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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Megadeth Bassist Checks In
MEGADETH bassist James Lomenzo has issued the following update:
Gotta let you all know what a sensational tour this has been so far! Playing some of my old favorite haunts has really been a blast and getting to meet some of you on and around the venues has been fantastically re-affirming. From what you've been relaying to us, we're doin' right by the fans both old and new and to the Megadeth legacy. I'm so proud to be a part of this "resurgence" (the word most of you use when you describe your perception of Megadeth at large). All who have been present for our shows thus far from Alaska to last nights Milwaukee Wisconsin gig have really come full on and brought us the metal, in as much as we have tried to bring it to you making for some genuinely memorable shows. You have my humblest thanks.
My wife reminded me to share this with you so here goes... I ran into an old friend of mine in the hotel lobby in Portland a week and a half ago, Slash. We chatted a bit and then he got serious (seemingly) and said, 'Thanks to Megadeth I've got to go to traffic school!' I asked, 'Why?' and he explained, 'I Love the new album [United Abominations], every-time I drive I've got it crankin' in my car... I've gotten two speeding tickets thanks to you guys and now I've got to go to fuckin traffic school!' Of course, I apologized and then thanked him.
Hey, thanks for all the write-in's on my sticky in the musicians forum, it's been great chatting bass with you and watching some of you interact, keep those posts coming! Also, thanks to some of you for the great comments on my SayNow message board, I really dig hearing from you guys, what a great opportunity to hear your voices individually and get to catch up with some of my older fans. Like Dave (Mustaine), I'm toying with ideas on how to make communication on SayNow more interactive and fun so stay tuned."
James Lomenzo's SayNow number is as follows: 661.349.7208
Tygers Of Pan Tang To Perform At Music Live
NWOBHM legends Tygers Of Pan Tang have announced that they will be performing at the Music Live expedition in Birmingham on November the 4th. The line up of that day will also include NWOBHM favourites Blitzkrieg. Also at the event Slayer's Kerry King and Velvet Revolver's Duff McKagen and Dave Kushner will be signing autographs and meeting fans amongst others.
Tom Morello Named Guitar Hero III's Third Boss
Living guitar legend Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave has confirmed in a recent Rolling Stone interview that he's going to be one of the bosses in Activision and RedOctane's upcoming Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. He said he loved the game and is hoping to be a competitive character.
"Whenever I play Guitar Hero, my opponent always kicks my ass on my own riffs," says Morello. "Now that I'm actually in the game, I hope the digital me will win once in a while!"
Morello has been distinguished because of his trademark synthetic riffs and politically-charged numbers while with Rage Against the Machine.
Brett Michaels of Poison and Slash of Guns n' Roses have earlier been named as bosses in Guitar Hero III. RedOctane promises more legends to challenge when the game launches later this year for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.
Slash Talks About New Autobiography
29, 2007
VELVET REVOLVER and former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash spoke to E! Online about his upcoming autobiography. He said we could expect a bunch of stuff about his years with GUNS 'N' ROSES, but not necessarily because he was feeling nostalgic on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of "Appetite for Destruction".
"I never wanted to write a book, because it would be too final," Slash explained. "The only reason I wrote it is because a lot of the stuff I was reading and seeing about the band got pretty frustrating. I just had to straighten out some shit."
The book is co-authored by former Rolling Stone contributor Anthony Bozza, who also helped Tommy Lee on his tell-all tome, "Tommyland".
"It almost reads like a journal, except for the fact that I never wrote anything down," Slash said. "It was a hard book to make, because I was pretty fucked up from 1980 to 2000-something. I really had to dig deep to try and remember a lot of shit."
Slash added that the book is now being edited and will hopefully be out before the end of the year. He told Glam-Metal.com that the book has "some funny shit in it. It's not really a book that I'm out attacking anybody or venting all my grievances."
Slash told The Pulse of Radio that for him and the other members of VELVET REVOLVER, making music has always been a central focus of their lives. "I think the most important thing is, from wherever it is that we come from back when we were kids, when we first got inspired to be musicians and we were huge rock fans, and the whole nine yards, that's never left us," he said. "So we never got jaded in the sense that — the business might have had some certain effect on us over the years, but as far as where our roots are, and what drives us to stay in and keep doing what we're doing, that's never changed."
