Velvet Revolver

Velvet Revolver

Velvet Revolver (abbrieviated to VR) is a Grammy Award-winning hard rock supergroup with three former members of Guns N' Roses — Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum (who also played with rock bands Hawk and The Cult) — plus Scott Weiland, the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots, and Dave Kushner of the 80s hardcore punk band Wasted Youth.

Band history

Velvet Revolver was formed when three former members of Guns N' Roses (Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Matt Sorum (drums) joined to play a benefit concert for fellow musician Randy Castillo in 2002. They subsequently decided to form a new band that would bring back the spirit of rock to the mainstream. When Izzy Stradlin declined an invitation, the band recruited guitarist Dave Kushner, who had previously played with Wasted Youth and Dave Navarro. Kushner had attended school with Slash and had worked with McKagan in Loaded, the band in which he played before joining Velvet Revolver. The quartet were referred to under the temporary name "The Project" for a short period pending the selection of a permanent title for this emerging supergroup.

The quartet then set about recruiting a lead singer, with VH1 filming the recruitment process. A number of lead singers auditioned, including Canadian Todd Kerns (formerly of Age of Electric), Josh Todd (of Buckcherry), Michael Matijevic (of Steelheart), Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row), Kelly Shaefer (of Atheist/Neurotica), Myles Kennedy (of Alter Bridge), who declined any invitation, and Travis Meeks (of Days of the New) but were unsuccessful. Reportedly, ex-Faith No More singer Mike Patton was also approached early in the process, but he declined the offer to front the band. Scott Weiland had become friends with McKagan and had played on the same bill as Kushner when Stone Temple Pilots were known as Mighty Joe Young and Kushner was in Electric Love Hogs. Weiland heard the material and offered his services as the lead singer and the band clicked.

Slash suggested the name "Revolver" for the project and Weiland suggested the addition of "Black Velvet" to the title. Slash thought this sounded too similar to "Stone Temple Pilots," so the name was shortened to simply "Velvet Revolver."

Contraband

Velvet Revolver recorded its first track "Set Me Free" for the Hulk soundtrack in 2003. The band also recorded a cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" which is featured in the movie The Italian Job. The band played its first live gig at the El Rey in Los Angeles in June 2003. It recorded its first album, Contraband, in the latter part of 2003 with recording complicated by Weiland's court appearances for drug charges and his subsequent sentencing to undertake rehabilitation.

The marketing campaign for Velvet Revolver in the run-up to the release of the first album was profiled as part of the Frontline (PBS) program The Way the Music Died, which included interviews with the band members and producers.

Velvet Revolver live in 2005

Contraband was released in June 2004, debuting at #1 on the Billboard album charts, #11 on the British album charts, and #2 on the Australian charts. The first single, "Slither," topped a composite world modern rock chart in June, reached #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and #5 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Slither," which is also the band's first music video, reached #56 on the Billboard Hot 100, gone top 20 in Finland and Top 40 on a European composite chart, in Canada, and in Australia.

Since then, the band has released three more singles: the ballad "Fall to Pieces", the hard-rocker "Dirty Little Thing", and "Come On Come In", all of which have videos featured for them. "Fall to Pieces" has been remarkably successful not only on rock stations but also on modern music stations. The band consequently declined an invitation to tour with KISS after learning that Poison would be a part of the bill, in an effort to distance themselves from being lumped in with bands from the '80s who had re-grouped at the time to make a buck; Velvet Revolver were out to make the statement that they were a new band. [1]

As of August 2005, Contraband had sold more than 2 million copies in the United States, and the rigorous touring in support of the album has reached global scales. Already, the band has toured both the United States and Europe twice, while also hitting Australia and Japan.The CD has SunnComm's MediaMax DRM rootkit on it, exposing users to a security vulnerability.

Velvet Revolver performed at Live 8, playing "Do It For the Kids," "Fall to Pieces," and "Slither." However, only "Fall To Pieces" appears on the Live 8 DVD.

In 2005, a part of Contraband's "Dirty Little Thing" was inserted in xXx: State Of The Union, Universal Studios' sequel to xXx.

The band also recorded a new song entitled "Come On, Come In" for the 2005 movie Fantastic Four.

Libertad

During 2005, the group announced its sophomore album. Scott Weiland announced at the 2005 Radio Music Awards that it will be a concept album, and will be less single-driven than its previous effort, but later in the summer of 2006, Matt Sorum dismissed the claim that it will be a concept album. In December 2005, the band set Libertad (Spanish for "freedom") as the working title of the album.

In September 2006, Matt Sorum confirmed via Camp Freddy Radio on Indie 103.1 that the band had recently signed a deal with Rick Rubin to produce the new album. However, on his website, Sorum now claims that former Stone Temple Pilots producer Brendan O'Brien will be producing the album.

In October 2006, Scott Weiland announced that Libertad would most likely be released spring to later spring 2007

Apparently, Velvet Revolver is eyeing a mid- to late-spring release for its second RCA album. The group is recording in Los Angeles with producer Brendan O'Brien, who stepped in for the band's original choice, Rick Rubin, after that arrangement "did not work out," frontman Scott Weiland tells Billboard.com. "All of our hopes have even been elevated over the past three weeks," he says. "We were really excited about six months ago, when we first began writing. Then we really kind of flat-lined for a while. We didn't know which way we were going. There was a definite loss of inspiration for a bit there. It has a lot to do with chemistry. Once Brendan came on board, I guess it was kind of like a shot in the arm. It was a new energy." "We thought we'd just kind of give it a shot and see if Brendan was available, and just by chance, the artist he was supposed to be working with didn't pan out," Weiland offers. "So he was available during the exact time we really needed him. He flew out within a week and it has been amazing. [Bassist] Duff [McKagan] came up to me and said, 'You know, I didn't know what it was like to really have a producer before.'" And though Weiland told Billboard.com last year he intended to weave an overall concept throughout the album, he has since "thrown that idea out the window. In my opinion, there are so many schlock concept albums that have come out in the past year," he says, without naming names. "The ground is way too over-fertile with concept records. I prefer to write a lean and rather vicious rock'n'roll record. I think that would be a better contribution to rock'n'roll at this moment."

