Velvet Revolver split? / STP Reunion?

[Guest Low Roller]

I don't know how many people care about Velvet Revolver on this site, but the band has announced on their website that they have split from singer Scott Weiland.

The announcement was made on April 1st, three days after I saw them perform in Brighton where I thought that they were on fire and had a bright future ahead of them. I guess that Scott has fallen off of the wagon again.

In other news, and I'm being serious here, Stone Temple Pilots have REFORMED.

I'm sure that they two are very closely related to each other.

[AD]

STP announced a huge tour a week and a half ago

[Guest Low Roller]

Yeah, all the news is at least a couple of weeks old, but I just read about it, so i figured I would spread some potentially old news.

[ollie]

That's awesome news about STP, but not if Weiland is back on the junk! I'll have to check out those tour dates. STP are a great live band.

[AD]

Dat's cool. I was helping.

They are headlining the Virgin Fest in Calgary. (Note that the name is misleading, it's not what you think, so I've heard)

[ollie]

According to Pollstar:

Thu 07/10/08 Quebec City, QC

Sat 07/12/08 Toronto, ON

That looks ripe for an Ottawa Bluesfest rumour!

[AD]

I don't want to start a rumour, but given that there are previous rumours about Metallica-anchored 'Rock Day' at Bluesfest, rumours of a joint bid between Quebec City and Bluesfest for said band, an annouced Quebec City gig for STP and a giant hole in their schedule during Bluesfest (when they'll be in the neighbourhood), might a Bluesfest gig on "Rock Day" be in the offing?

[AD]

F-you ollie. I put more work into my post.

[phishtaper]

I don't want to start a rumour, but ...

fwiw, velvet revolver sucked. STP is a real band.

[Guest Low Roller]

VR put on the best arena rock show I've seen in a VERY long time. Your opinion is noted, but I don't agree with your statement.

[ollie]

VR put on the best arena rock show I've seen in a VERY long time. Your opinion is noted, but I don't agree with your statement.

But I bet Scott Weiland had a lot to do with that. He's an underrated frontman.

[phishtaper]

He's an underrated frontman.

you think so? i think most people would agree that he's pretty incredible. i think he's one of the best out there.

slash is fun, but scott was the only thing that made vr credible, imnsho.

[Guest Low Roller]

You couldn't help but stare at Weiland. He has a real presence on stage. But it's hard to ignore Slash and the towering Duff. Those two guys were so in synch with each other it was sick.

[rubberdinghy]

You were just staring at his boner.

[ollie]

He's an underrated frontman.

you think so? i think most people would agree that he's pretty incredible. i think he's one of the best out there.

Yeah, I think anyone who's seen STP live would agree, it's just that these guys haven't been around in a while and didn't tour much when they were together (due to health problems) so I figure a lot of people just haven't had the chance to see Weiland perform. He's kinda more well known for his drug use.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

official VR statement:

04.01.08

Velvet Revolver founding members Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner announced today that they are parting ways with singer Scott Weiland. "This band is all about its fans and its music and Scott Weiland isn't 100% committed to either,� said Slash. "Among other things, his increasingly erratic on-stage behavior and personal problems have forced us to move on."

Please Contact:

Jeffrey Light � Attorney

Myman, Abell, Fineman, Greenspan & Light

Sanctuary Artist Management: 310-205-5000

Official STP Statememt:

PRESS RELEASE: STP Reunites For First Time In Almost Eight Years, 65 City Tour

April 3rd, 2008

New York, April 3, 2008 -- One of this summer�s most highly-anticipated music announcements has arrived. Stone Temple Pilots have officially revealed that the band will be reuniting and will launch a massive 2008 concert tour encompassing over 65 dates and hitting all corners of North America. Marking the first national tour for Stone Temple Pilots in almost eight years, the 65 date stretch will bring the iconic band�s charismatic musicianship and exhilarating live shows to amphitheatres across North America. The tour is scheduled to kick off May 17th with the band headlining the Rock on the Range Festival in Columbus, OH and will continue through November 2008.

[Jaimoe]

It's a shame that Scott is a nutcase because Velvet Revolver is the only good supergroup, doing real rock and roll the way it should be done. "Fall to Pieces" is the best metal ballad since G&R were still on the charts.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

reading into these press releases - It sounds more like Scott has committed to a pretty extensive STP tour for the next 8 months - the VR guys are probably pissed that they can't play this summer with their singer gone - so instead of staying home this summer they'll be back on the road with some replacement - hmmm ... maybe Axl is avail ?

[Jaimoe]

I think the STP reunion was no surprise to the Revolver folks. I think they dumped Scott for the reasons mentioned.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

I found this too...

Velvet Revolver Breaking Up? Scott Weiland Seems To Think So, Even If Rest Of Band Isn't Sure

Views 11,961

Frontman, drummer Matt Sorum take their arguments to blogosphere; Weiland talks about excitement over Stone Temple Pilots reunion.

