Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Velvet Revolver Still Mulling New Frontman

August 08, 2008 , 12:00 AM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Contrary to reports suggesting former Spacehog frontman Royston Langdon is in line to become the new singer of Velvet Revolver, the band is still making up its mind about who will replace Scott Weiland.

Bassist Duff McKagan tells Billboard.com that although Velvet Revolver did play with Langdon and that "he's f*cking awesome, at this point I'd have to say no" on him becoming the new singer.

"We just have to make sure it's the right guy," he says, adding that Weiland's angry departure from the band this spring has brought him closer to group members Slash, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner. "Karmically, we deserve the right guy. It's a tough thing, man. We make a pretty big noise."

Velvet Revolver isn't so much auditioning vocalists as "just seeing how it feels," McKagan says, adding with a laugh, "We wouldn't know how to do an audition. We wouldn't have somebody come in and go, 'Okay, play 'Slither!' Play 'Fall To Pieces!'"

For now, the band is taking inspiration from its recent personnel drama and channeling it into new material. "We have a bunch of stuff finished. It's great. It's killer," McKagan says. "We started getting really productive when a ton of drama started happening on the road. It was like our safe place to go to. Sometimes that's how you get some feelings out."

As reported yesterday, McKagan just finished an album with his side band Loaded, and will play a handful of U.S. and European shows in August and September.

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003836920

Thanks to Blabbermouth.net

Phew!

I'm starting to get the feeling that this might take a while.

I wouldn't mind if VR went on a hiatus for a while. Slash, however should put out his solo album.

In the meantime, have a rockin tour Duff.  : ok:

Axl and the new Gn'r stuff is also mentioned in this article (bottom):

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/080808/n_entertain_reuters/entertainment_velvetrevolver_col

By Jonathan Cohen


NEW YORK (Billboard) - Velvet Revolver bass player Duff McKagan has denied a report that former Spacehog frontman Royston Langdon is in line to become the band's new singer.


McKagan told Billboard.com that Velvet Revolver did play with Langdon, and that he's "he's f--king awesome," but "at this point I'd have to say no" on him replacing ousted singer Scott Weiland.


"We just have to make sure it's the right guy," he said. "Karmically, we deserve the right guy. It's a tough thing, man. We make a pretty big noise."


Entertainment Weekly reported this week that Langdon, the estranged husband of actress Liv Tyler, was in the running for the gig after several successful jam sessions. Langdon's glam-inspired band Spacehog enjoyed a hit in the mid-1990s with the song "In the Meantime."


Velvet Revolver isn't so much auditioning vocalists as "just seeing how it feels," McKagan said.


For now, McKagan and bandmates Slash, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner are taking inspiration from their recent drama with Weiland and channeling it into new material.


"We have a bunch of stuff finished. It's great. It's killer," McKagan said. "We started getting really productive when a ton of drama started happening on the road. It was like our safe place to go to. Sometimes that's how you get some feelings out."


One thing McKagan hasn't done is listen to any of the online leaks from his former band Guns N' Roses' long-awaited "Chinese Democracy." "I wouldn't even know where to look," he said, chuckling. "Slash said he heard a couple of tunes. I wish singer (Axl Rose) all the best."

Here as well:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/08/08/velvet-revolvers-mckagan-denies-band-hired-langdon-as-frontman/

This is good news. I prefer they take their time and not rush their decision on who the lead singer should be. However it is interesting that Slash seems to be hanging with Perry Ferrel latey. He would not be my favorite choice but I would not hate that decision either. He is similar to Scott Weiland in his stage presence and woud bring the JA audience over to VR so that could be a plus. You would think with all the people that they know in the industry and who they are people would be coming out for this spot.

From MTV

Velvet Revolver Still No Closer To Announcing Weiland Replacement

Published by Chris Harris on Friday, August 8, 2008 at 12:36 pm.

Scott WeilandLast week, the Internet was all abuzz with speculation that Velvet Revolver had finally arrived at a Scott Weiland replacement and that that man was Spacehog?s Royston Langdon ? despite SH?s recent reunion for two shows in Los Angeles. Well, it seems Velvet Revolver haven?t made any decisions yet.

