Reclusive Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose says the long-awaited 'Chinese Democracy' album will finally hit the stores before the end of the year.

Rose made a surprise appearance on Eddie Trunk's radio show in the US this weekend, where the eccentric rocker was quizzed about the 'mythical' album, upcoming tour dates and the new guitarist.

Asked about the 2002 comeback tour, which was halted when Rose failed to appear for a gig in Vancouver and Philadelphia, which caused riots, Rose told Trunk he felt pressurised into doing it before he was ready to return. Axl Rose insisted he has no regrets though, citing the short-lived tour as helping the new band members to gel.

Despite being in the making for over a decade, 'Chinese Democracy' still hasn't seen the light of day. Quizzed on when the near-mythical album would come out, Rose said, "Sometime this fall or late fall. It will be out this year"

GNR will return to the stage when they perform a four-night residence at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, beginning this Friday (May 12th).

Rose told Trunk that the band at the upcoming shows will be similar to the one that played the 2002 tour, except for a new lead guitarist, whom he declined to identify except to say it's not an old GNR member. Former member Buckethead left the band in 2004.

However, later in the radio broadcast, Rose seemed to contradict himself when he said he's been hobnobbing with former GNR guitarist and songwriter Izzy Stradlin, and strongly hinted that Stradlin may show up for the Hammerstein shows.

Rose was recently quoted as saying  "I haven't spoken to Slash in ten years, I love the guy, I always wanted everyone to know how great he was, but.... I was just talking to Izzy the other day though."

Whether Axl Rose and Slash will make an onstage reunion though, is anyones guess. Only time will tell.