By Chris Harris

During Velvet Revolver's show on Thursday night in Glasgow, Scotland, frontman Scott Weiland — who finished another stint in rehab just before the start of the band's European tour — made a rather peculiar and unexpected announcement, one that stirred considerable debate among VR fans all weekend.

According to several media and fan accounts, Weiland told the sold-out crowd that they were "watching something special ... the last tour by Velvet Revolver." At least one account of the evening's proceedings suggests Weiland's revelation was news to the rest of the band; the tour concludes on April 1 in the Netherlands.

"[Guitarist] Slash, [bassist] Duff [McKagan], [drummer] Matt [sorum] and [guitarist] Dave [Kushner] all looked at each other. ...They sang 'Fall to Pieces,' [and] then Scott goes over to the side of the stage and argues with the sound guy," one eyewitness reported on a forum devoted to the group. "After a couple of songs, he threw his [microphone] down and walked off. After a long wait, Duff came out with the band and sang the start of 'It's So Easy.' Scott shows up about half way through, sang really half-assed, then [was] gone again."

At press time, the band's rep had not responded to MTV News' request for comment, and there's no official word on the VR site (which was last updated on Thursday), but Sorum — who, along with Slash and McKagan, is a former member of Guns N' Roses — took to his blog to comment on Weiland's announcement.

"[We] had a little band turmoil on stage, as you probably all could tell," he wrote. "Being in a band is a lot like being in a relationship. Sometimes, you just don't get along. I guess there has been more turmoil lately, with the cancellations and all. It has been frustrating; I am not going to lie. My career and life in rock and roll has come with its ups and downs. Unfortunately, some people in this business don't realize how great of a life they have. Touring the world, meeting great people, and fans all over the world — and just playing music for a living. I feel truly blessed. But sometimes the road can be draining for some.

"Being away from home and family does grind on you sometimes," Sorum continued. "Personally, I love this sh-- and sometimes can't believe I am so lucky to still be doing what I do for a living. Everybody could see who was unhappy [at the Glasgow show], but all I can say is let's keep the rock alive, people. In this life, you just pick up and keep moving. And don't ever let anybody stand in your way."

Perhaps it wasn't the clarification Velvet Revolver fans were hoping for, but Sorum's blog post did inspire Weiland to issue his own, slightly vicious statement on the matter.

"The state of my family affairs is really none of [sorum's] business, since he is too immature to have a real relationship, let alone children," Weiland said, in a statement issued to Blabbermouth.net. "So don't attempt to stand in a man's shoes when you haven't walked his path. I've made many attempts to remain cordial with the members of VR, but mainly, the likes of you. Funny though — this is your first band, as opposed to being a hired gun. I've been making records (now, on my ninth), which have sold over 35 million copies worldwide and have maintained a level of professionalism regardless of how many drugs I've ingested into my system. I have only cancelled one tour during the entire course of my 16-year run and that was the 'make-up' Australia tour. Now, shall I open that can of worms, Matthew? Release the Kraken? Serve ... volley! You cancelled the Aussie tour in the fall because you went to rehab, but I won't say why."

Again, Weiland didn't exactly come right out and say "Velvet Revolver are no more" in his statement, but he did stop short of that admission. "I will sweat, bruise, and bleed for you," he continued, directing his words to the band's fans. " will continue to do so until the end of this tour. However, you deserve to hear Velvet Revolver playing ... not certain individuals singing along to get a muddied-up sound. It's a shame ... we were a gang. But ego and jealousy can get the better of anyone. I wish the best and plan to annihilate the stage in the last few shows."

Weiland, who will be reuniting with the Stone Temple Pilots this summer for a string of dates and possibly a full U.S. tour, then went on to express the excitement he's been experiencing over the revival of STP.

"We did an STP photo shoot before this tour and it was fun, inspiring and it gave me that thrill — that feeling that got my rocks off from the get-go," he said.

And it didn't take fans long to express their disappointment over the possibility of there being no more Velvet Revolver.

"I hope you guys work through all the crap and keep rocking," wrote one fan. "You all are one hell of a rock band, in a time when rock seems almost extinct. I just pray VR as a whole can get through these issues and continue to rock, and I hope to buy a third VR album."

"I hope that it was just a bad night," wrote another. "Moods were obviously in a raw state for some. I actually think Scott should've stayed off the road a tad bit longer from his stint in rehab. I pray that as a band and as a group of friends, you guys can get back to a solid healthy place that will work for you onstage, but more importantly, offstage."

[ollie]

reading into these press releases - It sounds more like Scott has committed to a pretty extensive STP tour for the next 8 months - the VR guys are probably pissed that they can't play this summer with their singer gone - so instead of staying home this summer they'll be back on the road with some replacement - hmmm ... maybe Axl is avail ?

Make it happen. That would be the greatest "WTF?!" moment ever.

[bouche]

I'd like to watch slash play from this distance. It gets kinda crazy at the 2:00ish mark

[phishtaper]

this is all very well and good, but I'm still itching to know what the "incident" was that caused the Bauhaus reunion to derail. ah, gotta love rock and rollers!