Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Use Your Illusion
By GEOFF HARKNESS

Published: Thursday, December 9, 2004

Someday it will happen. Hell will freeze over. Pigs will fly. Every star and planet in the universe will align in perfect harmony, and the original Guns N' Roses lineup will reunite for an album and a tour. Don't hold your breath just yet, but it's bound to occur eventually. The original, diehard GN-fuckin'-R fans will accept no substitute. No Gilby, no Dizzy, no Skizzy or Comet or Cupid. Just give us the original fab five who masterminded Appetite for Destruction.

Until then, there's Velvet Revolver. The band is the latest and greatest redheaded stepchild in the extended GNR family. The quintet's core consists of founding GNR guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagen as well as Use Your Illusion-era drummer Matt Sorum. And then some guy named Dave Kushner on rhythm guitar.

But a band is only as good as its frontman, and with Axl Rose having gone the way of Howard Hughes, Slash and his buds launched a lengthy search for a singer with an abrasive disposition and a great set of pipes. Enter Scott Weiland, the man who put the stoned in Stone Temple Pilots.

But replacing one of rock's most inconsistent frontmen with one of rock's most notorious fuck-ups might not be the smartest move in the playbook. After all, Weiland has been rehabbed more times than the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Of course, that might also make him the perfect choice for center stage. The STP belter has always been far more interesting than the other poor man's Eddie Vedders channeling their pain in baritone. Plus, he's a genuine rock star: car crashes, drug busts, parole violations, and more court appearances than Judge Judy just in the past year. Clich?? You bet, but it's refreshing in an era when the Perry Farrells of the world have traded sport fucking and heroin spikes for Pilates and wheatgrass juice.

With Velvet Revolver on the road for the next two months and Weiland's ongoing legal and personal woes still simmering, trouble seems to loom constantly on the horizon. But who doesn't love an old-fashioned rock soap opera? Watching how long it takes these guys to disintegrate is half the fun.

Velvet Underwhelmed: What the hell is a Velvet Revolver anyway? Wait -- don't tell me. Like Led Zeppelin and Iron Butterfly, the moniker denotes a heavy-light dynamic that underscores the group's propensity for sonic and behavioral extremes, right? Besides, Aging Leather-Clad Drug Addicts was taken already. By M?tley Cr?e. At least it's not called Weiland's Snakepit.

Radio Ga Ga: Velveeta Revolver recently played an extra-cheesy acoustic set on KROQ (KROQ-FM 106.7) in Los Angeles. The ragged performance showed them to be little more than the world's most overrated, overpaid cover band. Redundant versions of STP's "Interstate Love Song" and GNR's "I Used To Love Her" inspired thoughts of the Gunners' disastrous punk covers album, The Spaghetti Incident? Di merda!

Axl Syndrome: Weiland is already exhibiting worrisome signs of Axl-esque behavior. Use Your Illusion featured "Get in the Ring," an enraged ode to music journalists in which Rose named names and alienated GNR from the national rock press. Maxim magazine recently dubbed Velvet Revolver's debut, Contraband, its album of the month, but Weiland took issue with the reviewer's "punk-ass backhanded comments" and posted a seething retort on the band's Website, www.velvetrevolver.net. "Let's meet up face-to-face," Weiland's blog challenged. "And see just how ?boozy' I am in person -- when I get ?maniac' on your ass motherfucker!" Next thing you know, the guy'll be showing up three hours late to gigs and starting riots in St. Louis.

Snake Shit: Forget gold records -- these guys' collective side projects haven't even gone tin. Slash's Snakepit was so bad it made The Spaghetti Incident? sound like Sgt. Pepper's. Weiland's and McKagen's solo efforts were relegated to cutout bins within seconds of release. Anyone remember the Neurotic Outsiders? Loaded? 10 Minute Warning? Mad for the Racket? Didn't think so.

