For their short time as a group together and as talented musicians this is some of the best couple albums ever put out! Live they were awesome as well.
Before listening to this I was expecting Matt to blame everything on Scott, I'm surprised he took accountability and admitted the wheels just came off. Tragically Scott couldn't turn it around after his brother's death. I will tell you that without Velvet Revolver I don't believe GNR would have ever reunited. I bought both albums on their release dates. I prefer Contraband but Libertad had some goods too. It almost brings me to tears the way he talks about how amazing Scott was and how loved he was but seemed like he couldn't just love himself. Scott is often a forgotten voice when it comes to the grunge era. Many labeled STP as just a Pearl Jam rip off and I find that to be furthest from the truth. Scott was a Chameleon he could be like Axl one minute, and Bowie the next. He was a true rock and roll frontman and will be missed for generations to come. I'm truly glad I was around to enjoy his presence and the amazing music his voice blessed. Much Props to Matt he's a hell of a drummer and writer. RIP Scott we miss you
Couldn’t agree more. I think on Core he was pushed to sing more so in that Vedder style. The demo of Wicked Garden sounds completely different than the Core version. Plus he was still young and finding his voice as a singer. He is the melody mad man. Absolutely genius and the most under appreciated singer/songwriter of all time.
STP has 4 great albums, Pearl Jam has 1, no question STP was the best band of the 90s, the radio liberal jockeys beat on him for getting arrested a few times, I thought that was rock n roll. Now rock is dead, thanks libs
As a MAJOR Guns n Slash fan, I agree 100%. Axl thought they needed him n they would be nothing without him. Turns out they KILLED IT, which made Axl doubt himself n delay Chinese Democracy several more times. Chinese Democracy failed to create the hype that Velvet Revolver had, and Axl was humbled. He realized the truth: They didn't NEED him. \m/
I had the opportunity to interview Matt for the documentary The Life, Blood & Rhythm of Randy Castillo..I will tell you Matt is just as cool as Randy Castillo because he is a class act WITH a great heart, and thanks again Matt for allowing us to use your song Sunset Boulevard in the music score of the film.
Saw them at a small venue in BHAM Al, first album. They were fucking on fire!! I remember thinking how blessed I was, to be witnessing this ensemble. Thanks for the memories!! R.I.P. Scott 😎
Thank you for this. Velvet Revolver was truly a super group. When they first came out, I made every opportunity to go see them and am proud to say was able to see them four times in concert. Two during their Contraband tour and two during their Libertad tour. Dave Kushner was perfect fit too being this was a two guitar band. It would not have worked with just Slash. Those two really worked well to make the band the Aerosmith type of guitar team set up. Duff and Matt of couse perfect rhythm section. Scott was the only one who could have done that.
I saw them Halloween night. Duff was wearing a dress, slash was Buckethead, Scott was Axl, and I forget what the others were but I DO remember it was a great show...lol
Couldn't agree more, I think that album is Slash's greatest playing since appetit, obviously different sounds but you're so right, he and Duff modernized a little bit and it did not sound like an 80's record they killed it, loved that band
@@ruiserrazina7727 It's a shame they never produced more , it was easily the last great music slash and duff put out . After VR the material went down hill , came across a little forced and cheezy to me .
They were lightning in a bottle on that first record. I was maybe 24 - 25 years old when I saw them play one of their first shows in Chicago. Man the energy at that show was insane and I enjoyed every moment.
Saw VR at Newcastle & was lucky enough to meet Matt after the gig,signed my ticket & got a picture with him,very down to earth lad & very approachable,& obviously a fucking brilliant drummer,a class act 🤘👌👍❤️
It was good while it lasted. Contraband is a perfect album, it could be on any top list of rock albums. I was fortunate to see them live in 2007. They kicked so much ass live! Thanks for the good memories, Matt
Great interview. Its funny how Scott looked at VR though, he said this "The money attracted me. [But] I can’t call it the music of my soul. There was a certain commercial calculation behind it. Velvet Revolver was essentially a manufactured product… we came out of necessity, not artistic purpose.”
Nice interview and story! I saw VR on their first UK tour and it was a real treat to see such epic rock stars play in a small theatre. They definitely had an aggression and an edge that is very rare and practically non existent these days. A really ‘dangerous’ band, that could just break up at any time, and I guess they did! Shame.
I’ve seen hundreds of concerts throughout my time and one of the best shows was Velvet Revolver at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles Ca. My absolute favorite venue, not only that but the cool arrogant feel of VR really put a vibe out that night of raw rock n roll that you just don’t always see in artists.
