8.29.05
W.Axl Rose Responds to Frivolous Copyright Suit by
Former Guns N' Roses Members
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2005--In
response to a "frivolous" lawsuit filed against Guns
N' Roses leader W.Axl Rose by two former band members
claiming Mr. Rose attempted to change the copyright
status and the royalty stream earned by the
disgruntled pair when they worked with the band Mr.
Rose's attorney, Howard Weitzman stated: "This is a
classic case of premature accusation. If someone had
taken the time to investigate or ask about this
situation before rushing to judgment they would have
learned that ASCAP (the entity that collects money for
songwriters) made a clerical error and failed to
appropriately divide and distribute the royalty's owed
for the first quarter of 2005 to Axl and the former
Guns N' Roses musicians. The amount ASCAP mistakenly
sent to Axl's publisher was never received by Axl nor
was he ever made aware of the error. The publisher
alerted ASCAP to the error, returned the money
immediately and asked ASCAP to remedy the situation by
distributing the funds appropriately."
Weitzman further comments: "Rather than pick up the
telephone and contact Axl or his representatives, his
former partners scurried to file a lawsuit that
contained false statements about Axl rather then
making an effort to learn the truth regarding ASCAP's
mistake. Slash and Duff have an unfortunate pattern
over the past few years of filing sensational but
baseless lawsuits for the purpose of generating
anti-Axl propaganda. It is clear that Slash and Duff
are looking for another opportunity to spread untruths
about Axl in an effort to hurt his reputation and to
alienate his fans while at the same time creating a
profile for themselves.
"Contrary to allegations in the lawsuit, Axl has never
denied that others made substantial contributions
towards the success of Guns N' Roses, but there is
little doubt as to who was the creative catalyst
behind the group's success."
Source(s): http://www.businesswire.com
8.25.05
Ross Halfin mentions Chinese Democracy on his website!!
8.22.05
Slash, Duff sue Axl over GNR Publishing Royalties - article on mtv.com
7.9.05
Here is a new interview with Jimmy Ashhurst, it is very interesting. Enjoy!!
6.8.05
Velvet Revolver cuts European Tour Short - story on billboard.com
6.1.05
Robin Finck's website has been overhauled, check it out here.
4.13.05
Some Gilby Clarke Dates:
Gilby, Slim Jim and John Corabi:
Apr. 22 - Club Rain - Costa Mesa, CA
Apr. 24 - Freak Fest - Bakersfield, CA
Gilby solo shows:
May 06 - Mr. Cues - Lancaster, CA
May 11 - Elbo Bar - Dayton, OH
May 12 - Crazy Donkey - Farmingdale, NY
May 13 - Jaxx - Springfield, VA
May 14 – Dingbatz - Clifton, NJ
May 15 - Continental - NY, NY
May 16 - Pirates Cove - Cleveland, OH
4.11.05
Richard Fortus has an official website now, check it out!
A few new Tommy Stinson tourdates here.
2.24.05
Coming off their Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock Performance" ("Slither"), VELVET REVOLVER are set to launch their headlining North American "Electric Wonderland Show" arena tour March 22 in Montreal. Special guests HOOBASTANK will open the West Coast leg of the tour. This trek will follow the explosive rockers' sold-out shows in America, Canada, Europe and Japan as well as in New Zealand and Australia where they’re currently touring through February 27. VELVET REVOLVER has teamed with I Love All Access to provide a variety of VIP ticket packages. Go to VelvetRevolver.com for details.
VELVET REVOLVER are on the road in connection with their platinum-plus debut "Contraband" album, which has sold over three million copies worldwide. It features the #1 rock single "Slither", as well as the band’s other #1 rock hit "Fall To Pieces", plus the blazing new single "Dirty Little Thing".
In other news, VELVET REVOLVER's new video for "Dirty Little Thing" was premiered on Fuse Friday, February 18. The clip — directed by Motion Theory — features live performance and animation by famed Japanese illustrator Rockin' Jellybean, who's known for his edgy illustrations of sex goddesses and muscle cars. VELVET REVOLVER is seen performing live inside an animated runaway train while the exterior and surrounding environment are animated. The train flies around the world, burning through Japan, the UK, New York and Hollywood.
Current tour dates are as follows:
Mar. 22 - Montreal, PQ @ Bell Centre
Mar. 23 - Ottawa, ONT @ Corel Centre
Mar. 24 - Hamilton, ONT @ Copps Coliseum
Mar. 27 - Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
Mar. 28 - Calgary, AL @ Pengrowth Saddledome
Mar. 29 - Edmonton, AL @ Rexall Place
Mar. 31 - Vancouver, BC @ Pacific Coliseum
Apr. 12 - San Diego, CA @ Coors Amphitheatre
Apr. 13 - Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
Apr. 15 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
Apr. 16 - Anaheim, CA @ Arrowhead Pond
Apr. 17 - Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center
Apr. 19 - San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic
Apr. 21 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
Apr. 22 - Everett, WA @ Everett Arena
Apr. 23 - Boise, ID @ Taco Bell Arena
Apr. 25 - Salt Lake City, UT @ E Center
Apr. 26 - Denver, CO @ Magness Arena
Apr. 28 - St. Paul, MN @ Excel Energy Center
Apr. 29 - Rockford, IL @ Rockford MetroCentre
Apr. 30 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
May 02 - Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Center
May 03 - Amherst, MA @ Mullins Center
May 05 - Raleigh, NC @ Verizon Wireless
May 06 - Atlanta, GA @ Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre
May 07 - Orlando, FL @ Lee Vista Park
May 13 - Scranton, PA @ Montage Mountain
May 14 - Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach
May 15 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless
May 17 - Cleveland, OH @ Tower Amphitheatre
May 18 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Chevrolet Amphitheatre
May 20 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC
May 21 - Washington, DC @ Merriweather Post
May 22 - Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless
May 24 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
May 25 - Miami, FL @ Sound Advice Amphitheatre
2.13.05
I added a lot of new Izzy pictures to the pictures section thanks to Tiffany!
1.26.05
Axl Rose Signs To Sanctuary Publishing
26 January 2005
Sanctuary Music Group has signed Axl Rose to a publishing deal. Until
recently, Warner Chappell published the Guns N' Roses frontman's works.
The deal covers both future material and catalogue. Rose's contribution
to
such hits as "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Paradise City" and "November Rain"
are
covered under the deal, as are dozens of new tracks Rose has recently
recorded for Universal Music.
http://www.sanctuarygroup.com/
Axl Rose signs new deal
25 Jan 2005
Guns N' Roses main man Axl Rose has signed a new publishing deal with one
of the fastest growing music groups.
In recent years, Sanctuary Music Group have followed an aggressive
strategy of signing established acts to its catalogue to gain market share and
publishing rights.
Axl Rose follows a string of high-profile artists including Lou Reed,
Fun Loving Criminals, UB40, the New York Dolls and Morrissey onto
Sanctuary's roster.
The deal, confirmed by the label yesterday (January 24), will include
all Guns N' Roses back catalogue and new material.
A spokesperson for Sanctuary Group told Music Week the deal represents
the latest step in building the Sanctuary Music Publishing portfolio,
adding 'publishing is a strategic priority for the group.'
Axl Rose's now legendarily overdue new album 'Chinese Democracy' is
thought to be due out this year and the new deal suggests that a release may
well be imminent.
1.18.05
Some overseas VR dates:
January
19 - Cardiff, UK @ International Arena
21 - London, UK @ Carling Brixton Academy
22 - London, UK @ Carling Hammersmith Apollo
23 - London, UK @ Carling Hammersmith Apollo
February
2 - Nagoya, Japan @ Club Diamond Hall
3 - Osaka, Japan @ Zepp
5 - Osaka, Japan @ Sonic Mania festival
6 - Tokyo, Japan @ Sonic Mania festival
8 - Tokyo, Japan @ Zepp
9 - Tokyo, Japan @ Zepp
17 - Christchurch, New Zealand @ Westpac Centre
19 - Auckland, New Zealand @ Supertop, Ericsson
21 - Brisbane, Australia @ Entertainment Centre
23 - Sydney, Australia @ Hordern Pavilion
24 - Sydney, Australia @ Hordern Pavilion
26 - Adelaide, Australia @ Entertainment Centre
27 - Melbourne, Australia @ Vodafone Arena
1.14.05
Rollingstone.com has posted a new article called Velvet Revolver Reloading.
12.19.04
New Tommy Stinson dates have been announced on his page!
11.23.04
some potential news from here today gone to hell:
Acclaimed orchestral arranger and Grammy-award winner Paul Buckmaster has apparently worked on arrangements for four songs that are slated to appear on the long-awaited GUNS N' ROSES album, "Chinese Democracy". According to Buckmaster's official discography/list of credits, which can be viewed at this location, he has served as the arranger and conductor on the tracks "Blues", "Twat", "Madagascar" and "Prostitute", all of which are expected to surface on the much-anticipated CD, due next year via Interscope.
As previously reported, legendary Italian film composer Marco Beltrami ("Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", "Resident Evil", "Scream", "Blade 2") has also provided orchestral arrangements for four tracks that are tentatively set to appear on "Chinese Democracy". According to Beltrami's official web site, MarcoBeltrami.com, the four cuts the composer was asked to work on have the working titles of "Seven", "Leave Me Alone", "General" and "Thyme".
11.20.04
Here is a pretty interesting interview of Chris Weber of Hollywood Rose!
Also, some new Stinson dates:
December
08 - Philadelphia, PA @ Khyber Pass
09 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza (With Jesse Malin)
13 - Hollywood, CA @ Hotel Cafe (Solo, acoustic)
10.26.04
Axl Rose lends his voice to the new Grand Theft Auto game!!
10.24.04
Josh made his own video for Welcome to the Jungle 2004, you can download it here or here !
10.12.04
Jarmo has just interviewed Tommy Stinson and you can read the interview here.
9.24.04
Some new VR Tourdates:
October 2004
16 - Nashville, TN - Starwood Amphitheatre
17 - New Orleans, LA - Voodoo Music Festival
19 - Tulsa, OK - Edgefest
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
24 - Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Music Centre
25 - Hidalgo, TX - Dodge Arena
26 - Selma, TX - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
30 - Woodlands, TX - Woodlands Pavilion
31 - Little Rock, AR - Alltel Arena
November 2004
23 - Mt. Clemens, MI - Emerald Theatre
9.9.04
TOMMY STINSON - New GUNS N' ROSES Album Is "A Lot More Complex" [Rock Hard - 04.09.10 16:18:35]
Special Report By Martin Popoff
Bassist TOMMY STINSON is best known for being one of THE REPLACEMENTS - start of the band to finish - but he's beginning to be a regular in the metal press given his now long-standing relationship with Axl Rose as part of the aggregate GUNS N' ROSES. If all goes according to plan (and there's no assurance that it will), the eon-awaited Chinese Democracy will be out this fall and GN'R will be touring "for the next year and a half or so."
