Velvet Revolver
Formed: 2002
From:
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Latest Velvet Revolver News
Below is our complete Velvet Revolver news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
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Rock Heavyweights Jam Out At The Roxy
Billboard.com reports: A cast of rock heavyweights crammed the Roxy stage in Hollywood Thursday night (May 1) for a jam session that found the likes of Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro, Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath and Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver, Guns N' Roses) on stage with the likes of Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols and Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell.
All came together for the first of five Thursday-night gigs in May featuring Navarro and Sorum's occasional side project, Camp Freddy, which also features guitarist/vocalist Billy Morrison, bassist Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction, Alanis Morissette) and singers McGrath and Donovan Leitch, son of folk singer Donovan.
The Roxy is known for holding occasional jam sessions with top-shelf names, and this collective opened its Roxy stand by wowing the crowd with covers of songs by Thin Lizzy ("Jailbreak"), Oasis ("Rock and Roll Star"), Killing Joke ("Eighties"), Blur ("Song 2") and David Bowie ("Suffragette City").
Read the full article at Billboard.com.
Scott Weiland To Release A Double Album
Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots/ ex Velvet Revolver) has posted the following statement via Myspace:
"I felt the need to check in and let everyone know what the latest and greatest is...as you know, my original band, STP, have reunited and are gearing up for our 4 month tour of the U.S. this summer. I'm really excited to be back in cohoots with my old buddies and share that tingly feeling when we perform.
"I've been crazy busy since coming off tour and never get the chance to sleep in anymore! I have been working on my solo record, which will be a double album due for a November release. It's gonna be awesome, with many different musical influences like rock, punk, R&B as well as an eclectic blend that we've come up with over the years. Can't wait for everyone to hear it. I'm also in the process of writing my autobiography along with famed writer David Ritz, also due out toward the end of the year. It will be a collection of stories, experiences and lessons throughout my life. Definitely a good read.
"Well, I gotta hit the studio now. Ill do my best to check in every now and then. I want you to know, I ALWAYS appreciate the love and support and am excited to give you all a great tour."
Headline News
Scott Weiland Jailed For Eight Days
According to Undercover.com.au, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman Scott Weiland (ex- VELVET REVOLVER), was sentenced on Monday (April 28) to eight days jail following his arrest for DUI in November last year. Weiland, who recently announced that he's rejoining his old group the Stone Temple Pilots, entered a no contest plea to his second DUI conviction in a Californian court. He was ordered to serve eight days jail, complete an alcohol education program for 18-months and pay fines of $2,000. The 40-year-old rocker must have served his jail term by May 28.
Scott Weiland Recording Solo CD With Steve Albini
Billboard.com reports that Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland is recording his second solo album with famed indie rock producer Steve Albini and plans to release it in November.
Ex-Velvet Revolver vocalist Weiland broke the news earlier this week on "The Howard Stern Show," during which No Doubt drummer Adrian Young called in to reveal he is also participating on the project.
According to Weiland's publicist, the as-yet-untitled solo set will be released on Weiland's Soft Drive label, with distribution through RED/Sony. It is unknown if Weiland's previously recorded collaboration with producer Pharrell Williams, "Happy," will appear on the album.
Weiland's solo debut, "12 Bar Blues," was released in 1998. "My music is a little bit different, obviously, than Velvet Revolver music," Weiland told Billboard in late 2006, when he proclaimed the solo album to be "three-quarters done." "It's a little bit more on the esoteric side."
As previously reported, Stone Temple Pilots will embark on an extensive reunion tour May 17 at Columbus, Ohio,'s Rock on the Range festival, and have tentative plans to hit the studio later this year.
Scott Weiland Working On Second Solo Record
Stone Temple Pilots and former Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland has revealed to infamous DJ Howard Stern that he is currently working on the follow up to his 1998 solo album "12 Bar Blues". As of yet, he has not revealed a release date or album title. The only detail announced is that he will be joined by No Doubt drummer Adrian Young on the album.
