Velvet
Revolver’s
Scott Weiland Sticks It To Toronto Rock
Journalists
Don’t expect many more interviews
with Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland
in the near future. He’s fed up with
being misquoted. Or, as he so eloquently
put it during a recent Toronto press conference
for the band’s debut album Contraband
(RCA/BMG).
"I’m sick of journalists sticking
their tongue up my ass during the interview,
then turning around and trying to fuck
me up the ass — without lube — from
a safe distance."
Understandably frustrated with how his
personal life has become a hotter topic
than his musical output, Weiland was intense
on this particular day. Questioned as to
why exactly he agreed to partake in this
particular conference, Weiland was more
than blunt. A man of his word, he had committed
to the appearance before feeling, um, probed
in the posterior by the media. Refusing
to let anyone misunderstand his desire
to leave this dead horse sufficiently flogged,
he growled at the two dozen journalists
point-blank.
"If any of you ask me about [anything
personal] today, first I won’t answer
the question. Then I’ll tell you
to fuck off, get up from the table, walk
away and not come back."
Visibly stunned, writers,
camera men and record label crew alike
nervously shifted in their seats before
guitarist Slash broke the rapidly-increasing
ice with a rousing, "Hell
yeah!"
Naturally, hilarity ensued
and everyone lightened up. Initially
claiming the need to save his voice for
the evening’s
performance, Weiland was quick to join
the band in fielding many questions. He
injected a few personal thoughts on the
band’s origin and offered his personal
opinion of the state of rock music today.
Eventually Weiland’s gruff comment
was overshadowed by the band’s (rounded
out by bassist Duff McKagan, guitarist
Dave Kushner and drummer Matt Sorum) obvious
cheer at the heaps of attention surrounding
this "supergroup." They enthusiastically
took turns fielding questions ranging from
the band’s expectations given their
previous successes (there are apparently
few despite being founded from the likes
of former Guns N’ Roses, Stone Temple
Pilots and Dave Navarro Band members) and
status as rock icons (Slash was disappointed
at not being one of Rolling Stone’s
Top 100 Guitarists, consoling himself with "Sweet
Child O’ Mine" being voted Best
Rock Riff Ever by a guitar mag) for the
better part of an hour.
Yet nothing had the impact
of Weiland’s
conditions aside from Slash’s unforgettable
answer to the query of how he feels about
Toronto’s marijuana.
"All I really recall from Toronto
is the pussy," he joked to hearty
laughter. As the band was guided off to
soundcheck, many journalists agreed: it’s
time to abide by the "Fasten Seatbelts" sign,
kiddies. There’s danger headed towards
rock ‘n’ roll once again… and
they’re calling it Velvet Revolver.
—Keith Carman
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