Velvet Revolver

[Üncle Snake]

According to a posting on the Sony BMG Norway web site, the anticipated European release date of VELVET REVOLVER's new album, "Libertad," is May 14 (one day later in the U.S.).

A two-minute video clip of VELVET REVOLVER laying down tracks on their first day in the recording studio for "Libertad" has been posted online at YouTube.com.

VELVET REVOLVER lead singer Scott Weiland recently told Launch Radio Networks the group has gotten "pretty far" since entering the studio. "We've been here at the old A&M studios (in Los Angeles) for about two-and-a-half weeks and we've recorded all basic tracks and we've already started guitar overdubs and we've done, I've cut a bunch of vocals on numerous songs. In two-and-a-half weeks," he said.

[muthagoose]

Looking forward to this one... looks like it will be released a week after Chinese Democracy!

[Üncle Snake]

VELVET REVOLVER has lined up the following tour dates during the coming months:

South American tour:

April 10 - Pista Atlética Del Estadio Nacional - Santiago, Chile
April 12 - Estádio do Morumbi - São Paulo, Brazil
April 13 - Citibank Hall - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
April 15 - Quilmes Rock 2007 @ Estadio River Plate - Buenos Aires, Argentina
April 16 - Estadio Pepsi Music - Buenos Aires, Argentina
April 18 - Poliedro de Caracas - Caracas, Venezuela
April 20 - Parque Simón Bolívar - Bogotá, Colombia

North American tour:

May 04 - House of Blues - West Hollywood, CA
May 05 - Warfield - San Francisco, CA
May 07 - Showbox Music Club - Seattle, WA
May 10 - The Riviera - Chicago, IL
May 12 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Royal Oak, MI
May 13 - Kool Haus - Toronto, ONT
May 15 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
May 18 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
May 19 - Columbus Crew Stadium - Columbus, OH
May 20 - Tweeter Center - Camden, NJ
May 22 - Nokia Theatre - New York, NY

European tour:

June 01 - Nürburgring / Rock Am Ring - Eifel, Germany
June 02 - Idroscalo / Gods Of Metal Festival - Milan, Italy
June 03 - Zeppelinfeld / Rock Im Park - Nürnberg, Germany
June 05 - Hammersmith Apollo - London, England
June 07 - International Arena - Cardiff, England
June 08 - Donington Park / Download Festival - Donington, England
June 10 - SECC - Glasgow, Scotland
June 11 - Empress Ballroom @ Winter Gardens - Blackpool, England
June 14-16 - Hultsfred 2007 - Hultsfred, Sweden
June 16 - ProvinssiRock - Seinäjoki, Finland
June 17 - Walibi World / Fields Of Rock - Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
June 20 - Coliseu dos Recreios - Lisbon, Portugal
June 22-23 - Feria de Zaragoza / Monsters Of Rock - Zaragoza, Spain
June 24 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium
June 25 - Le Zenith - Paris, France
June 26 - Volkshaus - Zürich, Switzerland
June 29 - Marlay Park (supporting The Who) - Dublin, Ireland
July 02 - Odderøya Park / Quart07 - Kristiansand, Norway

More dates will be announced soon.

[muthagoose]

Scott Weiland and Wife Trash Hotel Room in Bloody Fight

Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland and his wife trashed a Burbank hotel room during a rockstar-caliber rampage last weekend, and now the hotel is pressing charges against the Weilands for the damage they caused.

Sources tell TMZ that Weiland and his wife Mary ripped alarm clocks and phones from their sockets and threw them, made "dents and gauges" in the walls, and that there was even blood found on some of the linens afterward. (A picture taken at the scene shows a note attached to a trash bag that says, in Spanish, "with blood.")

The trouble started when Mary arrived at the hotel Saturday, whereupon the couple got into "a huge argument" witnessed by their two young children, who had to be taken away by Weiland's assistant. Weiland himself then left, leaving behind Mary, who could be heard throwing things in the room. The police were called, and the hotel is pressing charges for the damage caused. There's no word whether either Weiland or his wife were injured in the spat.

Weiland pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges against Mary in December 2001 and was sentenced to probation and forced to pay a fine.

