Jump to content

Velvet Revolver

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 72.194.117.144 (talk) at 22:02, 1 April 2008. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Velvet Revolver

Velvet Revolver (abbreviated to VR) is a Grammy Award-winning hard rock supergroup consisting of Slash (lead guitar), Duff McKagan (bass guitar, vocals), Matt Sorum (drums, percussion, vocals) of Guns N' Roses, and Dave Kushner (rhythm guitar, vocals) of Wasted Youth. Formed in 2000 and following the breakup of Stone Temple Pilots in 2003, the band achieved success with their debut album Contraband and released their second album Libertad in 2007. Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots was the singer for the band from 2003 until 2008, when he left the band to reunite STP.

Critics initially described Velvet Revolver as a mere combination of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses, and have criticized the band for a "disconnection" between Weiland and the rest of the band.[1][2] However, the band went with a different approach for their second album Libertad, and received some acclaim. With their hit single "Slither", they won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Band history

Formation (2002-2003)

Velvet Revolver was formed when three former members of Guns N' Roses, Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (Bass), and Matt Sorum (Drums) joined to play a bar concert for fellow musician Randy Castillo in 2002. They subsequently decided to form a new band that would bring the spirit of rock back to the mainstream. Izzy Stradlin was initially invited to be the band's rhythm guitarist, but both Stradlin and the band decided against this because of his aversion to lead singers and life on the road. The band recruited guitarist Dave Kushner, who had previously played with NOFX, Atreyu, The Infectious Grooves, and Dave Navarro. Kushner had attended school with Slash and had worked with McKagan in Loaded, the band in which he played before joining Velvet Revolver. The quartet were referred to under the temporary name "The Project" while the band was auditioning singers.

The quartet then set about recruiting a lead singer, with VH1 filming the recruitment process. The resulting documentary was aired as VH1 Inside Out: The Rise of Velvet Revolver. A number of lead singers auditioned, including Canadian Todd Kerns (formerly of Age of Electric), Josh Todd (of Buckcherry), Michael Matijevic (of Steelheart), Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row), Kelly Shaefer (of Atheist/Neurotica), Myles Kennedy (of Alter Bridge), who declined any invitation, and Travis Meeks (of Days of the New), all of whom were unsuccessful. Reportedly, ex-Faith No More singer Mike Patton was also approached early in the process, but he declined the offer to front the band. Scott Weiland had become friends with McKagan and had once played on the same bill as Kushner. Weiland heard the material and offered his services as the lead singer and the band clicked.

According to Slash's autobiography, Scott Weiland suggested the name "Black Velvet Revolver", combining something intimate with something violent, after Slash suggested Revolver. He liked the word Revolution, which he saw in the credits of a movie. From Black Velvet Revolver, Slash though it was a mouthful and suggested simply "Velvet Revolver." This was done while walking to the viewing room, at Universal Studios, to see The Hulk. They were considering lending a song to the soundtrack.

Contraband (2003-2005)

Velvet Revolver recorded its first track "Set Me Free" for the soundtrack for the movie Hulk in 2003. The band also recorded a cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" which is featured in the movie The Italian Job. The band played its 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.

The marketing campaign for Velvet Revolver in the run-up to the release of the first album was profiled as part of the Frontline (PBS) program The Way the Music Died, which included interviews with the band members and producers.

Velvet Revolver live in 2005

Contraband was released in June 2004, debuting at #1 on the Billboard album charts selling 256,000 in its first week of release. The album also appeared at #11 on the British album charts, and #2 on 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, reached #56 on the Billboard Hot 100, gone top 20 in Finland and Top 40 on a European composite chart, in Canada, and in Australia.

Since then, the band has released five more singles: the ballads "Fall to Pieces" and "The Last Fight", and the hard-rockers "She Builds Quick Machines", "Dirty Little Thing", and "Come On, Come In", all of which have videos featured for them. "Fall to Pieces" has been remarkably successful not only on rock stations but also on modern music stations. The band consequently declined an invitation to tour with KISS after learning that Poison would be a part of the bill, afraid they would be dismissed as another 1980s bands re-grouping for the sake of monetary gain. Instead, they state they wish to be seen as a new band. [3]

As of August 2005, Contraband had sold more than 2 million copies in the United States, and the rigorous touring in support of the album reached global scales. The band toured both the United States and Europe twice, while also performing in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The CD had SunnComm's MediaMax DRM rootkit on it, exposing users to a computer security vulnerability.