Slash Reveals Details Behind The Weiland Split
Guitar World spoke exclusively with Slash in New York on April 17th, while he was in town to perform a benefit show with Tom Morello, Jerry Cantrell and Perry Farrell.
The guitarist discussed VELVET REVOLVER’s split with singer Scott Weiland: “We had gotten to that point where we were resigned to the fact that we weren’t going to be working with Scott anymore, even before we left for the last leg of the tour,” says Slash. “So when he said all that stuff onstage [at a gig in Scotland Weiland announced to fans that they were witnessing the group’s last tour] we were sort of surprised. Because we had no intention of breaking the band up. It might have been the last show for him, but it wasn’t the last show for Velvet Revolver."
On the fact that Weiland released a statement alleging “certain individuals” were singing along with him onstage: “Scott was under the impression that our drum tech was singing during the set, which was why he walked offstage at that show. We convinced him that wasn’t happening, but then the next night he said that Matt [Sorum] was doing it. He was firmly convinced that was happening, which it wasn’t.”
Read the full article at Guitar World.
Velvet Revolver To Audition Vocalists Via Internet
VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash has told Christa Titus of Billboard.com that the band is creating a web site to audition singers. The new site will help VELVET REVOLVER replace Scott Weiland, whose April 1 dismissal from the band continued the public feud between the ex-frontman and his former bandmates.
"The band is actually talking about actually building a Web site [and] doing some auditions via that, so that's been something that's developing at this point," Slash explains, noting that it should be happening "in the next month or so."
Read more at Billboard.com.
Stone Temple Pilots To Play On Jimmy Kimmel In May
The reunited STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will be the featured musical guests on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on the Thursday, May 1 episode (which will actually air the morning of May 2 beginning at 12:05 a.m.).
According to Billboard.com, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will next week announce plans for a summer tour of more than 50 amphitheaters.
The group has already confirmed a handful of festival dates, beginning with the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio, on May 17-18.
Further details about STP's tour will be announced during an April 7 news conference at the Harry Houdini Estate in Los Angeles. It is still unclear whether the band will record new material.
Although STONE TEMPLE PILOTS broke up in 2002 under less than friendly circumstances, both singer Scott Weiland — who just parted ways with VELVET REVOLVER following a very public ar of words — and guitarist Dean DeLeo have said that the band members are all on good terms now. Weiland even told The Pulse of Radio he could envision making another STP album. "We were never a band that felt like we needed to lean too hard onto our muscle," he said. "We always felt like we had enough beauty and enough finesse in our music, you know, while we were together, that could carry us into a long career. So for us to make a record at an older age doesn't seem like a stretch, you know, 'cause we were never all about brawn."
The last STP album, "Shangri-La-Dee-Da", came out in 2001. The band's initial success in the early and mid-'90s was derailed in the latter part of the decade by Weiland's well-documented drug problems and arrests.
Weiland, who recently spent time in rehab at an undisclosed location, has struggled with substance abuse problems for more than a decade, although he has reportedly been clean for nearly four years until now. Questions about his condition flared a few weeks ago when he missed a VELVET REVOLVER performance at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, claiming transportation problems.
Velvet Revolver Drummer Matt Sorum Posts Update
Drummer Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) has issued the following update:
"Hey Friends,
Want to give a very special thanks to our amazing crew, these are the guys and girl that work their asses off bouncing around on a tour bus then getting up after no sleep to set up all the gear, get the dressing rooms ready, food for the crew and band etc, etc. Hard working dedicated people who love the traveling rock n roll show. They are the foundation of Velvet Revolver. Love U guys!!!!
And as you all know by now it was our last show with Scott Weiland.
It was great to be in the UK and Europe playing for all you great fans. Thank you for your support as well as your passion. You people go crazy and we love it.
Took some pictures with my girl In Amsterdam before we left for the airport today. Feeling good about the future.
Going to get back to work right away on some new music and hope to have exciting news soon.
