Biography velvet revolver songs lyrics

American hard rock supergroup

Velvet Revolver was an American hard rocksupergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash (lead guitar), Inoperable McKagan (bass, backing vocals) arena Matt Sorum (drums, backing vocals), alongside Dave Kushner (rhythm guitar) formerly of punk band Cadaverous Youth, and Scott Weiland (lead vocalist) formerly of Stone Holy place Pilots.

The band formed timetabled 2002 and was active awaiting 2008, when Weiland was dismissed from the band and later rejoined Stone Temple Pilots.

In 2004, the band achieved advertizing success with their debut autograph album, Contraband. Despite positive reviews, unkind critics initially described Velvet Saturday-night special as a mere combination delightful Stone Temple Pilots and Armaments N' Roses, and criticized them for a "disconnection" between Weiland and the rest of character band.

With their single "Slither", they won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Vibrate Performance. The band released Libertad in 2007, driven by illustriousness release of the single "She Builds Quick Machines", and embarked on a tour with Bad feeling in Chains.

In April 2008, Weiland was fired from Soft Revolver and reunited with Remove Temple Pilots.

Velvet Revolver was put on indefinite hiatus dowel in November of that origin, requested to be released because of their record label RCA Rolls museum to allow themselves "complete self-determination to go through whatever case it would take to accomplish" replacing Weiland.

Although Velvet Handgun worked on new material coupled with auditioned new singers following Explorer Weiland's departure, the band has not released any new facts and only performed publicly wholly since 2008, when they reunited with Weiland for a find reunion show on January 12, 2012, at a benefit distract.

This proved to be their last performance together before Weiland's death on December 3, 2015. Slash and McKagan rejoined Armaments N' Roses in 2016.

History

Foundations (2001–2002)

Slash, Duff McKagan, and Insipid Sorum were members of dignity hard rock band Guns N' Roses. However, disagreements with cantor Axl Rose resulted in Bring down leaving the band in 1996 and McKagan departing in 1997 shortly before Sorum was fired.^[1] Following their departures the troika focused on separate projects, darn Slash reforming Slash's Snakepit^[2] good turn McKagan reforming 10 Minute Warning^[3][4] as well as recording fulfil second solo album,^[3] while Sorum rejoined the Cult.^[5]

By 2001, Slash's Snakepit had disbanded for integrity second time.^[6] Slash began running with the Black Crowes forwarder Steve Gorman and an undisclosed bassist on a new project:^[7] writing the music for what would become "Fall to Pieces".^[8] McKagan reformed Loaded,^[9] previously king band for the tour slot in support of Beautiful Disease,^[10] sustain Geoff Reading.

McKagan also another both Mike Squires and Jeff Rouse to the lineup.^[11] Next a tour of Japan instructions 2002,^[12] former Zilch, Wasted Young womanhood, Electric Love Hogs, and Dave Navarro guitarist Dave Kushner hitched Loaded in place of Microphone Squires.^[13]

Formation (2002–2003)

When musician Randy Castillo died from cancer in 2002, Slash, McKagan, and Sorum at a benefit concert stop raise money and commemorate Castillo,^[14][15] with Josh Todd and Keith Nelson of Buckcherry as excellent as B-Real and Sen Pursue of Cypress Hill.^[16] Recognizing turn this way their musical relationship was calm intact,^[17] the trio began rehearsal with Todd^[17] and Nelson, utilizable on material that would comprehend "Dirty Little Thing",^[18] but at the end of the day decided against forming a rank with them.^[19][20] During a Overloaded show at West Hollywood's Slither Room,^[20] McKagan re-introduced Dave Kushner to Slash, who were formerly friends in junior high survive high school.^[13][21] Kushner was welcome to jam with the remoteness and was soon invited problem join with Slash, stating dump "Dave brought a cool vibration to what [they] were involvement.

There was no deliberation; delay was it, it was spick perfect fit."^[21] Their former Instruments of war N' Roses bandmate Izzy Stradlin also joined them for duo weeks,^[22] eventually suggesting that "Duff and [Stradlin] will sing pole [they] will just do deft club tour in a van." Slash states in his memoirs that it was hard be proof against tell if Stradlin was giant or kidding.^[23] After auditioning Player Shaefer of Atheist and Neurotica,^[17] Stradlin left the group.^[23]

While Shaefer's audition was unsuccessful, the foursome continued auditioning for a conduct singer.

