Velvet Revolver

Velvet Revolver is a Rock supergroup with three former members of Guns N' Roses - Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum along with Scott Weiland, the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Dave Kushner of the 80's hardcore punk band, Wasted Youth.

Band History

Velvet Revolver was formed when three Guns N' Roses alumni - Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums) - joined together to play a benefit concert for fellow musician Randy Castillo in 2002. They decided to form another band together. When Izzy Stradlin declined an invitation, the band recruited guitarist Dave Kushner who had previously played with Wasted Youth and Dave Navarro. Kushner went to school with Slash and had worked with McKagan in the band he'd played with before forming Velvet Revolver, "Loaded". The quartet were referred to under the temporary moniker, "The Project" pending the selection of a permanent name.

Related Topics:
Guns N' Roses - Slash - Duff McKagan - Matt Sorum - Randy Castillo - 2002 - Izzy Stradlin - Dave Kushner - Wasted Youth - Dave Navarro

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The quartet then set about recruiting a lead singer with the recruitment process filmed by VH1. A number of lead singers auditioned including the Canadian rock and roll icon Todd Kerns formerly of Age of Electric, Josh Todd formerly of Buckcherry, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Kelly Shaefer of Atheist/Neurotica and Travis Meeks of Days of the New but were unsuccessful. Scott Weiland had become friends with McKagan and had played on the same bill as Kushner when Stone Temple Pilots were known as Mighty Joe Young and Kushner was in the Electric Love Hogs. Weiland heard the material and offered his services as the lead singer and the band clicked. Slash suggested the name 'Revolver' for the project and Weiland suggested the addition of 'Black Velvet' to the title. Slash thought this sounded too similar to 'Stone Temple Pilots' so the name was abbreviated to simply 'Velvet Revolver'.

Related Topics:
VH1 - Todd Kerns - Age of Electric - Josh Todd - Buckcherry - Sebastian Bach - Skid Row - Kelly Shaefer - Atheist - Neurotica - Travis Meeks - Days of the New - Scott Weiland - Mighty Joe Young - Electric Love Hogs

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Velvet Revolver recorded its first track "Set Me Free" for Hulk soundtrack in 2003 and were also responsible for a cover of Pink Floyd's "Money", featured during various parts of the movie The Italian Job. The band played their 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.

Related Topics:
Hulk - 2003 - Pink Floyd - The Italian Job - El Rey - Los Angeles

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The album Contraband was released in June 2004 debuting at #1 on the Billboard album charts, #11 on the British album charts, and #2 in 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, has also reached #64 on the Billboard Hot 100, gone top 20 in Finland and top 40 on a European composite chart, Canada, and Australia. Since then, the band has released two more singles: the ballad "Fall to Pieces" and the hard-rocker "Dirty Little Thing," both of which have videos featured for them. The prior has been remarkably successful not only in the rock circle but also on modern music stations.

Related Topics:
2004 - British - Australian - Billboard - Mainstream Rock Tracks chart - Modern Rock Tracks chart - Billboard Hot 100 - Finland - European - Canada

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As of August 2005, "Contraband" had sold roughly 2.0 million copies in the United States, and the rigorous touring in support of the album has reached global scales. Already, the band has toured both the United States and Europe twice, while also hitting Australia and Japan. For the Spring of 2005, the band has several Canadian dates lined up as well as a headlining arena tour for the U.S. In addition to this, they are stated to open for Black Sabbath in Europe this summer, before likely finishing a second album sometime this fall.

Related Topics:
2005 - United States - Europe - Japan - Canadian - Black Sabbath

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Velvet Revolver performed at Live 8, playing "Do It For the Kids" and a medley of "Fall to Pieces" and "Slither".

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The band also recorded a new song entitled "Come On, Come In" for the 2005 movie Fantastic Four.

Related Topics:
2005 - Fantastic Four

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Also during 2005, the group announced that they have been recording their sophomore album, which is due out in spring 2006.

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