Velvet Revolver confirmed information on April 1, 2008, that many followers already suspected: Scott Weiland was now not a member.
“This band is all about its followers and its music and Scott Weiland is not 100% dedicated to both,” guitarist Slash mentioned in a news release. “Amongst different issues, his more and more erratic onstage conduct and private issues have pressured us to maneuver on.”
Velvet Revolver featured Weiland fronting a bunch for former Guns N’ Roses members, bursting on the scene in 2004. Their debut Contraband hit No. 1, bought greater than a 2 million copies within the U.S. and spawned the hit singles “Slither,” “Fall to Items” and “Soiled Little Factor.” Rock’s latest supergroup had arrived, and the hype surrounding Velvet Revolver was merited.
Nonetheless, outdated habits die arduous. Virtually each member had a historical past of drug abuse. Many issues had modified over time, however the lure of getting excessive cropped up as soon as extra.
“Immediately these guys who had all fallen aside themselves grew to become extraordinarily judgmental,” Weiland informed Classic Rock, insisting his bandmates judged him for his drug use, relatively than specializing in their very own issues. “After they went via their shit, I used to be the final particular person that may be judgmental after what I had gone via in my life. The connection I had with Matt [Sorum] grew to become horrendous. He and I had come near fist-fights so many instances that it’s ridiculous.”
Watch Velvet Revolver’s Video for ‘Slither’
Libertad arrived in 2007, at the same time as turmoil inside Velvet Revolver continued swirling. The LP proved much less profitable than its predecessor, which solely added gasoline to the hearth. Bandmates started taking swipes at one another within the media. At one level, Weiland actually describedhis bandmates as “junkies and fucking tramps [who] are attempting to faux they’re fucking St. Francis!”
Members of Velvet Revolver have been barely speaking to one another as they toured Europe within the spring of 2008. Throughout a March 20 present in Glasgow, Weiland informed followers they have been watching Velvet Revolver’s final tour. Two weeks later, he was out of the group.
“After studying the remark by Duff [McKagan], Matt, Dave [Kushner] and the illustrious ‘Guitar Hero,’ Saul Hudson, a.ok.a. Slash, I discover it humorous that the so-called 4 ‘founding members’ of Velvet Revolver – higher identified to themselves as ‘the Undertaking’ earlier than I formally named the band – would resolve to maneuver on with out me after I had already claimed the group useless within the water on March 20 in Glasgow,” Weiland mentioned his personal assertion, launched in response to his axing from the group.
“In response to Slash’s remark relating to my dedication, I’ve to say it’s a blatant and drained excuse to cowl up the reality,” Weiland continued. “The reality of the matter is that the band had not gotten alongside on a number of ranges for a while. On a musical stage, there have been moments of pleasure, inspiration, enjoyable … at instances. However let’s not overlook the a number of journeys to rehab each member of the band had taken.”
Watch Velvet Revolver’s Video for ‘Fall to Items’
Weiland mentioned he would concentrate on making music with “individuals who have at all times had my again,” referring to his return to Stone Temple Pilots. He then wished Velvet Revolver “good looking” and advised a attainable alternative in Sebastian Bach, who’d been considered earlier than Weiland took over.
Velvet Revolver briefly reunited to carry out 4 songs at a 2012 profit, however they by no means performed one other full live performance collectively. In the meantime, Weiland’s perspective shifted from bitterness to appreciation.
“There have been numerous egos within the band, together with mine,” he admitted in 2015. “All people was, principally, a star, a star. To make a bunch like that work — like a supergroup-type factor — and to make it final for – I am stunned we have been collectively for, really, seven years. I want we might have had one other album underneath our belts. It was nice, nice, nice whereas it was nice, and it was troublesome when it was troublesome. However I do not remorse any of it. It was cool.”
Weiland died on Dec. 3, 2015, of a drug overdose.
“We’re deeply saddened to study of the lack of our outdated pal and bandmate,” members of Velvet Revolver wrote at the time. “We skilled a very good chunk of life with Scott, and even in his darkest instances, all of us had hope and love for him. His artistry will stay on – of that, there is no such thing as a doubt.
Watch Velevet Revolver Reunite at a 2012 Profit
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