Bassist Duff McKagan told Billboard.com that, while the band has played with Langdon and that ?he?s f?ing awesome,? they don?t think he?s the man for the job.

?We just have to make sure it?s the right guy,? he told the site, adding that Weiland?s acrimonious departure some months back brought the rest of VR ? guitarist Slash, drummer Matt Sorum, and guitarist Dave Kushner ? closer. ?Karmically, we deserve the right guy. It?s a tough thing, man. We make a pretty big noise.?

And while the guys take their sweet time finding their next voice (McKagan said they aren?t actively auditioning potential replacements), they?ve been busy writing new material, which Duff calls ?killer.? Can?t wait to hear it, Duff ? but something tells us Chinese Democracy will hit stores before the next VR LP does.

http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/08/08/velvet-revolver-still-no-closer-to-announcing-weiland-replacement/

i've seen some Langdon videos on you tube and i don't think he is the correct option. VR needs someone more agressive

So glad it's not him!!! : ok:

Well thats a relief, to say the least.  :hihi:

I wonder if they are still in negotiations with the "big name vocalist" as Matt has said?  Or are they starting from scratch?

Good question.  I knew it wasn't Royston he was talking about.  Small chance it could be Farrell.

Call Matt and ask him tonight on CF radio, according to www.billymorrison.net/weblog Matt will be joining Billy for this evenings show.

Listen live at http://www.indie1031.com/listen_live.php - 6pm PST.

if someone calls, ask about the guy from wolfmother since he's a singer without a band, and their a band withoouta singer, and they seem to be big fans ;D

I think it is Lenny Kravitz.This rumor is picking up steam.

duff said  as much in an interview Kravitz was his favorite-I'd love Kravitz but he was recently touring his last album.....if they go with him or Stockdale (wolfmother) I'd be happy with

If you go back to the begining, I SCREAMED for Kravitz, only to have Falcon Scream back, HE IS FAMOUS ON HIS OWN, WHY WOULD HE JOIN VR, AIN'T HAPPENING...

If it is he has tour dates scheduled through the end of May 2009...maybe that VR tour date of 09/09/2009 was correct. :D

Damnit Funkey, why ruin our hopes with the truth... ha

Well there is a big gap in the dates...maybe they could fit something in. :D

http://www.lennykravitz.com/#/tour/

Did not see the Kravitz thing coming...sounds good, if true...

Kravitz would be shit hot

replace the STP covers with

again
always on the run
fly away

 : ok:

so they'd have 3 guitarplayers?

It seems OK for GNR to have three, why cant VR :P

Or maybe they would get rid of dave...who knows

Didn't Dave, Lenny and Slash all go to the same school?  ???

Maybe somebody should call Nick Lachey and ask him if that "High School Musical" reality show is really just a front for finding a new lead singer for VR.  :hihi:

Lenny and Duff did a song on Duff's '93 album, "a majority" I think it's called...

Didn't Matt say a a "big name" called and said he wante to sing for them? Lenny's been friends with these guys for years and have played with them in their collective pasts....he actually makes alot more sense then some of the other names mentioned

Where is this rumor picking up steam at?

Lenny's a cool cat, not sure if he's a fit musically though - very much a solo artist.

Although.....his last couple of albums have tanked. 

Who the hell knows at this point..

Looks like it all started with this post on Metal Sludge and has spread from there...

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008

Lenny Kravitz. Someone just called me with the offical word. The contracts are in negotiation. No word yet if they will keep Kushner though. I mean if they have lenny why would they keep him around they dont need 3 guitars...
anyhow, thats the word. Again lenny could bail at the last minute but I doubt it. it seems pretty final.

http://www.metalsludge.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=170073

i doubt its true

Yeah, they're not going to bring in Kravitz and then chuck out Kushner because they suddenly have three guitarists. I doubt Kravitz would want to join either.

duff actually mentioned Lenny long before this was posted; no one cared to pay any attention to it b/c they had there own names in mind

From what I can tell, Lenny Kravitz is more successful than VR at the moment.