I love these stories I do appreciate Matt Sorum’s view. On Howard stern Scott made his last appearance. It was a very dynamic interview that showed so much of Scott’s internal pain. Also- One of the best performances of Scott, was when he sang a Jim Morrison part for the Doors unplugged (?) session It was perfection and he looked so handsome
Yeah exactly, I mean it's already been like 7 years and I never once got to see him live with either STP or VELVET REVOLVER and the man had so much talent and stage presence... RIP Scott! 😭
@@philipthomas6808 crazy to have the one in a lifetime chance to be a rockstar and you overdose on some stupid drug. I just never understood wasted talent like that from some good people that we have lost along the way Chester hit me hard shit is sad and unfair
@@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248 It used to be really common in Jazz music as well but they weeded it, sadly it’s a par for the course. Loads of people drink and drug themselves to early graves and they all matter, their all a child of the earth. But I agree when it’s talent and it goes early it stings. But like Matt says in this, the great ones are never the easy ones.
Scott was perfect for Velvet Revolver but I do remember thinking when they were auditioning people... I wonder what Chris Cornell would have sounded like with Velvet Revolver? We will never know but it's fun to think about it
i ve been sober for a year now ready to hit the gym,cause immune system is getting better,i understand everything matt is saying,scott died like layne,both did not take a break from consuming ,body gave up heart could not took pressure anymore
This story helped me tonight. I had a very bad thing happen today with someone I love and addiction type of issues. All I got to say is I'm a musician pretty good one at that and I'm the one who's a sober responsible adult and I can't take it anymore because it seems I just get the shit end of the stick. When your in the big-time I'm sure it's tempting. It's sad and it's not cool to go from endless zeros to zero and it happens quick if your not in control.
"Falling to peices" kicks ass.About to listen to it now.Who else has a fetish for older rock guys?Especially the ones that kept their hair long like Slash.Shout out to Slash and any rock guy who kept their 80's "big hair".Fuck trends.Please don't change.
Ex Guns N' Roses guys: "Hey, we're tired of an egomaniac lead singer who is unreliable. Let's start a new band." Who should we get for a singer? "How about Scott Weiland?"
The reason why when Izzy showed up initially to consider joining, he walked out the door. Smartest guy in the band was the guy that was never in the band.
I think at that point they were so desperate for the "right" singer that they were just reflexively picked somebody who was famous enough. There is a video out there on the rise of Velvet Revolver which covers the entire formation of the band. Matt was just so frustrated. And I think that they thought that maybe Scott deserved a second chance, and that maybe he could get clean and stay clean.
I met Slash at a private Velvet Revolver concert. They had a sign that said Guns & Pu**y up. Scott was running around the stage like a chicken with his head cut off.
Saw them live once in Italy. They look disappointed as hell 'cause they had to play as opener for The Darkness. Amazing performance btw. They were tight AF.
I've always been a Scott Weiland fan and absolutely believe he was every bit as good'a frontman as Bon Scott. Had the pleasure of seeing these guys in a fairly small venue( The Eagles Club) a.k.a. The Rave, Milwaukee WI. Slash put on a clinic, and it was much better than I'd expected. Seen plenty of killer shows there and that night they were on.
@@termsofusepolice Obviously our tastes are much different. Falling asleep on stage isn't cool. I chose Dio or Halford any day over the posers you fantasize about.
@@robertjankovic8467 Can't remember who the leadoff band was, because they never took the stage? They made us sit there for the whole hour, till V.R.'s scheduled time to go on. We soon forgot about our little gripes when V.R. proceeded to pump out every hit you can think of from GNR, STP and their own shit! Pretty sure they played a hour extra, cause normally they want you outta there by midnight, and we didn't stumble out until after 1 am. It was kick ass.
Rock-'n'-roll is an era, to me, it's that spontaneous music that comes from angst and emotion, I bought in to sex,drugs, Rock-'n'-roll completely, when I learned later that a lot of rock stars didn't do drugs it was a let down, it's unfair and stupid of me to feel that way I know, but I really loved that way, sniffing glue in 3rd grade, then one drug after another with alcohol, looking back I was just foolishly following what I thought was right for me, I still love rock, but for me it was an era, you can't just conjure that. Now I'm an old man still battling my demons, trying to stay clean, drugs have been so much a part of my life, it's just etched in my person. Good luck.🙏🎸
I agree. Everytime Matt Sorum does a interview I'm just waiting for him to say "Alright Alright Alright". Maybe Matthew McConaughey and Matt Sorum are the same guy cause you never see them together LOL
At this point of time these kind of bands were the subproduct of previous groups breakups. Same happened with Audioslave ,etc. Then by 2007 the reunion was a thing for most of the bands (touring money was there again), so they all broke up. Anyway, liked VR a lot, they sounded so good.
Scott cost the DeLeo Brothers a lifelong dream of touring with KISS back in the day and with his habits I'm sure certain tendencies or behaviors became too much to bear any longer despite his immense talent.
Finally the truth .... it was out that it was Scott Partying too much again and it was the problem.Scott called them all hypocrites and said We ALL were doing the same thing. Finally the truth come out was right they are we’re back to partying hard .