Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose has defended himself against accusations that the band's new album is simply his solo album.

Rose, the only original member of the rock band, said a solo album would be “completely different” to 'Chinese Democracy', which was released last month.

The singer spoke extensively about the album on Sunday during his third web chat with fans in as many days.

'Chinese Democracy' was released last month - almost fifteen years afetr work first began on the record.

When asked about the circumstances behind its release, Rose replied: "I made a Guns record with the right people who were the only people who really wanted to help me try, were qualified and capable while enduring the public abuse for years. The songs were chosen by everyone involved."

Rose added he had experienced “a lot of pressure” to put his own name to the album, “but that never felt right to me for this band, and the parameters in regard to this music have lots more to do with the mind set of Guns than something else.”

He continued: "As far as a new name ... this is who I am, not whatever else someone else thinks of. I don't see myself as solely Guns, but I do see myself as the only one from the past making the effort to take it forward whether anyone approves or not and giving beyond what many would."

The singer has been pressured to break is silence about the album over recent weeks after sales failed to meet the initial expectation surrounding its release.

As previously reported, in his first web chat, Rose claimed fans had been given an inaccurate account of the band's demise.

“They are complicated legally, financially and have devoured a good portion of my life,” he said of the difficult circumstances.

Last week, Guns N' Roses' manager Irving Azoff said that the band would not stage a reunion with their former members.

(by Jason Gregory)