The band announced that they have booted frontman Scott Weiland from the group.

Here’s what Slash had to say: “This band is all about its fans and its music and Scott Weiland isn’t 100% committed to either.” Slash added, “Among other things, his increasingly erratic onstage behavior and personal problems have forced us to move on.”

If you’ve been following the news on VR in the last couple of weeks, then this is not a surprise move.

In related news, Weiland and the members of STP will be making a major tour announcement on April 7. It’s suspected that the band will be announcing a major tour of 50 plus dates that will run throughout this summer and fall.

While I’m a bit disappointed that Scott and VR are parting ways, I’m hopeful that this will mean a full fledged STP reunion.

Let’s face it, STP is where Scotty boy belongs.

Post from: The Production Side

He told the audience: “You’re watching something special…the last tour by Velvet Revolver”.

Now some folks may be thinking that Scott was just making empty promises from the stage, but just remember that it was from the stage earlier this year that Scott told an audience about STP reforming. So, this may not be just some stupid remark.

However, this story then gets a bit silly.

See, drummer Matt Sorum went to the web and shared his feelings on the situation.  Sorum stated: “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, I guess, with the cancellations and all. It has been frustrating, I am not going to lie. “My career and life in rock ‘n’ 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. With all the travelling and different beds. Personally, I love this shit 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 last night, 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.”

Weiland wasn’t too pleased with this post , this is his response: “Well, first of all, the state of my family affairs is really none of his business, since he is too immature to have a real relationship, let alone children. So don’t attempt to stand in a man’s shoes when you haven’t walked his path. Secondly, ‘keeping rock ‘n’ roll alive?’ 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… we’ll just let Blabbermouth find out for themselves”.

I think Matt and Scott are acting pretty juvenile taking this to the net, but they’ve done this since pretty much since the band’s first album.

I remember during the 2004 presidential election, Scott left a post on the band’s site stating that people should vote for John Kerry and Matt Sorum get pissed because he didn’t want VR to be a political band.

If anything, the guys in VR should be worried about STP reuniting, but we’ll see what happens. I hate to see VR break up, but STP is better.

Well,  enjoy the video for “The Last Fight”:

Post from: The Production Side

The band, however, has now cancelled these dates, which were already make up dates for the band missing shows in Australia last December. As of now Velvet Revolver’s dates for the Dubai Desert Rock Fest on March 8 and their U.K. tour are still going ahead.

See, I told you so last week in Scott Weiland Back In Rehab.

Anyways, this was a wise decision, Scott needs to get better first. It was pretty obvious that this tour was going to get cancelled.

Post from: The Production Side

Here’s the official statement from Velvet Revolver:

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

Despite this set back, the band is apparently going to go ahead with their Australian tour which kicks off February 15 in Brisbane. The band had already postponed an Australian tour back in December because of visa problems.

However around the same time, Weiland was arrested on November 21 after he crashed his car on an L.A. highway.

It’s no secret that Weiland has battled his addiction for years, it’s pretty much become an unfortunate common trait of his.

Personally, I don’t see the tour going on, it seems a bit too fast. Weiland needs to get healthy first. Let’s hope he can be successful this time.

Post from: The Production Side

Slash broke the news to Billboard, stating that once Velvet Revolver wraps up their current tour, frontman Scott Weiland is going to rejoin STP. However, Slash still wants Velvet Revolver to record their third album, which would be the follow up to last year’s Libertad.

Last weekend Weiland promised an STP reunion during a solo performance at a charity event in South Beach, FL.

Wow, is this actually happening?

I can’t wait!

Post from: The Production Side

The supergroup consisting of former STP frontman Scott Weiland and former Guns ‘N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum will hit the road on January with some dates in the U.S. before heading over to Australia and Europe.

If you haven’t seen Velvet Revolver yet, then you defiantly should because they put on a great show. But, if you’ve already seen them then you can probably these shows up and wait until they hit road when their next album is released, whenever that is.

Here are the current Velvet Revolver tour dates:

Jan. 24 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Jan. 25 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
Jan. 26 – Detroit, MI @ Fillmore
Jan. 28 – West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
Jan. 30 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Jan. 31 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
Feb. 02 – Scottsdale, AZ @ Waterfront Village
Feb. 05 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
Feb. 06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Feb. 07 – San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
Feb. 09 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theatre
Feb. 15 – Brisbane, AU @ Convention Centre
Feb. 16 – Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theatre
Feb. 17 – Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theatre
Feb. 19 – Melbourne, AU @ Festival Hall
Feb. 20 – Adelaide, AU @ Thebarton Theatre
Mar. 15 – Liverpool, UK @ Liverpool
Mar. 16 – Leeds, UK @ Leeds University
Mar. 17 – Manchester, UK @ Apollo
Mar. 19 – Newcastle, UK @ Carling Academy
Mar. 20 – Glasgow, UK @ Carling Academy
Mar. 22 – Wolverhampton, UK @ Civic Hall
Mar. 23 – Birmingham, UK @ Carling Academy
Mar. 25 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
Mar. 26 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
Mar. 27 – Brighton, UK @ The Brighton Centre
Mar. 30 – Brussels, Bel @ Ancienne Belgique
Apr. 01 – Amsterdam, Neth @ Heineken Music Hall

Post from: The Production Side

The Inland Invasion will feature The Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver, Kid Rock, Chris Cornell, Satellite Party, Cypress Hill, Hot Hot Heat, Against Me! and Paramore.

