Here Today... Gone To Hell!

VELVET REVOLVER Plan Concept Album - Dec. 14, 2005 
 
VELVET REVOLVER are planning on making their second record a concept album, singer Scott Weiland has revealed to MTV.com.

"It's something I've been wanting to do since the last STP album, since the 'Shangri-La Dee Da' album [in 2001], and it never was completely realized," Weiland (formerly of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS) said. "You never know until you really completely get there, but it's going in that direction right now."

Weiland refused to reveal any details about the concept but said he and his fellow VR members have been writing for months.

"This album really has to make a statement," bassist Duff McKagan added. "We've toured for 18 months. Now we have a brand name. Now we know each other as a band. The first album was just us together at home, a spontaneous product. Now it's time to make that record."

Along with the follow-up to 2004's "Contraband", Weiland is also working on the follow-up to his 1998 solo album, "12 Bar Blues", for which he has 25 songs written.

Weiland intended to release the solo album a few years ago but joined Slash, McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner in VELVET REVOLVER instead.

"I think I was looking really for a way out of doing drugs," Weiland recalled. "Then I kept on thinking the music [they were sending me] was getting better and better and finally I was just like, 'I think that there really might be a real contribution waiting to happen for rock and roll here. And I think if I join this I can really add something to this and make a real contribution.' " 
 

CULVER CITY, California ? What Green Day waited seven albums to do Velvet Revolver are doing with their second.
That, of course, would be a concept album.

"It's something I've been wanting to do since the last STP album, since the Shangri-La Dee Da album [in 2001], and it never was completely realized," singer Scott Weiland (formerly of Stone Temple Pilots) said. "You never know until you really completely get there, but it's going in that direction right now."

Weiland refused to reveal any details about the concept but said he and his fellow VR members have been writing for months.

"This album really has to make a statement," bassist Duff McKagan added. "We've toured for 18 months. Now we have a brand name. Now we know each other as a band. The first album was just us together at home, a spontaneous product. Now it's time to make that record."

Along with the follow-up to 2004's Contraband, Weiland is also working on the follow-up to his 1998 solo album, 12 Bar Blues, for which he has 25 songs written.

Weiland intended to release the solo album a few years ago but joined Slash, McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner in Velvet Revolver instead.

"I think I was looking really for a way out of doing drugs," Weiland recalled. "Then I kept on thinking the music [they were sending me] was getting better and better and finally I was just like, 'I think that there really might be a real contribution waiting to happen for rock and roll here. And I think if I join this I can really add something to this and make a real contribution.' "

There's no title or release date yet for either album, but McKagan said to expect a spring release for VR. In the meantime, the band is performing a New Year's Eve show at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey.

"It's a tiny little club where people can hang from the rafters." McKagan said. "It's gonna be hot and sweaty and ferocious, but that's rock and roll."

? Corey Moss, with additional reporting by Jeff Cornell
   
 
Source(s): http://www.mtv.com/ 
 
 
/jarmo

Nice one. I got to wonder what the concept will be. Good to hear the album is soon though.

Looking forward to it.  I am also REALLY looking forward to another Scott Weiland solo album. : ok:

somehow i don't think they'll pull off a great record. few bands can make a good concept album. Alice cooper can, green day  can 2 i guess. but i don't see VR gettin away with that. personally i don't really like/understand scotts lyrics and that has a huge influence on a concept album. hopefully the others will pitch in with lyrics as well.
i hope they do great, but i can't really see that happening. but that's just me.
i guess i'll w8 n see.

wasp had a great concept album this year tho..

Awesome news that the VR train is starting to roll again, although personally I don't see any records being on shelves until the summer (June again).

Could someone explain a little in detail what exactly a concept album is?  Thanks.  I'd never really heard about it until someone mentioned it about Green Day last year.  Is that sort of how every one of their songs is about the war and government?  What concept did Cooper have on his album? 

And wasn't Contraband a concept album?  Trying to kick drugs and get back with your family was pretty much the theme of every song.

'tis a good thing; looks like they are going on a total different direction this time, the further you go from contraband the better; and a brand new 12 bar blues sounds awesome  : ok:

if this album ends up having some piano or 8 to 10 min songs I will laugh my ass off at all the axl haters? :hihi:


Concept album
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
 

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the most famous and arguably the first concept album in rock and roll.
Usually, in popular music, an artist or group releases an album consisting of a number of unconnected songs that the members of the group or the artist have written, or have chosen to cover. In a concept album, on the other hand, all songs contribute to a single overall theme or unified story. Given that the suggestion of something as vague as an overall mood often tags a work as being a concept album, a precise definition of the term proves highly problematic.

as a concept album I recommend Days of the New- Green  :peace:

Bit of news curtesy of nme.com.

Velvet revolver have been working on a concept album for months, and it should hopefully be out by spring.

