Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Q&A with rock guitar legend Slash

Feb. 16, 2011

Q. Where does Velvet Revolver stand on finding a new singer?

There was truth to the rumor that we were looking at Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour), but then I left for tour. So there's nothing being done at the moment. No decision.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/16/2067870/qa-with-rock-guitar-legend-slash.html

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!

Matt seems to have found his guy, which we now know is Corey Taylor the "known mystery singer" they've been working with.  Duff pretty much said the same thing -- he called Corey "one of the best frontmen ever...the voice of a whole new generation."

So it looks like it's up to Slash now.

Slash will say yes, but to keep attention on HIS tour, no need to bring up some bring VR news at the moment.  He is pushing him and Myles now..  VR's time will come.

I would like Corey to be the new singer for Velvet Revolver, it would certainly make me want to go and see them

If thats the problem, then why did Slash say they would decide one way or another in January? Surely he knew in December that making such an announcement would take away from the tour? I just don't understannd the point of saying you were going to decide and then not doing it? Unless he still hasn't decided.

i wish slash would be done with that solo crap and get VR back up n running.

I really dont care for a set of mish mash songs

I like that Slash is playing a set of Snakepit, VR, solo and GN'R songs, it's a great mix

I agree to a certain extent, but as I have stated recently. It seems like Slash can't wait to get as far away from VR as he can, and this kind of approach is brushing off on everyone, especially Matt. I think Matt secretly knows that Slash is content and happy touring as a solo artist, and Matts reaction is like "WTF about me", which is justified. They are all in this band together, and it's not fair for people like Matt, to be second guessing Slash's decisions and to be wondering whats going on.

Well, Slash is out there touring under his terms and having great success with it, without having to deal with the bullshit of other egos or frontman bullshit.
So I don't really blame him for not wanting to rush back to VR.

And truth is, Slash's touring band is pretty awesome. Myles can sing anything, and the rest of the band are all great too.
Even the backing harmony vocals that Todd does with Myles sound great.

I wanna see Slash get back with Duff and Matt again, because the chemistry those 3 have is undeniable, but only when he's 100% behind it.
And right now it doesn't seem that way at all.

Slash is doing VERY fine being solo, he surely did realize that more and more. and if there really is a 2nd solo album coming this year.....i cant see him doing the much more time consuming VR schedule right after the 2nd solo release? depending on Myles schedule with Alter Bridge we most likely wont see/hear anything "new" or "live" about VR until autumn/winter 2011.

Velvet Revolver in the dock

Corey Taylor is the latest in a long, long, line of suspects but should the charges levelled be for fraud?

 February 18, 2011

The never ending saga of the search for a vocalist rumbles on ? but do we really care?

So Corey Taylor is the latest of a long line of singers to be thrust into the frame for the fabled role of Velvet Revolver front-man? Who cares? With the list of suspects now reaching Cluedo proportions, if they remanded them in custody, they?d have to refurbish Alcatraz and if they ordered a police identification line-up they would need to hold it in an aircraft hanger. But the gripping question shouldn?t be about who the next man might be, but why?

Let?s examine the evidence.

Out of the ashes of the disintegration of Guns ?n? Roses and a number of false starts by Slash and Duff in the guise of Snakepit and Loaded, in a tale which would make the most dysfunctional family look like The Waltons, Velvet Revolver eventually emerged in 2004 (or 2003 depending on which account of events are offered as evidence)
Recruiting the equally wayward ex- Stone Temple Pilot, Scott Weiland, former G?NR band mate Matt Sorum and mutual chum Dave Kushner to complete the line up, the band decided on a name, played a number of low profile show, recorded a couple of songs which were placed on movie soundtracks and carried out the usual assortment of petty crimes, and rehab sessions before eventually settling down and delivering the much acclaimed debut album Contraband.

Don?t get me wrong ? I love it, it?s a great album with a couple of real stand out songs ? the riff in Slither is monster and Fall to Pieces is a killer ballad ? but let?s face it, due to the band?s ?previous? particularly with the iconic Slash at the helm, success was pretty inevitable.