Tickets are very reasonably priced at $35, $65 and $85. What a deal.

If I lived in the L.A. area I would be at this show in a flash. Seriously, The Pumpkins, Foos, VR, Cornell and Satellite Party in one day, it’s too good to be true. Sure, you may have to put up with Kid Rock, but nothing is perfect.

Post from: The Production Side

• On September 29, 1992 AIC releases Dirt and STP with Core.
• In 1995 Weiland’s side project The Magnificent Bastards covered “How Do You Sleep?” and the Layne Staley/Mike McCready project Mad Season covered “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier” on Working Class Hero: A Tribute To John Lennon.
• In July of 1996 AIC replaces STP as the opening band for Kiss, due to Scott Weiland’s drug problems.
• On November 6, 2001 Jerry Cantrell performs “Got Me Wrong” with STP live in Dallas.
• Duff McKagan joins AIC for their 2006 reunion tour.

• Soundgarden opens up for Guns N’ Roses in 1991.
• Soundgarden and Pearl Jam were part of the 1992 Lollapalooza lineup, which also featured STP on the second stage.
• Chris Cornell contributed “Sunshower” and Scott Weiland contributed “Lady, Your  Roof Brings Me Down” for the 1998 adaptation of Great Expectations.
• The 2007 horror flick, Bug, features Scott Weiland with “Learning To Drive” (a unreleased STP track) and an acoustic version of Cornell’s “Disappearing Act”.
• Both Weiland and Cornell worked with drummer Victor Indrizzo on their solo albums 12 Bar Blues and Carry On.

• There was of course the infamous altercation before Nirvana and G’N'R at the 1992 MTV VMA’s, where Axl told Kurt Cobain to control Courtney Love and then after Nirvana played “Lithium” Dave Grohl yelled “Hi, Axl!”.
• Oddly, G’N'R’ bassist Duff McKagan, who is originally from Seattle, was one of the last people to talk to Kurt Cobain, as both were on a flight from L.A. to Seattle in 1994.
• Apparently, Weiland was introduced to heroin by Butthole Surfer frontman Gibby Haynes, who happened to be at the same rehab facility as Kurt Cobain in 1994.
• The STP song “Too Cool Queenie” is about Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love; it was rumored that Weiland had a crush on Love in the mid 90’s.
• Talk Show (STP without Scott) toured with the Foo Fighters in 1997.

• STP and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder started out in the San Diego music scene in the late 80’s.
• Both STP and Eddie Vedder have played with the remaining members of The Doors; they’ve also both covered “Break On Through (To The Otherside)” and “Roadhouse Blues”.
• Pearl Jam and STP have both covered songs by the Beatles and Led Zeppelin.
• Guns N’ Roses and Pearl Jam have opened up for the Rolling Stones.
• STP and Pearl Jam have toured with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

• Producer Brendan O’ Brien has produced all 5 of STP’s albums, as well as Pearl’s Vs., Vitalogy, No Code, Yield,  Audioslave’s Revelations and Velvet Revolver’s Libertad.

Post from: The Production Side

I’ll admit that I was very anticipated to get my hands on Contraband, the 2004 debut album from Velvet Revolver. Being a huge STP fan and admiring Guns ‘N’ Roses for their sheer raw talent, Velvet Revolver seemed too good to be true. I still think that Scott Weiland is one of the best frontmen ever and not too shabby of a vocalist either. Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum teaming up with such a showman just seemed right. Contraband was what it was, Scott fronting G’N'R, which still produced an enjoyable and decent debut album.

Three years later, VR returns with an in your face and fantastic sophomore album. I’m a strong believer that the second album for a band is crucial. Sure, there have been bands that have been consistent throughout their careers, but I bet the second album is what kicked it off. For example, consider Pearl Jam’s Vs., STP’s Purple or Foo Fighters The Colour and the Shape. Many will argue that these albums are the best in these bands catalogs. Well, VR doesn’t disappoint with their second effort.

Unlike Contraband, Libertad perfects the best elements of this supergroup, while at the same time showing that VR has meshed as one mighty force to reckon with. From start to finish Lbertadis a straight forward rock ‘n’ roll album. Most of the album contains tracks that are only 3 or 4 minutes long, so the album moves just as quick as Slash’s finger work. It probably also didn’t hurt that it was produced by Brendan O’Brien, who produced all 5 STP albums, as well as, albums for Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine, Matthew Sweet, Paul Westerberg, Incubus and Audioslave to name a few.