VELVET REVOLVER released its second album, "Libertad", on July 3. The latest single from the set is called "The Last Fight".
Duff McKagen Talks About GNR Reunion
Mike Kerwick of NorthJersey.com recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan. A few excerpts from the chat follow:
On being sober:
"You thought you were missing something if you didn't go out one night. You might miss the greatest party ever. That's just really kind of a teenage way of looking at things. I actually know people that still kind of think that way. They're in their 30s and 40s. Poor [expletive] people. My life has become a lot richer since I've been sober.
"I'm living a full life. I got an education and I read and I'm fascinated by things. I kick-box. I water-ski. I ride a motorcycle. More importantly than all that other [expletive], I have two little girls and a wife who look to me for everything."
On playing with his former GUNS N' ROSES bandmates in VELVET REVOLVER:
"I think there's definitely some weird chemistry that Slash and I have tapped into. I almost feel like some sort of weird old soul thing. We never talk about music, never have. We never talk about what we want a song to sound like. To me that would just be goofy."
On possible reunion of GUNS N' ROSES' classic lineup:
"It would have to be kind of a cool groovy situation, a feel-good situation, for us to do it. You know, I think it could happen someday, somehow, because of the fact that we're all still alive. It's really not something I waste any time thinking about. As far as my music goes, I have a great band, I love what we do. I love the record we made."
On repeating GUNS N' ROSES' amazing success:
"It's never gonna happen again. We were at the right place at the right time for a generation that needed it. It just doesn't happen. People ask, 'Well, is VELVET REVOLVER going to get the success of GUNS N' ROSES?' Oh [expletive] no. Nobody will. Nobody ever will. Unless in 10 years there's some need for a rock band that comes along and captures their imagination."
Velvet Revolver To Appear On David Letterman Show
VELVET REVOLVER has just been confirmed as a special guest at KROQ’s massive L.A. Invasion - Saturday, September 15th at the Home Depot Center, where they’ll perform along with such artists as THE SMASHING PUMPKINS and FOO FIGHTERS.
On a day off from their tour, Velvet Revolver will appear on The Late Show With David Letterman - Wednesday, August 22nd - for an exclusive television performance of Libertad’s newly released second single 'The Last Fight'.
The melodically transcendent and emotionally cathartic 'The Last Figh'” is one of the songs inspired by the recent passing of frontman Scott Weiland’s brother Michael. In an August 3rd interview with The Sun (UK newspaper), Scott explained: “Libertad is dedicated to Michael. It is a fitting album title as my brother was certainly searching for his own liberty and freedom up to the way he died. I was really angry at him at first, for my parents and our family but I was able to channel this anger and grief into songs as ‘The Last Fight’ and ‘For A Brother'. It made me come to terms with how sad I was.”
Libertad (RCA Records), released July 3rd, debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart amidst a field of rap, pop and country music. The album’s first single, 'She Builds Quick Machines', has been dominating the rock charts, hitting the Top 3 at Active Rock and Top 4 at Mainstream Rock.
Velvet Revolver tour dates are as follows:
August
17 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
18 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon @ Jones Beach
20 - Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center @ The Waterfront
21 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
23 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
24 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion @ Montage Mtn.
