Guns N' Roses have accused drinks company Dr Pepper of failing to honour its customers in a promotion linked to the band's new album 'Chinese Democracy'.

Earlier this year, the drinks company promised to give every American citizen a free drink if the band released their long awaited album before the end of 2008.

In conjunction with the album's US launch on Sunday, people were told that they had 24 hours to claim their free can from the company's website.

However, in a strongly worded letter to Dr Pepper's CEO Larry Young, Guns N' Roses called the promotion an "unmitigated disaster” after customers were unable to log on to claim their free drink.

The band's lawyer, Alan Gutman, asked Dr Pepper to further extend the offer, as well as print full page apologies in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal.

"Now is the time to clean up the mess," Mr Gutman wrote.

When Dr Pepper unveiled the offer in March it went unchallenged by the group.

But in his letter to the company's CEO, Mr Gutman said the offer had exploited the band's “legendary reputation” and “brazenly violated our client's rights”.

He also said the group were seeking "appropriate payment ... for the unauthorized use and abuse of their publicity and intellectual property rights.”

Responding to the letter, Dr Pepper told the LA Times: "This was one of the largest responses we have ever received for a giveaway, and we’re happy we were able to satisfy the thirst of so many Dr Pepper fans.”

As previously reported, The Killers look set to beat Guns N' Roses to number one in the UK with their new album 'Day And Age'.

Fans will have a 4-6 week wait before their coupon arrives in the post, the company said.

(by Jason Gregory)