The songs themselves cover a wide range of topics, both familiar and unfamiliar to the band. For example, “She Mine” deals with Scott’s wife Mary having bi-polar; which he covered previously on STP’s “Bi-Polar Bear”, from their last album Shangri - La Dee Da. Weiland also sneaks in a love song to his wife with the cleverly titled song “Mary Mary”, although it’s not the cliched, sappy love ballad, because it still rocks. 

VR also ventures into the world of politically themed songs with “The Last Fight”, a ballad (and probably second single, that’s not over the top like “Fall To Pieces”)  which deals with a couple fighting before the man goes to war, and “American Man”. Other heavy songs include “For A Brother”, which is about Scott’s brother Michael, and VR’s cover of ELO’s “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” which could be dedicated to him as well. However, Libertad isn’t all serious music. The opening track “Let It Roll”, “Get Out The Door”, “Just Sixteen” and the first single “She Builds Quick Machines” are just solid rock ‘n’ roll tracks to blast out of the car as you cruise around this summer.

So do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Libertad, but be mindful of the various deluxe editions out there because there are several. For example, Best Buy offers a second disc with a documentary of the band’s South American tour; and iTunes which offers the bonus tracks “Messages” and a cover of the Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” and the video for “She Build Quick Machines”. Whichever version you get, this album won’t let you down.

Post from: The Production Side

Let’s start with Velvet Revolver, who will release their sophomore album Libertad on July 3. The supergroup consist of Guns ‘N’ Roses alum Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum and former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland. Finishing up the lineup is guitarist Dave Kushner. 

1. We’re lucky that most of these guys are still alive, many of their peers weren’t so lucky. Slash and Duff almost died from alcohol and Scott battled a very public heroin addiction. The fact that these guys are still breathing, let alone recording and touring is something we should all be thankful for.

2. STP and G’N'R are done, it’s time to move on. I hate to say that, being that both are two of my favorite bands, but it’s an obvious fact. These guys are too talented to just fade away into oblivion. It was time for these guys to move on with something big.

3. They’ll still play STP and G’N'R songs, maybe STP’s “Sex Type Thing” and G’NR’s “Mr. Brownstone”. This is a good thing for those who want to enjoy the past or get a chance to see some of these songs live. For example, I was too young to see G’N'R, so seeing VR a few years ago was the chance to finally see several Guns songs live. Also, many of us don’t want to wait for Axl to release Chinese Democracy or worry that he won’t show up, such as the Philadelphia show in December, 2002 that of course ended in a riot and the cancellation of the remainder of the tour. Unlike Axl, VR will show up.

4. Scott Weiland and Slash are worth the ticket price alone. These guys are some of the best around right now. Scott is one of the best frontmen ever and Slash needs little evidence to support his greatness. Trust me, you will be entertained for the entire show just by watching Scott and Slash. In fact, your brain may get so overstimulated that it is possible that your head will explode.

OK, let’s move on to the revamped Alice in Chains (comprised of the original and underrated members of guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney) and address the minus Layne Staley issue.

1. Their career was cut way too short. Unfortunately, frontman Layne Staley had several problems. There was his horrible heroin addiction and some serious depression after the death of his girlfriend in 1996. Although I read that they wanted to keep together, Staley’s health could not allow AIC to remain and all hope of an original reunion was gone after April 20, 2002 when Staley was found dead. I should add that the group never officially broke up.

2. It may not be the same without Layne, but Jerry is the heart and soul of AIC. Although Layne was a great and unique frontman, Jerry was the main force behind AIC. He was the founder and primary songwriter, as long as he’s around AIC will continue.

3. Replacing a fallen singer has been done before. Look at AC/DC, did anyone think that they would continue after Bon Scott passed away? They went out and hired Brian Johnson and moved on rather successfully.

4. Their replacement for Layne, William Duvall, fits right in. I first saw William Duvall with Jerry Cantrell back in 2001. When Jerry performed Alice songs, Duvall took over Layne’s parts and I was rather impressed. I saw Jerry two more times and Duvall still impressed me. So, Duvall has been prepared for this role. For the last six years he has been Jerry’s right hand man during concerts and knows these songs by heart. He may not be Layne, but he’s not that shabby.

The tour kicks off in August and will end in October, some shows are currently on sale at Ticketmaster. The confirmed dates so far are:
Aug. 06 – Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Resort & Casino
Aug. 08 – Sturgis, SD @ Buffalo Chip Campground
Aug. 11 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Aug. 12 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre
Aug. 14 – Mansfield, MA @ Tweeter Center
Aug. 16 – Darien, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Aug. 17 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug. 18 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach
Aug. 20 – Camden, NJ @ Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
Aug. 21 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug. 23 – Saratoga, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Aug. 24 – Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
Aug. 25 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Hotel Casino
Aug. 27 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 28 – Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 29 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center

Post from: The Production Side