Velvet Revolver performed at Live 8, playing "Do It For the Kids", "Fall to Pieces" and "Slither." However, only "Fall to Pieces" appears on the Live 8 DVD.

In 2005, a part of Contraband's "Dirty Little Thing" was inserted in xXx: State Of The Union. The band also recorded a new song entitled "Come On, Come In" for the 2005 movie Fantastic Four.

Libertad (2005-2008)

During 2005, the group announced that a second album was in the works. Scott Weiland announced at the 2005 Radio Music Awards that it would be a concept album, and would be less single-driven than its previous effort; but later in the summer of 2005, Matt Sorum dismissed the claim that it would be a concept album. In December 2005, the band set Libertad (Spanish for "liberty") as the working title of the album. In September 2006, Matt Sorum confirmed via Camp Freddy Radio on Indie 103.1 that the band had recently signed a deal with Rick Rubin to produce the new album. However, on his website, Sorum later claimed that former Stone Temple Pilots producer Brendan O'Brien would be producing the album.

In October 2006, Scott Weiland announced that Libertad would most likely be released early to late Spring in 2007, while a few months later Slash gave May 2007 as the expected release date.[4] The group recorded in Los Angeles with producer Brendan O'Brien, who stepped in for the band's original choice, Rick Rubin, after that arrangement "did not work out", frontman Scott Weiland told Billboard.com. "All of our hopes have even been elevated over the past three weeks", he said. "We were really excited about six months ago, when we first began writing. Then we really kind of flat-lined for a while."

At Gods of Metal 2007.

"We thought we'd just kind of give it a shot and see if Brendan was available, and just by chance, the artist he was supposed to be working with didn't pan out," Weiland offered. "So he was available during the exact time we really needed him. He flew out within a week and it has been amazing. Bassist Duff McKagan came up to me and said, 'You know, I didn't know what it was like to really have a producer before.'" And though Weiland told Billboard.com last year he intended to weave an overall concept throughout the album, he had since "thrown that idea out the window. In my opinion, there are so many schlock concept albums that have come out in the past year," he says, without naming names. "The ground is way too over-fertile with concept records. I prefer to write a lean and rather vicious rock'n'roll record. I think that would be a better contribution to rock'n'roll at this moment."[5]

After scrapping the original May 29th release date, Velvet Revolver settled on July 3rd to unveil its second RCA album, "Libertad." It was announced on May 11, 2007 that as a precursor to Libertad, the band would release an EP in June titled Melody and the Tyranny. As cover art, Libertad, which debuted at #5 with 92,000 copies sold in its first week, features the 10 pesos coin used during Pinochet's regime in Chile.[6]

On June 21th, 2007, Velvet Revolver performed in a concert that was streamed live via MSN Music. On June 23rd, 2007, four songs off the album were available in full stream audio onto the internet ten days before retail on BestBuy's website. It was announced by WWE that "Let It Roll" would be the official theme song for the 2007 Diva Search. link "Slither" "She Builds Quick Machines," and "Messages" appear in a downloadable Velvet Revolver pack in the videogame Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. [1]

On their official website, Velvet Revolver gave a chance for fans to vote in a poll for the third single off of Libertad. "Get Out the Door" won with 53% of the votes, winning over "Let It Roll" and "She Mine". "Get Out the Door" will be ready for airplay on January 28th, 2008.

MTV has recently reported that Slash told Illinois' Northwest Herald that the band will begin working on its next LP in April 2008. Slash is also planning to record a solo album sometime in the next year or two.

Velvet Revolver began a tour of Australia, Europe and the US, starting with a concert in Chicago on January 24th, 2008. According to BlabberMouth.net on February 7th, Scott Weiland voluntarily entered a rehab facility[2]. This led to Velvet Revolver cancelling their Australian tour which had already been postponed for 2 months. They returned to the stage on March 8, 2008 in Dubai for the Desert Rock Festival.

