Velvet Revolver

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Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver live at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, 2007-06-05. (L to R): Dave Kushner, Duff McKagan, Scott Weiland, Slash, Matt Sorum
Velvet Revolver live at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, 2007-06-05. (L to R): Dave Kushner, Duff McKagan, Scott Weiland, Slash, Matt Sorum
Background information
Origin Rancho Santa Margarita, California, USA
Genre(s) Hard rock, heavy metal
Years active 2002–present
Label(s) SonyBMG/RCA
Associated acts Guns N' Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, Wasted Youth, Slash's Snakepit, Camp Freddy, Zilch, Loaded, Buckcherry
Website www.velvetrevolver.com www.velvetrevolver.net
Members
Slash
Duff McKagan
Dave Kushner
Matt Sorum
Former members
Scott Weiland

Velvet Revolver (abbreviated to VR) is a Grammy Award-winning hard rock supergroup currently consisting of Slash (Lead Guitar), Duff McKagan (bass guitar, backing vocals), Matt Sorum (drums, percussion, backing vocals) of Guns N' Roses, and Dave Kushner (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), of Wasted Youth. Following the breakup of Stone Temple Pilots in 2003, the band achieved success with their debut album Contraband and released their second album Libertad in 2007. Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots was the lead singer for the band from 2003 until 2008, when he left to reunite the Stone Temple Pilots after a fall out with the other members of Velvet Revolver.

Critics initially described Velvet Revolver as a mere combination of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses, and have criticized the band for a "disconnection" between Weiland and the rest of the band.[1][2] However, the band went with a different approach for their second album Libertad, and received some acclaim. With their hit single "Slither", they won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Contents

[edit] Band history

[edit] Formation (2002-2003)

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 bar concert for fellow musician Randy Castillo in 2002. They subsequently decided to form a new band that would bring the spirit of rock back to the mainstream. Izzy Stradlin was initially invited to be the band's rhythm guitarist, but both Stradlin and the band decided against this because of his aversion to lead singers and life on the road. The band recruited guitarist Dave Kushner, who had previously played with The Infectious Grooves, 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" while the band was auditioning singers.

The quartet then set about recruiting a lead singer, with VH1 filming the recruitment process. The resulting documentary was aired as VH1 Inside Out: The Rise of Velvet Revolver. 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), and Travis Meeks (of Days of the New), all of whom were unsuccessful. Myles Kennedy (of Alter Bridge), declined an invitation to audition. 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 once played on the same bill as Kushner. Originally Weiland was wanted by the band but due to STP still touring he declined. After the band heard about STP's split in 2003,they were quick to hire the services of Weiland. Once he heard the material and offered his services as the lead singer; the band clicked.

According to Slash's autobiography, Scott Weiland suggested the name "Black Velvet Revolver", combining something intimate with something violent, after Slash suggested Revolver. He liked the word Revolution, which he saw in the credits of a movie. From Black Velvet Revolver, Slash thought it was a mouthful and suggested simply "Velvet Revolver." This was done while walking to the viewing room, at Universal Studios, to see The Hulk. They were considering lending a song to the soundtrack.

[edit] Contraband (2003-2005)

Velvet Revolver recorded its first track "Set Me Free" for the soundtrack for the movie Hulk 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
Velvet Revolver live in 2005

Contraband was released in June 2004, debuting at #1 on the Billboard album charts selling 256,000 in its first week of release. The album also appeared at #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 five more singles: the ballads "Fall to Pieces" and "The Last Fight", and the hard-rockers 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, afraid they would be dismissed as another 1980s bands re-grouping for the sake of monetary gain. Instead, they state they wish to be seen as a new band.

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 reached global scales. The band toured both the United States and Europe twice, while also performing in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The CD had SunnComm's MediaMax DRM rootkit on it, exposing users to a computer 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. The band also recorded a new song entitled "Come On, Come In" for the 2005 movie Fantastic Four.