Why would he join that band? 

Never mind the fact that he can play headlining shows around the world, why would he join a hard rock band?

 ???

Unless it's just a one off kind of thing for him....




/jarmo

if they'd drop dave in lenny's place that would be uncool, i wouldn't care that much but it's very uncool and i don't think they'll do that

I think it would be interesting but would sound nothing like Velvet Revolver with Scott-Lenny's last record bombed here so it would not surprise me to see him want to try something new-I'm not sure it will work but we shall see-I give them credit for not hiring a someone who simply sounds like Scott-Lenny is also good friends with Duff and Slash

The coolness of the band would go up 10 fold.  Lenny is just so fucking cool.  Almost like having 2 Slash's in the band.  Its hard to believe, but if true I would be excited.  I think Lenny would have a good take on VR songs, and we know he can write a good song.

it would be a kick ass live show if anything

when did he say that?  ???

For what it's worth...the guy at Metal Sludge posted this later in the thread.

NEW UPDATE---

Kushner is still in the band... I guess they will have 3 guitars. Should be interesting!!!

In a recent Classic Rock interview, Duff McKagan favored Chester Bennington, Lenny Kravitz, ex-Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar, Donovan Leitch, and Shooter Jennings as the next Velvet Revolver singer.

Dude, if this IS real.....  I will think VR has hit one out of the fucking ball park.

this if true, could/would/should have been the coolest shit for very long.. but also it would be kinda weird to hear lenny sing some old VR.. and old GNR songs too i guess

would they base their setlist on old GNR/Lenny and new VR or have some old VR too?

i'd say not gonna happen ;D

Oh... didnt know about that. Thanks  : ok:

Scott has the easiest Rock Voice ever to cover. Lenny could pull it off.  Especially with Matt and Duff on backing vocals.  Yes, he could do Slither and You got no Right.  Just listen to "Sister".  He has a great voice.

couldn't tell you why he would.....maybe to have a a helluva good time while touring?

him and slash have been friends for years and wrote and toured together and are pretty good friends and I think the same can be said for Duff (w/ the exception of possibly touring)

Where some of the rumors may be coming from... :hihi:

http://chinese-democracy.blogspot.com/2008/08/lenny-kravitz-to-front-velvet-revolver.html

And how would this guy know?

Is this Jarmo's "sister" site? 

I recently was to a Lenny Kravitz live show and I have to say that he was brilliant. I don't think that he's gonna be next VR frontman but if he turns out to be it will be very, very cool!

He's bored on his own tours?  :P


So Duff favored Lenny and Chester. Does it mean Chester is joining? No....

Those two are probably the biggest names that were mentioned by Duff.


If Lenny joins, good for them.

Seems a bit unlikely to me, just like Chester joining (or Sammy Hagar)....





/jarmo

maybe he wants to write with other musicians other than himself and being that he's been friends with those guys forever, feels the most comfortable with their style; I was under the impression he pretty much does what trent does and writes and plays everything on records and then hires a band to tour with him but I could be mistaken.....who the fuck knows, if it happens and turns out to be true, I'm sure that question will be asked hundreds of times and we'll find out.......as this is just speculation on my part


based on what the band has said, 1. he's a big name, 2. he's from the NYC area , and he also has history with these guys.....i'd be thrilled if it his him

Sammy Hagar would be nice!

Not a chance in hell of it happening, dude's 60+ years old and has his own thing going
musically on his own terms.  Makes no sense for either party..

Not to mention a helluva profitable tequila biz...

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

LENNY KRAVITZ has got himself a new job ? as frontman of hard rock supergroup VELVET REVOLVER.

The rocker, who is playing at the V Festival in Staffordshire and Chelmsford this weekend, has been spotted in the studio with the band. The group, originally made up of former GUNS N? ROSES and WASTED YOUTH members, including guitar legend SLASH, have been looking for a new frontman since their split from SCOTT WEILAND.