[muthagoose]

SCOTT WEILAND's Wife Arrested for Torching Wardrobe

TMZ.com reports that the wife of VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland was arrested this weekend after cops say she torched the rocker's $10,000 wardrobe in front of the couple's home in Toluca Lake, Ca.

According to police, 31-year-old Mary Weiland was booked for investigation of felony arson vandalism after cops responded to a "female burning clothes" call late Saturday evening.

The couple's two kids, who were home during the incident, were placed in the custody of family friends.

Weiland was booked at a Burbank police station just after midnight Sunday morning and was released after posting $50,000 bail three hours later.

The arrest came only hours after the couple was kicked out of the Graciela Hotel in Burbank following a ferocious argument that left Weiland's room in shambles and blood on the linens, as TMZ.com exclusively reported. The hotel is pressing charges against the Weilands for the damage they caused.



"FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

[muthagoose]

SCOTT WEILAND's Wife Says Her 'Bipolar Disorder' Is To Blame For Weekend's Events

VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland's wife Mary has issued a statement regarding the reports that she was arrested on Sunday (March 25) after she allegedly set her husband's $10,000 wardrobe on fire outside their home in Toluca Lake, California. Cops responded to a "female burning clothes" call late Saturday evening (March 24) and booked Mary Weiland for suspicion of felony arson vandalism. The couple's two children were placed in the care of family friends. Mary was booked at a Burbank police station and released on $50,000 bail three hours later.

The arrest came less than a day after the Weilands were thrown out of the Graciela Hotel in Burbank after they left a room there in shambles during what was bein described in media reports as a violent argument. The couple allegedly hurled furniture, made "dents and gouges" in the room's walls, and even left bloodstains on some of the linens.

Mary Weiland's statement reads as follows:

"With regards to this past weekend's events, it's important to my husband and I that the reports regarding domestic violence, as well as our children's safety, contain facts and not speculation.

"The weekend's difficulties were brought on by a reaction to an imbalance in medications used to treat my bipolar disorder. Reports that we were fighting at the Graciela Hotel are untrue. Scott was simply trying to help calm me down. I want to make it very clear that he did not hurt me in any way. For lack of a better expression, I was unstable and just 'lost it.'

"Payment for the damages to the Graciela Hotel has already been made. The gracious staff and management have accepted our apologies and welcome us back in the future.

"Most importantly, neither of our children were witness to any of these events and they have been in the care of a family member. Scott and I are very involved in our children's lives on a daily basis and we love them unconditionally. We appreciate all your concerns and how supportive people have been.

"After nearly seven years of marriage I am truly grateful to have a loving husband, drug-free for 3-1/2 years now, who is able to care for me during this challenging time.

"We ask that you refer to this statement for the facts and depend on no other source."

Mary's statement that "neither of our children were witness to any of these events" appears to contradict the version offered by Scott Weiland in a posting on VELVET REVOLVER's web site. Scott wrote about the hotel incident, "My wife locked herself in the adjoining room when that damage was done. I want to make it clear that I called security when I heard the glass being broken from next door. Security was unable to enter until she let them in. I sent my children off to a safe place with my assistant (who witnessed all of the events of the evening, until my wife locked herself in the room), and I left the hotel in order to avoid conflict with my wife."

Scott Weiland previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges against Mary in December of 2001. He had to pay a fine and was put on probation.

The couple had also been estranged over Weiland's drug use a few years back, with Mary Weiland reportedly beginning divorce proceedings before the two reconciled. Weiland recently told Launch that he's successfully stayed clean for the last several years. "Last few years have been great. I mean, I don't really feel the necessity to, or the responsibility to — you know, it's been over three and a half years for me, so, I mean, that's all that I feel like I really need to say," he said.

VELVET REVOLVER's new album, "Libertad", is tentatively scheduled for release on June 5, with a U.S. tour scheduled to begin on May 4 in Hollywood.

[muthagoose]

VELVET REVOLVER Pushes Back 'Libertad' Release Date

Launch Radio Networks reports: VELVET REVOLVER has pushed back the release of its second album, "Libertad", to late June, sources have told Launch. An exact arrival date for the disc has yet to be determined. Although it was never officially confirmed, June 5 was widely reported as the record's initial release date.