Split from Weiland

On January 25, 2008, it was announced by Slash that Weiland's former group, Stone Temple Pilots, will be headlining the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio in May 2008 - making the group's reunion official.[7]

On February 26, 2008, Billboard.com announced that STP, along with Linkin Park, will headline Edgefest festival in Toronto, Ontario in July 2008, making it the second date announced for their reunion tour.[8]

Weiland announced from the stage in Glasgow on March 20, 2008 that the current VR tour would be the last, much to the bemusement of the other band members. Weiland then walked off stage, only to return in the middle of VR's rendition of "It's So Easy". Sorum soon issued a statement via his personal blog citing "family" strain on Weiland forced him to make the remarks. Weiland then shot back claiming Sorum was too "immature" to have a family and kids and did not know the real situation. Weiland continued the on-slaught by stating VR had to cancel Australian shows because Sorum had to attend rehab and that a recent STP photo-shoot was energizing. Slash, too, joined in by stating the band is not breaking-up, nor will this be their last tour. Duff has also hinted to a possible opening slot for the band on a Led Zeppelin world tour that is in the works.[9] However, Slash later said in an interview with BBC Newsbeat, that Duff's comments had been taken out of context and that it is uncertain if Zeppelin will even tour at all.[10]

However, on April 1 2008, Velvet Revolver founding members Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner announced that they are parting ways with singer Scott Weiland. "This band is all about its fans and its music and Scott Weiland isn't 100% committed to either," said Slash. "Among other things, his increasingly erratic on-stage behavior and personal problems have forced us to move on." It is not clear whether Velvet Revolver will continue without Weiland as no official statement from Weiland or the remaining VR members has been issued.


Van Halen Induction

On March 12, 2007, Velvet Revolver stood in for Van Halen for their induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Of Van Halen, only former bassist Michael Anthony and former singer Sammy Hagar attended. Eddie Van Halen was reportedly in alcohol rehabilitation and David Lee Roth reportedly did not attend because he could not agree on which song to sing on stage with Velvet Revolver. The band played a medley of "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and "Runaround". Sammy Hagar introduced Velvet Revolver as "the best rock and roll band left on the planet." Anthony and Hagar joined Paul Shaffer and the house band on stage to perform "Why Can't This Be Love".

Band members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Chart positions
Billboard Top 100 UK Album Chart ARIA Australia Charts Canadian Album Chart
2004 Contraband 1 11 2 1
2007 Libertad 5 6 10 2

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100[11] U.S. Modern Rock[11] U.S. Mainstream Rock[11] UK Singles Chart
2003 "Set Me Free" - 32 17 - Hulk soundtrack, Contraband
2004 "Slither" 56 1 (4 weeks) 1 (9 weeks) 35 Contraband
2004 "Fall to Pieces" 67 2 1 (11 weeks) 32 Contraband
2005 "Dirty Little Thing" - 18 8 - Contraband
2005 "Come on, Come in" - - 14 - Fantastic Four soundtrack
2007 "She Builds Quick Machines" - 14 2 - Libertad
2007 "The Last Fight" - - 16 - Libertad
2008 "Get Out the Door" - - 34 - Libertad

EPs

Cover Songs

Velvet Revolver is known for performing a wide variety of cover songs, including:

Guns N' Roses

Stone Temple Pilots

Aerosmith

Cheap Trick

  • "Dream Police" by Cheap Trick (performed live in concert)
  • "Surrender" by Cheap Trick (appears on the Australian bonus disc of Contraband, on a bonus disc of the European Tour Edition of Contraband and on the single Fall to Pieces)

Electric Light Orchestra

Eric Clapton

  • "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton (released as a single to benefit victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and done with many other artists)

Led Zeppelin

Nirvana

Pink Floyd

Sex Pistols

  • "Bodies" by Sex Pistols (live version appears on bonus track of Contraband in the UK release only and on the single Slither)

Talking Heads

The Beatles

The Doors

The Ramones

The Rolling Stones

Van Halen

References

  1. ^ Velvet Revolver: Contraband [2004] Shaking Through.net: Music: Review
  2. ^ Playlouder - Latest
  3. ^ Metallian.com - Poison
  4. ^ "Slashsworld.com". News - Slash stating Libertad release date.
  5. ^ "www.billboard.com". News - Scott Weiland On VR's Second Album.
  6. ^ "www.gnrdaily.com". VR Reveals Artwork but Pushes Back Release.
  7. ^ NEW ROCK 99.7 THE BLITZ
  8. ^ STP, Linkin Park Set For Revived Edgefest
  9. ^ Kerrang! Velvet Revolver to split-up?
  10. ^ Sfgate: Daily Dish : Slash Denies Velvet Revolver/Led Zeppelin Reports
  11. ^ a b c "Velvet Revolver - Artist Chart History - Singles". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-03-09. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Velvet_Revolver&oldid=202651341"