25 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel & Casino
27 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
28 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
29 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
September
7 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
8 - George, WA - Gorge Amphitheatre
9 - Portland, OR - Amphitheater @ Clark County
11 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
12 - Fresno, CA - Selland Arena
14 - Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion
15 - Carson, CA - Home Depot Center (KROQ L.A. Invasion)
16 - Chula Vista, CA - Coors Amphitheatre
18 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion
20 - Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheater
21 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay
22 - Tucson, AZ - Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre
24 - Denver, CO - Coors Amphitheatre
25 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
27 - Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Music Centre
28 - Houston, TX - Woodlands Pavilion
October
2 - Birmingham, AL - Verizon Wireless Music Center
3 - Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
5 - Mobile, AL - Bayfest
6 - Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
7 - West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheatre
9 - Memphis, TN - Snowden Grove Amphitheatre
11 - Merrillville, IN - Star Plaza Theater
14 - Winnipeg, MT - MTS Center
15 - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre
16 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Matt Sorum Gives Opinion On New Metallica Songs
METALLICA is hard at work on its next album with producer Rick Rubin, and at least one person outside the band has heard the songs: VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum. He tells RollingStone.com, "Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] is a good friend of mine. He played me the demos from San Francisco, and I turned and looked at him and I said, 'Master that shit and put it out.' It's ridiculous. The demos were sick. Eight-minute songs, all these tempo changes, crazy fast. It's like, 'Dude, don't get slower when you get older, but don't get faster!? How are you gonna play this live?' And then me and Lars were out partying all night, and he had to go in the studio the next day and do this stupid like nine- or ten-minute song, and I was laughing at him — because he played me the demo of it, and it was [sings really fast drum part], so fast. I called him, and said, 'Dude, how are you feeling?' He was like, 'Dude, I'm hurting.' They're cutting everything to tape, no fuckin' ProTools — live, no clicks. Bitchin'. I dig it. I'm really excited for them."
Metal Makes More Appearances in Rock Games
With the gaming industry's biggest expo, E3, going on, there have been tons of new announcements as well as some back and forth between competition. The Neversoft-developed Guitar Hero III revealed the former Guns N' Roses/current Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash would rock on a variety of unlockable guitars. Original Guitar Hero developer Harmonix then fired back with the announcement that it will offer not just hit singles for gamers to play on their upcoming Rock Band game, but entire full-length albums from multiple labels.
The first band to receive the digital conversion will be classic British rockers The Who. Gamers will be able to form a virtual cover band playing guitar, hitting the drums, and singing along to the band's widely acclaimed 1971 album Who's Next. The album should hit soon after the game's release this fall, with new content planned on a weekly basis.
Harmonix also announced the first 15 songs from the retail edition of Rock Band. A glance at the list reveals a wide array of rock subgenres and decades represented, from David Bowie and Black Sabbath to The Hives and The Strokes.
Piling on the announcements, Harmonix also revealed that Steven Van Zandt had signed on to chief Rock Band's music advisory board. In addition to appearing in the HBO gangster drama The Sopranos, Van Zandt is a member of Bruce Springsteen backing band E Street Band. Van Zandt also hosts the weekly syndicated radio show Little Steven's Underground Garage, which showcases up-and-coming sub-genre rock bands, and is a program director for the Sirius Satellite Radio network.
Finally, Harmonix revealed the Grammy-winning "Enter Sandman" from Metallica's 1991 Black album will be included in Rock Band's initial lineup shipping with the game. Announced at the end of EA's press conference, Kathy Vrabeck also made mention that a "substantial" number of songs from Metallica's catalog are slated to appear in the game.
The first 16 songs from Rock Band are listed below: More...
Velvet Revolver Enters Billboard Charts At #5
VELVET REVOLVER's sophomore album, "Libertad", sold 93,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land at position No. 5 on The Billboard chart. This is a little over one-third of the 256,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Contraband", which landed at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart back in June 2004.
VELVET REVOLVER celebrated the release of "Libertad" with a special intimate club show at the famous Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles Thursday night (July 5). Check out pictures from Wire Image, WENN, Getty Images.
A limited edition of "Libertad" sold through Best Buy comes with a bonus DVD.
The first single from the album is "She Builds Quick Machines". Watch the promotional video for the song at YouTube.
VELVET REVOLVER will appear on the July 12-13 edition of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and begins a North American tour with ALICE IN CHAINS on August 5 in Baltimore.
Slash On Libertad, Axl Rose And Rick Rubin
Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
Ultimate-Guitar: The new record really solidifies the sound of the band. It's a huge leap forward from "Contraband". What did you do different this time?
Slash: It's hard to explain. The first record is great and it was a cool opening statement and stuff, but it wasn't an example of what everybody in the band was really capable of. But we just sort of all got together and, based on the excitement of finding just that unity, we just went in and did it really quick. We didn't really sit down and explore. We were lucky to even make the first record because we did a show at the El Rey, and we had I think a 5 to 6-song set. We contemplated just going on the road and not even putting a record out. Then we thought, "No, let's slow down for a second. Let's put a record together." So we did. I think that over the course of the last couple of years, from touring and just being together and being through a lot together and this and that and the other, the band actually sort of got seasoned a little bit. We did 5 shows, I think it was somewhere in July. We did five shows in California, and even at that point, the band had actually set. It actually felt really, really comfortable. I could look back and think how hard we were really trying when it first started. There was a lot of getting to know each other. I've known a lot of these guys for fucking ever, as a band getting to know each other. So at this point, we went in and just started writing songs. It was a whole different kind of environment.