Awards poured in to accompany the plaudits and the band rolled along, as you might expect, with a few minor disturbances and a couple of misdemeanours during the nineteen month tour in support of the record during which various band members fell off their particular wagons and the beginnings of cracks began to appear between Weiland et al.

Nevertheless, the miscreants received only probation and in 2007 the band produced their second album Libertad. It received mixed reviews and, to these ears anyway, wasn?t a patch on the debut. Further bouts of breach of the peace had Weiland back in the dock with the other band members and tours were cancelled due to a variety of spurious excuses. Then Weiland was back in the REAL dock after crashing his car while under the influence of drugs, and the writing was on the wall.
During a UK tour in 2008 everything came to a head in Glasgow when Weiland announced the end.

We really shouldn?t have been surprised.

The various band members went their separate ways and developed, in varying degrees of success, their own projects.
Slash in particular scored big time with his solo album and subsequent touring with Myles Kennedy.

Really, the story should end there.

But in a world where musicians have multiple side projects and career opportunities, the VR story will not go away. Over the intervening period there has been a steady flow of rumour and counter rumour regarding who will become the next frontman with all parties throwing comments around like confetti.
The identity parade of suspects includes: Lenny Kravitz, Chester Bennington, Steve Isaacs, Royston Langdon, Donovan Leitch, Franky Perez, Sebastian Bach, Myles Kennedy, Shooter Jennings and most recently Corey Taylor.

Now call me a cynic but it?s getting to the point where you could offer up any old name on a blog and somebody would snap it up and run with it.

So the jury is out, for me. Corey Taylor must have his plate pretty full with Slipknot and Stone Sour, Slash has plans to tour once more with Myles Kennedy, Sorum has played with Motorhead, Camp Freddy and former Runaway Cherie Curry and formed his own outfit, Carnival of Dogs while Duff has reformed Loaded and had a brief stint in Jane?s Addiction. Kushner, has begun to establish himself as a talented soundtrack writer.

So WHY? Why bother to re-offend? Do we need another version of VR? Even if it did come about, how long would it last? With the perennial hoo-ha surrounding the mythical reformation of G?NR surely the VR story is simply an unwanted sideshow?

Or is it just that VR is a surrogate G?NR for Slash until Axl get?s desperate enough to give him a call?

I rest my case, m?lud. Please ask the jury to retire and consider their verdict??

http://www.rockaaa.com/featured/velvet-revolver-in-the-dock-2771

Thanks for the post.
What is the source?
As to the writer, I would say: "well, get a life and say something useful or shut the fuck up."

The writer has the list wrong anyway-Lenny Kravitz was a rumor and even said he had not seen Slash in years, Sebastian Bach tried out before they got Scott.

DUFF McKAGAN TALKS COREY TAYLOR IN VELVET REVOLVER

Ex-Guns N' Roses and current Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan, who is releasing a new album by his band Loaded, is asked if Slipknot and Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor is in Velvet Revolver.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lblJOw4UbBE

From Corey Taylor. :hihi:

I swear if some of you would read back to yourselves what you write on some of these message boards, you would have to be tested for idiocy.

about 4 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry?

lol

it looks like slash may record a second solo album first!

http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110220000105

Duff talks Corey Taylor in VR http://fb.me/Ahtk3a15

I hope I put this in the right place?

Some of what Duff says in the video interview about Corey Taylor joining Velvet Revolver "There's no big rush with the VR thing":

VELVET REVOLVER's MCKAGAN Talks About COREY TAYLOR Rumors In New Video Interview

In a new interview (see video below) with the Artisan News Service, Duff McKagan (DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) was asked about the rumors that STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor could be adding VELVET REVOLVER to the list of bands he sings for. "We'll see," Duff replied. "There's no big rush with the VR thing, because [VELVET REVOLVER guitarist] Slash is on tour [with his solo band].

"Here's the deal: Because of Twitter and other web sites over the last, whatever, eight years, especially in the last [couple of years], you can't say anything; it's instant. And somebody will tweet something and then people will read it and then all of a sudden we're talking about this. So I understand it, I've been part of it.

"I'll go with Corey Taylor's line that was genius, like, a week ago or whatever. I can neither confirm nor deny that Corey Taylor is in VELVET REVOLVER.