[muthagoose]

VELVET REVOLVER's SLASH Discusses 'Libertad' Artwork

In an exclusive interview with Chile's Rock & Pop, VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash revealed that the cover art for "Libertad" will feature the controversial Chilean 10-pesos coin which depicts an angel breaking its chains. The coin was used by the Pinochet regime as an allegory for the September 23, 1973 coup d'état that overthrew the Salvador Allende government.

[muthagoose]

VELVET REVOLVER To Abandon GUNS N' ROSES, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS Covers

VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash spoke to Chile's Rock & Pop about selecting songs for the band's current South American tour. He reportedly said that they chose to keep songs from the previous setlist around because the band has never played South America before, and that they added four new songs as well. Throughout South America, VR will still be playing GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS covers in their set, but will abandon them in the later legs of the tour.

In other news, VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland reportedly announced at the group's Santiago show that "She Builds Quick Machines" will be the first single off the group's new album, "Libertad", tentatively due late June.

[muthagoose]

VELVET REVOLVER To Release 'Libertad' on July 3rd, 2007

Jonathan Cohen of Billboard.com reports:

After scrapping the original May 29 release date, VELVET REVOLVER has settled on July 3 to unveil its second RCA album, "Libertad". Impacting in mid-May, the first single from the set will be "She Builds Quick Machines", one of the four new tracks the group has been playing of late during shows in South America.

"RCA did a bunch of research on what the first single should be," bassist Duff McKagan told Billboard.com last night (April 16) before a gig in Buenos Aires. "I'm pretty anti that stuff. The band had something they wanted to go with, but RCA just kept coming with it. So we decided, it's fine. It's a great f*ckin' rock song. It has a kick-ass guitar riff, a great chorus, a really big bridge and a great Slash solo."

McKagan is also high on "Last Fight", which he calls "a mid-tempo, really beautiful song; probably something you wouldn't expect from us," as well as "She Mine", described as "a fun pop ditty."

[muthagoose]

SCOTT WEILAND's 'Beautiful Day' Chosen As First Single Off 'Bug' Movie Soundtrack

VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland's solo track "Beautiful Day" will reportedly be the first single off the "Bug" movie soundtrack. The CD, which will be released on May 22 through Lions Gate Entertainment, will also include new music from SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian.

"Bug" (cover) movie soundtrack track listing (unconfirmed):

01. "Beautiful Day" - SCOTT WEILAND
02. "No Way to Live" - SEAN & SARA WATKINS
03. "She Gets" - CHAINSAW KITTENS
04. "Cowboy Boots" - THE BACKSLIDERS
05. "I Fell in Love" - SUSAN TEDESCHI
06. "Shake 'em Up and Let 'em Roll" - JERRY LEIBER AND THE COASTERS
07. "Searchin'" - ALVIN ROBINSON
08. "This Masquerade" - LEON RUSSELL
09. "Bug" - BRIAN TYLER
10. "Drug" - BRIAN TYLER
11. "Bug Theme" - SERJ TANKIAN

Weiland originally performed "Beautiful Day" last September at the Legends of Notre Dame club in Notre Dame, Indiana.

[muthagoose]

VELVET REVOLVER To Relase 'Harmony And The Tyranny' EP

According to SonyBMG Poland, VELVET REVOLVER will issue an EP titled "Harmony and the Tyranny" a month before the projected release of the band's new full-length CD, "Libertad". The EP will apparently contain two as-yet-unspecifired tracks from "Libertad" as well as the TALKING HEADS cover "Psycho Killer" (which was recorded during the "Libertad" sessions) and a video documentary about the making of "Libertad".

"Libertad" will be released on July 3 in two formats: a CD version, which will also include the documentary, and a CD/DVD version, which will feature a bonus DVD with a 30-minute documentary about the 2007 South American tour.

[muthagoose]

New 'Libertad' Artwork Revealed?

Amazon.com has posted what appears to be new cover artwork for VELVET REVOLVER's upcoming "Libertad" album at this location. The band's second RCA CD is due on July 3.

[muthagoose]

SLASH On 'Libertad', RICK RUBIN And AXL ROSE

Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Ultimate-Guitar: The new record really solidifies the sound of the band. It's a huge leap forward from "Contraband". What did you do different this time?