Ultimate-Guitar: So, during these last three years, was it finding that settling period in order that the band could move forward and say, "Okay, let's make a record now?"
Slash: All things considered, it wasn't really a conscious effort like that. It was more like, yeah, we wanted to make a second record. Getting it started took a long time, just getting everybody in the same room. There was a lot of other bullshit surrounding the band, coming from all different directions. It was sort of like a lot of little obstacles going on. Once we finally got in, we just started doing what it was that we did. So there wasn't a conscious effort to, "Okay, now that we've been playing together for so long…" It just sort of naturally happened that way.
Ultimate-Guitar: Rick Rubin was going to be the first producer and then that didn't happen. What was it that you thought Rick might have brought to "Libertad"?
Slash: In this particular climate, when it comes to sort of rock and roll and what that sort of means these days, it's hard to think who you want to make a record with because there's no records coming out that we actually like. Or I'll speak for myself, that I actually like, except for bands that have been around for a long time. NINE INCH NAILS or QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE or FOO FIGHTERS or something like that, those are bands that I like, but they've been around for a while. So in what's going on right now as we speak, we didn't know who to work with. So Rick came up. His name comes up and I thought, "You know, I've known Rick for a long time and I know he obviously makes some amazing records. So let's see." So we sat down and we met with him. It was like we were just getting into writing mode at that point. He says, "Just keep writing." So we did a lot of writing for a little bit. This was sort of like in March, April, and May. Then we stopped for about a month and we started up again in July. He started coming down to hear what we were doing. We didn't know what to expect, but I had heard that he's not a real sort of… He doesn't have a real presence in the rehearsal studio and in the recording studio. So it turned out that was exactly the case. He would show up for half an hour one day and then we would continue working. We were trying to adhere to some guidelines that he had set for us, how to go about doing it — which is sort of unheard of, for any of us to actually listen to anybody.
Ultimate-Guitar: In terms of schedules?
Slash: No, how to go about the actual writing process. So we said, "Well, that makes some sense. So we'll try a couple of these different things." Then we fall back into our own rut! Then he would show up 2 or 3 weeks later, again for a half an hour, and that started to become a little bit weird. Also, he was working on so many other records at the same time, that we didn't feel like we were obviously exclusive at all. That was all just adding up, but we were sort of being nice about it. Then finally it came to a point suddenly where we were starting to get frustrated, and we were also starting to get disillusioned. We started getting inhibited by our own material and going through this weird thing. We didn't know exactly how to put our finger on. At that point, we really wanted to get going. It didn't seem like with Rick we were going to be doing anything in the near future, as far as releasing a record or whatever. We didn't even know which songs were good or weren't good. We were sort of leaning on him to sort of give us an idea. So somehow we ended up calling up Brendan O'Brien, who Scott knew (O'Brien produced STONE TEMPLE PILOTS). I talked to him on the phone and he said all the right things. So he came down to the studio, he came down to rehearsal. And inside of 3 weeks, we put all the songs together, arrangements and everything. We just went straight into the studio. He just has a real hands-on kind of attitude. He's also a musician, which is great because we're showing him how to play the songs and he can pick up the guitar and play along with us. So we can go through some arrangement ideas or this or that or the other. He just has a really keen ear for everything that's going on. We didn't feel at all imposed on by him. We sort of did our thing and it just worked out.
Ultimate-Guitar: You can really hear his presence in terms of guitar tones and song structures. Is that the kind of input you would get from him?