Duff and scott both speak of the importance of it being a good album.

http://www.nme.com/news/velvet-revolver/21762

Cool! Cant wait for it!

If You want concept album check out Pink Floyd's Animals or The Wall.

So will the new VR be out before Weiland's second solo album?

From a touring perspective, I would say his solo album would come first, then VR.? Scott hardly toured for "12 Bar Blues", probably be the same on the new album cosidering how much VR would tour.

I look forward to Scotts new LP.? His first one was a breath of fresh-air considering the different directions he took.? His style is all over the place, and is music reflects that.? I'm also looking forward to VR spreading their wings some.

this is so unexpected and awesome. Scott Weiland is a really smart guy and a brilliant songwriter i'm sure it will be great.

Umm PET SOUNDS by: The Beach Boys

Velvet Revolver Feeling Conceptual
 
December 14, 2005, 10:20 AM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
After spending most of 2005 on the road, Velvet Revolver is slowly making headway on new material that will comprise its sophomore RCA album. Bassist Duff McKagan tells Billboard.com, "Hopefully we'll be in the studio in February or March. It would be nice to have something out by July."

And while it's too early to talk specifics, the band is mulling an overarching theme for the set, according to frontman Scott Weiland.

"With the first record, it was kind of a feeling out process on a technical level," he says. "We were sort of bonded by blood in a sense, because we'd gone through very similar circumstances. On this record, I have a real concept in mind. Because of that, it will be a very album-oriented record instead of a singles-driven record."

"We've got 10 or 12 ideas maybe," McKagan says. "We had a lot of stuff from tour, from soundchecks or backstage. [Drummer] Matt [Sorum] has a studio in his house and we're just hashing out ideas there."

Weiland has been writing during his own down time at home with his wife and family, not only with Velvet Revolver in mind but also the follow-up to his 1998 solo album, "12 Bar Blues."

 
"I'm constantly writing -- all the time," he offers. "We got off the road about three months ago, and for me, writing is not a chore. I own my own recording studio, and it's a playground for me, really. I have two kids and a wife. Once I get my kids ready for school and drive them there in the morning, and have breakfast with the old lady, I drive five minutes to my studio and just write there."

The new set will be the follow-up to 2004's "Contraband," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1.8 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Velvet Revolver will close out the year with a Dec. 31 show in Sayreville, N.J. The group's charmed first two years of existence is not lost on McKagan, who endured his share of hardships with Guns N' Roses.

"It seems like this band -- the reincarnation of ourselves in another thing -- has been accepted now into this whole other kind of upper echelon," he says. "We played with Elton John and Stevie Wonder. We're asked to be the band to play on the Grammys and all these other magnificent things. Finally, we're respected as players."

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001698116



/jarmo

Reading these articles are getting me pumped!? Bring on the new tunes! : ok:

man, Weiland is really growing on me, first I didn't like him much, but now iv'e been listening STP and VR like crazy lately, just can't wait for the follow-up  : ok:

Man Jarmo, you really are breaking tradition with not one but two positive VR articles posted in one day. haha, jk.

Although the more music for the fans the better imo, does anyone else feel this is the wrong time for a VR member to be pulling a solo album out of their ass?  What happened to all that talk of "this is not just some project of individuals, this a real rock n' roll band". 

Why doesn't Scott bring his solo ideas and let the band put their touch to them and release that as a third record?  Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but doesn't it feel like the band is doing their thing at Matt's studio and Scott is doing his thing at his own studio.

And speaking of tradition, within the same day of these releases to the media, we have a quoted anticipated release of spring already pushed back to July. 

Scott has been working on his solo record wayy before he joined VR. I'm sure he won't let it get in the way. he hardly toured during his last solo record

When he released his last album (1998) he was arrested, no?

Also, I HAVE to ask, someone does...

What will come out first, the new VR, or "Chinese Democracy"?

Remember when we used to ask, "what will come out first, "Contraband" or "Chinese Democracy?" ahahahhahah

I remember joking around with my buddy about VR releasing 2 albums before CD ever comes out but I wasn't serious! the thought of another VR album coming out and still no sign of CD is histerical!

I'll be the judge when it comes out, and duff knows they need to step it up this time around.. A sophmore effort will be the band on allcylinders unlike the first where the band wasn't a whole yet and things weren't all done quite together.. I look forward to it.. Regardless to me it;'s grea tto know they are hard at work

It's fairly obvious that he was done/working on this before VR (hence it's mentioned in the mtv article that we all just read ::)), so why not release it then. ?All I'm saying is the timing is not quite right. ?And besides, why not bring your solo ideas and let Slash and Duff have their input since they are a "rock n' roll band now and not a project of individuals".

This reminds me of how Dave Grohl was going to put out a solo cd of his own this summer but instead brought the ideas to FF and they incorporated some of them into an acoustic cd.? He was able to put his ego aside for the good of the band.?