Other names that had been linked to the job include ex- VAN HALEN singer SAMMY HAGAR and SPACEHOG?s ROYSTON LANGDON. A new album is expected early next year.

A source said: ?Velvet Revolver?s new album will draw heavily on their messy split with Scott. ?The band wanted a big name who could easily hold his own and reckon Lenny is just the man for the job.?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1545748.ece

Dont believe it. The Sun is like the worst paper ever about printing bullshit.

From VR's myspace..

Want to thank all of you for posting here again
and hanging with us.

We are still looking for a singer, and will have some news in the next
couple of weeks. Duff, Slash,Dave and myself are working towards getting it going very soon.

once again stay tuned and thanks again,

Keep rockin,

Matt

sounds like "damage control" since their top wishlist choices are quickly posting on their own sites/myspace/etc. that they are NOT joining VR and killing all the buzz.

No wonder it sounded familiar:




It's almost the same "update".





/jarmo

This is becoming a difficult task.  They could "settle" for someone like Royston, but that would fail.  They need a homerun here.  No a big name per se, but a big time singer.  Roystone wasn't that.  Lenny would have been a homerun for many reasons.  I hope they find the next Bon Scott...  here's to wishing... :peace:

This is like waiting for Democracy in China. Just get a new singer already!!

betchya it doesn't take 17 years

Go listen to Snakepit.





/jarmo

If you look at the VH1 documentary, you can see how hard it is to find a lead singer-I do believe it is hard to find somoene great these days-I'm not sure if they will hit a homerun with anyone-as Slash said"fucking lead singers"

It rocks  :smoking:

I guess we'll have to wait and see... :-\

Sorum also detailed what Velvet Revolver is going to do about finding a replacement for Weiland, and we?ll have the news a little later this week. Meanwhile, Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots kicked off their summer tour dates with Rock On The Range, and they?ll be playing sheds throughout the summer.

"We're really seriously thinking about doing something online.  Yeah, we got offered a couple of different television ideas you know. Mark Burnett called us and asked us to do that Rockstar thing and we basically said 'No!' to that.  We didn't feel it was right for us.  No disrespect to him but it just didn't feel right for what we want to do.  As many years as we've tried to keep our integrity intact we felt that wasn't the right forum for us to do it so, we got some ideas and we should have that news in a couple weeks."

So, by reading that, it would appear they're not even looking into a new singer atm  ???

Gladly, I personally like those albums better than a lot of stuff i've heard, defenitley not as much as official GNR releases or even Contraband but better than certain leaks i've heard and most of Libertad as well

Saturday, August 16, 2008
     
photos
Current mood: happy
Category: Art and Photography

Hey Everyone,

Have some new photos up, will be posting lots of new stuff soon,
from recording sessions and some live stuff from my private collection.

Enjoy,

Matt

http://www.myspace.com/velvetrevolver

what does slash's tattoo on his back say? among the live photos, haven't seen it before

HAHA...it does?  Snakepit's first record re-defined the term "filler"...second record had about 3 or 4 decent tracks though....

agree on the first record, second record was a lot better, better then contraband iMO

says 'London' after his son. i believe he has cash on the front for the other one

yeah i thought it looked like london but wasn't sure, thought it looked weird with the D :P and yeah he has cash in old english on his stomach i think too

From Matt's Blog

Hey all,

Have been over on The VR myspace site
getting photos up and stuff.
The rest of the boys have kids and all so I am the one to do it I guess

Have some exciting stuff for VR real soon, I know I've been sayin that
but is going to get fun in a minute

stay tuned

Matt

10:14 PM

will believe it when I see it..............but am looking forward to it

has the kravits rumor been put to rest yet or is that still possible? that would amazing :drool:

lenny has denied it : ok: so it's not possible

Duff was on KISW radio in Seattle today.  Here is some of what he said...the interviewer says that he heard that Lenny Kravitz is joining the band and Duff says that he heard it too, but no.  He goes on to say that he is killer, he'd be great...maybe we'll look into that.

On getting an unknown.  He said that he would rather have a kick ass band and an unknown singer and if less people come, oh well.  He doesn't want any drama.