Slash: I think the biggest thing that I noticed was he was great at simplifying the stuff that we made complicated, like certain song arrangements. Like, "You've already got the song right there." Because we kept digging up new parts and all this kind of shit. We also have this thing where we started jamming on something and we come up with so many different ideas inside the parameters of one tune. It's hard for us to give that up because it's all spontaneous stuff and it sounds cool and this and that. But as far as an arrangement to a song is concerned, he would be like, "You don't need to have all those different parts." So that was helpful. It made certain aspects of it a lot simpler. As far as guitar tones and drum tones and all that kind of shit, that was something where, when we actually went into the studio, I did have sort of these different ideas as to what I thought I was going to do. We just set up a Marshall and I go, "I need this sound," or "I need to get a Vox," or something like that. He'd dig up an old Vox Combo or something like that. So he had access to a lot of stuff. But it was really just sort of like not over thinking anything. So it was very raw and it was very live. One of the cool things about making this record was that, rather than going, "Okay, we're going to go through all the basic tracks and then we'll come back and do the vocals and the guitars and all that kind of shit," we did it song by song. Scott was there singing with us and it was real sort of camaraderie happening in the studio. That was unprecedented in my experience in the bands that I've been in.
Ultimate-Guitar: In your mind, was there ever a thought that, "We better not make a "Contraband Part II"?
Slash: I think there was one conversation that we had at one point, where we actually, as a band, just sat down at rehearsal one day. We took a break from what we were doing or something, and we were all just sitting around. We had this conversation that was like, "What ideally would we want to do?" I think Rick was there for this. "Ideally what would we want to do with this record?" The summation of the conversation that followed was to make something that was as good or better than any of the collective or individual recordings that we had done, or records that we had done in previous bands or what not. That was like the only time that we ever talked about it. I guess it was a subconscious bar. That was it. Then we just kept working! I think that the whole sophomore kind of thing is a little bit intimidating because when we were considering going into making the next record, we thought, "Oh, this will be great and a piece of cake." There were a lot of great ideas, but we couldn't get into a room to really all focus. The longer that took, the more intimidating the concept became. Finally once we got to work, it went away. But one of the things about the first record is, that having done it on the tour and then enough time after the tour, it actually seemed like such a long time ago. I think that obviously the band had blossomed since then that I don't think we had any intention of doing anything that sounded like the first record. There was no reason to go back and go, "We want to make a record." It didn't matter if it had sold 10 million records. We weren't going to go back and try and recreate that. We were going to expand on it.
Ultimate-Guitar: Do you talk to Axl [Rose] at all?
Slash: I know about what's going on with him, probably about as much as anybody else does because it pops up in conversation. Otherwise, I don't really spend too much time thinking about it. But I'm glad that he's out there and he's doing something. He's got a record, which I know is done. He just has to put it out. I really have no animosity toward him anymore. I have finally gotten over that. I don't have any of this sort of bitter resentment about the whole fucking upheaval that was 1996. So it's actually a nice, content feeling, and I'm glad that he's working and I'm glad that I'm working. I feel like I've achieved something by having gotten a little bit out from underneath the umbrella of the constant GUNS N' ROSES recognition, which is great to an extent. You want to be able to do some other stuff without having…it's like toilet paper on your heel. So now I feel content in doing what I'm doing and sort of letting bygones be bygones. Although I think he's probably still pissed at me for a lot of things. But I'm like, whatever. It probably is my fault. Whatever, I'll let it go.
Read the entire interview at Ultimate-Guitar.com.
Duff McKagen Talks Libertad And Axl Rose
Nick Snelling of Australia's Beat magazine recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan. A few excerpts from the chat follow:
On his statement after the release of "Contraband" that VELVET REVOLVER was the kind of act that would be releasing an album every year:
"Did I actually say that… oh. Well, I probably didn't mean every year, you know? I also didn't foresee things taking so long – we ended up touring a lot longer that any of us really expected, by the time we'd finished we'd been touring 18 months.
"The downside is that you're standing in line every fucking day, sitting in aeroplanes, checking into hotels and literally living out of each other's pockets everyday. There was never really a break, and any breaks that we did have just got filled in, simply because the record was so successful. And I don't care what five people you do that to, you're gonna get sick of each other."
"I think we planned at taking about three weeks, because we're all such A-type personalities who are all used to constantly working – but after a week, it became clear how exhausted we actually were and none of us were really ready to get back into a room."