Stinson was in Toronto recently to promote his new solo album called Village Gorilla Head, a collection of quirky hard and soft pop songs with an appropriately artsy, even Replacements-like flair. "I think the hardest thing was to just finely get it done," says Stinson of the lush yet emotionally edgy album. "I worked on it for about a year, toured a little bit in between, and I wasn't really under any pressure from anyone to finish it in any particular amount of time. But after awhile, after you've done all the instruments yourself, you start to burn out. You get to a point where you go, 'I really wish I were done with this now, because I'm kind of tired.' It got a little much. Because I was recording everything in my home studio, which is basically in my apartment, in my bedroom, in Burbank, California. So the idea of recording and living and sleeping and breathing all in the same three or four rooms was a little bit much after awhile."
Well, rest up, because it sounds like life is gonna get complicated soon. Tommy offers a few elliptical remarks on the looming Chinese Democracy opus.
"Stylistically speaking, if I were to take a stab at it, it would probably be something more focused than Use Your Illusion. I think Use Your Illusion was going in a couple of other musical directions, but not fully realized. I think there were some limitations to where the band was maybe willing to go? That has been taken out of the mix. More focused, but also more diverse. I think the music on the new GN'R record will be a lot more complex, a little more far-reaching probably? As well as there will be some rock there that will be reminiscent of the older records. But for the most part, stylistically speaking, there's a lot more going on. And I would say lyrically, definitely there is a lot more going on than old Guns. There's a lot more introspection, a lot more social commentary involved."
After intimating that most of the lyrics and vocals are Axl's, but that he and Dizzy Reed do a lot of the back-up vocals, Tommy states that songwriting-wise, "there'll probably be compositions that started with each of us and were compiled by all of us, on the whole record, yeah. I would be willing to wager that that is how it turns out, because Axl is the kind of guy who is always looking out for the fairest way to do it so everyone's happy. Because obviously, that's the kind of thing that screwed up the old band. Everybody had songs they wanted to write, and have Axl sing, and then there got to be infighting, I think, with whose songs were going to be on the record. He's really conscious of that, so it ends up being a bit of everyone on there."
Stinson also says that he listened to the final mixes recently and "added his two cents," noting that the songs were mostly quite long and epic, but "mind-blowing and fucking huge."
In closing, I had Stinson reflect on Axl's personality these days, his state of mind, his strengths and weaknesses...
"Wow. I would say his strengths are definitely his heart and his loyalties. He's incredibly loyal and totally has your back if you're straight with him and are loyal back. Which is why him and I have gotten along so well. I'm the same sort of person. I don't fuck around or waste my time with people who waste my time, and I don't really take up people's time if they don't want it. I would say those are his strengths. Other than that, he's a fucking awesome singer and an amazing songwriter. The weaknesses part? Maybe he still thinks too much of what people are expecting of him. Maybe he could try just fucking exist, and not worry about the way people want him to be? Maybe a little bit of that? Might be hard for him, because he's got a lot riding on it. I've got a lot riding on it, but he's obviously got way more (laughs). What I see with the Guns N' Roses thing... you know, I've hung out with him so much to know that it's hard to be him, just because people are rabid. They get pretty weirded out. He's got some crazy fans, and people that have been there for a long time. And I think if he could just exist, if he could get up in the day and go cruise around like I cruise around and see the world in a non-stressful environment like that (laughs), it might do some good for his fuckin'... his self. He's a huge fucking rock star, man. He can barely go down the street without someone fuckin' throwing some curveball at him. It's a bummer."
9.9.04
Brain is touring with Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains:
09/24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest
09/25 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
09/27 - Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre 09/28 - Washington, DC @ Nation
09/29 - Boston, MA @ Roxy
10/01 - New York, NY @ Roseland
10/02 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
10/03 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's
10/05 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel 10/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
10/21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Velvet Room 10/22 -Denver, CO @ Fillmore
10/23 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
10/25 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
10/26 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
10/27 - San Diego, CA @ 4th & B
10/29 - Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon
10/30 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
11/01 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst
11/03 - Sacramento, CA @ TBA
11/05 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
11/06 - Portland, OR @ Roseland
11/07 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
9.2.04
GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson has told the Rocky
Mountain News that the group's long-delayed,
well-over-budget album, "Chinese Democracy", is almost
out.
"I'll probably be touring [my solo] record up till the
end of the year," he said. "Then I'm thinking the GNR
record will be coming out real soon after that. Then
I'll be touring behind that record. I'm anticipating
being on the road for the next year and a half, two
years."
According to Stinson, "Chinese Democracy" "is almost
done. Closer than it has ever been, for certain. I
went and listened to some of the songs before I left
L.A. to make sure my two cents were thrown in, so to
speak. I was pretty stoked about it. I heard some
really, really great stuff that I hadn't heard in a
long time."
Stinson is currently touring in support of his solo
debut, "Village Gorilla Head", which was released in
July through Sanctuary Records.
The founding REPLACEMENTS member recorded the material
for the set in a Los Angeles studio owned by Charles
Thompson (a.k.a. Frank Black) with contributions from
A PERFECT CIRCLE drummer Josh Freese, his brother
Jason Freese on saxophone, CATHOLICS guitarist Dave
Philips, and GNR guitarist Richard Fortus and
keyboardist Dizzy Reed.
8.22.04
Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains tourdates!!
Brain is going on tour with Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains:
09/24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest
09/25 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
09/27 - Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre 09/28 - Washington, DC @ Nation
09/29 - Boston, MA @ Roxy
10/01 - New York, NY @ Roseland
10/02 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
10/03 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's
10/05 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel 10/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
10/21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Velvet Room 10/22 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore
10/23 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
10/25 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
10/26 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
10/27 - San Diego, CA @ 4th & B
10/29 - Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon
10/30 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
11/01 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst
11/03 - Sacramento, CA @ TBA
11/05 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
11/06 - Portland, OR @ Roseland
11/07 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
8.21.04
Check out this new Dizzy Reed Interview !
8.15.04
Tommy Stinson European dates with Jesse Malin and some with Alien Crime Syndicate:
Monday September 20 @ Manchester Academy 3 Manchester, UK
Tuesday September 21 @ Liquid Rooms Edinburgh, Scotland
Wednesday September 22 @ Glasgow Garage Glasgow, Scotland
Thursday September 23 @ Limelight Belfast, Ireland
Friday September 24 @ Village Dublin, Ireland
Sunday September 26 @ The Cockpit Leeds, UK
Monday September 27 @ Cluney Newcastle, UK
Tuesday September 28 @ Fez Club Sheffield, UK
Wednesday September 29 @ Electric Ballroom Camden, London, UK
Thursday September 30 @ Rescue Rooms Nottingham, UK
October
01 - Reading, UK @ Fez Club
02 - Birmingham, UK @ Birmingham Academy 2
04 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
05 - Paris, France @ TBA
06 - Brussels, Belgium @ Rotunde@Butanique
07 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Loppen
08 - Aarhus, Denmark @ Vox Hall
09 - Lund, Sweden @ Mejeriet
10 - Gothenburg, Sweden @ Pusterviskbaren
11 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser
12 - Oslo, Norway @ John Dee
13 - Bergen, Norway @ Garage
8.8.04
Tommy will be on the Craig Kilborn Show on August 18th
8.7.04
http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000600689
Slash, matchbox twenty's Kyle Cook, Living Colour's
Vernon Reid, Stone Temple Pilots' Dean DeLeo and Marc
Ford are among the guitarists appearing on "Sing a
Song With Six Strings," a collection of tracks
inspired by children. Due Oct. 5 via Sony Wonder, the
13-track set also includes contributions from Peter
Frampton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, the
late Carl Perkins and Jorma Kaukonen.
"They've either written songs or picked a song that
they liked to sing to their kids," album executive
producer Eddie Kramer tells Billboard.com. "We've done
rocked out versions of them. It sounds fantastic. It
is really a smokin' little album."
Among the cuts penned specifically for the album are
Slash's "Sing a Song of Sixpence," of which he says,
"When it was finished, I played it for my then 1 year
old son London and I got smiles of approval. I figured
it must have hit the mark!"
Cook's "Always This Near" is his first solo recording.
The guitarist is working with Kramer on his impending
solo debut, under the moniker the New Left. Rounding
out the album are tracks by Santana, Craig Ross, Keb'
Mo' and Chet Atkins with Tommy Emmanuel.
Here is the track list for "Sing a Song With Six
Strings":
"Always This Near," Kyle Cook
"Mia Rose," Peter Frampton
"Elijah," Marc Ford
"Grandma's Hand," Keb' Mo'
"Up From the Skies," Vernon Reid
"Sing a Song of Sixpence," Slash
"All Mama's Children," Carl Perkins
"Let the Children Play," Santana
"Mary Had a Little Lamb," Stevie Ray Vaughan and
Double Trouble
"You and My Old Guitar," Jorma Kaukonen
"The Colors (Are Always Changing)," Craig Ross
"Once Upon a Tribe," Dean DeLeo
"Smokey Mountain Lullaby," Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel
8.3.04
Check out the latest Dizzy Reed tourdates here!
7.29.04
Tommy Stinson is going on tour, check out the tourdates here!
7.23.04
Check out a song sample from Tommy Stinson's new album coming out next tuesday on this site!
Here are some Dizzy Reed tourdates from Pollstar:
July:
Thu 22 - West Hollywood, CA @ Cat Club
Thu 29 - West Hollywood, CA @ Cat Club
August:
Thu 26 - San Francisco, CA @ The Pound SF
Fri 27 - McKinleyville, CA @ Six Rivers Brewery
September:
Thu 09 - Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome
Fri 10 - Worcester, MA @ Lucky Dog Music Hall
Sat 11 - Cambridge, MA @ Brother Jimmy's Barbecue
Sun 12 - Princeton, NJ @ Princeton University
Wed 15 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire @ Philadelphia
Bar & Grill
Thu 16 - New York, NY @ Lion's Den
Fri 17 - Lexington, VA @ Washington & Lee Univ.
Sat 18 - Lexington, VA @ Washington & Lee Univ.
Sun 19 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Harry's Roadhouse
October:
Fri 22 - Lexington, VA @ Washington & Lee Univ.
Fri 29 - Charlottesville, VA @ University Of Virginia
Sat 30 - Herndon, VA @ Ned Devine's
7.13.04
Here is a new interview with Dizzy Reed:
Source - Rock Journal/GNR newsgroup
Dan: How did you wind up joining Guns N' Roses in 1990?