As for Scott I wish him well.
Stay Tuned!!!!!!
Love, Matt."
Headline News
Scott Weiland And Velvet Revolver Parting Ways
VELVET REVOLVER members - Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner - have announced that they are parting ways with singer Scott Weiland.
Weiland has issued the following statement to EW.com:
"After reading the comment by Duff, Matt, Dave and the illustrious "GUITAR HERO," Saul Hudson, a.k.a Slash, I find it humorous that the so called four "founding members" of Velvet Revolver, better known to themselves as "the Project" before I officially named the band, would decide to move on without me after I had already claimed the group dead in the water on March 20 in Glasgow.
"In response to Slash's comment regarding my commitment, I have to say it is a blatant and tired excuse to cover up the truth.
"The truth of the matter is that the band had not gotten along on multiple levels for some time. On a musical level, there were moments of joy, inspiration, fun... at times, but let's not forget the multiple trips to rehab every member of the band had taken (with the exception of one member, no need to mention his name).
"Personally speaking, I choose to look forward to the future and performing with a group of friends I have known my entire life, people who have always had my back.
"This also speaks to my commitment to my music and my fellow band mates in STP and to the fans who I feel would much rather watch a group of musicians who enjoy being together as opposed to a handful of discontents who at one time used to call themselves a gang.
"p.s. - don't be fooled by veiled trickery
"p.p.s - good hunting lads, I think Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice." More...
Velvet Revolver To Continue Without Scott Weiland?
Classic Rock magazine's Jerry ewing recently spoke to Velvet Revolver/ former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Here are some excerpts:
Slash: I was talking with Robert Plant the other night and he was casually naming certain ZEPPELIN songs and then in the same breath who it was ripped off from.
Classic Rock: Did GUNS N' ROSES ever get taken to court for allegedly ripping anyone off?
Slash: No. One of the things about myself and the other members of GUNS N' ROSES, with the exception of maybe Izzy [Stradlin], 'cause he was maybe a bit more freeform, was that we were huge sticklers for anything that sounded like anything else. Straight off the bat if you played a few chords and it really reminded you of something else we scrapped it. It's very different with VELVET REVOLVER. Even though myself and Duff [McKagan] are the same way, and Matt [Sorum], Scott [Weiland] will rip something. We'll be like, "No, we can't do that," and he'll be like, "Oh, go on, let's do it," and we'll do it.
Classic Rock: Going back to VELVET REVOLVER, there's been a lot said on the Internet between Scott and Matt. What's the current state of play?
Slash: We've got six shows, ha-ha.
Classic Rock: How do you deal with that stuff flying around?
Slash: I have no comment. Obviously I'm very aware of everything that's going on. The only thing I can add to that is, in contrast to what Scott says, there will be a VELVET REVOLVER after this tour.
Classic Rock: With Scott singing?
Slash: I have no comment on that [chuckles].
Slash Says Velvet Revolver Will Tour Again
Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash has told the BBC that the bands current European tour will not be their last, despite comments made by front-man Scott Weiland stating otherwise. According to the article the band will be concentrating on their next studio album.
Rumors of a tour with Led Zeppelin, which were actually started by bassist Duff McKagen, have been circulating, however Slash said that, “We’ve got another record to do and we’re not even thinking about that.“
Velvet Revolver Split Rumours Persist
MTV.com has issued the following report from Chris Harris:
During VELVET REVOLVER's show on Thursday night in Glasgow, Scotland, frontman Scott Weiland - who finished another stint in rehab just before the start of the band's European tour - made a rather peculiar and unexpected announcement, one that stirred considerable debate among VR fans all weekend.
According to several media and fan accounts, Weiland told the sold-out crowd that they were "watching something special ... the last tour by Velvet Revolver." At least one account of the evening's proceedings suggests Weiland's revelation was news to the rest of the band; the tour concludes on April 1st in the Netherlands.