Slash: It's hard to explain. The first record is great and it was a cool opening statement and stuff, but it wasn't an example of what everybody in the band was really capable of. But we just sort of all got together and, based on the excitement of finding just that unity, we just went in and did it really quick. We didn't really sit down and explore. We were lucky to even make the first record because we did a show at the El Rey, and we had I think a 5 to 6-song set. We contemplated just going on the road and not even putting a record out. Then we thought, "No, let's slow down for a second. Let's put a record together." So we did. I think that over the course of the last couple of years, from touring and just being together and being through a lot together and this and that and the other, the band actually sort of got seasoned a little bit. We did 5 shows, I think it was somewhere in July. We did five shows in California, and even at that point, the band had actually set. It actually felt really, really comfortable. I could look back and think how hard we were really trying when it first started. There was a lot of getting to know each other. I've known a lot of these guys for fucking ever, as a band getting to know each other. So at this point, we went in and just started writing songs. It was a whole different kind of environment.

Ultimate-Guitar: So, during these last three years, was it finding that settling period in order that the band could move forward and say, "Okay, let's make a record now?"

Slash: All things considered, it wasn't really a conscious effort like that. It was more like, yeah, we wanted to make a second record. Getting it started took a long time, just getting everybody in the same room. There was a lot of other bullshit surrounding the band, coming from all different directions. It was sort of like a lot of little obstacles going on. Once we finally got in, we just started doing what it was that we did. So there wasn't a conscious effort to, "Okay, now that we've been playing together for so long…" It just sort of naturally happened that way.

Ultimate-Guitar: Rick Rubin was going to be the first producer and then that didn't happen. What was it that you thought Rick might have brought to "Libertad"?

Slash: In this particular climate, when it comes to sort of rock and roll and what that sort of means these days, it's hard to think who you want to make a record with because there's no records coming out that we actually like. Or I'll speak for myself, that I actually like, except for bands that have been around for a long time. NINE INCH NAILS or QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE or FOO FIGHTERS or something like that, those are bands that I like, but they've been around for a while. So in what's going on right now as we speak, we didn't know who to work with. So Rick came up. His name comes up and I thought, "You know, I've known Rick for a long time and I know he obviously makes some amazing records. So let's see." So we sat down and we met with him. It was like we were just getting into writing mode at that point. He says, "Just keep writing." So we did a lot of writing for a little bit. This was sort of like in March, April, and May. Then we stopped for about a month and we started up again in July. He started coming down to hear what we were doing. We didn't know what to expect, but I had heard that he's not a real sort of… He doesn't have a real presence in the rehearsal studio and in the recording studio. So it turned out that was exactly the case. He would show up for half an hour one day and then we would continue working. We were trying to adhere to some guidelines that he had set for us, how to go about doing it — which is sort of unheard of, for any of us to actually listen to anybody.

Ultimate-Guitar: In terms of schedules?

Slash: No, how to go about the actual writing process. So we said, "Well, that makes some sense. So we'll try a couple of these different things." Then we fall back into our own rut! Then he would show up 2 or 3 weeks later, again for a half an hour, and that started to become a little bit weird. Also, he was working on so many other records at the same time, that we didn't feel like we were obviously exclusive at all. That was all just adding up, but we were sort of being nice about it. Then finally it came to a point suddenly where we were starting to get frustrated, and we were also starting to get disillusioned. We started getting inhibited by our own material and going through this weird thing. We didn't know exactly how to put our finger on. At that point, we really wanted to get going. It didn't seem like with Rick we were going to be doing anything in the near future, as far as releasing a record or whatever. We didn't even know which songs were good or weren't good. We were sort of leaning on him to sort of give us an idea. So somehow we ended up calling up Brendan O'Brien, who Scott knew (O'Brien produced STONE TEMPLE PILOTS). I talked to him on the phone and he said all the right things. So he came down to the studio, he came down to rehearsal. And inside of 3 weeks, we put all the songs together, arrangements and everything. We just went straight into the studio. He just has a real hands-on kind of attitude. He's also a musician, which is great because we're showing him how to play the songs and he can pick up the guitar and play along with us. So we can go through some arrangement ideas or this or that or the other. He just has a really keen ear for everything that's going on. We didn't feel at all imposed on by him. We sort of did our thing and it just worked out.

Ultimate-Guitar: You can really hear his presence in terms of guitar tones and song structures. Is that the kind of input you would get from him?