Pig Fist: Having Sorum on board does not inspire confidence. One of rock's most ham-fisted drummers, the bandana buffoon's lumbering stick work was an unwelcome contrast to original GNR drummer Stephen Adler. And Sorum's resum? includes Mr. Big and Slash's Snakepit. 'Nuff said.

Mr. Anonymous: No one knows, and -- in a band full of stars -- no one cares about former Electric Love Hogs guitarist Kushner. Being in a group in which Sorum is way more famous than you has gotta be a humbling experience. Remember, Dave, there's always telemarketing.

Axl Still Rules: Sure, he's a weirdo hermit who hasn't released an album in ten years, but at least he has kept busy in the studio and (mostly) avoided public humiliation. The running joke is that there will be democracy in China long before there is Chinese Democracy, the working title of Rose's long-delayed opus. But it might be worth the wait.  If the reclusive Rose can get his shit together long enough to release Democracy and complete a tour, he could regain his status as a rock god -- and leave Velvet Revolver dead and bloated.

Ive taken my seat and have my pencil and notebook ready...

Another review that attacks Scott Weiland?

I'm shocked. Really.


Oh I see, more than 10 years after releasing his first album (which almost went diamond if I'm not mistaken), he joins a new band which releases the best-selling rock album of the year... and kicks a drug addiction.  What a fuck-up.

This was posted a long time ago...And Im pretty sure I shared my thoughts then.? Or maybe I didnt even bother, because this sums it up...

Axl Still Rules

Riiight...So attack the band thats actually doing something - something that a few people seem to like - and praise the guy whos done nearly nothing for over a decade.? Thats the nature of some fans I suppose.? :-\

And I mean it when I say I feel sorry for Dave.? You guaranteed a GNR release, or an announcement at the very least, in 2003.? Guaranteed it.? Now here comes 2005, and...??

Perpetually crestfallen, you rely on posting the occassional negative VR article to make yourself feel better.? You ignore the countless enthusiastic articles/reviews, stellar sales, and those pesky Grammy nominations.? Instead, you dredge up some poorly written, negative website article...Does that really make you feel better, or vindicated?? If thats the case, once again, Im sorry.  Keep the faith.  :peace:

for the record VR doesn't play "interstate love song" as the article suggests. Damn I wish they did :drool:

The article was dated "December 9," but I remember hearing some of those comments earlier. The "Stoned" in "Stone Temple Pilots" is borrowed from before.
At anyrate, that was a very poor-written, unfair article. If you don't like Velvet Revolver or "Contraband," that's your opinion. However, you should criticize the band and it's album on it's own merit. All this "reviewer" can do is throw sucker punches and insults. All this article does is take cheap shots at the band and it's members. For instance, the whole Weiland is a poor-mans Eddie Vedder is so old and not even true. The "Core" era Weiland is comparable to the "Ten" era Vedder, but apart from that, the two sound nothing alike. How does "Sour Girl" or "Big Bang Baby" sound like Pearl Jam? What does "The Spaghetti Incident" have to do with anything? What do the sales of Duff's solo albums and Snakepit have to do with anything? This was just a nasty review written by some musician wanbe flunky.

people take spaghetti too seriously. many journalists and rock fans think it's a gnr album when it's nothing more than a cover album and a good one at that because they made each song sound better than the original as they do with all covers

they did play it on KROQ acustic set!

And I loved it how he squashed Matt!
looooooooooooooooooooool

This was a fun read none the less, I accept no substitue... no Skizzy or Wizzy :)

it's always original when the people dissing vr use a stp  refrence like dead n bloated.. Just seems like a huge axl fan...

Oh yeah how can I forget.  later down the road I would love it if VR did what gnr did in '93 and bust out a couch and play acoustic versions of interstate love song, patience, you got no right and loving the alien in between the rockers! instead of playing its so easy/brownstone/used to love her/crackerman over and over.

I still find it hugely annoying that Dave never hardly posts here unless he finds something negative. 99% of the shit out there is positive but you would never see him post any of that. Very immature...