"That guy is the real deal, in my view. It's just my view. No, I think millions of other people think the same thing ? that he's the real deal."

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=154217

I don't think we will get any verfication untill Slash is finished with this leg of his tour if then. JMO


Off topic
Does anyone know when Duff will start touring for his new cd. The loaded forum has been down for sometime and they usually have a tour schedule.

The forum isn't down, it has moved to another location:

http://www.duff-loaded.com/Forum/index.php

Just saw SLASH the other nite in Charlotte- the club was packed to the brim of people going ape  shit for SLASH with the highlite completely on him-I was on the rail right in front of him & playing was fucking mesmerizing- All the GNR SONGS GOT THE WARMEST RECEPTION & SOUNDED THE BEST! Myles has excellent range & A great voice, but just doesn't have the venom AXL has to really pull off those kind of songs- but getting back to the topic I think SLASH is totally content being the STAR & completly in his element doing smaller clubs like this where he can loosen up & just have fun & now with a second solo album confirmed i really dont see how we're gonna hear anything new from VELVET REVOLVER anytime soon.

This is so different from Slipknot:

Live & Acoustic: Corey Taylor Performs Bother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX0ah68Yz50

if true, this has the potential to be the coolest thing in rock since AFD...

Slipknot have a few acoustic songs that are very similar to Stone Sour stuff, actually.

From Corey Taylor:

This is a year of change. Change, by nature, is violent and jarring and at first uncomfortable. But trust me- it is completely necessary.

Feb 24th via Twitter for BlackBerry?

::) Let's try to not overhype this. It may be cool, but it's not really ground breaking.

good review of slash show ... playing some VR tunes!

http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/435958_153827-blogcritics.org.html

Slash is probably trying to get Will I am, BReal or Diddy as the lead singer of VR, thats probably what the delay is all about. ::)

Here's an interview with Duff at the Birmingham Guitar Show which took place February 26-27.  On VR, he says there's one singer he really likes and they'll sort everything out when they reconvene, probably in September. :-\ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNYqbF7jgis

I  think Slash is wanting to know if Taylor is "dynamic" enough.  Sure, he has a good voice, and range, but its not as explosive as Axl Rose or as have as much range as Myles.  And he is no where near the front man of Scott Weiland.  Would he be good?  Sure.  Would be be great?  That is what Slash is wondering.

I just saw Stone Sour and Slash back to back at Sydney's Soundwave festival on Sunday.

Slash was awesome of course, and Stone Sour was okay I guess but I am much less pumped for Corey than before.... he did that really really lame, fake, depersonalised metal intro to every single song... he'd tell a little story and then end with the song title yelled out like is was WWE or something -
like "For while I did drugs, but now I'm.... "BE-COME-ING SOBERRRRRRRRR"

it was laughable. His voice is technically good as a non-screamer, but the songs are emotionless rock/metal... very middle of the road, generic kind of rock. We'll see what happens.

I was there too, and this is my two cents about Corey Taylor / Stone Sour:

I'm not really familiar with Stone Sour's music, I know of them, but haven't listened to them much, not properly anyway.
I thought they were ok performance wise, they were a pretty tight unit, and Corey sang well, but as far as stage presence goes... I thought he was REALLY lame with most of the banter after each song. He'd either say fuck every second word, or try to justify to the audience or reassure himself why they were there playing.

He asked the audience if they have the new album at least 3 times, which I know they were there to plug, but he overdid it.
And the absolute lamest comment he made was at the end in reference to his hair looking dorky because he was growing it out again, and was going through the awkward in-between stage.
But he said something like, "I know you guys (the audience) are thinking it" and he was just explaining himself and his reasons for his hair looking bad. I truly doubt anyone thought about it until he actually brought it up.
It was the single dumbest comment I've heard from a front man.

If he's really gonna front VR, don't talk, just sing. Way too embarrassing!

You obviously never heard Gerard Way say at Download of all places, "I know it can be difficult being different, but I see a lot of black shirts out there and none of you are getting beaten up!", as if at one of the world's leading rock/metal festivals, My Chemical Romance fans would be the only ones wearing black shirts...

doesnt get much more "generic kind of rock" than Libertad does it?  Personally it will be nice to have a man fronting the band, not some primma donna bitch with a megaphone.  Scotts attitude fucking sucked, and he didnt bring enough to the table to justify it.