Slash: I think the biggest thing that I noticed was he was great at simplifying the stuff that we made complicated, like certain song arrangements. Like, "You've already got the song right there." Because we kept digging up new parts and all this kind of shit. We also have this thing where we started jamming on something and we come up with so many different ideas inside the parameters of one tune. It's hard for us to give that up because it's all spontaneous stuff and it sounds cool and this and that. But as far as an arrangement to a song is concerned, he would be like, "You don't need to have all those different parts." So that was helpful. It made certain aspects of it a lot simpler. As far as guitar tones and drum tones and all that kind of shit, that was something where, when we actually went into the studio, I did have sort of these different ideas as to what I thought I was going to do. We just set up a Marshall and I go, "I need this sound," or "I need to get a Vox," or something like that. He'd dig up an old Vox Combo or something like that. So he had access to a lot of stuff. But it was really just sort of like not over thinking anything. So it was very raw and it was very live. One of the cool things about making this record was that, rather than going, "Okay, we're going to go through all the basic tracks and then we'll come back and do the vocals and the guitars and all that kind of shit," we did it song by song. Scott was there singing with us and it was real sort of camaraderie happening in the studio. That was unprecedented in my experience in the bands that I've been in.

Ultimate-Guitar: In your mind, was there ever a thought that, "We better not make a "Contraband Part II"?

Slash: I think there was one conversation that we had at one point, where we actually, as a band, just sat down at rehearsal one day. We took a break from what we were doing or something, and we were all just sitting around. We had this conversation that was like, "What ideally would we want to do?" I think Rick was there for this. "Ideally what would we want to do with this record?" The summation of the conversation that followed was to make something that was as good or better than any of the collective or individual recordings that we had done, or records that we had done in previous bands or what not. That was like the only time that we ever talked about it. I guess it was a subconscious bar. That was it. Then we just kept working! I think that the whole sophomore kind of thing is a little bit intimidating because when we were considering going into making the next record, we thought, "Oh, this will be great and a piece of cake." There were a lot of great ideas, but we couldn't get into a room to really all focus. The longer that took, the more intimidating the concept became. Finally once we got to work, it went away. But one of the things about the first record is, that having done it on the tour and then enough time after the tour, it actually seemed like such a long time ago. I think that obviously the band had blossomed since then that I don't think we had any intention of doing anything that sounded like the first record. There was no reason to go back and go, "We want to make a record." It didn't matter if it had sold 10 million records. We weren't going to go back and try and recreate that. We were going to expand on it.

Ultimate-Guitar: Do you talk to Axl [Rose] at all?

Slash: I know about what's going on with him, probably about as much as anybody else does because it pops up in conversation. Otherwise, I don't really spend too much time thinking about it. But I'm glad that he's out there and he's doing something. He's got a record, which I know is done. He just has to put it out. I really have no animosity toward him anymore. I have finally gotten over that. I don't have any of this sort of bitter resentment about the whole fucking upheaval that was 1996. So it's actually a nice, content feeling, and I'm glad that he's working and I'm glad that I'm working. I feel like I've achieved something by having gotten a little bit out from underneath the umbrella of the constant GUNS N' ROSES recognition, which is great to an extent. You want to be able to do some other stuff without having…it's like toilet paper on your heel. So now I feel content in doing what I'm doing and sort of letting bygones be bygones. Although I think he's probably still pissed at me for a lot of things. But I'm like, whatever. It probably is my fault. Whatever, I'll let it go.

Read the entire interview at Ultimate-Guitar.com.

[Üncle Snake]

I recommend reading the full interview at Ultimate-Guitar.com.

ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/interviews/slash_velvet_revolver_is_at_the_new_level.html

It's a great read. Very informative.

[muthagoose]

SCOTT WEILAND Wants To Write 'Better Final Chapter' To STONE TEMPLE PILOTS Story

WashingtonPost.com recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

WashingtonPost.com: It's interesting to hear you say that you're not afraid to throw your influences into an album, because STONE TEMPLE PILOTS were slagged for being a copycat grunge band — a PEARL JAM knockoff. Did that criticism sting?