Makes sense, but Weiland's first disc was a 180 degree turn from STP. If Weiland's new album is anything like "12 Bar Blues," it's not the type of music Slash and company will want to work with.

If Duff says they are scheduled to go to the studio in feb-march, that won't happen till may-june. Three months to record it, album out by November next year. It won't happen anytime sooner.

Concept album? yeah, I think it's a good idea. Everything that involves an evolution from Contraband is all good. VR is obviously "influenced" by Green Day's success anyway.

I'm actually looking forward Weiland's solo album. The last song I heard "Man I didn't know" exceeded my expectations.. : ok:

Let the good times roll again!!!!
Just when Conrtraband runs its course, we fans get it all over again.
And by that time, they may even be done with the 3rd record!
 :peace:
BUT seriously, there's plenty of stuff that these players should have to come back out and do another sikk record. I would be surprised if they topped Contraband - I find it hard to top, but u can never doubt these rockers who know what they fuck they're doing and get it done and put it out and hustle behind it. I expect the music to certainly be harder and heartfelt.

MNW

You do? I really think they top Contraband...otherwise it'll be the end of VR.

If they go into the studio in Feb, I don't expect a new CD until next fall, at the earliest.

"Hopefully we'll be in the studio in February or March. It would be nice to have something out by July."

Not that I'm complaining, but what happened to them recording the album straight after their last tour finished and having something out by christmas? That was their original plan wasn't it?

Yeah, it'll probably end up being a christmas 2006 release.

exactly..took the words right out of my mouth!

This sure was unexpected... Only thing that bums me out is that we probably won't see it until next fall but you never know.  I am not huge on concept albums but I am not anti conept album.. I just listen to the songs as individulas and try not to read to much into them.. I am totally looking forward to this though and think we are going to see a new side of VR. We are going to hear Slash's guitar help to tell the story which will be cool... These guys have the potential to lay down some seriously rocking , psychadelic shit!  Contraband was a solid album but this one could blow it away... Liek I said though I am not gonna look to deeply into teh concept.. I also hope it isn't too politicaly (sp?) driven...

yeah Tomass. I'm the same way. I pay more attention to the music than the lyrics. Being that it is a concept album I'm guessing there will be longer songs, longer solos, instrumental parts and like you said slash's speaking guitar. I'm expecting big things musically!

Well, I do pay attention to the lyrics somewhat.. I just listen to the songs individually rather than some deep conceptual story.. I mean I love the songs on "The Wall" but to this day I have never concerned myself with figuring out what the overall story is about..

I'm excited to hear they are making a concept album. Apart from Green Day, not a lot of mainsteam albums are like that.

I just hope they stray away from political or "world saving" topics. A concept album is hot or miss in my opinion, but I believe Slash, Duff and Scott can pull it off.

I think Scott's lyrics are going to be way better on this upcoming album. I'm hoping for lyrics of the same caliber as "Purple" or "Tiny Music". This is the first time since Tiny Music (1996) that scott hasn't had Marital problems and Drug issues to deal with. all he has to worry about (as far as I know) is writing songs.


That quote is very promising IMO, he still had a few decent songs since 1996 (Sour Girl and Days of the Week in particular) but he was untouchable, IMHO, on the two albums i mentioned. : ok:

to sum it up, I think we will be VERY pleasantly surpised at a well planned and thought out record , you can tell that Contraband was kinda thrown together just to get something out but i have a feeling this album will flow better and just be better written.


I'm hoping it puts some of the VR naysayers in their place : ok:

They also said they wanted to have something by Christmas when they thought there touring would end at the beginning of summer and it extended all the way through September so you shoulda known that wasn't gonna happen.  So they take 5-6 months off to do some serious writing and go into the studio.  Shit, they were on the road for 18 straight months and they have families now.  Let them have some down time to regroup.

hah, like they will admit it anyways! :hihi:
well, I do know I will love it! haven't heard anything from VR that I haven't liked so far!

lol, yeah i know, but in their hearts they will know it

i just hope the concept is a cool one, kinda like tales from the strip by la guns

 TRANSLATION: we know contraband sucked, we'll try to actually make a worthy record this time.

"Contraband" "sucked"? Oh please. VR could have released "Abbey Road" and some people would say that it sucked.

could've but didnt  :hihi:

I love a good concept album and I'm hoping this will be one of the greats. A good concept album is one where you listen to it and pick the bsaics up. The next few listens lead to even more revelations that were so subtle that you realise there's an extra layer or 2.

Personal favourites include Pink Floyd - The Wall, Savatage - Streets (A rock opera), Green Day - American Idiot, WASP - The Idol.

What's left to say is I can't wait and have every faith VR can deliver the goods in this project.

I think Scott has a hidden skill that werent shown on CONTRABAND, those are gonna show up in this 2nd album and are going to overwhelm us all.