"[Guitarist] Slash, [bassist] Duff [McKagan], [drummer] Matt [Sorum] and [guitarist] Dave [Kushner] all looked at each other. ...They sang 'Fall To Pieces,' [and] then Scott goes over to the side of the stage and argues with the sound guy," one eyewitness reported on a forum devoted to the group. "After a couple of songs, he threw his [microphone] down and walked off. After a long wait, Duff came out with the band and sang the start of 'It's So Easy'. Scott shows up about half way through, sang really half-assed, then [was] gone again."
There is yet to be a response to the statements made by MTV from the bands website or management but drummer Matt Sorum had this to say on his blog:
"[We] had a little band turmoil on stage, as you probably all could tell," he wrote. "Being in a band is a lot like being in a relationship. Sometimes, you just don't get along. I guess there has been more turmoil lately, with the cancellations and all. It has been frustrating; I am not going to lie. My career and life in rock and roll has come with its ups and downs. Unfortunately, some people in this business don't realize how great of a life they have. Touring the world, meeting great people, and fans all over the world - and just playing music for a living. I feel truly blessed. But sometimes the road can be draining for some.
"Being away from home and family does grind on you sometimes," Sorum continued. "Personally, I love this sh-- and sometimes can't believe I am so lucky to still be doing what I do for a living. Everybody could see who was unhappy [at the Glasgow show], but all I can say is let's keep the rock alive, people. In this life, you just pick up and keep moving. And don't ever let anybody stand in your way."
Read the full article at MTV.com.
McQueen To Support H.I.M. on Australian Tour
UK all-girl band MCQUEEN will support HIM on a tour of Australia and New Zealand later this month. The details are as follows:
March 23 - Perth, Australia - Metro City
March 25 - Sydney, Australia - Big Top
March 27 - Melbourne, Australia - Festival Hall
March 29 - Brisbane, Australia - Tivoli
March 31 - Auckland, New Zealand - Power Station
As previously reported, MCQUEEN has been confirmed as the opening act for VELVET REVOLVER on three dates in March at the "personal request" of VR guitarist Slash, according to a press release. The dates are as follows:
March 15 - Liverpool University
March 16 - Leeds University
March 17 - Manchester Apollo
McQueen To Support Velvet Revolver In the UK
UK all-girl band MCQUEEN has been confirmed as the opening act for VELVET REVOLVER on three dates in March at the "personal request" of VR guitarist Slash, according to a press release. The details are as follows:
March 15 - Liverpool University
March 16 - Leeds University
March 17 - Manchester Apollo
MCQUEEN recently tapped legendary U.S. rock A&R executive/manager Tom Zutaut — the man who is said to have signed and launched the careers of GUNS N' ROSES, MÖTLEY CRÜE and TESLA, among others — to be a part of the global MCQUEEN management team, working alongside UK's Seven Webster of 7pm Management. More...
Velvet Revolver Drummer Matt Sorum Checks In
VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum has checked in with the following update:
"We just landed in Dubai. This place is so cool. And wild. Dubai is a long way from California. Have been flying over 24 hours after a stop in Frankfurt, Germany. Cannot wait to rock tomorrow. Play a big festival here with the MUSE. Then we head up to Dublin for two gigs, then over to England, Scotland finishing up in Belgium, Germany and Amsterdam. Scott (Weiland) is healthy and ready to rock. We are all ready to get back on stage and play for all you fine people. See you rockers soon."
New Velvet Revolver Video Posted Online
The video for VELVET REVOLVER's 'Get Out The Door' has been posted online at YouTube, courtesty of thegunsonline.com. Obviously we would like to host the video right here but unfortunately enabling is disabled.
Velvet Revolver's future looks to be in serious question lately. Frontman Scott Weiland was recently arrested for driving whilst intoxicated, spent 30 days in rehab and decided to plead not guilty in his drugs case. He is also scheduled to reform his former outfit, Stone Temple Pilots and play a handful of reunion shows with the band.