Weiland: It definitely bothered me at the time. But I think on the song "Plush", you can make that connection to PEARL JAM just like you can make the connection from ROD STEWART's song "Hot Legs" to THE ROLLING STONES. "Plush" happened to be our breakout single. You have to remember that at the time, PEARL JAM was getting slagged brutally by NIRVANA and the media. They weren't considered critics' darlings until Kurt (Cobain) passed away. And then he (Eddie Vedder) sort of took over as the disturbed and bitter genius, I guess. But I'm so proud of the legacy that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has. We've written close to 18 Top 20 hits, and many of them are still played on the radio today. That's the legacy we wanted to create. We wanted to be played on rock radio for the next 20-30 years. That's actually happening. The only thing that's left unfinished is the completion of the story. I feel that there could be a better final chapter, a better bookend. If all the planets line up, you never know what might happen one day.

WashingtonPost.com: I read an interview with Duff where he talked about the heavy touring load after "Contraband" came out. Pointing out that you guys were together nonstop once that album landed, he said: "I don't care what five people you do that to, you're gonna get sick of each other." As all of you came out of successful bands that imploded, do you talk about making sure something like that doesn't happen with VELVET REVOLVER?

Weiland: When things really go south and we start getting in that big drill car and driving to hell, we usually get together and talk. How successful that is depends on everybody's state of mind at the time. Usually it works out fairly well. But lately, there's been some things that have happened that definitely shouldn't have happened — where band members have irresponsibly used the media as a tool and said things that they shouldn't have said. And that's [expletive] blasphemy, because a band should be a safe haven regardless of what goes on. It doesn't matter what kind of problems a family is having; it should always stay in the family. The [expletive] media is bad enough as it is. It seems like everyone's got an agenda, and the agenda seems to be selling magazines or air time with sensational stories. Look at the [expletive] with Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, these tragic figures. It's not like any of that stuff is new; that kind of [expletive] has been happening for years. It's just that the media didn't hound them. When people fell, they either fell again or they picked themselves up and figured it out. But it wasn't on E! or the celebrity news shows 100 percent of the time. It's become an addiction for the American public. People are more interested in that [expletive] than the upcoming election.



WashingtonPost.com: When you tried out for VELVET REVOLVER ...

Weiland: No, no, no. I need to get this straight for once. I never [expletive] tried out for VELVET REVOLVER. I've never tired out for any band. I wouldn't even try out for the [expletive] ROLLING STONES. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS broke up and I was working on my solo album. The last thing I wanted to do was join another [expletive] rock band after all the [expletive] drama I went through with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. I ran into Duff at the gym and he told me they were forming a new band and that I should check it out and see if it's something I'd be into. They gave me two different CDs with about 40 to 50 songs. The first CD was basically atrocious. It was stuff they'd also written with Izzy (Stradlin, another GUNS refugee), and it sounded like BAD COMPANY gone wrong. I told them I was busy and wasn't really interested in the idea. About three months after that, I got another CD with some more songs and there were two that I thought were pretty good. One was called "Slither". I thought it sounded a lot like STONE TEMPLE PILOTS around "Core" — like "Piece of Pie" or "Wicked Garden". In my head, I was thinking: What would I do with this? If you listen to the vocal on it, it's like very much "Core"-era Scott Weiland. During that time, my wife and Duff's wife became friends, and they lobbied me to join the band. What ended up happening was, my wife and I separated. She was with her kids in L.A. and I I was living in our apartment in Hollywood, doing a lot of drugs. And those guys were clean at that time. I said that if I did get into this band, it might be an opportunity to hook up with some guys who aren't using and had gone down the same sort of path that I had. Right around that time, their manager called me and said there were two soundtrack opportunities on the table for a lot of money. Do the songs, get a big paycheck and if you find out you work well together, just take it from there. I didn't show up the first day because I was loaded and couldn't make it. But I came the next day and we got together and started working out PINK FLOYD's "Money" and writing a new song, "Set Me Free". And I joined. But never, ever, ever, never did I try out.

Read the entire interview at WashingtonPost.com.

[muthagoose]

SCOTT WEILAND Arrested For DUI (Again)

According to TMZ.com, VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland was arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) late last month.

The former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman was driving on an L.A. highway around 6:15 PM on November 21 when he crashed his car. While the California Highway Patrol was investigating the non-injury wreck, they noticed Weiland appeared to be impaired. According to the police report, Weiland failed sobriety tests and refused to take a blood or urine test. He was booked for "driving under the influence of a drug."