After reading this trash I find it pretty humorous. The guy doesn't really have a clue. All his bashing went no where and had nothing to do with VR's actually music, live show or anything. It was all pretty pointless actually. It was pretty obvious that the guy wanted to suck Axl's dick though. You must be one happy man Dave....   ::)

They actually did play Interstate Love Song once on KROQ, the acoustic section.  They also played Slither and Used to Love Her that time.  And I have to say, even though VR kicks ass, ITL and UTLH weren't very good.  This review is shitty though.

take this davy boy...An article with actual facts not a fucktard's already made up opinion..

Velvet Revolver's quick success no shot in the dark

Velvet Revolver scored three Grammy nominations this week for best rock album, song and performance -- and they're showing off why tonight at Mansion in South Beach.

BY ROBERTO SANTIAGO

rsantiago@herald.com



There was buzz about Velvet Revolver even before the band had performed live, signed a recording contract or had a name or front man.

From the start, the line-up was a recipe for a super group: bass player Duff McKagan, lead guitarist Slash and drummer Matt Sorum, all from Guns 'N Roses, and rhythm guitarist Dave Kushner, formerly of Wasted Youth and Electric Love Hogs.

All that was missing was a mesmerizing lead singer.

A classified ad McKagan placed in music magazines in September 2002 turned up no suitable candidates.

But six months later, Scott Weiland, taking a break as front man for Stone Temple Pilots, came through the door, sang Set Me Free and Velvet Revolver was a band.

''The rock gods blessed us with Scott. He is better than anything we could have ever advertised for,'' McKagan said in a telephone interview from a tour bus bound for South Florida.

GOING PLATINUM

The buzz was prophetic. Velvet Revolver's CD Contraband debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 100 in June, went platinum in August and on Tuesday was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album.

This summer, the band's eerie, heart-pounding single, Slither, hit No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Track Charts. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Today, the No. 1 spot is held by Velvet Revolver's textured power ballad, Fall To Pieces, which was also nominated, this time for Best Rock Song.

Now Velvet Revolver makes its South Florida debut at South Beach's Mansion at 11 tonight.

''We've all matured as musicians and as people. We've gone through the tough times and understood them. I think you can see that in our lyrics and arrangements and how we work together,'' said McKagan. ``It's all a group effort.''

That extends into their personal lives. When Weiland was arrested for cocaine and heroin possession two months after joining the band, McKagan introduced him to the martial arts discipline of wing chun kung fu, which has helped both men stay sober.

Staying sober is essential to the success of the band, as Weiland's past drug problems, drug convictions and 32 stints in rehab ultimately derailed Stone Temple Pilots at its height.

''We're making it work right now, but I'm not going to lie and say it's going to be that way forever. For the good of the band and its survival, I hope it stays that way, that we stay clean. That Scott stays clean. But I can't predict the future,'' McKagan said.

Before Weiland joined in March 2003, his four bandmates had collectively composed and arranged 60 songs. Friend and former Guns 'N Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin also contributed a few.

''Izzy was never interested in joining,'' McKagan said. ``After Guns 'N Roses, he will never work with a lead singer again.''

McKagan says Velvet Revolver's creative process happens informally -- while they are rehearsing or just hanging out.

Even the name of the band -- its original working title was The Project -- was a collaborative effort.

''The name Velvet Revolver doesn't mean a damn thing,'' McKagan said. ``Slash had suggested the name Revolver -- and I liked it because of its Beatles connotation. But there are several hundred bands named Revolver. After a while, Scott suggested adding Velvet to the name. Slash sketched out the band logo and that was it.''

The lyrics and arrangements come about in a similarly informal fashion, McKagan said.

STARTING WITH RIFFS

''`Sometimes it happens fast. Fall To Pieces started off with Slash throwing out some guitar riffs. Eventually I did the bridge, and we all started adding lyrics,'' McKagan said.