On whether he's happy with the new album "Libertad":
"You know, I really, really am. Musically, we kind of drew a line in the sand and said, 'We have to move past this.' We really pushed ourselves and the 'Contraband' tour allowed to know what boundaries we didn't have. We knew what we were capable of. I mean, I loved 'Contraband'. It was a big 'fuck you,' it was aggressive and it was really the perfect first album for us, but knew with a bit of downtime we could really go and explore some new musical stuff and make a really organic rock 'n' roll record without tons of guitar overdubs."
On the reasoning behind covering an old ELO song by Jeff Lynne, "Can't Get It Out Of My Head":
"Ahh, that was really Brendan O'Brien (producer). He came up with the idea, and he was so into it. Even though the band really wasn't, we knew Scott could probably sing the crap out of it. I mean, Slash really was not into it. But somehow managed to get us to try it. And that really was Brendan's thing on this album, he'd come in, pick up a guitar and say, 'Hey guys, have you thought about doing this? You might think it sucks, but just humour me, OK?' He tried everything in order to make it sound great to us. By the time Slash put a solo on it, it came out great and I think it's OK that we have a cover on the record. It's kinda tongue-in-cheek, and I'm happy made the record….although, I don't think we'll ever do it live. Jeff Lynne has heard it and he loves it, so that's cool in of itself."
On whether he ever wishes that he had the same understanding of personal problems that individuals struggle with a little earlier so that maybe other, more well-documented estrangements (i.e. GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose), could have possibly been avoided:
"Umm, I know what you're getting at. I just think that that experience is where I earned my understanding, you know? I mean I was fucked up then, and so a lot of all that shit kind of fed each other. The machine was just so big. There was no way out, and there were just so many yes-men, and there's a myriad of reasons. Mostly it's because it was out of control. I know I self-medicated my way through the entire 'Use Your Illusion' tours. It wasn't til it was done did I know I had a health problem, and I got sober. That's where I got a lot of experience in dealing with people and strange situations — I got a crash course from '86 through '93, an expert education. There was a time where if it were up to me, I would have salvaged things, and even Slash tried many times. We all wanted to save it, it's not like we all walked up one day and said 'fuck you!'
"You see, he (Axl) was a singer in this meteoric rock band that sort of captured the imagination and hit some sort of nerve with a whole reputation, and while every member of than band was important to making that happen, he was the singer. The focal point. I know that more yes-men came his way, and I think that soon your sense of reality gets a little eschewed, and that the real friends you have either change on you or those other people close them out. I can't speak for Axl now, and I haven't hung out with him for a real long time now, but a lot of this happened to me… but I wasn't the singer. So I was able to escape it. So yeah, it's sad, man."
Velvet Revolver And AIC Announce More Tour Dates
VELVET REVOLVER and ALICE IN CHAINS will team up for a North American tour beginning early August. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:
Aug. 05 - Baltimore, MD, Pimlico Race Course
Aug. 06 - Verona, NY, Turning Stone Resort & Casino
Aug. 08 - Sturgis, SD, Buffalo Chip Campground
Aug. 11 - Montreal, QC, Bell Centre
Aug. 12 - Toronto, ON, Molson Amphitheatre
Aug. 14 - Mansfield, MA, Tweeter Center
Aug. 16 - Darien, NY, Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Aug. 17 - Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug. 18 - Wantagh, NY, Nikon at Jones Beach
Aug. 20 - Camden, NJ, Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
Aug. 21 - Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug. 23 - Saratoga, NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Aug. 24 - Scranton, PA, Toyota Pavilion
Aug. 25 - Atlantic City, NJ, Borgata Hotel and Casino
Aug. 27 - Clarkston, MI, DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 28 - Tinley Park, IL, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 29 - St. Paul, MN, Xcel Energy Center
Sep. 08 - Vancouver, BC, Pacific Coliseum
Sep. 11 - Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Bowl
Sep. 12 - Fresno, CA, Selland Arena
Sep. 14 - Concord, CA, Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
Sep. 15 - Marysville, CA, Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Sep. 16 - Chula Vista, CA, Coors Amphitheatre
Sep. 18 - Phoenix, AZ, Cricket Pavilion
Sep. 20 - Irvine, CA, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sep. 21 - Las Vegas, NV, Mandalay Bay Events Center
Sep. 22 - Tucson, AZ, Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre
Sep. 24 - Englewood, CO, Coors Amphitheatre
Sep. 25 - Albuquerque, NM, Journal Pavilion
Sep. 27 - Dallas, TX, Smirnoff Music Centre
Sep. 28 - Spring, TX, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Oct. 02 - Pelham, AL, Verizon Wireless Music Center
Oct. 03 - Atlanta, GA, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Oct. 05 - Mobile, AL, Bayfest
Oct. 06 - Tampa, FL, Ford Amphitheatre
Oct. 07 - W. Palm Beach, FL, Sound Advice Amphitheater
Oct. 09 - Southaven, MS, Snowden Grove Park
Professionally filmed video footage of VELVET REVOLVER performing at the Download festival on June 8, 2007 at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England is available for viewing at YouTube.