He was released on $40,000 bail and will be back in court on December 13.

Weiland is no stranger to run-ins with the law. He was busted for buying crack in 1995, domestic violence in 2001, DUI on his birthday in 2003, and as TMZ.com first reported, allegedly trashed a hotel room while brawling with his wife. His wife later issued a statement saying her hubby was "simply trying to help calm me down."

[muthagoose]

SCOTT WEILAND Denies Driving Under The Influence Of A Drug

According to The Associated Press, Scott Weiland's publicist denies the singer was driving under the influence when he crashed his car on a California highway on November 21.

A police report obtained by the celebrity Web site TMZ.com says the VELVET REVOLVER singer was arrested after an officer noticed he showed "signs of impairment" and failed field sobriety tests.

According to the police report, Weiland was taken to the Van Nuys Jail where he refused to take a blood or urine test. He was booked and released on $40,000 bail.

Weiland's publicist says the singer was involved in a "minor accident," but denies he was impaired at the time of the crash.

"Scott was not driving under the influence of a drug, legal or illegal," Kristine Ashton-Magnuson said. "He voluntarily took a breathalyzer test which the defense believes registers well within the legal limit. He is anxious to get to court ... and clear this matter up."

[muthagoose]

SCOTT WEILAND Formally Charged For DUI;
Could Face A Year In Jail

According to TMZ.com, VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs with a prior conviction, and with an allegation that he refused a chemical test as required by law.

In a statement from Los Angeles City Attorney spokesperson Frank Mateljan, Scott faces "maximum penalty of one year county jail and a $1000 fine, and a minimum penalty eight days in jail (because of the prior conviction and the refusal to take a drug test). His car could also be impounded for up to 30 days. "

He will be arraigned tomorrow in a Los Angeles County court.

On November 21, the former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer was arrested, when he crashed his car while driving on an L.A. highway.

A rep for VELVET REVOLVER tells TMZ.com that the band's show tonight at L.A.'s Gibson Amphitheater is still going on as scheduled.

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VELVET REVOLVER To Perform On Tomorrow's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

VELVET REVOLVER will be the featured musical guests on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on the Monday, January 7 episode (which will actually air the morning of January 8 beginning at 12:05 a.m.).

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SCOTT WEILAND Is A No-Show At VELVET REVOLVER's SUNDANCE Concert

VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland was a no-show for the band's scheduled performance last night (Sunday, January 20) at the 944 Magazine's party at Tao during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. According to PageSix.com, "speculation from inside the band's camp said the singer had missed his flight to Sundance for the performance, but that didn't stop his bandmates from literally asking the crowd if they wanted to have a go."

"It's was crazy, they were inviting anyone who wanted to get up sing," an onlooker told PageSix.com.

A short clip of VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Matt Sorum taking on the vocal duties for VELVET REVOLVER's rendition of the GN'R classic "Patience" during the Tao concert can be viewed below.

Weiland was expected to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom last Thursday (January 17), where his recent DUI case was to be continued. The singer was charged with driving under the influence of drugs after being pulled over by police in late November.

VELVET REVOLVER will begin a new U.S. tour on January 24 in Chicago, with dates confirmed through February 9.

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SCOTT WEILAND Explains SUNDANCE Concert No-Show

An official statement from VELVET REVOLVER's publicist regarding frontman Scott Weiland's absence from the band's concert Sunday night (January 20) at the 944 Magazine's party at Tao during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah has been issued. It reads as follows:

"On Sunday, January 20, the private plane that Scott was traveling on from Miami (where he performed the night before at the AROD Family Foundation and Bay Point Schools benefit) to Utah was diverted because of bad weather. The pilot wouldn't fly from Miami to the Salt Lake City Airport because of extremely poor visibility and a potential poor weather system that made it dangerous for the plane to fly to Salt Lake City. Two hours into the flight, it was diverted to the Van Nuys Airport (in Los Angeles).