Dizzy: In 1990 I joined Guns N' Roses when they decided to add a keyboard
player. I had known Axl and actually the whole band for a long time, like
five years. Axl would always tell me when they added a keyboard player that
I was going to be the guy. And when it was time, he found me, tracked me
down, and said, "Its time to do it."
Dan: What were you doing before that?
Dizzy: I was in a band in L.A. called The Wild. I had been in that band for
about five years. We were just trying to get a deal. I had a few deals,
they fell through, but we were doing really good playing the clubs. We were
basically just drinking a lot and chasing girls.
Dan: What, in your opinion, was the downfall of the original line up of GNR?
Dizzy: The downfall? I don't think there was an actual downfall as much as
everybody sort of outgrew what was going on. People lost track of how they
got there. Sometimes when you're that young and you have that much success
that fast you grow out of it. I think that had a lot to do with it. There
was a definite lack of communication also, which when you have a group of
people that work together that closely all the time, communication is
extremely important. When there is a lot of money to be made, sometimes the
powers that be will keep that communication from happening for fear that it
might break up what's going on. Thus, the money machine will shut down.
Dan: There are a lot of rumors that go around, and its hard to tell what is
really true, but is there any animosity between the current line-up and the
guys that aren't there anymore?
Dizzy: Other than common members, i.e. Axl and myself, none of the other
guys really know any of the old guys.
Dan: I pretty much meant you and Axl.
Dizzy: To me its like that chapter of my life is currently closed,
apparently. And that's that. I wish the best for them and hopefully the
best for us.
Dan: While we're talking about them, have you heard any of the Velvet
Revolver stuff?
Dizzy: I honestly haven't heard it. I seriously haven't. Its not that I'm
trying to avoid it, I just haven't heard it. I mean, I'm going to go out
and buy it, you know? Do you have it?
Dan: The CD is actually not out yet. It comes out next week.
Dizzy: (Laughing) Maybe that's why I fucking haven't heard it!
Dan: Well the single is out on the radio.
Dizzy: I never listen to the radio. Very, very, very rarely do I listen to
the radio. I just don't like what the radio forces people to cram down
their throats. Radio sucks right now. Its at an all time low. That's
probably why I haven't heard it. Not that its bad because they play it,
because they play some good things, but if I want to listen to that, I'd
rather just put in a CD.
Dan: Do you talk to any of the guys from the old band anymore?
Dizzy: You know, I ran into Matt Sorum recently and said hi. It was cool.
But other than that, no. I don't talk to them, but if I did see them, I'm
sure it'd be cool.
Dan: With the way all the other guys came and went from the band over the
years, not just the original line-up, but like Dave Navarro was in and out
at some point, and a bunch of others guys. How is it that you have lasted
so long?
Dizzy: That's a good question. I really believe in what we're doing. And I
think the longer its gone on, the more I've had to invest in what I'm doing.
I want to see it through. I still think I have a lot to prove with this
band. I have a lot invested in it and I want to see it happen. It always
seems like its just around the corner that its going to come, so why quit
now? And then you get around the corner, and its around the corner again
(Laughs). But still, at this point, its the same thing: Why quit now? And
I guess I haven't done anything stupid to get fired.
Dan: You said that it keeps seeming like its right around the corner and it
keep seeming like you're almost there and then it fades away, then the
rumors come again and fade away. What's the deal with that? Why does it
keep seeming like its so close and then fading away?
Dizzy: My opinion is that a lot of it has to do with people quitting and
obstacles that are thrown our way, and just different things, man. There's
always something. You never know what's going to happen. I really think
its going to happen very soon. I really feel that now.
Dan: Is there any kind of a timetable? I know its so hard to say because
there are so many dates that have been thrown around, but is there any idea
at all?
Dizzy: There isn't unfortunately. I would say this year.
Dan: Is it frustrating, since its been like an endless recording process?
Dizzy: Of course. Its extremely fucking frustrating. And that's why I come
do stuff like this, to keep me from going crazy.
Dan: Is the record set up as its going to be released? Has it been decided
what songs are going to be on it?
Dizzy: Pretty much.
Dan: How long have those songs been around?
Dizzy: Some of them have been around for five or six years. Others are
fairly new.
Dan: The ones that have been around for a few years, have they changed a lot
over the years? Is that one of the things that holds up the release?
Dizzy: They change a little bit, yeah. And as is the modern way, some of
the songs have two or three different versions. You know, remixes and what
not. There's so many great players in the band now and there are so many
great parts that have been laid down now for all the songs, unfortunately
its impossible to put them all on there. The obvious thing would be to have
a couple versions of each song. I don't know if that's going to happen, but
its definitely possible. And I have heard several versions of some of the
cooler songs, and they all sound great. All the players that have come in
and out of this project are phenominal players. So there's a lot of great
stuff to choose from. Its an unenviable task for whoever is going to mix
it. BUT THEY BETTER PUT MY SHIT IN THE MIX!
Dan: Its been like eleven years since the last album now, and everybody is
still talking about it. Can it possibly live up to the hype?
Dizzy: Yes.
Dan: Its that good, in your opinion?
Dizzy: In my opinion, absolutely. I think it will actually exceed
expectations.
Dan: It seems like the band was close before. You went out and did a world
tour, there was the MTV Awards, does it seem like you were closer than ever
before, or does it seem like there were times when it was closer and now you
have kind of taken a step back?
Dizzy: I think it feels closer now than it did then.
Dan: There was a song that leaked out to radio, I.R.S., is that definitely a
GNR song? As far as I know, nobody ever confirmed it. Is that one of the
songs?
Dizzy: Yes. Its a good song.
Dan: I never got to hear it. It was only on one time then the guy that
played it had to take it out of the replay of the show. I couldn't find it
online or anywhere.
Dizzy: I think Mike Piazza was the guy.
Dan: Yeah, that's what it was.
Dizzy: How bizarre is that?
Dan: Of all people, right?
Dizzy: What???
Dan: With all the time that's been put into this record, the cost must be
some insane amount of money. Is this going to be one of the most expensive
records in music history?
Dizzy: Do you think Smarty Jones is going to win the Triple Crown?
Dan: (Laughing) Don't want to go there?
Dizzy: That's a change of subject.
Dan: Gotcha. Is Buckethead out? Is that official?
Dizzy: For the time being, yeah.
Dan: Are you going to replace him or go with two guitars?
Dizzy: That I'm not sure about.
Dan: What actually happened with the Philadelphia gig?
Dizzy: I really can't talk about that. There's still a lot of shit going
on.
Dan: Legal stuff?
Dizzy: Yeah.
Dan: What about the cancellation of the tour? Is that the same deal?
Dizzy: Its really the same thing.
Dan: Axl seems to get a very bad rap. How do you get along with him
personally? How do you get along with him?
Dizzy: I think he's one of the coolest, most giving, warmest people I've
ever met. Sure he's tempermental, but he's a good friend. Seriously
though, he's a good guy.
Dan: Is the way he's treated by the media unfair?
Dizzy: Its ridiculously unfair. Its just total creation of the media. For
some reason, when the media turns on someone, they just let him have it and
its completely unfair. The thing is, a lot of it happened when he kind of
disappeared for a long time. So he wasn't around. Rolling Stone put out a
whole article based on interviews of people that... well they put him on a
cover and never spoke to him at all about anything to sell their fucking
magazine. They basically just collected a whole bunch of negative comments.
You could go around with you or me or anyone in this room and talk to people
that they've known their whole lives and say, "Come on, give me some dirt,"
and there'd be something and then you could write a fucking article about it
and make them look like shit, and it would all be factual. They just did it
to sell their fucking magazine. That's so fucked up. So its all bullshit.
Dan: Why is it that everything about the band is always kept very secret?
There are always rumors flying around about the band, but there is rarely
any official word to confirm or deny anything.
Dizzy: Um... hmm... I don't know, man. Haha.
Dan: Is there going to be any album coming out with this Hookers & Blow
thing?
Dizzy: I don't know. We've talked about putting some stuff together. I'm
sure we will do something.
Dan: A lot of the guys in GNR, like Stinson, Bucket when he was with the
band, were doing solo stuff. What kind of schedule is the band on?
Dizzy: Well, we have a lot of free time right now. So everybody pretty much
went and did their thing, but we're always on call.
Dan: During that time in the mid and late 90's, when there wasn't much talk
of anything going on, was there a lot of down time?
Dizzy: I was down in a rehearsal studio recording ideas with a couple other
guys, a guy named Paul Huge who was in the band for a little while, and
basically that's what I did five days a week. Five or six days a week, I
was just down there recording ideas. A lot of great songs came out of that.
Its all still there. Something will happen with that stuff eventually.
That was a very cool creative period and it was great working with Paul.
Dan: So as far as down time goes, there's been more later than earlier?
Dizzy: When you're in a rock band, there's never any down time.
Dan: What's the deal with the Hookers & Blow? What's going on with it?
What songs are you doing? Is it original stuff? Covers?
Dizzy: Right now we're doing just all cool covers.
Dan: And how did the band come together?
Dizzy: (Turning to the group) How did we come together?
Alex Grossi: You ever see a five car pile-up?
Dizzy: Yeah, that's pretty much how it was.
Alex: No, we met like six months ago. We played at the Cat Club.
Dizzy: Yeah, last year we met. There's this place called the Cat Club in
L.A. where all of us appear from time to time. I appear there every
Thursday with the Starfuckers.
Alex: And you played on the Creatures record.
Dizzy: Yeah, that's right.
Alex: Yeah, he came in and played keyboards on a couple songs on the new
Beautiful Creatures record.
Dan: That leads me to another question, when is that one coming out?
Alex: I don't know. That one's done, its in the can. Its just legal stuff
that has to be worked out.
Dizzy: Yeah, so we talked about getting back here and doing some shows.
Matt, Curtis, and Troy are in a band called Fastmaster. So it just all
worked out and made sense. We came out a few months ago and did like four
shows, played a few shows in L.A. and it felt great, we had a good time, so
we decided to come back and do it again. So hopefully we're going to round
up some more dates around the country... AND MAYBE EVEN THE WORLD!!!
Dan: Is there anything else you want to add? Any plugs?
Dizzy: Buy Tommy Stinson's new record. Its amazing. Its beautiful. Its
incredible. Its one of the best records of the year.
Dan: Thanks.
Dizzy: Thank you, Dan. Oh yeah! Go to HookersAndBlowMe.com and you can buy
a Hookers & Blow t-shirt. And that will be a collector's item. So you can
be the first on your block to get one.