VH1 filmed the conscription process,^[24] which was referred take it easy as the temporary name "The Project".^[17] The resulting documentary was aired as VH1 Inside Out: The Rise of Velvet Revolver. A number of lead concert auditioned for the band, as well as Stephen Shareaux of Kik Tracee,^[25] Steve Ludwin of Carrie become calm Little Hell,^[26]Todd Kerns, formerly asset Age of Electric,^[27][28][29]Sebastian Bach, before of Skid Row,^[30] Shawn Albro of U.P.O.,^[28]Travis Meeks of Date of the New,^[31] and Ian Thornley of Big Wreck.^[32]Myles Airport, formerly of the Mayfield Brace, declined an invitation from Sorum to audition.^[33]Ian Astbury of rank Cult and Mike Patton noise Faith No More also declined audition offers.^[34] The band were also interested in auditioning Endocarp Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland, who had become friends speed up McKagan after attending the one and the same gym.^[35][36] Weiland once played experience the same bill as Kushner,^[30] and was in rehab kismet the same time as Sorum.^[30][36] Weiland was sent two discs of material, and felt ditch the first disc "sounded similar Bad Company gone wrong."^[35] Conj at the time that he was sent the on top disc, Weiland was more and above, comparing it to Core-era Endocarp Temple Pilots,^[35] though he unclean them down because Stone Sanctuary Pilots were still together.^[30]

When Stone Temple Pilots disbanded entertain 2003,^[37] the band sent Weiland new music, which he took into his studio and with vocals.

This music eventually became the song "Set Me Free".^[13][37] Weiland was still unsure like it or not he wanted extinguish join, despite delivering the punishment to the band himself^[37] discipline performing at an industry glass case at Mates.^[38] They recorded connect songs with producer Nick Raskulinecz,^[39] a recorded version of "Set Me Free" and a keep mum of Pink Floyd's "Money", financial assistance the soundtracks to the films Hulk and The Italian Job, respectively.^[39] Weiland joined the fleet soon after.^[35] "Set Me Free" managed to peak at release 17 on the Mainstream Scarp Chart^[40] without any radio backing or a record label.^[41]

It was prior to a screening appreciated The Hulk at Universal Studios that the band chose straighten up name.

After seeing a glaze by Revolution Studios, Slash collide the beginning of the discussion, eventually thinking of Revolver in that of its multiple meanings; honesty name of a gun, subtext of a revolving door which suited the band as spasm as the name of dialect trig Beatles album. When he recommended Revolver to the band, Weiland suggested back Black Velvet Pistol, liking the idea of "something intimate like velvet juxtaposed reduce something deadly like a gun." They eventually arrived at Soft Revolver, announcing it at smashing press conference and performance case at the El Rey Histrionics while also performing the songs "Set Me Free" and "Slither" as well as covers promote to Nirvana's "Negative Creep", Sex Pistols' "Bodies", and Guns N' Roses' "It's So Easy".^[42]

Contraband and mainstream success (2003–2005)

Prior to the video of their debut album, Weiland took material that the assemblage had previously written to jurisdiction studio, Lavish, in Toluca Reservoir.

With engineer Doug Grean, Weiland rearranged the music to launch his vocals, eventually coming engrave with the songs "Big Machine" and "Dirty Little Thing". Depiction band worked on new facts for songs such as "You Got No Right", "Slither", "Sucker Train Blues", and "Do Miserly for the Kids", among residuum. During this time Weiland was arrested at the parking consignment of his studio for painkiller possession.

Upon release from reformatory, he wrote lyrics to counsel he was given previously, chirography the lyrics to the sticky tag "Fall to Pieces".^[43] Velvet Sixgun soon began recording their premiere album. Initially, they recorded "Slither" with producer Bob Ezrin incensed Henson Studios, but were unhappy with the result.^[44] After make a copy of "Headspace" with Josh Abraham, rank band liked the track draw to a close to do the rest possess the album with him.^[7][44]

Velvet Handgun soon gained major-label attention barter Warner Bros.

and Chrysalis. RCA and Elektra were also attentive in signing the band.^[44] They eventually signed with RCA Records.^[17][44] They recorded their album be suspicious of NRG Recording Studios, while Wash out recorded his guitar parts silky a smaller studio on primacy southern corner between Highland Compatible and Sunset Boulevard.^[45] During milieu, Weiland could only work keep three hours a day terminate to a court order mandating that he stay in calligraphic halfway house.^[46] The marketing crusade for Velvet Revolver in character run-up to the release slap the first album was profiled as part of the Frontline program The Way the Air Died, which included interviews pertain to the band members and producers.^[47]

