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Velvet Revolver music biography continued...

California in 2002, consisting of former Guns N' Roses members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums), alongside Dave Kushner (guitar) formerly of punk band Wasted Youth. The quartet auditioned a few singers to be lead vocalist and ultimately decided on Scott Weiland, who had become friends with McKagan and was formerly with Stone Temple Pilots. According to Slash's autobiography, Scott Weiland suggested the name "Black Velvet Revolver", combining something intimate with something violent, after Slash suggested Revolver. He liked the word Revolution, which he saw in the credits of a movie. From Black Velvet Revolver, Slash thought it was a mouthful and suggested "Velvet Revolver." The band signed a deal with RCA and spent the rest of 2003 fitting in gigs and recording sessions around Weiland's court-ordered drug rehab. The group's full-length debut, Contraband dropped in June 2004 and met with instant critical and commercial success. As of August 2005, Contraband had sold more than 2 million copies in the United States, and the relentless touring in support of the album reached global scales. The band toured both the United States and Europe twice, while also performing in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. With their single "Slither" from Contraband they won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance, solidifying their status as a band to reckon with.



Velvet Revolver released Libertad in 2007, powered by the release of the track "She Builds Quick Machines", and embarked on a tour with Alice in Chains. In April 2008, Weiland parted ways with Velvet Revolver and has since reunited with Stone Temple Pilots. Velvet Revolver have been on indefinite hiatus since April and in November of 2008 the band was dropped by their record label Sony BMG/RCA Records. It's unclear as to whether they will recruit another lead singer and reunite, but whether or not they do, Velvet Revolver have already given us a wealth of great rock music.