An eight-minute video interview with VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland and drummer Matt Sorum, which aired on June 6 on Canada's "The Hour", is available for viewing at this location.
ALICE IN CHAINS is writing songs for its first new studio album in 12 years, according to a source close to the band. A person named "the Baldy," who says his job is "to travel the world with ALICE IN CHAINS and send photos, videos and blog entries back to (the webmasters) at AliceInChains.com," recently provided this update: "I've been (in Los Angeles) for five days, sat through three rehearsals and one demo recording session, listened to several other demos, and I can happily report that the new stuff is kicking my ass right out of my pants." There is no word on whether William DuVall, who sang with the group on last year's reunion tour, is also handing vocals for the new material, and there's also no official info on when an album might be released.
Guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez reunited in 2005 at a tsunami benefit in Seattle before heading out last year on full European and North American tours with DuVall singing.
Cantrell told Launch last year that while new music wasn't out of the question, the band wasn't ready to commit to anything. "It's gonna be cool to see what happens," he said. "I'm just really excited about the possibilities, 'cause there's a lot of possibilities open. And that's a pretty cool place to start and it's a good place to just leave it there, rather than just making a bunch of claims of what we're gonna do and not living up to them (laughs)."
ALICE IN CHAINS performed at the second annual "VH1 Rock Honors", which was taped on May 12 in Las Vegas. This year's show honored OZZY OSBOURNE, HEART, GENESIS and ZZ TOP, with performances and tributes from QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, NICKELBACK, KEANE and others.
Kill Hannah To Open For VR And Alice In Chains
Chicago-based rock act KILL HANNAH has secured the opening slot on the upcoming VELVET REVOLVER / ALICE IN CHAINS U.S. The dates are as follows:
Aug. 05 - Baltimore, MD @ Pimlico Race Course
Aug. 06 - Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Resort
Aug. 08 - Sturgis, SD @ Buffalo Chip Campground
Aug. 11 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Aug. 12 - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre
Aug. 14 - Mansfield, MA @ Tweeter Center
Aug. 16 - Darien, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Aug. 17 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug. 18 - Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach
Aug. 20 - Camden, NJ @ Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
Aug. 21 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug. 23 - Saratoga, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Aug. 24 - Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
Aug. 25 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Hotel Casino
Aug. 27 - Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 28 - Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 29 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
KILL HANNAH was formed in 1994 by singer-songwriter Mat Devine. Between 1996 and 2003, the band self-released eight LPs, singles and EPs independently.
KILL HANNAH recorded its Atlantic Records debut, "For Never & Ever", in Los Angeles in the winter of 2003 with producer Sean Beavan (NO DOUBT, MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS) and mixer Tim Palmer (U2, THE CURE, TEARS FOR FEARS, H.I.M.). The band released its second album, "Until There's Nothing Left of Us", on August 1, 2006.
Velvet Revolver To Do Special Hollywood Show
VELVET REVOLVER has confirmed that it will celebrate the release of the group's new album, "Libertad", by playing a special intimate club show at Whisky A Go Go on Thursday, July 5.
There are only a few ways you can get tickets in advance:
* With purchase of the "Libertad" CD at Virgin Megastore. Be one of the first people to buy the new CD from VELVET REVOLVER, "Libertad", coming out Tuesday, July 3 and get one ticket to see them perform at the Whisky. CD goes on sale at midnight on Monday, July 2 — limit is two CDs / two tickets per person. Tickets will be available while supplies last at ONLY these two Virgin Megastore locations:
01) Virgin Megastore on Sunset in West Hollywood, 8000 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
02) Virgin Megastore Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA
* Through an online contest at the official VELVET REVOLVER web site.
