VELVET REVOLVER's 'Libertad' Pushed Back To June?

VELVET REVOLVER's second album, "Libertad", has been given a new tentative U.S. release date of Tuesday, June 5. A posting at the web site of Sony BMG Norway has listed a new European arrival date of Monday, June 4, with the North American release slated for the following day. VELVET REVOLVER is signed to Sony BMG subsidiary RCA Records. The release dates have **NOT*** been officially confirmed by representatives for the label.

Frontman Scott Weiland told Launch that VELVET REVOLVER has become more cohesive as a band on "Libertad" after touring for 18 months in support of its 2004 debut, "Contraband". "You know, on the first album, we hadn't played together very much," he said. "You know, we really didn't know each other as a band. And after touring pretty solidly for a year and a half, you get to know what your musical identity is. And so on this record, I think we've really sort of defined what our musical identity is, you know, at least up to this point."

VELVET REVOLVER took the better part of a year to start working on its sophomore album. A two-minute clip of the band laying down some tracks on its first day in the studio was recently posted on YouTube.

The band is tentatively scheduled to visit South America in April with AEROSMITH, followed by a European tour in June.

Meanwhile, VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum, who was previously in GUNS N' ROSES with VELVET guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan, told Celebrities.com that he has not seen the new GUNS lineup perform live. He added that it would be "strange" to see sole original GN'R member W. Axl Rose playing with a group of new musicians as GUNS N' ROSES.