Alex: And the last.
Dizzy: And Lisa, my wife, has a new book out. Its called Embra's Flame by
Lisa Reed, and its available on Amazon.com. She also has another book out
called Sabra's Soul. They're both kind of based in the rock world, so
they're pretty cool. Check them out.
7.5.04
GNR Behind the Music premiers this week on VH1. Here are the times:
All times Eastern:
July 4: 12:00PM
July 5: 12:30PM, 10:00PM
July 6: 12:00AM, 11:00AM, 7:00PM, 11:00PM
July 7: 9:00PM
July 9: 1:00AM, 6:00PM, 11:30PM
July 11: 11:00AM, 3:00PM
July 13: 2:00AM
For more information, see the VH1 website.
6.10.04
GN'R Bassist Works Solo While Awaiting Chinese Democracy
Once the public pegs you as something, it's hard to break out of the box. For proof just look at Tommy Stinson, who's performed on more than 10 projects since 1991 but always seems to have his name preceded by the words "ex-Replacements bassist."
Stinson wouldn't mind the association if it were simply a reflection of how evocative, forward-thinking and influential he is as a musician. However, when most people draw the Replacements connection, it's coming from a completely different place.
"When I'm out, people literally come up to me and go, 'Dude, I saw you. You guys played, and you were so f---ed up you couldn't stand up. You were falling down and it was the greatest show I ever saw,' " Stinson said. "I think we made some great records, but no one ever says, 'Man, I think your music was amazing.' "
After forming the groups Bash & Pop and Perfect in the mid-'90s, Stinson joined Guns N' Roses in 1998 and has worked with them in the studio and on the road. And in his abundant spare time, he wrote and recorded his first solo album, Village Gorilla Head, due July 27.
The disc contains 11 songs Stinson has written over the past 10 years, and it covers a variety of styles. "Without a View" is acoustic and melancholy, "Something's Wrong" features serrated guitar chords that mingle with classic pop melodies, and "Couldn't Wait" is bristling and agitated, conjuring the brazen spirit of punk before the rise of Green Day.
"I didn't set out to make a certain kind of record," Stinson said. "I like to hear albums that have peaks and valleys, and different musical textures going on that maybe have nothing to do with the song before."
Stinson named the album Village Gorilla Head after an electronic-flavored song colored with horns and strings, which was cobbled together from three musical pieces, each of which illuminated different areas of the musical spectrum. "One of them kind of sounded like the Village People, one sounded a bit like Gorillaz, and the bridge on the other one sounded like Motörhead," Stinson said.
While Stinson explores various musical styles, his lyrics are fairly dark. Over the course of the record, Stinson obliquely addresses his marriage, his divorce, being a father, and numerous romantic relationships that didn't last. But even in the darkest lines, there's always a glimmer of light.
"I think these are a lot of bleak stories being told with hopeful endings," Stinson said. "The vibe of it is, as bad as things are, they're gonna get better."
Stinson plans to tour for Village Gorilla Head, but his road trips may be somewhat limited by Guns N' Roses, who are finishing up their long-awaited album, Chinese Democracy, in fits and starts.
"There are just so many little aspects that are being finalized on that record that every once in a while someone will go, 'God, I just realized you hit a bad note in this one place. We just found it.' And I'll go in and sort it out."
Aver having worked with a long list of producers — including Roy Thomas Baker, Bob Ezrin, Sean Beavan and Moby — Axl Rose has taken over production duties for the album, Stinson said. The reason the disc isn't done yet, he added, is because Rose is a methodical perfectionist who wants to make the creation of Chinese Democracy as democratic as possible.
"He likes to take all the members of the band and get the best out of each guy for each song," Stinson said. "It's a brilliant process that gets everyone involved so everyone owns a piece of the song because they've put themselves into it. That way you don't have people going, 'Well, I'm not gonna play on his song if you're not gonna sing on my song.' And that's a lengthy process because you have to get eight people to basically write a song together that everyone likes."
Stinson added that he thinks the record is finally almost done, and the only thing that's holding back its completion is legal issues. Even the recent departure of guitarist Buckethead isn't slowing anything down. "As far as I know, he hasn't been replaced, but we already have enough guitarists," Stinson said. "We have Robin Finck and Richard Fortus, and Buckethead will be on the record, too. I really have no idea why he decided to leave, but it didn't come out of left field because he's always come and gone. Even when I do see him, I don't know what he thinks."
6.8.04
The new Velvet Revolver album is out in stores today!
5.12.04
Here is an article about Tommy Stinson's upcoming solo album.
4.28.04
The album by Hollywood Rose called "Roots of Guns N Roses" is scheduled for release on June 1st according to Amazon.com.
Additional info from navarre.com:
Title: ROOTS OF GUNS N ROSES,THE
Publisher: CLEOPATRA RECORDS INC
Label: CLEOPATRA
Artist: HOLLYWOOD ROSE
Format: CD
UPC: 741157138221
Selection: CLP 1382
Release Date: 06/01/2004
MSRP: $14.98
Track Listing:
Original Demo Versions:
1. Killing Time
2. Anything Goes
3. Rocker
4. Shadow Of Your Love
5. Wreckless Life
Newly Remixed By Gilby Clarke:
6. Killing Time
7. Anything Goes
8. Rocker
9. Shadow Of Your Love (Feat. Tracii Guns - over dub guitar)
10. Wreckless Life (Feat. Tracii Guns - over dub guitar)
Newly Remixed By Fred Coury:
11. Killing Time
12. Anything Goes
13. Rocker
14. Shadow Of Your Love
15. Wreckless Life
4.21.04
Check out this Rollingstone article about Izzy and the NY Dolls.
4.15.04
VELVET REVOLVER will jump-start the June 8 release of their much-anticipated debut album CONTRABAND (RCA) with their first-ever tour. Launching May 13 in St. Louis, the intimate venue trek will take the band--who’ve only played one show before (last year in Los Angeles)--across the U.S. into such cities as New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco and Detroit, among others.
“Slither,” the album’s first single, exploded at radio in its first week of release, airing on over 130 stations. The song was #1 Most Added at Modern Rock, Active Rock and Mainstream Rock.
For the “Slither” video, VELVET REVOLVER--lead vocalist SCOTT WEILAND, guitarist SLASH, bassist DUFF McKAGAN, drummer MATT SORUM and guitarist DAVE KUSHNER--joined forces with video director Kevin Kerslake (Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Iggy Pop). The band performed the powerful song in an underground "catacomb party" in front of hundreds of fans packed into the sprawling basement of a downtown Los Angeles warehouse. Other portions of the “Slither” video are being shot in Europe, where “catacomb parties” take place underground, reachable only by following a series of clues and traveling through the maze of tunnels that lay nearly a half-mile underneath the city. Look for the “Slither” video to premiere Tuesday, April 27 at 9:00 PM Eastern/Pacific as part of MTV2 “Makes The Video.”
While VELVET REVOLVER inevitably offers a few echoes of its members’ illustrious pasts, their sound is defiantly forward-looking and truly fresh in all senses of that word. “Slither” is an epic rock song that merges musical ferocity with the urgent drama of such lines as “Yeah, here comes the water/It’s come to wash away the sins of you and I/This time you see/Like holy water/It only burns you faster than you’ll ever dry/This time with me.”
Stay tuned for future news and additional tour dates and check out velvetrevolver.com.
Date City Venue
Thur May 13 St. Louis, MO Pagent
Fri May 14 Kansas City, MO Memorial Hall
Sat May 15 Minneapolis, MN Quest
Wed May 19 Chicago, IL The Riviera
Thur May 20 Detroit, MI TBA
Fri May 21 Toronto, ONT Kool Haus
Wed May 26 New York, NY Roseland
Thur May 27 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Fri May 28 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
Sat May 29 Boston, MA TBA
Fri June 4 Portland, OR Roseland
Sat June 5 Seattle, WA Moore Theater
Mon June 7 San Francisco, CA Warfield
Tues June 8 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
Wed June 9 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
4.12.04
VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash has told Launch Radio
Networks that the band will kick off their first
nationwide tour on May 13 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dates and venues for the trek, which will run through
July 22, could be announced as early as Tuesday (April
13).
As previously reported, VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott
Weiland got the green light last week from California
authorities to tour with the band after completing a
six-month stay in rehab following last October's drug
arrest.
Slash told Launch Radio Networks that Weiland will
have few restrictions on him once the group hits the
road. "I know that there's gonna be somebody with him,
as there is probably for the whole lot of us," he
laughed. "Scott's not the only troubled guy in the
band when it comes down to it — but all things
considered, he's free to do whatever he wants to do."
VELVET REVOLVER's debut album, the 13-track
"Contraband", is led by the single "Slither", which is
being sent to radio outlets today (April 12). Slash
told Launch Radio Networks how Weiland added the
finishing touch to a song that was written before the
singer was even in the band. "I went into the studio
and had this idea, this riff, and so we jammed on it,
and I taped it, and then we revisited it probably a
couple of weeks later and realized, 'Hey, that's a
fuckin' cool piece of music,' " Slash explained. "So
we had this arrangement going, and when Scott came
into it, he took the music home and he came back with
this really dark sort of relationship-driven song,
sort of a failed relationship kind of thing, and it
just fit perfectly."
VELVET REVOLVER is rounded out by two of Slash's
former GUNS N' ROSES colleagues, bassist Duff McKagan
and drummer Matt Sorum, and guitarist David Kushner of
LOADED/SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. "Contraband" arrives in
stores on June 8.
3.30.04
Press Release Source: Sanctuary Records Group
Guns N' Roses Not Able to Perform at Rock in Rio
Tuesday March 30, 6:00 am ET
A Message from W. Axl Rose
LISBON, Portugal--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2004--Guns N' Roses will not be performing as scheduled at Rock In Rio - Lisbon.
The band has been put in an untenable position by guitarist Buckethead and his untimely departure. During his tenure with the band Buckethead has been inconsistent and erratic in both his behavior and commitment - despite being under contract - creating uncertainty and confusion and making it virtually impossible to move forward with recording, rehearsals and live plans with confidence. His transient lifestyle has made it impossible for even his closest friends to have nearly any form of communication with him whatsoever. Last time I talked to Bucket, he called to tell me he had bought a bootleg DVD off EBay and how proud he was to be in Guns and how impressed he was with everyone's performance. Then, in February we got word from Brain that Bucket had called him and said he was back in Guns!? Apparently, according to Bucket he had been "Gone" but had turned himself around and was really excited to do Rio-Lisbon and a European tour. Somewhere in the following month things changed once again. According to those who have actually spoken with Buckethead it appears his plans were to secure a recording contract with Sanctuary Records which I encouraged my management to make available to him, quit GN'R and to use his involvement in the upcoming Guns release to immediately promote his individual efforts...Nice guy!