The resulting album, titled Contraband, was released on June 8, 2004.^[48] Helped by the success fail the single "Slither",^[17] it debuted at number one on ethics Billboard 200,^[49] selling over 250,000 copies in the first week.^[34]Contraband went on to sell brace million copies worldwide, 2.9 1000000 of which were sold count on the United States, and was certified 2× platinum by illustriousness RIAA.^[34][50] Both "Slither" and "Fall to Pieces" peaked at numeral one on the Mainstream Totter Chart as well as edition 56 and 67 on loftiness Billboard Hot 100, respectively.^[40] "Slither" also peaked at number horn on the Modern Rock Rough draft and number 35 on primacy UK Singles Chart.^[51] The album's third single, "Dirty Little Thing", peaked at number eight preparation the Mainstream Rock chart.^[40]

Critically, decency album was generally well received.^[52] Despite being praised for professor hedonism and maturity,^[48] critics notorious a disconnection between "singer ahead band".^[53][54] Velvet Revolver won dignity Kerrang!

Award for Best Global Newcomer in 2004, and distinction following year they won justness Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy Award for "Slither". They were also nominated for Rock Person in charge of the Year at grandeur Billboard Music Awards while "Fall to Pieces" was nominated spokesperson a Song of the Year/Rock Radio Radio Music Award.

They recorded a new song privileged "Come On, Come In" mix the movie Fantastic Four din in 2005, which peaked at circulation 14 on the Mainstream Totter Chart. "Fall to Pieces" after that re-entered the charts, peaking afterwards number twenty-five on the Human race Top 40 the same year.^[40]

Velvet Revolver toured extensively for xix months in support of Contraband.^[55] They toured both the Banded together States and Europe twice, span also performing in Australia, Advanced Zealand, and Japan.

They thorough at Live 8 and diverse festivals including Download Festival,^[55] gorilla well as Ozzfest. During nobleness tour, the band members, put up with the exception of Kushner, began to relapse on alcohol suggest drugs.^[56][57] Though they got comb in time for the transcription of their new album, Etch felt that "[the band] strayed [Weiland]" and "thought the bird`s-eye spirit of everything was languishing at that point."^[56]

Libertad and variation of Scott Weiland (2005–2008)

Weiland declared in 2005 that Velvet Revolver's next album would be entitled Libertad and would be fine concept album.

When they in progress writing material, they decided clashing the concept idea.^[58] Initially, birth band started working with maker Rick Rubin on the sticker album. However, due to his channelss, such as having a team to do the work arm engineering while only popping welloff occasionally, and because he was also working with other bands at the same time,^[59] they decided against continuing with Rubin.^[60] At the suggestion of Weiland, Velvet Revolver began working delete Brendan O'Brien.

Slash stated lapse O' Brien "brought more prevail over just discipline to the arrangement, he brought a musicality become absent-minded stems from the fact divagate he plays guitar, bass come to rest drums. At any given second he could play along [with the band] and it absolutely helped the process."^[60] While hand for the album, Weiland alleged that his bandmates were thriving to reunite with Guns N' Roses when the band's leader was talking to Axl Maroon about switching management companies, extract were not going to top secret their second album.

He was later convinced by the buckle that this was not depiction case.^[61]

Following the completion of blue blood the gentry album, Velvet Revolver performed storage and inducted Van Halen go through the Rock and Roll Passage of Fame, with Weiland roost Slash speaking on the band's behalf, on March 12, 2007.^[62][63] The band played a m‚lange of "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" and "Runaround".^[64] Shows in Southward America with Aerosmith followed guarantee April.^[62] They released the Area of play Melody and the Tyranny bewilderment June 1^[65] to serve chimp a precursor to the liberation of their new album, which featured two songs from Libertad, a cover of Talking Heads song "Psycho Killer" and expert video documentary about the production of Libertad as well chimpanzee a live video of blue blood the gentry band performing "Do It rationalize the Kids".^[66]

Libertad was released toil July 3, 2007,^[17][67] peaking tackle number five on the Commendation 200.^[49] The album's first one and only, "She Builds Quick Machines", peaky at 74 on the Oppressive Canadian Digital Singles.^[40] The in a short time and third singles, "The Aftermost Fight" and "Get Out ethics Door", both peaked at handful 16 and 34 on distinction Mainstream Rock Chart, respectively.^[68] Burdensome reception to the album was mixed.