"Scott, the band and management tried to find a flight to take him from Van Nuys to Salt Lake City in time for the band's show, but this was not possible. By the time Scott landed at the Van Nuys airport, it was too late to make any connecting flights. VELVET REVOLVER's tour manager also looked into private flights for Scott, but a crew was not available in time for an immediate departure that would have brought him to the show on time."[/color]

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DUFF MCKAGAN On Scott Weilands's
Sundance No-Show and STP Reformation Rumors

UK's Classic Rock magazine has tracked down VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan and quizzed him about VR singer Scott Weiland's absence from the group's performance at the Sundance Film Festival and the rumors of a reunion of Weiland's previous band, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS.

On the Sundance Film Festival:

"I sang 'It's So Easy' and 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' and then we were panicking a bit over what to play so [VR drummer] Matt [Sorum] got up and sang 'Patience', Matt's a great singer, he really is. Why wasn't Scott there? Scott missed his plane. Yeah, let's say that, Scott missed his plane…"

On STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reforming:

"That’s the rumor that I've heard too. Good for him. You can't plan ahead in this thing and if you do, you're going to be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I love playing live and we love this band, but I don't have expectations any more. This is a great band and I'm proud to be a part of it, but it doesn't define me anymore."

Although there has been no official confirmation from anyone involved, Weiland told the Miami Herald over the weekend to be on the lookout for a STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunion in the months ahead. The band members are reportedly on good terms again after their less than friendly break-up in 2002, and Weiland told The Pulse of Radio a while back that he wouldn't rule out getting back together. "I think that there is always that distinct possibility," he said. "I have to say it would never come in the way of VELVET REVOLVER, but I don't think that the story has been completely told. I'm unhappy with the ending of the story."

Weiland made his comments at an all-star gala event benefiting the AROD Family Foundation, on Saturday (January 19) at the Ritz Carlton hotel in South Beach, Florida.

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VELVET REVOLVER's SCOTT WEILAND Back In Rehab

Velvet revolver has released the following official statement:

"Following VELVET REVOLVER's performance last night [Wednesday, February 6] in Los Angeles, lead singer Scott Weiland voluntarily entered a rehab facility. Tonight's San Diego show at the House of Blues has been postponed; the rescheduled date for San Diego is [to be announced]. VELVET REVOLVER deeply apologize to their fans and thank them for sticking by the group."

Weiland was arrested on November 21, 2007 when he crashed his car while driving on an L.A. highway.

He was charged with driving under the influence of drugs with a prior conviction, and with an allegation that he refused a chemical test as required by law.

According to MTV.com, Weiland has been arrested multiple times over the past decade for a variety of drug offenses in California and New York, and has spent time in jail on several occasions. He was arrested in 2003 in Hollywood after a traffic accident and charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, though those charges were eventually dismissed after he successfully completed a drug rehab program and submitted to drug tests.

Weiland recently the Miami Herald to be on the lookout for a STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunion in the months ahead. The band members are reportedly on good terms again after their less than friendly break-up in 2002, and Weiland told The Pulse of Radio a while back that he wouldn't rule out getting back together. "I think that there is always that distinct possibility," he said. "I have to say it would never come in the way of VELVET REVOLVER, but I don't think that the story has been completely told. I'm unhappy with the ending of the story."

Although he was supposed to perform with VELVET REVOLVER on January 20 at a party in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival, Weiland was a no-show for the gig. The vocalist's flight to Utah was diverted because of bad weather. The band carried on with the show, inviting audience members and singer Donovan Leitch to pitch in.

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Matt Sorum: Scott Weiland Is 'Healthy And Ready To Rock'

VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Matt Sorum has issued the following update:

"[VELVET REVOLVER] just landed in Dubai. This place is so cool. And wild. Dubai is a long way from California. Have been flying over 24 hours after a stop in Frankfurt, Germany. Cannot wait to rock tomorrow. Play a big festival here with the MUSE. Then we head up to Dublin for two gigs, then over to England, Scotland finishing up in Belgium, Germany and Amsterdam. Scott [Weiland, VR vocalist] is healthy and ready to rock. We are all ready to get back on stage and play for all you fine people. See you rockers soon."

Weiland on Wednesday pleaded innocent to drunk-driving charges following his November arrest in Los Angeles. Weiland is free on $40,000 bail and is due back in court for a hearing on April 4. If convicted, he faces up to one year behind bars because he has a prior conviction for driving under the influence. He was pulled over by police on November 21 on a Hollywood freeway and was taken into custody after refusing to take a sobriety test.