There is not a member of this camp that is not hurt, upset and ultimately disappointed by this event, and more to the point - if not this individual, certainly this individual's choices. Regardless of anyone's opinions of me and what I may or may not deserve, clearly the fans, individuals in this band, management, crew and our support group do not deserve this type of treatment. We as a whole, definitely feel that we afforded Bucket every accommodation perhaps so much so that it may be that we or more precisely, I may have done Guns a disservice and unintentionally allowed Guns to be put in this position.
On behalf of Guns N' Roses and myself I apologize to the fans who planned to see us at Rock In Rio - Lisbon. The festival and its tradition mean a lot to me personally and I sincerely do not enjoy being robbed by one of our own of the opportunity to be the first artist to play it for the third time. I would also like to express my gratitude to those who chose to embrace Buckethead's role in Guns and support our new line up. We greatly appreciate Bucket's contributions and remain open to "discussions" as there are obviously several issues to resolve. In the meantime rather than dwelling on the negative, Guns will be moving forward and surprisingly (without giving away any details) this unfortunate set of circumstances may have given us the opportunity to take our recording that one extra step further. Regardless we hope to announce a release date within the next few months.
Sincerely,
W. Axl Rose
The Festival will shortly announce the name of a new headliner to perform with EVANESCENCE, KINGS OF LEON and XUTOS E PONTAPES amongst others
Source: Sanctuary Records Group
3.15.04
GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson has set a July 27
release date through Sanctuary Records for his debut
solo album.
The founding REPLACEMENTS member told Billboard.com
last summer that he recorded the material for the set
in a Los Angeles studio owned by Charles Thompson
(a.k.a. Frank Black) with contributions from A PERFECT
CIRCLE drummer Josh Freese, his brother Jason Freese
on saxophone, CATHOLICS guitarist Dave Philips, and
GNR guitarist Richard Fortus and keyboardist Dizzy
Reed.
The track listing for the album is as follows:
01. Without a View
02. Moment Too Soon
03. Someday
04. Something's Wrong
05. Motivation
06. Village Gorilla Head
07. Hey You
08. Bite Your Tongue
09. Light of Day
10. O.K.
11. Couldn't Wait
GUNS N' ROSES will perform at Portugal's Rock in
Rio-Lisbon festival as a main-stage headliner on May 30.
3.14.04
Buckethead is doing a short tour soon, check here for more information.
3.11.04
Hollywood Rose demos to surface according to this article.
3.1.04 - VR/RIR4
Rock in Rio 4 tickets are now on sale here.
Check out a preview of the new Velvet Revolver album here.
2.24.04 - Tourdates
Gilby Clarke:
3/06 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
3/05 Scottsdale, AZ @ Chasers
3/11 Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
3/12 Wallington, NJ @ The Wreck Room
3/13 Orange, CT @ Corner Pocket Cafe
3/14 New York, NY @ Tribeca Rock Club
DIZZY REED w/ FASTMASTER:
Mar. 18 – Orange, CT @ Corner Pocket
Mar. 19 - Worcester, MA @ Lucky Dog Music Hall
Mar. 20 - Windsor Locks, CT @ Cargo's Cafe
1.31.04 - Buckethead
Buckethead is playing a show with Giant Robot on Feb. 27, click here for more information.
1.20.04 - VR
Velvet Revolver, [...] have selected "Slither" as the first single from
their forthcoming debut album, "Contraband", due on May 11 through RCA
Records. "You Got No Right" , the mellow, BEATLES-esque ballad the
group performed at the Smashbox Fashion show last October, is believed to be
a strong candidate for the album's second single. Other tracks set to
appear on the CD include "Trainsucker Blues", "Headspace", "Falling to
Pieces", "Superhuman", and "Illegal Eye"
The band, who are in the middle of doing international press in Los
Angeles, are said to be preparing to embark on a six-week promotional jaunt
beginning in early March. In addition to doing more press at each stop, the band
are expected to perform a short set at a local venue in each city.
The following is a tentative/preliminary list of dates and cities where
VELVET REVOLVER are expected to play as part of their promotional tour:
Mar. 12 – Toronto, ONT @ TBA
Mar. 16 – Madrid, SPA @ TBA
Mar. 18 – Paris, FRA @ TBA
Mar. 20 – Amsterdam, NETH @ TBA
Mar. 22 – Stockholm, SWE @ TBA
Mar. 24 – Hamburg, GER @ TBA
Mar. 26 – Koln, GER @ TBA
Mar. 28 – London, UK @ TBA
Apr. 03 – Atlanta, GA @ TBA
Apr. 05 – Washington, D.C. @ TBA
Apr. 06 – Philadelphia, PA @ TBA
Apr. 09 – Boston, MA @ TBA
Apr. 10 – Providence, RI @ TBA
Apr. 12 – Cleveland, OH @ TBA
Apr. 13 – Detroit, MI @ TBA
Apr. 15 – Chicago, IL @ TBA
Apr. 16 – Milwaukee, WI @ TBA
Apr. 17 – Minneapolis, MN @ TBA
Apr. 19 – Denver, CO @ TBA
Apr. 20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA
Apr. 22 – Seattle, WA @ TBA
Apr. 24 – San Francisco, CA @ TBA
Apr. 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ TBA
Apr. 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ TBA
1.19.04 - VR
According to blabbermouth.net, the Velvet Revolver album is delayed to May 11.
1.15.04 - News
VELVET REVOLVER: Bringing Chaos Back Into The Rock World
VELVET REVOLVER's official biography, written by David Wild and provided by the group's record label, RCA/BMG Records, includes additional information about the band's formation and their forthcoming debut CD, "Contraband", due in May (postponed from the previously announced April 27 date). Here it is in its entirety:
VELVET REVOLVER is everything the band's name suggests and much more. This is modern rock with a sense of danger and beauty that's been missing for far too long. Their suitably explosive yet gorgeous debut effort, "Contraband", marks the spot for a new beginning from a band of rock & roll brothers united by some legendary pasts and a suddenly brighter future.
"We're all looking for a rebirth here," explains the group's lead singer Scott Weiland. "We're looking to get back that same feeling we had when we all first started making music — the sense of doing it for the pure joy of making music. Along the way the whole idea that got us into this had been raped and sodomized. We were all in mourning of that and wondering if we could somehow get it back. As it turns out, the only way we could get it all back was to start it all new. Now we have that opportunity and it's fucking amazing. This music is just vicious, very aggressive and it forces you to lace your boots up and sort of get ready for the fight."
The idea behind VELVET REVOLVER remains a powerfully simple one. "There is no real concept to me," explains guitarist Slash. "We set out to make music we enjoy and can feel proud of playing — music that people we like will want to listen to. As soon as you start thinking beyond that — about wanting to keep up with the Joneses or about fitting in with somebody else's format — that's when you lose the map. So we've just done what we do, and tried to have a cool time doing it."
Everything you've heard about VELVET REVOLVER is true. This is the band that brings together three former members of one of rock's greatest groups GUNS N' ROSES — Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum — together with one of rock's most charismatic frontmen Scott Weiland, formerly of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, and guitarist Dave Kushner, ex-WASTED YOUTH, ELECTRIC LOVE HOGS and Dave Navarro's [JANE'S ADDICTION] band, among others.
While VELVET REVOLVER inevitably offers a few echoes of its members' illustrious pasts, their sound is defiantly forward-looking and truly fresh in all senses of that word. "Our music is very aggressive," says Duff. "There's always that 'Fuck you' element to it. Really that's all we know how to do. We can't play nice or play radio. Slash, Matt and I were always that way in GUNS, and Scott and Dave are very like-minded. To me, this is the first dangerous band that's come around in a while — truly dangerous. People are going to say, 'Oh a supergroup. These guys have everything.' And I can understand that, but we're not coming at this that way. We really hope to bring some chaos back into the whole world of rock."
"This is the real deal," says Matt Sorum. "This is all of us firing on all cylinders."
Slash, McKagan and Sorum came together to play a benefit/tribute for their friend and fellow musician Randy Castillo in 2002. The buzz of playing together again got the three thinking. "There was still something very powerful and intense between us," says Slash.
"That chemistry never went away," says McKagan.
Sensing enough time had lapsed since their less-than-pleasant departures from GUNS N' ROSES, the trio linked with Kushner — a high school friend of Slash's who had been playing with Duff in recent years. "He's our secret weapon," says Duff. "He plays amazing textures and he can handle himself with Slash." After some false starts with other musicians, the four decided to try an unusually open call for a new frontperson.
Documented by VH1 cameras for an upcoming special, this process turned out to be long and sometimes painful. "We heard so many different singers, and every singer lent itself to a different vibe," Sorum recalls. Unfortunately, the vibes were usually not too good. "As soon as we heard the vocals that people were sending in, we knew we were in trouble," Sorum remembers. "And we knew we just couldn't put out some shabby rock tribute. It had to be something special."
"There were so many fucking variations on the theme," recalls Slash. "And all of them wrong."
As Dave Kushner remembers, "The experience really was brutal. There was nothing fun about it except for the fact that I got to go and play with these guys five days a week. It was just really disheartening and frustrating at times. But in the end because of all the time we spent looking, we went a lot of different places musically. It seemed like we were killing time, but we were really building the foundation."
Fortunately, as the Great Lead Singer search was going on, Duff was spending time socially with Weiland, then still with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS.
"I was sort of at the end of my rope, mentally and emotionally with STP at the time, though we've actually sort of made up since our last explosion," Weiland explains. "Duff told me he'd gotten together with Slash and Matt and that Dave Kushner was also playing. Now I've known Dave for years since he was in ELECTRIC LOVE HOGS who I use to play on bills with when STP was known as MIGHTY JOE YOUNG. And I was a huge GUNS fan. 'Appetite For Destruction' had the same impact on me as 'Never Mind The Bollocks' by the SEX PISTOLS, NIRVANA's 'Nevermind' and JANE'S ADDICTION's 'Nothing's Shocking'. 'Appetite…' was one of those records that made me believe, that became my bible and taught me everything."
For Weiland, the idea of joining forces with this foursome proved enticing. Then when Slash dropped off a CD of some of the music the guys had been recording, Weiland was impressed. "There were like fifteen songs out of the sixty that I could really wrap my head around," Scott recalls. "I thought if we went in that direction, we could turn into a five-headed beast which would be completely lethal and indestructible."
