Kings of Chaos (band)

Kings of Chaos
Also known as Rock N Roll All-Stars
Genres Rock
Years active 2012–present
Associated acts Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, Extreme, Def Leppard, Billy Idol, Skid Row, Deep Purple
Website Official Site
Members
Past members

Kings of Chaos are an international band featuring a core lineup of Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver members Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, and Gilby Clarke as well as a revolving lineup of members of Def Leppard, Deep Purple, Aerosmith and more.[1] The group plays songs from all of these bands, and other classic rock covers. To date, they have only recorded and released one song, "Never Before", on the Deep Purple tribute, Re-Machined: A Tribute to Deep Purple's Machine Head.[2]

History

The band was formerly known as the Rock N Roll All-Stars, which had a short tour of South America in 2012. Since their reincarnation as the Kings of Chaos, the band have played Australia's Stone Music Fest,[3] four shows in South Africa,[4] one show in the United States,[5] and two in Central America.

The supergroup has previously stated that they would be releasing EPs in the future that would each contain 3 covers and an original track,[6] but this has yet to happen.

The band always plays a setlist of songs from the bands of the members, and generally another few cover songs. Most prominent throughout are the Guns N' Roses classics, "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Paradise City," "Welcome To The Jungle," Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and Deep Purple's "Highway Star."

One of the significant points to the Kings of Chaos is that they at one point had 4 members of the 1993 version of Guns N' Roses, and 2 original members. This is a higher number than the current incarnation of Guns N' Roses itself. The core lineup however includes original GNR member, Duff McKagan, KOC founder Matt Sorum who played with GNR from 1990-1997, and Gilby Clarke, who played for GNR from 1991 to 1994.

On August 19, 2014, Kings of Chaos announced a 2014 South African Tour with two scheduled dates that will include Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith as a special guest.[7] They will not be joined by longtime members Joe Elliott and Glenn Hughes who both have other side projects that they are working on.

On November 4, 2014, Kings of Chaos played at Classic Rock Magazine's Roll of Honour Awards at the Avalon in Hollywood, with special guest Joe Perry. They were also joined on stage by Brian May.[8]

Members

The band is not meant to have a permanent lineup, and has thus had its fair share of personnel changes. At its core, playing every show with both the Kings of Chaos and Rock N Roll Allstars, are the former Guns N' Roses members, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, and Gilby Clarke.

Lineups

April 2012
"Rock 'N' Roll All-Stars"
20 April 2013
Stone Music Fest, Australia
June 2013
South African Tour
  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe Elliott – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Glenn Hughes – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Sebastian Bach – Lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Steve Stevens – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe Elliott – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Glenn Hughes – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Myles Kennedy – Lead vocals
  • Slash – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Ed Roland – Lead vocals
  • Dave Kushner – Guitar, backing vocals
18 November 2013
Dolphin Project Benefit, Avalon Hollywood
November 2013
Central American Tour
5 November 2014
Classic Rock Awards, Avalon Hollywood
  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Glenn Hughes – Lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Steve Stevens – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Slash – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Corey Taylor – Lead vocals

Guests:

  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe Elliott – Lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Glenn Hughes – Lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Steve Stevens – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Myles Kennedy – Lead vocals
  • Slash – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Corey Taylor – Lead vocals
  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe Elliott – Lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Nuno Bettencourt – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Gibbons – Lead vocals, guitar

Guests:

November - December 2014
South African Tour
January 2015 - present
Private event, Vail, Colorado
March 2015 - present
North American Tour
  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Nuno Bettencourt – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Gibbons – Lead vocals, guitar
  • Steven Tyler – Lead vocals, piano
  • Robin Zander – Lead vocals, guitar
  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Gibbons – Lead vocals, guitar
  • Robin Zander – Lead vocals, guitar
  • Steve Stevens – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Matt Sorum – Drums
  • Duff McKagan – Bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Gilby Clarke – Guitar, backing vocals
  • Glenn Hughes – Lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Billy Gibbons – Lead vocals, guitar
  • Robin Zander – Lead vocals, guitar
  • Steve Stevens – Guitar, backing vocals

Timeline

References