[edit] Libertad (2005-2008)

During 2005, the group announced that a second album was in the works. Scott Weiland announced at the 2005 Radio Music Awards that it would be a concept album, and would be less single-driven than its previous effort; but later in the summer of 2005, Matt Sorum dismissed the claim that it would be a concept album. In December 2005, the band set Libertad (Spanish for "liberty") 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 later claimed that former Stone Temple Pilots producer Brendan O'Brien would be producing the album.

In October 2006, Scott Weiland announced that Libertad would most likely be released early to late Spring in 2007, while a few months later Slash gave May 2007 as the expected release date.[3] The group recorded 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 told Billboard.com. "All of our hopes have even been elevated over the past three weeks", he said. "We were really excited about six months ago, when we first began writing. Then we really kind of flat-lined for a while."

At Gods of Metal 2007.
At Gods of Metal 2007.

"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 offered. "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 had 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."[4]

After scrapping the original May 29 release date, Velvet Revolver settled on July 3rd to unveil its second RCA album, "Libertad." It was announced on May 11, 2007 that as a precursor to Libertad, the band would release an EP in June titled Melody and the Tyranny. As cover art, Libertad, which debuted at #5 with 92,000 copies sold in its first week, features the 10 pesos coin used during Pinochet's regime in Chile.[5]

On June 21, 2007, Velvet Revolver performed in a concert at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C., that was streamed live via MSN Music. On June 23, 2007, four songs off the album were available in full stream audio onto the internet ten days before retail on BestBuy's website. It was announced by WWE that "Let It Roll" would be the official theme song for the 2007 Diva Search.[6] "Slither" "She Builds Quick Machines," and "Messages" appear in a downloadable Velvet Revolver pack in the videogame Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.[7]

On their official website, Velvet Revolver gave a chance for fans to vote in a poll for the third single off of Libertad. "Get Out the Door" won with 53% of the votes, winning over "Let It Roll" and "She Mine". "Get Out the Door" was released for airplay on January 28, 2008. MTV has recently reported that Slash told Illinois' Northwest Herald that the band will begin working on its next LP in April 2008. Slash is also planning to record a solo album sometime in the next year or two. They began a tour of Australia, Europe and the US, starting with a concert in Chicago on January 24, 2008. According to BlabberMouth.net on February 7, Scott Weiland voluntarily entered a rehab facility[8]. This led to Velvet Revolver cancelling their Australian tour which had already been postponed for 2 months. They returned to the stage on March 8, 2008 in Dubai for the Desert Rock Festival.

[edit] Split from Weiland (2008-present)

On January 25, 2008, it was announced by Slash that Weiland's former group, Stone Temple Pilots, will be headlining the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio in May 2008 - making the group's reunion official.[9] Duff has also hinted to a possible opening slot for the band on a Led Zeppelin world tour that is in the works.[10] However, Slash later said in an interview with BBC Newsbeat, that Duff's comments had been taken out of context and that it is uncertain if Zeppelin will even tour at all.[11]

Weiland announced from the stage in Glasgow on March 20, 2008 that the current VR tour would be the last, much to the bemusement of the other band members. Weiland then walked off stage, only to return in the middle of VR's rendition of "It's So Easy". On April 1, 2008, Velvet Revolver founding members Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner announced that they are parting ways with singer Scott Weiland. "This band is all about its fans and its music and Scott Weiland isn't 100% committed to either," said Slash. "Among other things, his increasingly erratic on-stage behavior and personal problems have forced us to move on." Slash told the Daily Star (UK) that "There will be a third album. We don't know how or when but the core four guys will continue."

On April 2, 2008, Scott Weiland released a statement via an email to MTV, striking back at his former bandmembers and clarifying his position regarding the band and his reunion with the Stone Temple Pilots. [12] On April 3, 2008, Slash revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone: "There's some people, but it's really premature to start naming names. We actually worked with a guy, I won't mention his name, before we left to go to the UK and there just wasn't enough to break him in, so we're gonna work with him again some more, and maybe some other guys as well." On April 22. 2008, Slash stated that the band is using the web to audition for singers."[13] Slash, whose self-titled 2007 memoir details the "gruelling" process of finding a singer before Weiland came along, said he did not have anyone in mind for Weiland's replacement.

