N’ Roses ever deliver Chinese Democracy,which it did last weekend (yawn). Last month, when the band announced a release date, Dr Pepper said: Fine, coupons, then. Dunno how, but coupons. Then it decided: You know what? Web site. Which it tried, till it crashed. Then Dr Pepper extended the deadline, till it shut it down altogether — before every human in the country got their handout, awww. Now Axl wants a full-page apology and extension from Dr Pepper in a Major Metropolitan Newspaper Near You. Only thing confusing about this story: It’s hard to tell who’s pulling the publicity stunt here. –Robert Wilonsky