When asked how far out they are on a decision, he says that he wishes it was going to be tomorrow, but probably won't be.  He says that he has been commuting to LA this summer and that they probably almost have an album of really great music.  So when they get the guy, there won't be a long turn around because the music is done.

http://kisw.com/pages/318908.php

This is taking too long...

VELVET REVOLVER's MCKAGAN Comments On LENNY KRAVITZ Rumors - Aug. 22, 2008

TheNewsTribune.com: I've seen a few rumors about who's in the running [for the VELVET REVOLVER singer slot]. Last I read it was supposedly Lenny Kravitz.

Duff: Yeah, I guess that was reported that he was our new singer, which is surprising to me. I got sent a ton of links yesterday by our management. And they were all from The New York Post; you know, the Sun in the U.K., reporting that he's our new singer. I don't know where people get all this (stuff).

TheNewsTribune.com: You know, I could almost see that workin'.

Duff: Well, I think that would be killer. That guy's a true musician. I've known that guy for 20 years. That would be great. But I'm not sure if Lenny knows about it. We didn't know about it. We'll find a guy.

You can hear clips of the interview, including what McKagan said about the possibility of Chris Cornell joining the band, on Bring the Noise.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=103325

Lenny would be awesome... I guess it makes "too" much sense. 

For who?




/jarmo

Waiting for the "Lenny is a very successful solo act, why would he leave."

I meant musically it would make sense, but I agree, won't happen.

08.19.08

Also back in the studio next week for more VR demo tracking. Starting to get songs together for when that singer comes along.

Rock on friends,
Matt

http://www.mattsorum.tv/channel/2008/08/19/latest-update/

Shame they don't have a singer at this stage. I thought Libertad was much stronger, overall, than Contraband in part because Weiland was on board from the beginning.

I put Contraband on yesterday and jammed along with it on my guitar, and I was amazed at how much it still kicks ass. It's a great rock album from start to finish.


Libertad is still just a bit... meh! :nervous:
And if Libertad is the result of them working more closely with Scott, I'm glad he's out of the picture.


It's interesting though, if they're writing all this new music without a singer, I wonder how much input the singer will actually have when they come on board.

If you remember, they already had Slither put down as a whole song. Scott came and added the lyrics. Maybe it would be better if they came up with the music first and then when they do find a vocalist, he can lay down the lyrics... Musically it might be better... ;)

I listened to Libertad last night.  Let it Roll still rocks hard.  And I really like She Mine now.  Mary Mary  and For a brother are cool too.  The Last Fight is a really good tune as well.  Nothing mindblowing, but nothing really terrible either.

29-August-2008

So is this (Velvet Revolver) now another of McKagan's former bands? Far from it as it seems the band have a couple of replacements in mind, but the bassist is tight-lipped on their exact identities.

"We have a singer we've been working with for a couple of months and he's actually a product of your fair country ? but I won't say who. But we've also had a very interesting call from someone who's a big, big name, so it would be amazing if that worked out. Slash and I have been fighting adversity our whole careers, so the scenario of upheaval is nothing new."

Far be it from me to speculate, but I suspect the former of the two possible singers is Donovan Leitch, a British-born singer with Camp Freddy, a sometime-ensemble including Dave Navarro, Matt Sorum, Chester Barrington and, ironically, Scott Weiland while the latter may be none other than Chris Cornell. But since McKagan will neither confirm nor deny these names, only time will tell.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/entertainment/Interview-Duff-McKagan-s-Loadeds/article-296193-detail/article.html

Chris Cornell is the perfect choice. his last solo album wasn't good, he doesn't
seem interested in reforming Soundgarden, it could make a killer band.

The dude's off on both accounts...

The Brit born is Langdon, not Dono - and the "big big" name sure isn't Cornell..

Gotta love the British "press"...

matt doesn't even think dono is big enough for camp freddy and thats his part time band.....

coyld the big-big name be axl?

big big name?  Lenny maybe after he thought about it for a while?