On December 1, 2006 Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum posted on his blog that VR are ready to finally start recording the upcoming album. "Looks like Velvet Revolver are finally going to start recording the album. We have 18 songs ready and we are all very excited. Producer Brendan O'Brien has been in pre-production with us at Scott's Lavish studios for the last three weeks. We have been working six days a week, and let me tell you that man has whipped us into shape. This will be a killer album, I promise you." [2] The VR myspace page confirmed that recording will start Monday December 4th.

On 20th December 2006 Slash stated in a post on the Slashsworld.com forum that Libertad is scheduled to be released in May 2007."

Feud with Axl Rose

In March 2006 Axl Rose's lawyer released the following statement: "In October of 2005 Slash made an unannounced 5:30 AM visit to Axl Rose's house. Not appearing to be under the influence, Slash came to inform Axl that: 'Duff was spineless,' 'Scott Weiland was a fraud,' that he 'hates Matt Sorum' and that in this ongoing war, contest or whatever anyone wants to call it that Slash has waged against Axl for the better part of 20 years, that Axl has proven himself 'the stronger.' Based on his conduct in showing up at Rose's home, Axl was hopeful that Slash would live up to his pronouncements that he wanted to end the war and move on with life. Unfortunately that did not prove to be the case."

Slash didn't comment on Axl's press release, but a Velvet Revolver spokeswoman did promise that Slash would be heard from "within days." Slash's press release never came. However, Scott Weiland posted this on their website, referring to Axl:

Go to the gym motherfucker, or if you prefer, get a new wig motherfucker or you can suck my dick. I think I’ll resist the urge to “stoop” to your level. Oh shoot, here it comes, you fat, botox faced, wig wearin’ Freak! O.K. I feel better now. Don’t think for a second we don’t know where those words came from. Your unoriginal, uncreative little mind, the same mind that had to rely on its bandmates to write melodies and lyrics. Who’s the fraud now boy? Darn, I couldn’t imagine people writing for me. How many albums have you put out man and how long did it take the current configuration of this so-called “band” to make this album? How long? And without the only guys that validated the name. How dare you! Shame on you! How dare you call our bass player “spineless”. We toured our album over a year and a half. How many shows have you played over the last ten years? Oh, that’s right - you bailed out on your long awaited comeback tour, leaving your remaining fans feeling shall we say a trifle miffed?! I won’t even list what I’ve accomplished because I don’t need to. What we’re talking about here is a frightened little man who once thought he was king, but unfortunately this king without his court is nothing but a memory of the asshole he once was.

It was removed two days later.

On April 25, 2006, Duff appeared on the Opie & Anthony radio show, and shot down all rumors of Slash leaving Velvet Revolver saying that they were just "Bullshit". Two days later, Slash and his wife Perla were rumoured to have filed for divorce in Los Angeles but this was later disproved by Slash himself. It was believed that Perla, who was also rumored to be the manager of Velvet Revolver, may have been the source of the false rumors regarding Velvet Revolver's supposed breakup as well as those regarding Slash rejoining Axl Rose. This however was false (both the divorce allegation and the accusations against Perla, Slash said this on Camp Freddy on May 13 2006 and said that he was still in Velvet Revolver and hadn't spoken to Axl since 1996.)

Van Halen induction

On March 12, 2007, Velvet Revolver stood in for Van Halen for their induction ceremony. Of Van Halen, only bassist Michael Anthony and former singer Sammy Hagar attended. Eddie Van Halen was in rehab and David Lee Roth reportedly did not attend because he could not agree what song to sing on stage with Velvet Revolver. The band played a medley of "Ain't Talkin 'Bout Love" and "Runaround." The band's performance was heavily criticized by fans, DJs, and the media alike as being sloppy. "Runaround" in particular did not resemble the original version, as Weiland sang only the songs title, and none of its lyrics. On a positive note, Sammy Hagar introduced Velvet Revolver as "the best rock n roll band on the planet." Anthony and Hagar joined Velvet Revolver on stage to perform "Why Can't This Be Love".

Discography

Albums

• Contraband June 8, 2004 U.S. #1, CA #1, UK #11, Aus #2), Certified 2x Platinum US, 2x Platinum Canada
  Contraband
  June 8, 2004
  U.S. #1, CA #1, UK #11, Aus #2), Certified 2x Platinum US, 2x Platinum Canada
  
• 
  Libertad
  Spring, 2007
  

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions				Album
		U.S. Hot 100	U.S. Modern Rock	U.S. Mainstream Rock	UK Singles Chart
2003	"Set Me Free"	-	32	17	-	Contraband
2004	"Slither"	56	1	1	35	Contraband
2004	"Fall to Pieces"	67	2	1 (11 weeks)	32	Contraband
2005	"Dirty Little Thing"	-	18	8	-	Contraband
2005	"Come On, Come In"	-	-	14	-	Fantastic Four (Soundtrack)

External links

• Official website
• Velvet Revolver at MySpace
• All Music Guide Velvet Revolver page
• VH1 Velvet Revolver biography