With Weiland, the project became a living, breathing band. "This guy has lived," says Matt. "Because of where we've been as musicians — and the kind of frontman we were next to for all those years — it is pretty tough for any guy to step up immediately and be able to stand next to a guy like Slash or Duff. Those guys are rock stars in their own right. To front this band, we needed someone who was above and beyond, and we got one."
"I was beginning to think there were no more great rock frontman," says McKagan.
Quickly the five got down to work. "We recorded the song for 'The Hulk' ('Set Me Free'), but the only way to really see if you can be a band is to do a gig," says Scott. "So we did a gig at the El Rey [in Los Angeles] in June and that answered every question. It was worth more than any time in the studio or hanging out. This was undeniable and the most sonically violent thing I've ever been a part of. Singing 'It's So Easy' [from 'Appetite For Destruction'] with those guys at the El Rey was fuckin' amazing. When I wrote 'Sex Type Thing' [from STP's debut album], it was sort of inspired by that low vocal of 'It's So Easy'."
For Slash, "We were like a bunch of kids who just learned how to play the same chord together. That's what it's been like every time we've done something together. We're thrilled, like 'Hey, we wrote a song!' 'Hey, we played a gig!' Maybe that's why this has worked — because we're actually the opposite of jaded."
Yet for all the good will, launching VELVET REVOLVER hasn't always been easy, especially with the group's frontman publicly going through some personal turmoil of late. "This has been a pretty rough year for me," Scott admits. "The whole divorce thing really pulled me through a keyhole emotionally so I fell backwards on a narcotic slide and had to pay the price. But these guys were there to catch my fall. This has been like a gang. And it helps that they've all been through it themselves a million times so there's no judgment there. They've all kicked dope so it's not like I'm the lone junkie in the band or I'm the only one who knows what it's like to kick a three-gram-a-day heroin habit. Through all the difficulties I've been through, they've all been there. That's more than I could ever ask for — more than I've ever experienced before."
"We went through a lot of stuff with Scott," Duff explains. "We got him to come up to the mountains, to Washington State, and he was learning martial arts and learning how to live a different way. Whatever happens, he has some more tools that he didn't have before."
"I feel like Scott is still struggling in certain areas, but that this is all meant to be," says Matt. "Down the line our hopes are that with this strong a positive influence — and his knowing where we've all been with the rock and roll indulgence — we will pull through this together."
Early in its evolution, the group released the song "Set Me Free" on "The Hulk" soundtrack and recorded a cover of PINK FLOYD's "Money" for another movie, "The Italian Job". When it came time to sign a deal and record their first album, the band chose RCA in part because of the interest of Chairman Clive Davis. "Clive actually flew out here and courted us, and he watched us rehearse along with his little posse," Slash remembers. "It was really flattering because he's such an icon and he's been doing it for so long and can really recognize something."
That decision made, it was time for VELVET REVOLVER to take aim and make their first album.
"Contraband" is a rock & roll song cycle with an eclectic streak and a sonic nerviness. It's a rock-hard headphones classic for a new generation, reflecting the players' influences from THE BEATLES to THE REFUSED, and for obvious reasons a little GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS too.
After sampling a number of producers, VELVET REVOLVER opted to go with Josh Abraham to co-produce the album with them. "Josh was very much for us a fresh face," says Matt. "We went out and we tried other producers and we tried the best of the old school, but we needed to go in a different direction. We needed a young, fresh collaborator with a modern element — whatever the fuck that is. We wanted to compete and we wanted to be represented now."
"Who you work with is important, and Josh and the people we worked with on this album made things feel effortless," says Slash. "They made it feel like us."
"If we sounded slick, we're going to be some over-thirtysomething, over-produced super rock band," says Duff. "But this is just a rock band and the album had to growl just like we do when we play together live."
The music came into sharp focus when Weiland added his deeply felt, deeply personal lyrics to the mix. "In a nutshell, this whole album for me is pretty much about the poisonous, toxic relationship that I had been in and the catastrophic effects my break-up and subsequent divorce has had on me," Scott explains. "It's complete honesty so if people relate, great. If not, they can fuck themselves. Each song is about where I was at in the situation at that given day. As you can tell, some days I was dealing with it better than others. This is the most effort I've ever put into anything. I put as much effort into the first STP album, but now I know so much more."
With "Contraband" completed in the waning days of 2003, VELVET REVOLVER now looks forward to the album's spring 2004 release and hitting the road hard. "We can't wait," says Slash. "I'm just looking forward to fulfilling a touring thing that I never got to really finish with GUNS. That's what I love, but we never got to do a lot of things for reasons that still don't make sense to me. I just want to play."
"We'll go down in the gutter and play dirtbag clubs and we'll play big fucking stadiums," says Matt. "We don't give a fuck. And that's the way we've always been. We're not precious."
But ultimately, VELVET REVOLVER isn't about firing at the past. It's about what these five men can do together in the future. "You know all the possibilities are there," says Slash. "And we don't want to miss them this time."
An Update on Tommy Stinson:
JAN. 15:
Happy New Year to all,
Here's all the latest in the world of me. I have finally completed all of the recording for my first solo record. It has taken longer than anticipated, but it usually does. I think it will be my most ambitious record thus far.
I have used instruments, and players that I have never used before which was a blast (Josh Freese, Jason Freese, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Dave Philips, Gersh, Juliette Beaven, and Joan Jones). I'm sure some will call it amongst other things - self indulgent, but when you pay to make a record out of your own pocket you are afforded the luxury of doing it as you please. Hence, I am very pleased. I am also very over it. For my next record, I may have to go old school and make a record in a week. Maybe one mike and some gaffer tape. It's just a thought.
Also in the last week I have sold this here new record thing to Sanctuary Records. Yippeeee!!!!!
It will come out world wide as well as your neighborhood some time in the near future. Aiming for summer/early fall, but many questions need be answered before I'll know for sure, and will update you when and how you might get some special treats through my site.
I may update the song bites to give you an idea of whats to come, but need to make sure this is cool with my new record company first. They are an awesome bunch of peeps, but I would hate to do something to piss them off so early in the process.
Also it may take another day or two but, Merch.com is going to be a link on my site to get t-shirts, etc. I have some t-shirts from my summer tour available in various sizes, and more things to come as the record gets released.
I think thats all I have to update ya'll on for now.
Thanks for listening,
T.S.
1.2.04 - News
According to the official Rock In Rio - Lisbon site, tickets for the festival go on sale on March 1st.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VELVET REVOLVER's much-anticipated debut album, due on April 27, 2004 through RCA Records, looks likely to be titled either "Contraband" or "Controband", BLABBERMOUTH.NET can exclusively reveal.
As previously reported, the CD — which will include twelve of the more than fifty tracks the band co-wrote before and after vocalist Scott Weiland (ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS) joined the lineup last spring — was produced by Josh Abraham (LIMP BIZKIT, STAIND) and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, WHITE ZOMBIE, LINKIN PARK, SLAYER, SEPULTURA). Mastering took place on December 19 in New York City.
Weiland, who is currently completing a six-month residential drug rehabilitation program in Pasadena, Ca., finished recording the vocals to the last song for the album Friday (December 26) at Lavish studios in California with engineer Douglas Grean. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Slither", "Falling to Pieces", "Superhuman" and "Illegal Eye".
VELVET REVOLVER's current lineup is rounded out by former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Matt Sorum (drums), along with guitarist Dave Kushner (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, LOADED).
12.21.03 - VR
VELVET REVOLVER To Release 'Comrades' In April - Dec. 17, 2003
VELVET REVOLVER, the much buzzed-about rock group featuring ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS vocalist Scott Weiland, former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Dave Kushner from Dave Navarro's (JANE'S ADDICTION) band, have set "Comrades" as the working title for their much-anticipated debut, tentatively due on April 27 through RCA Records.
The album, which was produced by Josh Abraham (LIMP BIZKIT, STAIND) and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, WHITE ZOMBIE, LINKIN PARK, SLAYER, SEPULTURA), is scheduled to be mastered this Friday (Dec. 19) in New York City. The mastering session will be attended by the entire band minus Weiland, who is currently completing a six-month residential drug rehabilitation program in Pasadena, Ca.
Scott, who was recently placed on strict lockdown after attempting to bring drugs into the residential facility, is believed to have one more song left to record for the CD, which will include twelve of the more than fifty tracks the band co-wrote before and after Weiland joined the lineup last spring. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Slither", "Falling to Pieces", "Superhuman" and "Illegal Eye".
12.12.03 - VR
Velvet Revolver Fired Up (from rollingstone.com)
New album nearing completion, set for spring release
Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland can't contain his enthusiasm when talking about the band's still-untitled debut album, due in late March/early April. "As a whole, the album is a true representation of the best aspects of STP's music, and the best aspects of Guns n' Roses, when they were at their best -- vicious, streamlined, living off strippers, and their music was great. It's a perfect marriage between the two."
In addition to Weiland, late of Stone Temple Pilots, the band features and guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Matt Sorum -- all formerly of Guns n' Roses -- and guitarist Dave Kushner.
The upcoming record will include twelve of the more than fifty tracks the band co-wrote before and after Weiland joined the lineup last spring, and is being co-produced by the group and Josh Abraham (Limp Bizkit, Staind). "We're going to try to finish it up and get it mastered by the end of the year," says Abraham, who insists the album is on schedule.
Weiland describes "Slither," a rocker that twists and turns its way through the underbelly of the pre-dawn world, as a "dark, prodding heavy one that definitely has an old STP vibe to it." The heavy ballad "Fall to Pieces," meanwhile, features Slash's signature guitar sound and invokes the Gn'R classic "November Rain."
"'Falling to Pieces' is going to be a cool song to play live because it's such an arena rocker," McKagan says. "You can already envision the corny video for it, on the mountaintop, playing a guitar solo."
Among the other tracks up for selection are "Superhuman" and "Illegal Eye," which McKagan compares to "a Refused song, like an older punk rock song." But altogether, he says, "It's an album. It's twelve songs. It's not a single with eleven fillers. It's a journey."
Slash agrees. "Every song sounds different," he says. "Everything has got a vibe to it. Each song is its own style."
As far as titles go, the leading contender right now was suggested by a fan. "There's a fan Web site," McKagan explains, "and somebody came up with Uppers & Downers, which is pretty brilliant." Though the album is still a few months from release, touring plans are coming together. "We're going to go to Japan, Europe and play some shows, and then come back here," McKagan says. "Then our record will come out and we'll do some guerilla touring in major cities in the U.S. And then we were offered to headline Ozzfest."
The band's live reputation is already legend, even though they've only done one show together, at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles earlier this year. "That was the first time I'd ever seen Scott perform," Slash says. "I knew I liked his voice, but when we got on stage together that spontaneous chemistry sealed the deal on this whole collaboration."