``But ones like Slither and Do it for the Kids took longer, and we did several versions until we picked the one that worked right.''

Weiland's vocals have also changed. The low-growl rock baritone flaunted in Stone Temple Pilot's Sex Type Thing has given way to a broader, melodic higher-octave range.

''Scott can embrace lyrics in so many different ways,'' McKagan said. ``He sounds completely different than when he was with Stone Temple Pilots.''

except Duff is wrong...Scott sounded his best in STP up til Tiny Music

I haven't read a single thing in this thread, but let me guess, since I saw it was dave posting it.
it some low stab at VR again?
some poor written piss he's dug up?
(I will read comments to this post to see if Im right or not, Im pretty much willing to bet hefty sums that Im right : ok:)

Well we really should post all the VR reviews shouldn?t we? You guys missed this one so I posted it for you.

I love how all the VR fans get their panties in a bunch when an article slams VR yet they are laughing and say hey it?s just a review when it bashes Axl or the new gnr.  VR fans keep showing how pathetic they are and how hypocritical they are.  Why is it that its ok to post a negative axl/new gnr article but not a negative vr article?

thats because there's more than enough solid reasons to bash Axl : ok:

Dave, seriously, it's time for a new act.

I think people have more of a problem with you and your "style" of posting then they do with the New GN'R.

No, we didn't miss it, it was posted before. But you were too happy reading it so you posted it again forgetting that it's an old story.

Dave, kettle meet the pot.. Second I could care less if there's a negative review, but when someone like you goes out of their way to post it with sarcasm in their title of the thread that's what is annoying...

You're by far one of the most onesided people on this board, most of us get on new gnr or axl because of the delays, but we still talk about the music, and hope for postitive things (tours, albums, singles) and you can't expect everyone to like all of the songs..

I mean you come to the vr section and never have anything good to say, so before saying vr fans are the most negative towards new gnr, you should look at yourself.. We all came here for a common interest in one band, which is new gnr, but you can't blame people for voicing how they feel when there's no album


People are really enjoying vr ,it brought some part of hard rock back, so instead of just being negative? enjoy something.

There's so many good things to say
1)grammy nods
2)they are three ex gunners
3) two number one single between mainstream n modern rock
4)constant touring (america, canada, europe, now japan, new zealand, n japan)
5)debut album #1 on the billboard charts (first band to do that since the scan)
6) they keep the fans informed on everything and what they say actually comes true.
7) two videos that have had tons of airplay
8) new single which was the most distrubuted to new playslists on the radio dlt.

Maybe if you had a few good things to say every once in a while, then your post of negative stuff would be more credible..

I say yes, but don't come over here only to post negative shit, it's like you found the article and smiled like the grinch and couldn't wait to post it with that so sarcastic title.. You posted a negative vr write up which was done by someone who is praising a dormant band new gnr, so it's not like it's a fair review, it's just an axl fan doinmg something like you would..

It looked old but it was dated the 9th  : ok:
so there ya go.

And all you VR fans that are crying about negative reviews, you were not saying that when you were posting negative stuff about axl, but again same old same old.

Im not just being nasty, but dave you seem like a pretty emotionally unbalanced fella.

WAAHHHHHH It's not fair!!  Mommy , they don't treat Axl fair.   :'( 

And why is that? Because when ever I post any negative review on this board a lot of people cry on here?


Thats funnys Tom Ass, since all the crying I see is about this guys review bashing VR.
 :rofl:

It is not the article that people are annoyed with. It is YOU.  Using the word that you used to describe VR fans, you are "PATHETIC". 

Agreed...

I would accept that reviewer's opinion if he indeed commented on VR's MUSIC instead of what he thinks about each of the individual members ("Scott's a drug addict and a fuck-up!!" Change the record already...). He never even gives any reason for his patience and optimism regarding Axl's solo dealie (again, doesn't mention the music, just that it will be better than anything by VR)  ::) ; the whole thing is just redundant.