Here is a recent  video interview of Corey Taylor, a laid back dude, with a great attitude, and an open mind when it comes to music.  The perfect type of guy to be in the band.  Something tells me that exactly at the 5:00 minute mark of this interview, D will change his tune about Corey.   :hihi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxNaVQ-nM5o&feature=related

Duff was just interviewed in the U.K. and when asked about what's going on with VR, he says "nothing." :-\  Regarding Corey Taylor he adds "he's the brightest and best singer of a generation, and I think he's killer."  He says there's no urgency with Velvet Revolver right now saying "one day hopefully", and talks about Slash making another record.

Video interview:

Total Rock - An Interview with Duff McKagan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP5g3zsAwpE

^^Here's what he says in the interview:

DUFF MCKAGAN: COREY TAYLOR Is 'The Brightest And Best Singer Of A Generation' - Mar. 6, 2011

Total Rock last month conducted an interview with an interview with Duff McKagan (DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) shortly after his appearance at the Birmingham Guitar Show, which took place February 26-27 at the New Bingley Hall in Birmingham, England. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked if he is "sick" of the persistent rumors that SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR's Corey Taylor will be the new singer of VELVET REVOLVER, Duff said, "I don't ever hear unless I am going out and doing press. Because I don't go on Blabbermouth or [do] any of the other things [that would expose me to such rumors]."

Duff added, "[Corey's] the brightest and best singer of a generation and I think he's killer. But I don't think VELVET REVOLVER is? There's not much urgency there to do much of anything right now, so? one day, hopefully. And I think [VELVET REVOLVER guitarist] Slash is probably gonna go make another [solo] record [next], so that's cool. That's what it is."

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=154948

As to what I thought was happening..

VR is dead at the moment.
and won't probably come back, if they do... great! I'll see them and buy whatever they'll release.
but untill so

everyone has it's own sideproject and Slash has his thing going on so I won't be expecting anything till 2013

Please stop it Duff

jesus


Of course best singer of this generation of rock isn't saying a whole hell of a lot.

Duff Mispelled "Brent Smith from Shinedown".

I am getting to the point where I wish they'd call it a day.

Without Scott it isn't VR

Slash's heart obviously isn't into it.

so just let it be.

Agree!

They should just let it be... Come back to VR if Scott leaves STP and everyone feels like they can get along for an album/tour.  Otherwise, just drop the whole thing!

I actually quite like Velvet Revolver alot, and they have a few hidden gems like Messages which should have made it onto albums.

But in saying that, a big part of me liking VR is in fact Scott. I liked his presence, attitude and his voice, and that's more than I can say for Corey Taylor. Scott's vision is behind everything to do with VR, and without that it's just like another random Slash collaboration.  ::)

(btw, how Mary Mary and Messages, never made it onto any album is beyond me.)

^Mary Mary is on Libertad is it not?  ???

I think he meant how Mary Mary is on the album and Messages isn't...
I doubt the band had much input on that decision, probably made by some fat music exec somewhere.

I think he is referring to Mother Mary or whatever that song Slash did with Beth hart for his solo record.

yeah I dont know what Slash is thinking, a solo album with Myles Kennedy?  I'm falling asleep just thinking about that.  Id much rather him do some guest spots again with some artists he didn't work with last time.

Messages is probably my favourite VR song, and it's criminal how it wasn't a numbered track on any album. (I think it was on some versions as a bonus track)

Scott was the closest they was going to get to creating a legitimate band, post Axl. Anyone else now would just be something normal and will remind everyone of the last year of Slash collaborating with anyone and everyone.

Scott had a good ear for melody and vocal overdubs, kind of similar to Axl in the aspect of making it work more than other people. If anyone like Corey or Myles is the next VR singer, I fear it being all rock, rock and rock, without an understanding for melody and softer songs.

Just my opinion.  ;)

I think it will be a cool rock album.  I didn't like the different singers on each song...it ruined the flow of the album...also thought it was kind of gimmicky.   This will probably be a straight ahead rock album....sounds good.  I prefer hearing Myles with Slash over Alter Bridge. 