STEVE BALTIN
(December 12, 2003)
12.2.03 - Stinson
Here are two Tommy Stinson December tour dates:
Dec 7 - New York, NY @ Pianos
158 Ludlow St.
212-505-3733
w/ Angela McClusky
starts at 10pm
Dec 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lava Lounge
1533 N La Brea Ave
(323) 876-6612
Benefit Show
more details to follow
11.6.03 - GNR to Rock in Rio!!
Guns N' Roses is playing Rock in Rio in Portugal on May 30, 2004!!!!
Here is the billboard article and the RIR website!!
10.27.03 - Sorum Album
MATT SORUM NEW RECORD AVAILABLE OCTOBER 31
Ex-Cult and Guns N' Roses Drummer Releases Solo Project entitled "Hollywood Zen"
ATLANTA, Oct. 20, 2003 - Brash Music, today announced that Matt Sorum's new record "Hollywood Zen" will be available online at www.mattsorum.com on Halloween- October 31st. Co-produced with Lanny Cordola, and engineered and mixed by Kevin Smith, "Hollywood Zen" has Sorum singing, playing guitar and drums, and features special guest appearances by some of Sorum's musical friends. Also available for sale will be 300 limited edition copies autographed by Sorum.
Featured tracks are "The Blame Game" which includes soaring guitar work by rock legend Slash; and "Sunset Boulevard" an homage to the Hollywood celebrity fame game. "This is a very personal reflection of my life in rock and roll over the past two decades. It chronicles my own experiences with touring, addictions, relationships and my hometown Los Angeles," said Sorum. "This record was a very liberating, cathartic experience."
This project was completed earlier this year while Matt's new band Velvet Revolver was putting together their line up of ex-Stone Temple Pilots' frontman Scott Weiland, ex-Guns N' Roses bandmates Slash and Duff McKagan, plus David Kushner of Suicidal Tendencies. Sorum has been in the studio most of this month laying down the drum tracks for the Velvet Revolver debut album.
Track Listing
1. The Forgiving Kind
2. Hallucination Lullabye
3. Brand New Obscene
4. The Blame Game
5. Sunset Blvd.
6. Circus of the Sun
7. 3% Solution
8. Scar Baby
9. Viva la Rock
10. Suicide Mission
11. Confession
10.14.03 - GNR DVD
Here is the official press release for the GNR DVDs!
10.7.03 - Camp Freddy
Camp Freddy got signed to Sanctuary! Read more in the Rolling Stone article.
10.1.03 - DVDs
It seems like Welcome to the Videos is being released on DVD as well as the Tokyo Videos (disc 1) (disc 2) from the UYI tour!
9.2.03 - New Guns?
Mtv is reporting that a new GNR song was leaked onto a radio station in NYC!
8.30.03 - Velvet Revolver
Click here to see the revamped Velvet Revolver website!
8.25.03 - Matt Sorum
Former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum has
reportedly signed a deal with Atlanta-based Sixthman Records
(distributed through Warner Bros.) for the release of his solo album, "Hollywood
Zen". The CD, which has been two years in the making, "is about my ups and
downsin Hollywood," Sorum said. "It's very different from [my previous band]
THE CULT. Think BOWIE meets IGGY meets LOU REED. . . I would consider it a
cross between old school rock and modern bands. I have elements of
PRIMAL SCREAM, some techno mixed in, also some tribal stuff. I also have a lot
of drums on that. It was the most fun I've had making a drum record. I
rented out an analog studio and brought almost all of my drums down there. I
was able to have total freedom because it's my record [laughs]." Making a
guest appearance on the CD is former QUIET RIOT/HOUSE OF LORDS bassist Chuck
Wright, who also rendered all the CD graphic art and layout for the
album. Sorum will be up front for the project, singing and playing guitar, and
he intends to support the CD with a solo tour.
8.23.03 - VR / Tommy
Velvet Revolver loads up with RCA
Check out Tommy's new website!
Here is a recent Tommy article:
The sideman out front
Replacements and Guns N' Roses vet Tommy Stinson takes
a turn in the spotlight
By GREG HAYMES, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, August 21, 2003
Rock 'n' roll offers the perfect ecosystem for the
growth of that robust perennial, the Outsized Show-Biz
Ego.
The spotlight supplies the heat and light. The
seemingly endless supply of alcohol and drugs -- not
to mention backstage pizzas and deli platters --
provide the nutrients. And audience applause, fan
adoration and media attention furnish the -- well, the
fertilizer.
But what about the journeyman rockers? The second
bananas who don't have the hunger, the smarts, the
stomach (or all three) to play politics, wrest power
and grab glory? What about the guys who stand just on
the spotlight's outer edge, hammering out the riffs
that rock 'n' roll runs on?
Guys like Tommy Stinson.
In the garden of rock star egos, Stinson has been in
the company of redwoods since the tender age of 12,
when he was recruited by his older brother, Bob, to
play bass in his Minneapolis garage punk band, the
Impediments, which also included drummer Chris Mars
and guitarist-vocalist-songwriter Paul Westerberg. The
band soon changed its name to the Replacements, and in
1981 unleashed its beer-soaked debut album, "Sorry Ma,
Forgot to Take Out the Trash," on Twin/Tone Records.
With Westerberg at the helm, the group released a
series of increasingly well-received albums: 1983's
eclectic "Hootenanny," the '84 critical breakthrough
"Let It Be" and their acclaimed '85 major-label debut,
"Tim." While the band's songcraft evolved, its
legendarily drunken performances and equally notorious
feuds made mainstream success elusive.
"I mean, the Replacements stuff that we did, I'm still
proud of," says Stinson, who heads into Valentine's in
Albany on Sunday night. "It's all great, fine, good,
all that -- but Paul just wasn't a team player: He
wrote the songs, and we played them."
Pinup boy
What Stinson lacked as a bass player -- and he may
never be a master technician of the Tony Levin school
-- he made up for in rock 'n' roll heart and
marquee-idol looks: The Replacements' entry in "The
Spin Alternative Record Guide" hailed him as "the
all-time indie-rock pin-up boy."
A foot soldier in the Replacements' drunken,
ramshackle platoon, Stinson remained onboard even
after his brother Bob was fired, ostensibly for
substance-abuse issues, just as the band was on the
verge of its big commercial breakthrough, 1987's
"Pleased to Meet Me." (Bob Stinson died in 1995 at age
35.)
When the act finally called it quits after 1990's "All
Shook Down," Stinson was the first member to form a
new band, called Bash & Pop. In 1993, the new act
released the well-received disc "Friday Night is
Killing Me" on Warner Bros., the label that had coaxed
the Replacements out of indie obscurity. Stinson
seemed poised to finally step out of his role as
second banana and into the spotlight. But it was to be
the band's only recording.
"The Bash & Pop thing would have continued on had I
not lost interest in the record company more than the
band," explains Stinson. "It was pretty much my solo
project, anyway. I had a couple of guys who played on
the record, but most of the instrumentation was just
me. But what ended up happening was that I moved out
to L.A., and my drummer went back to Minneapolis."
On the West Coast, Stinson started forming another
version of Bash & Pop, which evolved into a new act,
Perfect. "It turned into much more of a band thing,"
Stinson says. Perfect "was closer to my vision of what
I wanted to be doing at that time, rather than being a
solo artist or anything like that."
Biting the dust
In 1995, Perfect put out the EP "When Squirrels Play
Chicken," on the decidedly scruffier Restless label.
The band's name turned out to be less than prophetic:
"That was frustrating, too, because just as we made
our record, we were getting screwed by the record
company," Stinson says. "So that band bit the dust,
too."
A pattern was developing: Acclaim followed by
implosion. More disturbing, the life cycle of
Stinson's bands was getting shorter and shorter.
"It's always frustrating when that happens," Stinson
says. "But you know, there are a million and one bands
out there doing the same thing -- equally, if not
more, talented" than Stinson's acts. "Everyone gets
screwed at one time or another -- and in some cases,
many times. But it's all part of the deal. It's what
you sign up for when you play rock 'n' roll."
But Stinson was so frustrated that he dropped out of
the music business for a while. When he was eventually
lured back into the spotlight in 1998, it was to
accept an invitation from Axl Rose, who was tinkering
with a new incarnation of Guns N' Roses.
If Stinson had a difficult time with Westerberg, the
prospect of working with the notoriously demanding,
tantrum-prone Rose seemed freighted with trouble.
After all, Rose's original GNR mates had already
jumped ship after releasing 1993's covers album "The
Spaghetti Incident," leaving the singer-songwriter
adrift in a rock 'n' roll Sargasso. Rumors abounded
about endless studio sessions and lineup changes.
Sure enough, last year's eagerly awaited GNR tour --
which made a stop at the Pepsi Arena in November --
was beset by constant troubles: a tour-kickoff riot,
slow ticket sales, numerous cancellations and,
finally, the decision by Clear Channel Communications
-- only the most powerful promoter in the business --
to pull the plug. What's more, the band's epically
overdue new album, "Chinese Democracy," still lacks a
release date.
"It's been going great," Stinson declares.
Huh? Really? "It's closer to the end of the record
being completed than it is the beginning," he says.
"And we start back up in rehearsal mode in the middle
of September, which is a good sign to me that the
record's going to be ready to come out soon, and we'll
be out on the road again touring behind it soon after
that.
"I'm not drinking the company Kool-Aid on all that.
That's all straight info. I guarantee that the album's
coming out. Hopefully, it'll be out sometime before
the end of the year."
Going solo
In the meantime, Stinson is taking another grab at the
gold ring. He spent two months earlier this year
recording his first-ever solo album. This weekend's
Valentine's show kicks off a three-week sneak preview
tour.
"Stylistically speaking, I think the album is not
probably very different than anything that I've ever
done -- be it Perfect, Bash & Pop or maybe even the
Replacements, I suppose," Stinson says of the still
untitled album.
"But I think it's probably my most honest record. It's
a little self-indulgent, and the songs are pretty
introspective. It's the most freed-up that I've ever
been making a record. It's just an eclectic bunch of
little songs, you know?"
Stinson not only penned all the songs, but it will be
the first record that he's released under his own
name, rather than a band name. "I produced it, and I
played most of the instruments on it except for drums
and some guitar things," he says. The bassist
recruited a few friends, including drummers Josh
Freese of A Perfect Circle; guitarist Dave Phillips of
Frank Black and the Catholics; and two GNR bandmates,
guitarist Richard Fortus and keyboardist Dizzy Reed.
At Valentine's, hometown heroes the Figgs will open
the show with a set of their own. Then Stinson will
take over, performing a batch of his new songs solo
before being joined by the Figgs. "We'll play some of
the Perfect and Bash & Pop stuff, a couple of their
songs and a few covers. We're just going to have some
fun," Stinson says.