Topic's like this are just stupid Davegnfnr2k, please, just fucking grow up.

In his defense, it's not the topic that is stupid because it is a VR section. It is his motives that are stupid. It's just that he doesn't show up unless he finds something negative to post. Then he twists everyones posts around to make him the victim. We have all said enough and everyone gets the point but him. He does need to grow up though as you said..... And end his never ending quest of defending Axl Rose....

The disturbing thing is picturing him all happy and turned on when he read this article. And the article really was pretty poor and pointless..Not to mention it came out like 6 or 7 months ago and I am pretty sure it has alreday been posted.

I knew the article was old too. I just found the ORIGINAL and it was from fucking May 13th which was before the album even came out I think.? I think Velvet Revolver have done enough since then to really make this article obselete.. It's safe to say VR are doing pretty good now. Even if that doesn't make this jack off and Dave happy.....

http://www.pitch.com/issues/2004-05-13/music/interview2.html

What Dave seems to forget is that we are all (or most of us) GnR fans here, as in fan of GnR music, and when VR are doing good, I think it can only help present GnR when or if they release their album, because I still haven't seen one single article who hasen't at least mentioned that it's members have been a part of the GnR that was popular to the world, and if Axl does good, it will maybe help VR as well... It's not really worth it, to take sides, this is rock n roll, not the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, and we should all remember that, especially now after what happened to Dimebag, I mean, I'm really worried for both Axl, and the rest of the original line-up, because if some disturbed fan of Pantera could do something like that, think about all the hardcore, fundamental, crazy fans of GnR/Axl/Slash that could be able to do something similar..? That incident have made me see some of the posts here in a different light, and I hope we all can agree that we have to tone it down a bit... Like I said, we all love GnR music, many love VR, and it hopefully will be fucking cool when Axl release his album, and why shoulden't we wish all of the past,present and even future members of GNR all good ?? ?:peace:


R.I..P Dimebag
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/cooman78/DimbagSlash.jpg)

funny you should mention that, because one of the reasons that conflict has remained intact for going on one gazillion years is, partly, because people in poverty have nothing better to do. when your life has so little, its quite easy to get totally caught up in the smallest things. similarly, many people on this board have absolutely NO LIFE at all so they post here all day, rehashing the same arguments over and over and over. i suspect some copy/pasting is going on. they do this because the band is all they have. really sad actually.

duh duh dave, if you are so adament that Chinese Democracy will come out when its ready and you urge everyone here to not live their lives around it, how can you explain that you have like, a trillion posts here, all different shades of the same color? does that not suggest that it is you, dear, who need the life?

if someone has the time to do a search, you might want to uncover how many of duh's posts have been carbon copies of each other.

Dave,
You are a sad, obsessed and lost little man.
You deserve pity.
I've never seen such bile, delivered with such bitchy consistancy and conversely such fierce, blind defense of rock stars you don't know and to whom you mean nothing.
Get a different hobby, this one is doing you no good, your negativity cannot be doing you any favors.
Sad.

all i have to say to that turd is.


GET IN THE RING MOTHER FUCKER!!!!!!

 :hihi:
dude, you're funny.

I think this article did a certain nail on the head.

Regarding Velvet Revolver, most fans expected simply "a good rock n' roll album."  And that is, perhaps, what they got.  Give or take, more or less.

However, regarding Chinese Democracy, I think many want something much, much more...

doesn't mean you're going to get it...

Ok, it's a very old story (more than 6 months old) and as usual when Dave posts something here, it turns into a petty little fight between him and his haters. This is getting old so this topic is locked. I'm not takin sides. Dave shouldn't have posted that old story we all know or he should have tried to bring up the old thread, and the rest of the posts shouldn't be personal attacks.

If you want to actually talk about the music and the band, go ahead and create a thread, if you want to post personal attacks, use PMs for that.