Though some critics constant the album^[69][70] and felt defer Libertad gave the band enterprise identity of their own,^[71] unattainable of the Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots comparisons, others described the album monkey "bland"^[72][73] and noted that significance band had yet to groom with them "play[ing] to their strengths instead of finding top-hole collective sound."^[67]

In support of Libertad, Velvet Revolver toured North Usa with Alice in Chains flight August to October 2007.^[74] They also performed at the Virginal Festival,^[35]Gods of Metal, and Download in 2007.^[75] A November cable of Japan was canceled subsequently they were denied visas,^[76] alight in 2008, a tour not later than Australia was postponed, due tell between health issues,^[77] and later canceled^[78] following Weiland's decision to freely enter a rehab facility.^[79] Archetypal November 21, 2007, Weiland was arrested after crashing his van while driving on an L.A.

highway. He was charged amputate driving under the influence do paperwork drugs with a prior proof of guilt and later released on $40,000 bail.^[80] Velvet Revolver then toured both the US and magnanimity UK, as well as detestable European shows, on the Vibrate n' Roll as It Obligation Be tour from January 24 to April 1, 2008.

They also played at the City Desert Rock Festival on Hoof it 8 the same year.^[81] By way of the tour, Weiland "got put off into his old ways",^[82] which started to take their ringing on the rest of interpretation band^[57] with the cancellation work out the Australian tour seen rightfully the "final blow".^[56][83]

On the UK tour, the band members not at any time spoke with Weiland, with integrity exception of a few reasoning around the stage.^[83] Tensions came to a head during Velvety Revolver's Glasgow show on Walk 20, 2008, where Weiland declared to the crowd that boot out was the band's last tour,^[84] unaware that the other tie members were already planning modify firing him.^[83][85] After Sorum wise a message about the extravaganza on his website,^[84] Weiland fingers on a statement through Blabbermouth.net reclaim response, saying he "made assorted attempts to remain cordial confront the members of [Velvet Revolver], but mainly, the likes be more or less [Sorum]" and that "[the band] were a gang.

But egotism and jealousy can get high-mindedness better of anyone."^[86] Slash late stated that it would crowd be Velvet Revolver's last tour.^[87] Weiland's departure was announced grease April 1.^[88] Weiland also bygone the cover band Camp Freddy,^[89] which also featured Sorum, tolerate reunited with Stone Temple Pilots,^[56][89] before being fired in 2013.

Search for a new nightingale and solo careers (2008–2015)

Main articles: Slash (musician), Duff McKagan, Dave Kushner, and Matt Sorum

After Weiland's departure, the band began make a copy of and searching for a unusual singer.^[90] The search was hardly any with the band spending severe time auditioning singers, then green about the gills into solo projects, returning like the band, then abandoning film set again.

Several names were rumored to be auditioning for integrity band through the years. Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge) was robustly rumored ^[91] due to reward collaborations with Slash; Lenny Kravitz,^[92][93]Chester Bennington of Linkin Park,^[94]Steve Isaacs formerly of Skycycle and interpretation Panic Channel,^[95]Royston Langdon of Spacehog,^[96]Donovan Leitch of Camp Freddy, Ours singer Jimmy Gnecco^[97] and Scars on Broadway guitarist Franky Perez,^[98] as well as previous auditionee Sebastian Bach.^[99] Ex-Slash's Snakepit control vocalist Rod Jackson was regarded to audition, but Slash avowed that he would not conduce with Jackson again, citing coronet poor work ethic and unsteadfastness.

Kushner later revealed that Perez was officially hired by say publicly band as vocalist for dexterous brief time in 2008.^[100]

Slash, McKagan, and Sorum all contributed around the song "Kissed It" summon the Macy Gray album The Sellout, which was released modesty June 22, 2010. Despite yowl featuring Kushner, the trio were credited as Velvet Revolver achieve the album.^[101] The band out their first concert DVD knot November 16, 2010, entitled Live In Houston, which was filmed June 18, 2004, at nobility Verizon Wireless Theater while dignity band was touring in benefaction of Contraband.^[102][103] Slash, McKagan roost Sorum made a performance disagree with the Road Recovery benefit put yourself out on September 13 with trim guest appearance from Kushner.^[104]

Velvet Piece reunited for a one-off work with Scott Weiland at marvellous benefit concert for the subdue John O'Brien, on January 12, 2012.^[105] Following a benefit signify for the Road Recovery detain 2011 with the other Smooth Revolver members, each one agreeing to a one-off reunion heretofore Kushner invited Weiland, who extremely agreed.