Not do or die
While Stinson, now 36 years old, certainly hopes that
he can finally make a splash with his upcoming solo
album, it's no longer a desperate, do-or-die
proposition.
"I have no regrets, you know? I wouldn't trade in any
of those experiences," he says. "I've done a lot of
the things that I've always wanted to do. Not
everything, of course, but I've certainly had more
things going for me and more success than most people
ever have in their careers.
"I think that over the course of the next two or three
years, I'll probably be busier -- doing Guns N' Roses
and my own stuff -- than I've ever been before. And I
welcome that.
"I feel like I'm doing good. I'm in a place now where
I can write honest music and feel free enough to put
it out -- regardless of what the outcome might be."
He'll take Rose over control-freak Westerberg
Having played lengthy stints with both Paul Westerberg
and Axl Rose, bassist Tommy Stinson is in a unique
position to answer the burning question: In the Battle
of the Rock Star Egos, who is a better band boss to
work for, Paul or Axl?
"Well, Axl is definitely a better person to work for.
He doesn't really act much like a boss, however. He's
more of a bandmate, making it a
we're-all-in-this-together kind of situation.
"Whereas Paul was definitely more single-minded.
(Laughs.) Paul's got a bigger ego than anyone I've
ever worked with. And he's more self-conscious than
anyone I've ever known.
"Axl is definitely way more of a collaborator than
Paul will ever be," Stinson says of his current
employer. "With Axl, I feel like I'm actually part of
a band. We're all writing these songs, and we're all
playing them. I just feel more a part of it.
"Axl checks his ego at the door. He comes in and he
gets involved, you know? That's a way better vibe to
make music with."
ROCK ROLE
TOMMY STINSON with the Figgs and Jake Brennan
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Valentine's, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany
Tickets: $10
Info: 432-6572
8.18.03 - VR
Here is the latest news story on VR:
Scott Weiland Gets Probation; Velvet Revolver Scrap EP
8.5.03 - Tommy Tourdates
Here are some tourdates of Tommy Stinson with the Figgs in the fall:
Aug. 24: Albany, N.Y. @ Valentines
Aug. 25: Buffalo, N.Y. @ The Continental
Aug. 26: Cleveland @ Beachland Ballroom
Aug. 27: Detroit @ Smalls
Aug. 28: Milwaukee @ Cactus Club
Aug. 29: Green Bay, Wis. @ Riverside Ballroom
Aug. 30-31: Minneapolis @ Uptown Bar
Sept. 2: Chicago @ Double Door
Sept. 3: Columbus, Ohio @ Little Brothers
Sept. 5: New York @ Knitting Factory
Sept. 6: Hoboken, N.J. @ Maxwell's
Sept. 7: Philadelphia @ Northstar Bar
Sept. 9: New Haven, Conn. @ Toad's Place
Sept. 12: Providence, R.I. @ Met Cafe
Sept. 13: Cambridge, Mass. @ Middle East
7.22.03 - Marco Beltrami Interview
Check out this interview of Marco Beltrami, composer of Terminator 3 music in which he talks about the work he did on the Chinese Democracy album.
7.17.03 - Hulk Soundtrack Press Release / Peter Tosh Tribute
Sean Paul, Ex-G N'R Members To Do Covers On New Peter Tosh Tribute LP
------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE, THE HULK, TO BE RELEASED ON DECCA/UMG SOUNDTRACKS JUNE 17, 2003
**INCLUDING THE EXCLUSIVE NEW TRACK "SET ME FREE" PERFORMED BY THE NEW
SUPER GROUP, VELVET REVOLVER, FEATURING SCOTT WEILAND
(STONE TEMPLE PILOTS), SLASH, DUFF McKAGAN AND MATT SORUM FORMERLY OF
GUNS N ' ROSES AND DAVE KUSHNER OF SUICIDAL TENDENCIES**
**ORIGINAL FILM SCORE BY DANNY ELFMAN**
New York, NY (June 12, 2003) The soundtrack for the highly anticipated
film, The Hulk, will be released on Decca/UMG Soundtracks June 17, 2003.
Scoring the original soundtrack is famed composer, Danny Elfman whose
unmistakable music has been featured in several blockbuster movies including
Spider-Man, Batman and Men In Black II. The soundtrack also includes a new
exclusive track, "Set Me Free," which was inspired by the film and recorded by
the all-new super group, Velvet Revolver, featuring Scott Weiland (Stone
Temple Pilots; vocals), Slash (Guns N' Roses; guitar), Duff McKagan (Guns N'
Roses; bass), Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses; drums) and Dave Kushner (Suicidal
Tendencies; guitar). This is the first-ever commercially available
track from this new hard rock mega-group and can be downloaded exclusively on
Apple's iTunes Music Store from June 8, 2003 through June 17, 2003.
The band was invited by director, Ang Lee to see an early cut of the
film which inspired them to write a powerful song that would match the movie
in both theme and intensity. Slash commented, "Writing songs is really
cool, but if you get inspired to do it for a really good movie, the outcome
is more fulfilling. We got a certain energy from watching the film, and
we wanted to do something that would be really appropriate for it. The
Hulk is a very dramatic version of the same stuff that we all go through. All
this bottled-up tension is what the song's about, so it's a pretty good
marriage: the theme of the song and what The Hulk is all about."
Added Scott Weiland, "Ang Lee had a lot of intensity about the movie
and his art form." He met with the band following their screening and provided
some additional ideas and inspiration for lyrics that would closely reflect
the story of Bruce Banner and his struggle with his monstrous alter-ego,
The Hulk.
Lending his dramatic musical talents to the film, Danny Elfman composed
a riveting score highlighting the intensity of this compelling story. It
is no surprise that Elfman's was chosen to score The Hulk given his
previous work on a wide variety of projects including; Spider-Man, Red Dragon,
Batman, Planet of the Apes, Men In Black II, Good Will Hunting, Mission
Impossible, most of Tim Burton's movies including Edward Scissorhands,
Beetlejuice and cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. He is
also the composer behind the infectious quirky theme for The Simpsons. Tim
Burton has described Elfman as "a real artist in the sense that he is like his
music and his music is like him. He brings that intuitive excitement to a
project. He respects tradition without doing it exactly."
Always an active presence in the world of film world, Danny Elfman has
been nominated for several Grammys including Planet of the Apes for "Best
Score Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual
Media" and Batman and The Nightmare Before Christmas. He won a Grammy for "Best
Instrumental Composition" for "The Batman Theme."
The Hulk was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon, Ride With The Devil, Sense and Sensibility). Lee's
concept for the film adaptation of the Marvel Comic, The Hulk, combines all the
elements of a blockbuster including the visual effects of an intensive
Super Hero movie with the brooding romance and tragedy of Universal's classic
horror films. Lee and his team have done an amazing job of depicting
The Hulk as both a Super Hero and a monster while still managing to update
and modernize the characters in the movie.
The movie stars Eric Bana (Black Hawk Down) as scientist Bruce Banner,
whose inner demons transform him in the aftermath of a catastrophic
experiment. Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) portrays Betty Ross, whose
scientific genius unwittingly helps unleash The Hulk. Nick Nolte (The Thin Red
Line) plays Banner's brilliant father, who passes on a tragic legacy to his
son, and Sam Elliott (The Contender) portrays the commander of a top-secret
military research center. Universal Pictures will release The Hulk on
June 20 in theaters everywhere.
###
For more information please contact cinemediapromo@yahoo.com
For the record label website, click here: www.iclassics.com
7.16.03 - Axl in Vegas
Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose wandered into the Crazy Horse Too in Las
Vegas Wednesday morning (July 16) and treated the nearly empty strip club
to a preview of tracks from his band's long-delayed Chinese Democracy
album. In addition to blasting new cuts over the club's PA system, Rose
also visited the VIP room, ordered champagne and signed autographs,
according to an employee. ...
Source: mtv.com
7.15.03 - Peter Tosh Tribute
Plans are in the works for a tribute album honoring
the late reggae legend, Peter Tosh. Tosh, a founding
member of The Wailers (later Bob Marley and the
Wailers), who also won a Grammy for his album, No
Nuclear War, was killed during a robbery in his home
in Kingston, Jamaica in 1987. Eric Clapton, Jerry
Garcia, Ben Harper, Slash (Guns N Roses), Cypress
Hill, Jimmie Vaughan and Tosh's son, Andrew, are just
some of the artists slated to appear on the tribute
album. Profits from the recording will go to build a
medical clinic, library, the Peter Tosh Museum in
Jamaica and the "Instruments for the Youth" program
which provides instruments to needy children. Sponsors
and donations are needed to raise the additional $150K
needed to complete the album. For more info, go to
http://www.ptosh.com/album.html
6.28.03 - Velvet Revolver
From http://www.velvet-revolver.com
"Duff and Matt said they will be releasing an EP and DVD with the El Rey Theatre live show on October 7th. The EP will also have a studio track which will be released as a single at the same time. In addition to that, the band wants to perform a couple of live shows in the LA area in August/September before going into the studio to record a full album. That album will hopefully be out in December 2003 or April of next year!"
6.23.03 - Velvet Revolver
Here is an MTV article and Rolling Stone article about Velvet Revolver.
6.22.03 - Velvet Revolver
From http://www.blabbermouth.net
VELVET REVOLVER Cover GUNS N' ROSES, STONE TEMPLE
PILOTS During Live Debut - June 20, 2003
VELVET REVOLVER, the new band formed by STONE TEMPLE
PILOTS singer Scott Weiland and former GUNS N' ROSES
members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, made their
official live debut Thursday night (June 19) at the El
Rey Theater in Los Angeles, California.
The group, who are completed by ex-LOADED/WASTED YOUTH
guitarist David Kushner, played two original tracks
and four covers, including renditions of songs from
GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS.
The band's set list for the short performance was as
follows:
01. Bodies (SEX PISTOLS)
02. Set Me Free
03. Sex Type Thing (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS)
04. It's So Easy (GUNS N' ROSES)
05. Slither
06. Negative Creep (NIRVANA)
The exclusive invitation-only event was preceded by a
media question-and-answer session beginning at 7:30
p.m. Check out pictures from Film Magic, Wire Image.
Duff McKagan told reporters during the press
conference that Weiland's much-publicized substance
abuse woes were a fact of life.
"Rock 'n' roll is not a safe thing," McKagan said. "It
shouldn't be a safe thing. There's a lot of safe rock
'n' roll out there right now. We're real. What happens
is real ... What happened to Scott Weiland a few weeks
ago, it really could hap