Velvet Revolver is one of the most successful rock bands of the 2000s, and their members have made an indelible mark on the music industry. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the history of Velvet Revolver and each of its members – from their formation in 2002 all the way up to their current lineup!
Introduction to Velvet Revolver
When Velvet Revolver first came onto the music scene, they were a breath of fresh air. Combining the hard-hitting sounds of classic rock with the attitude and energy of punk and metal, they quickly became one of the most popular bands of the 2000s.
The members of Velvet Revolver are:
Lead singer Scott Weiland – best known as the former frontman of Stone Temple Pilots
Guitarist Slash – best known as the former lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses
Bassist Duff McKagan – best known as the former bassist of Guns N’ Roses
Drummer Matt Sorum – best known as the former drummer of Guns N’ Roses
Guitarist Dave Kushner – best known for his work with punk band Wasted Youth
Band Members:
Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N’ Roses members Slash (lead guitar), Duff McKagan (bass, backing vocals), and Matt Sorum (drums, percussion), alongside Dave Kushner (rhythm guitar) of punk band Wasted Youth.
The band achieved commercial success with their debut album, Contraband, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in 2004. The first single from the album, “Slither”, won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2005.
- Scott Weiland
Velvet Revolver was an American rock band that was formed in 2002. The band consisted of Scott Weiland (vocals), Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Matt Sorum (drums). The band released their debut album, Contraband, in June 2004. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
The band’s second album, Libertad, was released in 2007. The album peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold by the RIAA.
Weiland left Velvet Revolver in 2008 to focus on his solo career. He was replaced by Dave Kushner, who had previously played with Wasted Youth and Loaded.
In April 2010, it was announced that Velvet Revolver would be going on hiatus due to creative differences between the members.
- Slash
Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup formed in 2002, consisting of members of Guns N’ Roses and Stone Temple Pilots. The band’s debut album, Contraband, sold more than 3 million copies worldwide and entered the Billboard 200 at number one. Velvet Revolver was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best Hard Rock Performance for the single “Slither”.
The band’s second album, Libertad, was released to critical acclaim and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The album included the singles “She Builds Quick Machines” and “The Last Fight”. In 2008, Velvet Revolver released their third album, Louder Than Life. The album featured the lead single “She Mine”, which peaked at number eight on the Mainstream Rock chart.
In 2010, following a hiatus, Slash announced that he was working on new material with Velvet Revolver. However, in 2012 it was revealed that Scott Weiland had left the band permanently, effectively ending Velvet Revolver.
- Duff McKagan
Duff McKagan is best known as the bassist for Guns N’ Roses, but he also spent time in Velvet Revolver with Slash and Matt Sorum. McKagan has also released several solo albums and is a columnist for Playboy.
- Dave Kushner
Dave Kushner is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist of the hard rock band Velvet Revolver. He has also played with punk rock bands Wasted Youth and Infectious Grooves.
Kushner was born in 1966 in Brooklyn, New York, and began playing guitar at the age of 13. He cites Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix as his biggest influences. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, but dropped out after one semester.
In 1987, he joined the punk rock band Wasted Youth. The band released two albums before disbanding in 1989. Kushner then joined Infectious Grooves, a funk metal band featuring members of Faith No More and Jane’s Addiction. The band released three albums between 1991 and 1996.
In 2002, Kushner was contacted by Scott Weiland to audition for a new band that would eventually become Velvet Revolver. The band’s debut album, Contraband, was released in 2004 to critical and commercial success. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart and went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide.
Velvet Revolver’s second album, Libertad, was released in 2007 to mixed reviews but still debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2008, the band went on hiatus due to Weiland’s drug problems and internal tensions within the group. They reunited in 2010 without Weiland and released their third album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, in 2011 with
- Matt Sorum
Matt Sorum is an American musician, best known as the former drummer for rock band Guns N’ Roses. He has also been a member of hard rock bands The Cult and Velvet Revolver.
Sorum was born in Long Beach, California. He began playing drums at an early age, and by the time he was in high school, he was already playing in local bands. After graduation, he joined Guns N’ Roses as their drummer, replacing Steven Adler. Sorum remained with the band for six years, during which time they released two studio albums, Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I & II.