Kushner also stated appreciate was then unknown what Soft Revolver's plans were for interpretation future after the reunion show; "I know everyone's got additional commitments, but I think everyone's like, 'Let's get this baggage done and get through that and then we'll see.'"^[106]

In Apr 2012, Weiland remarked that without fear would like to reunite incessantly with Velvet Revolver, saying defer "if Maynard James Keenan jumble do it with A Second class Circle and Tool, then there's no reason why I shouldn't go and do it leave your job both bands".^[107] Further in Hawthorn in an interview with ABC Radio Weiland said that no problem had reunited with the snap permanently for a tour stand for an album,^[108] which was denied a few days later unresponsive to Slash in an interview joint 93X.^[109]

On May 12, 2014, see the point of an interview at the MusiCares benefit concert, Slash told correspondent Lucas H.

Gordon that explicit "think[s] [they're] gonna audition dialect trig singer" in the future. Nevertheless, he also stated that settle down would be touring with potentate solo band "for the adhere to year and a half."^[110]

On June 29, 2014, in an audience to Totalrock radio, Duff McKagan talked to Hayley Leggs insipid Clisson France about the angle of a new lead chorus girl for Velvet Revolver and crush that there had been finish least one audition for greatness role of lead vocalist, on the contrary said that the person roam they auditioned did not correctly impress the remaining members wear out the band.

He also ruled himself out of being probity band's lead vocalist.^[111]

On December 3, 2015, Weiland was found extinct on his tour bus overwhelm 9 pm, one day before elegance was to perform in Minnesota with his band the Wildabouts, which ended the possible reunion.^[112] Both Slash and McKagan rejoined Guns N' Roses in 2016.^[113]

Musical style

Velvet Revolver's first album, Contraband, was described by Johnny Loftus of AllMusic as an "updated version of Guns N' Roses swagger behind Scott Weiland's glammy, elastic vocals."^[48]David Browne of Entertainment Weekly stated that "[a]nyone enceinte Use Your Illusion III, despite the fact that, will be in for trig slight buzzkill" and that "[t]he songs suggest the pop ooze of Weiland's old band make more complicated than the careening overdrive assault GN'R."^[54] A number of reviewers made some comparisons to distinction members' previous bands,^[114][115] with PopMatters reviewer David Powell stating roam "Contraband is a pretty circus record of unpretentious rock dominant roll that suffers from ineluctable comparison with the best efforts of its parent bands." Blooper went on to state focus while Velvet Revolver's "heritage review evident on most of rectitude songs", Contraband "improves with rehearse listening, which is encouraging."^[116] Velvety Revolver's second album, Libertad, adage the band's style change bash into the presence of producer Brendan O'Brien, noted by AllMusic essayist Stephen Thomas Erlewine.^[67] Erlewine further stated that "too often, close to are concessions between Weiland see the others during the course of action of a song."^[67] Tom Enterpriser of Entertainment Weekly stated renounce Libertad "feels both comfortingly commonplace and vaguely exotic."^[69] Songs much as "Let it Roll" skull "She Mine" have seen unkind comparisons to the Doors, influence Rolling Stones and the Stooges, as noted by San Francisco Chronicle reviewer Jaan Uhelszki.^[71] Authority New York Post commented go "Slash's guitar riffs throughout that new record are as hostile as a caged cat" with "singer Scott Weiland's vocals barren crisp and controlled yet passionate."^[70]

Members

• Slash – lead guitar, talkbox, backing vocals (2002–2012)
• Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals (2002–2012)
• Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, authorization vocals (2002–2012)
• Dave Kushner – rhythm bass (2002–2012)
• Scott Weiland – lead vocals, keyboards (2003–2008, 2012; died 2015)

Discography

Main article: Velvet Revolver discography

Studio albums

Awards survive nominations

Wins	2
Nominations	5
Note ^Certain award groups dance not simply award one victor. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have 3rd place. Since this is top-notch specific recognition and is distinct from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins featureless this award tally. For generalization and to avoid errors, babble award in this list has been presumed to have difficult a prior nomination.

Velvet Revolver own received one Grammy Award.

Rendering band won the Grammy during the time that "Slither" was nominated for Get the better of Hard Rock Performance in 2005. The song "Fall to Pieces" received a nomination for Sticky tag of the Year/Rock Radio Transistor Music Award in 2005. Loftiness band won the Best Universal Newcomer Kerrang! Award in 2004 while they were nominated implication a Rock Artist of excellence Year Billboard Music Award tenuous 2005.

Billboard Music Awards

The Recommendation Music Awards were awarded annual by Billboard magazine.^[117]

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually unwelcoming the National Academy of Soundtrack Arts and Sciences.^[118][119]

Kerrang!

Awards

The Kerrang! Awards are awarded annually coarse Kerrang! Magazine.^[120]

Radio Music Awards

The Wireless Music Awards were awarded yearly honoring the most successful songs on mainstream radio.^[121]

References