Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose has described an early Internet leak of songs from the band’s latest album ‘Chinese Democracy’ as a “nightmare”.

Nine songs, which were a mixture of unfinished and new productions, emerged online last June – five months before the album's release.

In his first official interview to promote the album, Rose said it was “hard to say” whether the leak was responsible for the album’s poor sales.

But he did acknowledge that fans would probably have grown “emotionally attached” to the unfinished edits ahead of the record's release.

“Having someone jeopardize your efforts so cavalierly is pretty much a nightmare,” he told Billboard.

“I don't know that it hurt us though, at least as one might think. Hard to say.

“That's not to imply leaks don't hurt artists, but that they were earlier roughs and the level of sound quality is much higher with the finals.”

He added: “That said, you have those who become emotionally attached to how the leaks sound, which, for better or worse, usually isn't so great to contend with.

“And it seems that those who often do so and complain publicly, oddly and coincidentally, have a history of basically being detractors as well even if they're somehow considered part of a ‘fan’ base.”

A 28-year-old Internet blogger faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to copyright violation over the leaks.

Kevin Cogill posted the songs onto his website, Antiquiet.

The album, which was over fifteen years in the making, was one of the most anticipated releases of the 21 century.

Cogill will be sentenced in March. An investigation to trace the source of the leak is ongoing.

(by Jason Gregory)