I agree with Falcon, this clown is wrong on both. 

If the person they have been working with is Langdon...Duff said that they passed on him back on August 8th.  So if it is him, either Duff is bringing up old news, or the interview took place a month ago?

Same with the big name vocalist, Matt talked about this August 1st, however he did say it would take a couple of months to see what happens.

If the interview is current...seems like things have not advanced too far.

I doubt Dono would be a part of the band if he wasn't the one (along with Billy Mo) of the cats who put the thing together in the first place.


Not a chance..

whatever happens we will know when theyr ready.....i just hope its worth the wait

I know he's already been eliminated from the competition but Sebastian Bach was just on Sirius Faction 28 with Jason Ellis and he said that the only time he was ever up for lead singer for VR was before they decided on Scott Weiland.  He went on to say that he's happy where he is right now and that he likes his music more than VR's, saying their music is more trendy and that he's never been a "trendy" kind of guy.

stop the presses! faldor is on to something here!!!!

Sounds like sour grapes as far as Bach is concerned...

Not sure if it's sour grapes so to speak, but definitely spin control.

He knows he was never seriously considered - never thought of as I viable option, just Bach being Bach...

High RPM's - low IQ...

I felt kind of bad for Bach.  He was saying how his record company is done promoting his album and wouldn't allow him to do a video for another single.  He said he was moving on to making another album.  Gotta respect the guy though, he's proud of what he did.  I liked Angel Down, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.  Sucks that his own record company aborted it so quickly.

Why don't VR just call it a day and just do solo projects.  I mean Scott Weiland was terrible but some of those VR songs  I have a hard time hearing someone else sing those songs.  Matt can do Camp Freddy, Duff and Slash can work on Slash's solo album. 

Id have Scott back in a second, but am happy for them to wait for them to find sum1 who works. They did it last time lets see em do it again but hope it lasts longer this time : ok:

Exact same could be said of new-GN'R, but why should neither one call it quits? I'd rather have one good album than a few mediocre.

Not really everybody is in the band.

This is from an interview with Duff from August 13th (part of this was previously posted)...

McKagan said he and band mates Slash, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner have been writing new Velvet Revolver material, and that they hope to find a new singer as soon as possible. He said they had listened to demos from a few aspiring VR singers, naming Royston Langdon from British rock band Spacehog as a guy who was briefly in the running.

?We?re a pretty loud band,? he said. ?The songs are pretty big, huge, monster riff songs. And whoever sings in front of that has to be a big guy, you know what I mean? Like, a big presence and have amazing range and vocal ability. Not saying Royston didn?t have all those things. There was just one thing you can?t really put a finger on that he didn?t have. We?re just hopin? that one of these days comin? up pretty quick, the right guy is just gonna walk through the door, and that?s it.?

?Ultimately the drama that VR went through together this last year did a lot for us,? he said. ?It brought the band guys a lot closer together, and we were writing some amazing material because of the drama. But it?s really hard on you. And I think we?re all probably looking for the guy (to bring) as little drama as possible.?

http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ej/2008/08/13/velvet_revolver_plans_to_hire_a_new_sing

^ i keep thinking that sammy hagar would be a perfect fit

my money is on Lenny Kravitz. I think it will need someone of that level to bring the band to the quality they need to be at, and they will also need someone who has a presence to match Slash's (it was a little embarassing when I saw VR live last year as everyone was looking at Slash, all the time - the rest of the band might as well have been backstage).

Also Lenny's solo career is stalling a bit, and he is best mates with Slash.

i heard duff said something on chris cornell/ what he thought of him fronting.. did any1 hear it i'd be interested to know..
that guy would be awesome

for some reason i keep thinking that wolfmother guy is gonna be fronting. maybe cause i'm aussie

i rkn the big call was from cornell; Kravitz is totally not in. Jarmo was right when he said kravitz is bigger than them,way bigger. What incentive does he have? less creative freedom + lose fans + sing somebody elses songs?
i rkn velvet would take him in a second, but i dont think lenny would be down. he's on another page musically, different fan base. he's awesome though.