Since then, many popular Hard rock vocalists were rumored by fans to be associated with Velvet Revolver in replacing Scott Weiland, including Sebastian Bach (ex-Skid Row), Chris Cornell (ex-Audioslave, Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog and solo) Josh Todd (Buckcherry), Mike Patton (ex-Faith No More), Eric Dover (ex-Slash's Snakepit), Scott Stapp (ex-Creed) and some rumors even saying Izzy Stradlin (ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist) and even the band's own bassist and backing vocalist Duff McKagan.

Besides getting more serious in their idea of finding VR's new singer through a web page, Slash has also told to billboard that Velvet Revolver does have an upcoming gig in Las Vegas — a concert booked before Weiland’s exile — and will feature special guests taking turns at the microphone. No word whether Sebastian Bach has been invited. No specific names were mentioned to replace Weiland but Billboard noted that if Axl Rose wanted to get back with his old mates, he would have to audition on the web.

On May 6, 2008, ex-Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach was interviewed on "The Buckethead Show" on Tampa's 98 Rock radio station about the rumors concering him being considered for the position of lead singer in Velvet Revolver, after the split from Scott Weiland. He said that he actually spoke to Slash recently, but also that joining Velvet Revolver will be very awkward for him and unlikely, stating he prefers his latest solo record "Angel Down" material to the songs on all of Velvet Revolver's records, and that since he is very good friends with Axl Rose, he said he would feel uncomfortable to sing Axl's songs (referring to Guns N' Roses "covers" that the band performs on live shows), although he finished off with saying "I love Guns N' Roses material, but I've got my own old songs — Skid Row — so for me, it would all depend on music. I wouldn't just join the band just to join the band. If we came up with some incredible new songs, then maybe I'd think about it." [14]

Bach confirmed in an interview with the band that he does not want the Velvet Revolver gig due to his close relationship with Axl Rose." [15]

In an interview with Matt Sorum on May 26, 2008 he said that the band is definitely not breaking up and that they had to look up for a singer before and they will do it again and move on, now into a totally new phase for the band. He said that the band is coming up with something that will surprise everybody and that an announcement about their new singer will be released soon. As to what many suggested, Sorum also confirmed that the acclaimed TV producer Mark Burnett did suggest the band to appear in a new season of the reality tv show "Rock Star" where he could look up for a new singer, but they declined stating that it wasn't right for what they tried to do. [16] In Classic Rock magazine, a list of possible Weiland replacements was shown. The band's bassist Duff McKagan commented on each. Duff's apparent favorites included Lenny Kravitz, Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), Donovan Leitch (Nancy Boy), and Shooter Jennings. When asked about Sebastian Bach, he simply commented, "It would be a different kind of band." Recent rumors have suggested that Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson will be the next singer, but it hasn't been confirmed. Lead guitarist Slash has stated that will stay busy by working on his solo album.

[edit] Van Halen Induction

On March 12, 2007, Velvet Revolver stood in for Van Halen for their induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Of Van Halen, only former bassist Michael Anthony and former singer Sammy Hagar attended. Eddie Van Halen was reportedly in alcohol rehabilitation and David Lee Roth reportedly did not attend because he could not agree on which song to sing on stage with Velvet Revolver. The band played a medley of "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and "Runaround". Sammy Hagar introduced Velvet Revolver as "the best rock and roll band left on the planet." Anthony and Hagar joined Paul Shaffer and the house band on stage to perform "Why Can't This Be Love".