"Gas And A Dollar Laugh" was great too.  That could have been a great single.  I think it was only on the Australian version.

I thought Stone Sour's "softer" songs were better than any STP or VR ballad.  "Through Glass" and "Bother" blow their stuff out of the water imo

I thought Scott really limited them vocally...he had one range no matter what type of song it was.  I dont really buy into it not being a legitimate band anymore without Scott.  A lot has happened since 1994, there are a lot of great bands out there who are much better than STP. 

At this point I wouldnt mind just seeing Duff and Matt do something with Corey, if Slash is really content going out there playing Guns N Roses songs every night so be it.  There are other guitar players.  It would be cool to move past that.  They were doing that with VR, but now it seems Slash is more interested in rehashing the past.

WOW Stone Sour over STP u must really hate Scott Weiland or know as much about STP as i do stone sour which is very little.


Atlanta blows any Stone Sour song I've heard out of the water as well as Lady Picture Show, Kitchen Ware and Candy bars, Sour Girl, Fall to pieces, You Got no right, Messages, Fuck I'll even take Gravedancer over any of those Stone Sour songs I've heard. Creep are u kidding me? bother over Creep?



Stone Sour sound like a poor man's Staind or just as bad as Seether.

never really liked the STP ballad's, "Sour Girl" makes me want to kill myself.  "Through Glass" and "Bother" are right up there with them I think.  Also don't get me started on VR's ballads, the one truly great one they had they didn't even put on the record!!!(messages)

All honesty though, might be time to find another guitar player and start a new band.  I don't know what Slash is doin these days...

You have to feel sorry for Dave Kushner don't ya people, I mean he's like waiting by the phone for the damn call from the VR guys.  :hihi:

 :rofl:

I agree, that Slash seems to be selling himself short these days. Don't get me wrong, it's cool seeing Slash rock the SCOM solo alot recently, but it's all starting to feel a bit gimicky seeing as it's not a band and just Slash.

Slash needs to be in a band, to let himself bounce off the frontman and have his moments of gold. And I can't believe he is doing a solo record with Myles, he should be saving all of his song ideas for future VR songs.

At this rate, he's going to be using his best ideas for himself and not Velvet Revolver, who people tend to pay more attention to, rather than just a Slash show.

I'm personally looking forward to another solo album. I think VR ran it's course, think they squeezed out the little creativity Scott had left in him. I actually thought he dropped the ball on "messages", good music, horrible lyrics. I enjoyed their music together, but really not sure Slash and Weiland were a great match to begin with. You can listen to both of their solo albums and see what direction they are interested in going when they don't have to compromise. Slash's solo record is his best work since Guns in my opinion, and I thought the touring band and Slash played with much more energy than VR, last time I saw them. Not sure that translates to the studio, but they were clearly over VR, and it's kind of cheesy carrying on a band with a new lead singer. As for Slash playing Guns songs? He has a whole solo record of new material, so it's not like it's a cash grab. He's simply giving the crowd what they want to hear. It was a good mix of his solo album, VR, Snakepit and Guns when I saw him, and it was a hell of a show. To me it's really not much different from what Axl is doing. Nothing wrong with giving people what they paid for.

Can't say I'm impressed with Slipknot or Stone Sour, but would give Corey a chance if they decided to go on with him. I'd prefer to hear what Slash has up his sleeves with a fresh start, and a less established frontman in Myles. He's not the showman Scott is, but both his songs on the new record are solid. Maybe being able to kind of fly under the radar instead of having to live up to the pressure of a supergroup will keep it fun.

Maybe being able to kind of fly under the radar instead of having to live up to the pressure of a supergroup will keep it fun.

I am a VR fan and very disappointed in the latest news but this sentence I think sums it up for Slash. He is a point where enjoying what he is doing means more than the attention. Besides he gets plenty of attention in his solos work also.

As far as Duff and Matt moving forward without him I cannot see that happening. Duff is just as busy as Slash. Duff has his own solo work with Loaded, 2 or 3  weekly publications and a book coming out in the fall. Slash was asked in an interview if Duff would have stayed with JA would he have continued to move forward with VR he said no. It is my guess that Duff would feel the same way if things were reversed.

