Tired of waiting for GNR’s Chinese Democracy? So’s Dr. Pepper - at least on paper:

…The soft drink company says it will give a free can of Dr Pepper to “everyone in America” (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead) if “Chinese Democracy” arrives anytime during the calendar year 2008.

“It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper’s special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love,” Dr Pepper director of marketing Jaxie Alt says. “So we completely understand and empathize with Axl’s quest for perfection — for something more than the average album. We know once it’s released, people will refer to it as ‘Dr Pepper for the ears’ because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds - an instant classic.”

While we suspect the company could give a crap about the album’s release date at the end of the day, we have to respect the fact that the (seriously goofy) marketing ploy comes replete with its own blog (+ separate blogs for terms of use and privacy policy), so we’re happy to contribute to the viral buzz this go-round.

UPDATE: Chris Kooluris of Ketchum (the media contact on the release) wrote in to assure me of his undying fondness for Guns N’ Roses.

UPDATE #2: Axl Rose himself has now been pulled into the gag, posting a response at the official GNR site and promising Buckethead he can have a Dr. Pepper. Best marketing stunt ever?

» Dr. Pepper Sweetens Pot for Chinese Democracy (Billboard)

THE SHOW
Daryl Hall, Austin Convention Center, 8pm, Wednesday, 12 March 2008

THE SPONSOR RECORDING THE SHOW FOR ITS SUBSCRIBER NETWORK
DirecTV

EXHIBIT A

EXHIBIT B

Exhibit A defies logic. I refuse to believe Daryl Hall was ashamed of playing a Yamaha Motif ES8 in the Austin Convention Center. Tons of artists play the Motif. The last time I saw Prince he was on a Motif; hell, yours truly plays a Motif8 not that it means anything, but back to topic: I refuse to believe Daryl Hall felt compelled to cover the brand of his own damned keyboard, and we can clearly ascertain he proudly plays a Taylor guitar, thanks to Exhibit B. Ergo, I have no choice but to point the finger at the probable culprit and digital broadcaster of the mini-concert: DirecTV. I could be wrong, but if I’m right it’s an incredibly cheap shot. Yamaha wouldn’t play ball, or did you forget to ask them? You didn’t affix duct tape to the guitars, now, did you.

Photo by Jeannette. More photos TK assuming the website remains stable for five solid minutes

“Baby Got Back”
The corner of Pico and Fairfax, 3/8/08
Credit: Matthew

Kudos Matthew for not only capturing the ubiquitous Dickies™ Bench ad and the unfortunately-placed pedestrian, but also for dredging up my craptastic-phone-photo- infatuated past and shining the harsh light of day on it for all to see. Yes friends, craptastic has been and remains the name of the game. They didn’t put those tiny, crappy cameras into your telephones for nothin’! Got a craptastic cell phone photo the world must see? Fire it off to craptastic@losanjealous.com for consideration. Operators are standing by.

Well, that didn’t take long:

Five of these Kermies belong together
Five of these Kermies are dressed as one.
But one of these Kermies is calling it “Bullshit”
Can you help me spot-which-one?
And now my song is done.

Melrose at Fairfax this time. Again, modified. Fess up, which one of you guys called bullshit on Supreme’s laughable viral campaign? Don’t make me call LA Taco. Seriously, somebody go dig up the culprit on wooster and share for the greater good; things are busy this week.

PREVIOUSLY IN STOLEN TREASURED ICONS USED FOR HALF-ASSED MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
» Your Weekend Poster Snapshot

In which Kermie becomes an unwitting shill for a skateboard-and-tennis-shoe shop. Green guy was spotted on Fairfax at Oakwood. But wait, it’s been modified. What’s this “slay” business…commentary on the store? The poster tactic? Iraq? Overall Weltanshauung? A nudge from the creator to modify any further posters we may encounter? Who cares at the end of the day; long live Kermit. Note to Supreme: Consider wheatpasting locations that are more than a half-block from your own store. Go a few more blocks east and head up La Brea towards the Henson lot; should go over well.

In unrelated weekend poster activity, Robbie Conal’s newest double-sided missive “Emission Accomplished” went up February 29 and can now be seen all over town. Gruesome, but it makes its point. I’ve already seen a few that were not cleaned so much as they were town down in disgust. Maybe you’ve seen one? Was it whole?

My Favorite Press Release Photo Thus Far This Morning Is:

[redacted for the good of mankind]

Forget the fact that it’s grainy beyond belief. Best caption in the comment section wins a staggering (and I do mean staggering) cd prize pack from the Losanjealous music library. Actual caption as sent by publicist will be divulged end-of-day-ish (and then promptly deleted from our collective memory). Hop
to it.

UPDATE, 430pm:
Here it is, the official press release caption and photo credit information. This one had nothing to do with [redacted for the good of mankind], and everything to do with [redacted for the good of mankind]. Comment section stays open through the weekend. Have a good one. R

PHOTO CAPTION: [redacted for the good of mankind]

PHOTO CREDIT: [redacted for the good of mankind].

Anyone (not) catch the multiple instances of Apple product placement on last night’s new episode of House M.D.? A new high–or low, depending on your take–was reached. But lest you think it gratuitous, the props in question–an iPhone, a MacBook Pro and a MacBook (Or were they older Powerbook and iBook models?–Help me out here, Engadget or Gizmodo)–were woven into the plot fairly deftly: House steals James’s iPhone (James being the obvious character choice for iPhone ownership) and wraps it as a gift to himself, which he opens in front of his team with an aim to get the to raise the stakes of their Secret Santa; the team breaks into the patient’s home and brings back her and daughter’s Macs to scour their hard drives for personal history and diagnostic clues.
»continue reading Apple Product Placement All Over House