VR's Scott Weiland Pleads Innocent In Drugs Case
According to Reuters, Scott Weiland pleaded innocent on Wednesday (March 5th) to driving under the influence of drugs, a charge stemming from his November arrest on a Los Angeles freeway onramp.
The 40-year-old singer for the band VELVET REVOLVER was not in court but entered his plea to the misdemeanor charge through a defense attorney.
Weiland is free on $40,000 bail and was due back in court for a pretrial hearing on April 4.
If convicted he faces up to one year in jail because he has a prior conviction for driving under the influence, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office said.
Weiland, who first gained fame as lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots, was stopped by police on November 21 while driving onto the Hollywood Freeway. He was taken into custody after refusing to take a sobriety test.
Velvet Revolver Singer Released From Rehab
TMZ.com reports:
TMZ was in an L.A. County Courthouse this morning as Scott Weiland's attorney told us the troubled rocker has just finished a stint in rehab.
Weiland's attorney, Tony Brooklier, says the former STP-er has completed 28 days in a treatment facility and is "doing well."
Weiland was arrested last November and booked for driving under the influence of a drug.
His next court date is Wednesday, March 5th.
Slash Speaks On Scott Weiland's Rehab Stint
TimeOutDubai.com recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash. A few excerpts from the chat follow:
On surviving the '80s and '90s excess:
"Oh yeah, there are moments when I stop and think of that, I definitely feel like I'm blessed because I'm still here, and I really had every reason to not be. . . Either someone's been looking out for me or it's just sheer luck, but because of that I decided that I should probably stop taking it for granted. That I should put my nose to the grindstone and do what my whole purpose for being here is."
On the fact that GUNS N' ROSES never seemed to fit in with the '80s L.A. scene:
"As soon as the '80s started, there was not a lot going on to be influenced by. Everything that inspired me was the stuff I listened to while growing up, and there was a dramatic shift in the '80s — GUNS N' ROSES was a proponent of change. We were a result of what the '80s was all about and the antitheses of it."
On the height of GUNS N' ROSES' success:
"We got to a point where it was really huge and it was fun in lots of ways, and in a lot of ways it was very overwhelming. But I enjoyed it, especially given where we all came from, which was basically nothing, to becoming this huge band on a global level."
"It had its moments where it became a little excessive. Luckily there was always some semblance of clarity which basically won out in the end. When I was working I never felt as destructive as when I wasn't working, and that was my problem — I figured that one out over the years."
On his decision to quit GUNS N' ROSES in 1996:
"It was a huge relief when I made that decision. From the early '90s onwards it was a very stressful situation, so I relieved myself of that burden, but then it was a hell of a lot of work to keep that all going, because from then I was out on my own. It's a tough business, I learned a lot about it, and I learned that without the umbrella of the whole GUNS N' ROSES name, I needed to be a bit more alert on a regular basis to stay afloat — it was slow learning . . . The one thing I learned? To take charge of everything to do with my career… and really not to trust anybody."
On the perceived wisdom that NIRVANA and the Seattle grunge scene overtook hard rock (and bands like GUNS N' ROSES) in the early 90s:
"That's pretty much a line of bulls*** right there, that never happened. Basically the band broke up right around the time that all that was happening, and a lot of the grunge bands — who are majorly influenced by GUNS N' ROSES — all of a sudden thought they'd taken over. But we just broke up and it had nothing to do with what was going on [with grunge], because in 1994 we were still the biggest stadium band, so it didn't really have any effect on us."
On how touring now compares to the days of intoxication, other than the obvious:
"It's not that much of a change. Some things have changed, but y'know the basics of it stay the same. Sure, there were some great times in the '80s too, but I just enjoy what I do — it's a very rock and roll family, so it kind of reminds me of my childhood."
On singer Scott Weiland's recent rehab stint:
"He's in rehab so I think he's doing OK. We helped him in the very early days, and we are always there if he needs support, but at this moment he's being taken care of."
Read the entire interview at TimeOutDubai.com.
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