* Listening to KROQ for on-air giveaways.
There will be a very few tickets available at The Whiskey box office night of the show as well.
Velvet Revolver Post Entire Album For Streaming
Velvet Revolver fans can now listen to the bands brand new album "Libertad" in its entirity at Clear Channel Music. The album includes the bands latest single "She Builds Quick Machines" as well as songs like "Mary Mary", "The Last Fight" and "American Man".
The album is available to stream from this location Libertad Sneak Peek.
More Dates For Alice In Chains, VR Tour
Dates have begun to roll out for Alice In Chains' upcoming run with Velvet Revolver, here's the schedule so far:
August 05th Baltimore, MD - Pimlico Race Course
August 06th Verona, NY - Turning Stone Resort & Casino
August 08th Sturgis, SD - Buffalo Chip Campground
August 11th Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
August 12th Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
August 14th Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
August 16th Darien, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
August 17th Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
August 18th Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach
August 20th Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
August 21st Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
August 23rd Saratoga, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
August 24th Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion
August 25th Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel Casino
August 27th Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
August 28th Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
August 29th St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
Britain's Download Festival To Be Webcast Live
Britain's Download Festival (Downloadfestival.co.uk) is set to take place June 8th - 10th at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England. This year's festival will be webcast live the festival website here.
To view the complete festival lineup, go here.
Slash Did Visit Axl Rose During Lawsuit
VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash has admitted that he visited GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose's house in 2005, despite previous claims to the contrary.
Slash and ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan sued Rose in August 2005, accusing Rose of changing publishers of GUNS 'N ROSES' songs without their consent and pocketing the royalties from the deal.
Rose countersued Slash, and then stirred up further controversy by saying that Slash showed up at his house uninvited to offer a truce. According to a March 2006 MTV.com article, Rose said Slash dissed VELVET REVOLVER by telling Rose that singer Scott Weiland was a "fraud," McKagan was "spineless" and that he hated Sorum.
Slash denied everything except the visit to Rose's home.
"It's a long story," Slash told the Home News Tribune. "I actually did go to Axl's house at one point, but I never saw him. I never talked to him. I left a note with his person over there having to do with lawsuit that we were in. I don't know how it got turned into what it got turned into."
Axl's assistant, Beta Lebeis, recently told GUNS fan site Here Today...Gone To Hell! that she was the person that Slash spoke with on the night he visited Axl's house in 2005 and expressed negative feelings for his current bandmates in VELVET REVOLVER.
Rose's revelation of Slash's visit prompted a scathing rebuttal from Weiland, who called Rose a "fat, botox-faced, wig-wearin' fuck."
The quotes from Rose, as well as other rumours, though, did cause tension in VELVET REVOLVER. But Slash said he thinks the band has survived the rumors and innuendo and is more solid than ever.
"From the end of the ('Contraband') tour to the beginning of the (new) record, there was a lot of that going on," Slash said. "It was actually pretty detrimental at one point because it just got to be so overwhelming we couldn't seem to escape it. But it was just a matter of sticking together and getting through it, and we did. It will be interesting to see what they come up with next. The band is pretty firmly bonded, so I don't think it will be too easy to break that, to chip away at that stone, so to speak."
Velvet Revolver Post New Video Online
VELVET REVOLVER's video for the first single from their new album, Libertad, 'She Builds Quick Machines', directed by Dean Karr (MARILYN MANSON, DEFTONES), in now available online at Yahoo! Music and YouTube.
Frontman Scott Weiland recently commented on the video, saying the clip was "fun to make" and was born of an idea he's had for quite some time.
Libertad is due for release on July 3rd. More...
Velvet Revolver Comment On Alice In Chains Tour
Velvet Revolver members Slash and Scott Weiland have confirmed they will tour with Alice in Chains this summer for a U.S. and Canadian tour which will run into the fall. Sparta will open on the second leg of the tour with additional supporting acts to be names shortly. Only the following two dates have been confirmed so far:
August 17th in Homdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
August 18th in Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach
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