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

  • Dave Kushner - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2002-present)
  • Duff McKagan - bass, backing vocals (2002-present)
  • Matt Sorum - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2002-present)
  • Slash-lead guitar (2002-present)

[edit] Former members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Year Title Chart positions
Billboard Top 100 UK Album Chart ARIA Australia Charts Canadian Album Chart
2004 Contraband 1 11 2 1
2007 Libertad 5 6 10 2

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100[17] U.S. Modern Rock[17] U.S. Mainstream Rock[17] UK Singles Chart
2003 "Set Me Free" - 32 17 - Hulk soundtrack, Contraband
2004 "Slither" 56 1 (4 weeks) 1 (9 weeks) 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
2007 "She Builds Quick Machines" 104 14 2 - Libertad, Melody and the Tyranny
2007 "The Last Fight" - - 16 - Libertad
2008 "Get Out the Door" - - 34 - Libertad

[edit] Sales And Certifications

[edit] EPs

[edit] Cover Songs

The band performs a variety of cover songs, including:

[edit] Guns N' Roses

[edit] Stone Temple Pilots

  • "Crackerman" (performed live in concert)
  • "Dead & Bloated" (performed live in concert)
  • "Interstate Love Song" (performed live in concert)
  • "Plush" (performed live in concert)
  • "Sex Type Thing" (performed live in concert)
  • "Vasoline" (performed live in concert)

[edit] Aerosmith

  • "No More No More" (appears on the Australian bonus disc of Contraband)
  • "Mama Kin" (performed in concert with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith)

[edit] Cheap Trick

  • "Dream Police" (performed live in concert)
  • "Surrender" (appears on the Australian bonus disc of Contraband, on a bonus disc of the European Tour Edition of Contraband and on the single Fall to Pieces)

[edit] Electric Light Orchestra

[edit] Eric Clapton

  • "Tears in Heaven" (released as a single to benefit victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and done with many other artists)

[edit] Led Zeppelin

[edit] Nirvana

[edit] Pink Floyd

[edit] Sex Pistols

  • "Bodies" (live version appears on bonus track of Contraband in the UK release only and on the single Slither)

[edit] Talking Heads

  • "Psycho Killer" (Appears on the iTunes version of Libertad and on the EP Melody and the Tyranny)

[edit] The Beatles

  • "Across the Universe" (performed at the 2005 Grammy Awards with many other artists to benefit victims of the Tsunami)

[edit] The Doors

[edit] Ramones

[edit] The Rolling Stones

  • "Angie" (performed at second ever concert)
  • "Dead Flowers" (performed acoustically by Scott, Duff, and Slash in concert)
  • "Star Star" (performed live in concert)

[edit] Van Halen

  • "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" (performed at Van Halen induction ceremony)
  • "Runaround" (performed at Van Halen induction ceremony)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Velvet Revolver: Contraband [2004] Shaking Through.net: Music: Review
  2. ^ Playlouder - Latest
  3. ^ Slashsworld.com. News - Slash stating Libertad release date.
  4. ^ www.billboard.com. News - Scott Weiland On VR's Second Album.
  5. ^ www.gnrdaily.com. VR Reveals Artwork but Pushes Back Release.
  6. ^ http://www.wwe.com/divasearch/exclusives/velvetrevolver
  7. ^ http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor/guitar-hero-3-dlc-leaked-318234.php
  8. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90268
  9. ^ NEW ROCK 99.7 THE BLITZ
  10. ^ Kerrang! Velvet Revolver to split-up?
  11. ^ Sfgate: Daily Dish : Slash Denies Velvet Revolver/Led Zeppelin Reports
  12. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584615/20080402/velvet_revolver.jhtml MThttp://www.antimusic.com/news/08/may/24Bach_Doesnt_Want_Velvet_Revolver_Gig_.shtmlV.com - "Scott Weiland Fires Back At Velvet Revolver, Suggests Sebastian Bach As His Replacement"
  13. ^ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/velvet_revolver_to_audition_online.html
  14. ^ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/joining_velvet_revolver_would_be_awkward_for_bach.html
  15. ^ http://www.antimusic.com/news/08/may/24Bach_Doesnt_Want_Velvet_Revolver_Gig_.shtml
  16. ^ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/video_news/velvet_revolver_say_no_to_reality_show_plan_to_announce_lead_vocalist.html
  17. ^ a b c Velvet Revolver - Artist Chart History - Singles. Billboard. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Velvet Revolver
Slash • Dave Kushner • Duff McKagan • Matt Sorum
Scott Weiland
Albums
EPs
Singles
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