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Velvet Revolver

VELVET REVOLVER Has Lead Singer Audition Coming Up, Says SLASH

Manos Spanos
Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, who currently resides in Hollywood, California, conducted an interview with Slash on the red carpet of this past Monday's (May 12) 10th annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert, which honored BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne. Speaking about the current status of VELVET REVOLVER, the band he formed in 2002 with fellow ex-GUNS N' ROSES members Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, Slash said (see video below): "I think we're gonna audition a singer coming up. So there's that. But I'm gonna be out on the road for the next year and a half [with my solo band], so…" VELVET REVOLVER released two full-length albums through RCA/Sony BMG — 2004's "Contraband" and 2007's "Libertad" — before dismissing singer Scott Weiland back in April 2008. VELVET REVOLVER reunited with Weiland for a four-song set in January 2012 at a Los Angeles tribute concert for late songwriter John O'Brien, but the band has otherwise remained inactive. At one point it was reported that VELVET REVOLVER was going to team with STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor, but the idea was ultimately vetoed by Slash. The group and Taylor recorded demos of 10 songs together. In a recent interview with Rock Revolt Magazine, Sorum called the launch of VELVET REVOLVER the" biggest moment" of his career. He explained: "Because at a certain point during the formation, I was like, 'Can we really do this? Can we really pull this off again?' And we all did. We got together and had a very successful band after GUNS N' ROSES. That was really icing on the cake, especially for Slash, Duff and myself. To be able to come out of a band that big, and basically have Hollywood turn their back on us, was initially very difficult — and the answer to the low point. To go back and reinvent ourselves wasn't easy. When we managed to do just that, we were very, very ecstatic. "Duff and I came out of a subway one day in New York City and some kid yelled at us, 'Hey! You're Duff and Matt from VELVET REVOLVER!' That was the first time we ever heard that after years of, 'Hey it's Duff and Matt from GUNS N' ROSES!' And we knew right then that everything was going to be alright. We were able to move on; we were able to move forward."
02 min read

DUFF MCKAGAN On VELVET REVOLVER: We’re Just Waiting For The Right Singer To Come Along

Manos Spanos
Former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan spoke to Billboard.comabout the current status of VELVET REVOLVER, the band that released two full-length albums through RCA/Sony BMG — 2004's "Contraband"and 2007's "Libertad" — before dismissing singer Scott Weiland back in April 2008. "We talk about it every now and again. Slash [guitar] and Matt [Sorum, drums] and Dave [Kushner, guitar] and I played in South Africa at the beginning of June...and of course we talked about it. We've tried out a bunch of singers, but I think we're just waiting for the right person to come along. It'll just happen. But the chemistry of Matt and Slash andDave and I is really good, so you don't want to let that just go away." McKagan also commented on Weiland's recent split with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, noting that, "You could kind of see it coming, I suppose. It's a sad situation any way you look at it. That guy...You hope [Weiland] pulls it together; I shared enough good times with that guy that I wish him nothing but the best."
01 min read