 

Here Duff seems to say no to Corey Taylor, from this interview with Kerrang from Feb. 27th:

@10:10

Video: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155031

Yet another reason to love Duff.  :yes:

"Corey Taylor recently sporting a "I am not the new singer in VELVET REVOLVER" T-shirt"

When did this happen? I guess that ends it then.

I watched the interview but I missed that part.

And yeah, that says something. :hihi:

that is until Axl has a problem with him, in which this 99% of this board will go back to hating him... :hihi:

yeah well thats all she wrote then for Velvet Revolver.  Good while it lasted, well "Contraband" was good while it lasted anyway,

I've always loved Duff, Mister.  :yes:

anybody see how heavy Scott is looking lately?

That picture of CT with the "I am not the new singer in VELVET REVOLVER" T-shirt is a terrible FAKE

Here's the original pic
(http://cucharasonica.com/files/2010/07/Corey-Taylor.jpg)

I didn't see the picture with the I am not the new VR singer on it, the fake you say, do you have that picture?

Interesting.

(http://i.imgur.com/5URNx.jpg)

 :hihi:

I don't like the guy's singing, but at least he has a great taste!

From an interview with Duff in Rolling Stone today:

What is the status of Velvet Revolver, and the singer search?

There is no status. I was just in the U.K., so I'm painfully aware of Corey Taylor - I was asked about one thousand times about it [Slipknot's singer was recently rumored to have tried out]. There is no status - Slash has been on tour, I'm starting a tour. We played with some really good guys, and I do think Corey Taylor is probably the brightest dude that has been in front of a mic for a long time. But saying all that, no, there is no Velvet Revolver singer.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-duff-mckagan-on-his-new-album-and-why-guns-n-roses-wont-reunite-20110310

I'm not sure if Duff is getting mad at people asking or if he just knows this isn't working out. But that is the most negative I have seen him speak on this VR singer stuff.

No, it's done. Thanks for the memories VR.  :peace:

well its their fault for doing their version of "SOON" is not the word

Just say we don't have one yet but we will find one eventually.

I think he is already tired of being asked the VR and GNR questions. He has been very negative about VR before. At one point when he joined JA he said VR did not exisit. The thing is he was right then and now. VR does not exisit. And if the band members will just say we are done and want to work on solo projects no one will bother them anymore about VR.

I said it a long time ago, as soon as Scott left it was finished with unless Weiland comes back.

i'm going to get ripped for this but...... VR should get the metal/rock singer from american idol.  James Durban.  He is prob the best new rock voice i've heard in the past 10 years.  i don't know how he would fit in with the band but he has a sick voice and a great front man for hire.  it be the perfect for a band like this.  Slash and duff could still call all the shots and he would just be happy to be there.  it will never happen but his cover of Maybe i'm amazed and got another thing coming were pretty sick.

Durbin is the real deal!

i kinda think they should get Baz

Look, Music business is fucked. Whoever they get , it isn't gonna blow up and sell millions. Whats wrong with Skid Roses? Fuck for me, That would be amazing.  Just have fun with it. Make a rocking kick ass album, tour some theater/clubs/do festivals......

I think in their minds this started out as a GNR minus Axl thing. So just having fun and not worrying about it being successful was out of the question. I agree, they should just get someone and go with it. Hell, don't even call it VR.

lol- actually i was thinking same thing but was afraid to post! :peace:

 Let's be real. Baz' Angel Down CD is better than Libertad and not far off Contraband.

I don't know, I thought they butchered Back in the Saddle.
Baz can sing with the best of em, but I don't care for his lyrics these days.
I agree though, if you want to be successful today in rock music, you have to be horrible, so I agree they shouldn't worry so much about success, easy for us to say.

The end of VR gives them the opportunity to drop Kushner and get Izzy back in the fold. Wishful thinking anyway.

I kinda think I'd puke... ;)

Beyond that...

Their legacies are all secure, they all seem busy and more importantly happy doing their own things musically without dealing with someone who has frontman disease.

Well, maybe not Kushner...

U think Sebastian would be tough to deal with these days?

problem is, all great frontmen have lead singers disease.


Myles is a major exception.