In 1996, Sorum left Guns N’ Roses and briefly joined The Cult before forming Velvet Revolver with fellow ex-Guns N’ Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan. The band released their debut album Contraband in 2004, followed by Libertad in 2007. Sorum remained with Velvet Revolver until 2008 when he left the band to focus on his solo career.
Sorum has appeared on numerous albums throughout his career, both as a solo artist and as a member of various bands. His drumming style is heavily influenced by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame.
Albums and Songs
Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N’ Roses members Slash (lead guitar), Duff McKagan (bass, backing vocals), and Matt Sorum (drums, percussion), alongside Dave Kushner (rhythm guitar) of punk band Wasted Youth, and Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots.
The band achieved commercial success with their debut album Contraband (2004), which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. The singles “Slither” and “Fall to Pieces” both reached the top 10 of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
With their second album Libertad (2007), Velvet Revolver began to incorporate elements of classic and experimental rock into their sound while maintaining the heavy guitars and melodic hooks that characterized their earlier work. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and produced the single “She Builds Quick Machines”, which reached the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
In 2008, Velvet Revolver was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for “She Builds Quick Machines”. The following year, however, Weiland left the group to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots; he was replaced by former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton.
Patton made his recorded debut with Velvet Revolver on their third album, 2010’s Slash & Burn EP; however, creative differences between him
Awards & Accolades
Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup formed in 2002, consisting of members of Guns N’ Roses and Stone Temple Pilots. The band’s debut album, Contraband, was a commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over 3 million copies worldwide. The album was also nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album.
The band’s second album, Libertad, was released to critical acclaim but failed to match the commercial success of its predecessor. It peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. After a lengthy hiatus, Velvet Revolver reunited in 2010 and released their third album, Use Your Illusion III, in 2012. The album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart but was met with mixed reviews from critics.
Despite never achieving widespread mainstream success, Velvet Revolver was hailed as one of the best hard rock bands of the 2000s by music critics and won several awards during their career. In 2006, they were named “Band of the Year” at the Kerrang! Awards and “Best International Band” at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. They were also nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning one for “Best Hard Rock Performance” for their song “Slither”.
Controversies & Scandals
Velvet Revolver was one of the most controversial bands of the early 2000s. The supergroup, which featured members of Guns N’ Roses and Stone Temple Pilots, was plagued by scandals, legal troubles, and creative differences.
In 2002, Velvet Revolver was formed after Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum left Guns N’ Roses. The trio recruited Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots to be their lead singer. They released their debut album, Contraband, in 2004.
The band quickly became embroiled in controversy when Scott Weiland was arrested for drug possession in 2003. He was also fired from Stone Temple Pilots shortly after joining Velvet Revolver.
In 2006, Velvet Revolver released their second album, Libertad. The album was a commercial success, but the band was once again overshadowed by controversy. This time, it was drummer Matt Sorum who was caught up in scandal. He was sued by his ex-wife for allegedly failing to pay child support.
Despite the controversies and scandals, Velvet Revolver remained a popular band throughout the early 2000s. They toured extensively and released two more albums before disbanding in 2008.
Velvet Revolver’s Legacy & Impact on Music Today
In 2002, Velvet Revolver was formed by ex-Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, along with Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland. The supergroup quickly rose to fame with their debut album, Contraband (2004), which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to sell more than 3 million copies worldwide.
While Velvet Revolver was only active for six years, they left a lasting impression on the music world. Their unique blend of hard rock and classic rock influences helped pave the way for a new generation of bands. Today, many artists cite Velvet Revolver as an influence, including Foo Fighters, Stone Sour, Avenged Sevenfold, and Alter Bridge.
In addition to their impact on modern music, Velvet Revolver also had a significant impact on the music industry as a whole. They were one of the first bands to successfully bridge the gap between classic rock and modern rock, and their success proved that there was still a market for hard rock music in the 21st century. Their success paved the way for other bands who blended different genres of music, and helped make hard rock relevant again in the mainstream.
Conclusion
Velvet Revolver has been one of the most influential rock bands of the 2000s, and their lineup is as iconic as they come. We hope this guide has given you an insight into all the members that have made up Velvet Revolver over the years and provided a snapshot into their history. If you’re looking for some great music to jam out to, then look no further than Velvet Revolver’s amazing catalogue of albums!