Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Launch Radio Networks reports: VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan told Launch on Friday (March 10) that the band will enter the studio on April 10 to begin recording its sophomore album. The group has been preparing songs since coming off the road last year and McKagan says the material is nearly ready to go. "It's real close, you know," he said. "The thing is, we always have way too much material, so it's probably more a matter of just like picking the right ones. It's a quality problem. This second record will be just an exploration, as opposed to like, 'Let's crush it and put it out,' it's gonna be exploration and I think people will really dig it."

VELVET REVOLVER's new effort will follow up its 2004 debut, "Contraband", which has sold nearly two million copies.

The band was formed in 2003 when former GUNS N' ROSES members McKagan, guitarist Slash and drummer Matt Sorum joined forces with guitarist Dave Kushner and ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland.

McKagan was in Atlantic City, New Jersey last weekend to play second guitar with the reactivated ALICE IN CHAINS on a taping of the VH1 Classic series "Decades Rock Live!"

McKagan and Slash were countersued last week by GUNS frontman W. Axl Rose after they filed a lawsuit against him over licensing and royalties issues.