Who knows really D although I think his high rpm personality would be grating for any amount of time. I really don't think anyone takes him serious anyway, dude's just not viable on todays musical landscape beyond a retro act.


Just depends on who is determining "great" I suppose, all seem to have their eccentricities with few worth the issues that come along with it.

The latest from Duff:

March 09, 2011

BW: I interviewed Matt Sorum recently and was talking about the possibility that 2011 is the year that Velvet Revolver will get back together. Has there been any progress in finding a new singer and getting the Velvet Revolver machine running again?

Duff McKagan: ?I think there?s unfinished business and we haven?t been able to make our best record yet.?

BW: The first one was pretty damn good?

Duff McKagan: ?The first one was good ? yes, but I think there?s this great raw record somewhere in there that we haven?t made yet. Having been around as long as I?ve been, I know things are supposed to happen when they?re supposed to happen. Matt, Slash and I getting together for the first time in 2003 after having not played together in anger for nine years or something like that. I didn?t have plans on us getting together and playing back then. So, you never know what?s going to happen and I just don?t play the guessing game anymore especially in the press and even for my own well-being. I just do the work that is in front of me.


I kinda think you're serious. :hihi:

it's impossible to understand what Slash really wants. An exceptional singer who is okay staying behind Slash? Well, it's the greed that destroyed many GREAT guitarists and their bands, maybe except Eddie Van Halen (because he had found another great frontman without knowing it) And let's face it, Slash is no Eddie Van Halen who singlehandedly defined the future of rock music and guitar playing.

Just hire another great frontman and compose some songs damit. First Velvet revolver album was not revolutionary (which recent rock album was anyway? don't tell me Chinese Democracy) but it was great. I would be more than happy with such another album.

WHAT? He didn't?  Eddie gave birth to a bunch of fast tapping robotic emotionless shit guitarists while Slash's guitar melodies are better than 99 percent of vocal melodies.

I fully agree. Tapping is so over used it's like a disease.

I "like" slash more than eddie, but Eddie pushed rock guitar in a new direction... Slash doesn't do anything "new" on the guitar, but what he does is awesome.  Slash is a 70's style player with more modern chops.. Eddie helped define what would become the 80's style.

  Eddie gave birth to EVERY guitar player who came after him not just the emotionless ones.  Including Slash.   

I wasn't calling Eddie "Emotionless" just a lot of guys who try to rip his style dont' do it very well.

Slash has never tapped. Said he didn't want to try and emulate Eddie's thing. Slash is more Page,hendrix,Perry clone imo.

i have to find this interview with Slash where he says everyone "tapped into" Van Halens style after Van Halen came out.  He was a huge influence on Slash.  I can't find it on youtube and dont remember what he was talking about.

A lot of Eddie when he plays the Mocking Bird, that is where you hear some Eddie in Slash (whammy abuse).  Other than that, not really anything similar in their styles... Slash does a lot of tremelo picking, like Eddie does.  But just because he doesn't play like Eddie, doesn't mean he wasn't a huge influence.

Slash is Angus, Mick Taylor, Page, Joe Perry, and a dash of Hendrix but with more modern chops, speed and accuracy.  But when compared to the guys from the 80's, Slash's style is more primitive, but just as good and equally effective.  I hear David Gilmore and Creme era Clapton and even some Gary Moore in Slash's style.  He loves Hendrix, but other than "The Last Fight", you don't here much Hendrix in Slash, except maybe his use of the Wah pedal.  Michael Schenker is another huge influence to Slash. 

Hmm well that doesn't sound like hes saying van halen was a huge influence. in his book he specifically said that EDDIE influenced every one, but Slash was more interested in Van Halen the BAND - like as a band. he said he wasn't into all that virtuso shredding stuff, and basically outright implies that he doesn't consider eddie an influence.

and you can hear it in his playing, he sounds nothing like eddie; you can't even hear an influence. I agree with D/Smoking Guns 100%

Slash ain't the clone of no one. he has like any other musician learned what he wanted from the people he wanted and developed his playing by himself, like every/most other musician(s). it's just that Slash has done this better than pretty much anyone else.
so what Eddie did the tapping? people did it before him, he didn't invent it, but he perfected it. just like Slash perfected what he's doing.