July 31

'Fall To Pieces' single & pre-order info

Thanks to Ciro: According to HMV Japan, the single 'Fall To Pieces' will be released in Europe on September 6-7! Check the details through the link below. You can pre-order the release through HMV. The song is scheduled to hit U.S. radio after the weekend, although some songs are already playing it!

HMV.co.jp: Fall To Pieces

Starland Ballroom posts VR show pictures

Thanks to TommyJ, here's the link to some pictures that were posted on the Starland Ballroom website. VR performed at the Starland in Sayreville, NJ on thursday night, and the pictures posted were shot by Mark R. Sullivan!

Starland Ballroom Pictures 7/29

July 30

Sayreville, NJ show info

Thanks to Roxy Freefall and Grunge, here's the set list of last night's show: Sucker Train Blues, Do It For The Kids, Big Machine, Crackerman, Illegal i Song, It's So Easy, Fall To Pieces, Set Me Free, Used To Love Her, Slither, Sex Type Thing, Mr. Brownstone, Surrender (Cheap Trick cover). There's also a review in the Concert Chronology, and if you would like to send in your own review, click the link below!

July 29

'Contraband' goes platinum, VR will soon announce fall tour!

Thanks to Ciro, here's the link to a press release from RCA Records: "After letting loose with the first rock album to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart in over a year, VELVET REVOLVER’s CONTRABAND has now already been certified platinum, while the single “Slither” has held the #1 spot on all rock formats for four weeks straight. [..] Contraband debuted at #1 on the Billboard album chart, selling over 250,000 copies. Notably, this marks the best-ever debut for a new rock artist in the SoundScan era. [..] Look for Velvet Revolver to soon announce a major fall tour."

Full Press Release (.doc)

The Guardian interviews Slash!

Thanks go out to Ric Austin, who sent me this link to the Guardian's website with an interview with Slash!

The Guardian: interview

July 28

New info on VR demos/alternate versions

Thanks to Pinkbuzz, this info comes from Douglas Grean's site: "Someone called me last week a told me that VR demos somehow got released to the internet. We don't know how this happened but I wanted to clear up that the version of Fall to Pieces and the version of LTAS that are being referred to as Demos are actually my productions of those songs. I didn't intend for them to be demos I intended for them to be album tracks. The band decided to use Josh's versions. Side note: Scott had not finished the vocals for FTP when that mix was made."

July 27

Info and Pictures from 'Fall To Pieces' video shoot

Many thanks go out to In Utero for this information on the video shoot of 'Fall To Pieces' that ended yesterday, and also for 15 pictures from the set. The video was shot over two days on the Santa Monica pier, and features all band members and their wives in the setting of the old 1970's Starwood Club. Check out the pictures through the link below!

Picture Archive

July 23

Happy Birthday Slash!

Best birthday wishes to Slash today, who turns 39! Happy birthday, Slash, have a good one!!

Slash's Official Site

July 22

VR to play New Orleans Voodoo Music Experience '04!

Thanks to Michael Sanchez: KKND/ 106.7 The End announces (in their newsletter) that Velvet Revolver will be playing the 2nd day of the New Orleans Voodoo Music Experience on October 17. Other bands performing are: Kid Rock, Alterbridge, Cowboy Mouth, Supagroup, Shinedown, A Tribe Called Quest, Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Polyphonic Spree and The Wild Bunch.

Tickets go on sale on August 2, 10:00AM. Single day tickets are $40 and 2 day passes are $70.

V-R.com exclusive: Loving The Aliens (Sometime) demo!

Many thanks go out to a contributor who sent me this fabulous recording of 'Loving The Alien (Sometimes)'. It's an alternate recording of the song, and shows us what this band is really capable of. Much more experimental than the album version, this song should appeal to anyone who likes the song on 'Contraband', and a whole wide range of others. I'm very impressed! Check it out through the link below. Many thanks go out to Chase for hosting the file! Just right-click and 'Save Target As..' the links!

Loving The Aliens (Sometimes) Alternate Version

6 Poetry songs by Scott about the songs on 'Contraband'

Also available are six 'poetry' songs Scott wrote about the songs on 'Contraband'. The links are listed below. Many thanks go out to Chase again for hosting the files! Just right-click and 'Save Target As..' the links!. I also added the words to this poetry in the lyrics section.

VR on Fuse TV tonight at 8:00PM!

Thanks to Metal Mamma: VR will be on Fuse Network tonight at 8:00PM EST on the 'Uranium' show. As far as I know, this is an interview with the band that was taped in Philadelphia on 5/28.

Fuse.tv: Uranium

July 21

'Fall To Pieces' video concept announced!

Thanks to TWOIFBYSEA02: VR are scheduled to shoot their next video -for the single Fall To Pieces- this weekend in Los Angeles. Blabbermouth.net reports that the concept for the clip is said to be the basic storyline of the song — a drug addict falling in a big, black hole. The setting for the video will reportedly be the old Starwood venue and the surroundings from that era. In other news, the single will hit radio stations on August 2nd!

Blabbermouth.net

Message from Scott

Thanks to In Utero, here's a new message from Scott that was posted a week ago on the official site (-and due to the confusing nature of the site wasn't found until now):

"I was going to go into this long diatribe about the further injustices of celebrity reporting but its redundant. Regarding my plea, No Contest does not mean guilty! The chances of me winning a trial are 50/50, depends on honesty of the participants. The only thing that I would like to be known is that my urine was held for almost 4 months. For a prescription diazepam? Wow! someone has a bizarre fetish!"

Official site

July 20

Matt Sorum on Loveline MP3

Matt Sorum was on Loveline this weekend, and yesterday a recording of the show became available in MP3 form. Beware: it's over 35 MB! Enjoy!

Matt Sorum @ Loveline MP3

July 19

Interview with Dave Kushner

KNAC.com posted an interview with Dave Kushner last week. I just stumbled upon it and here's the link:

KNAC: Interview with Dave

Listen to VR demo recordings

Here are some 'demo' recordings of three VR songs for you to enjoy: Slither, Fall To Pieces and Big Machine! Enjoy!

'Slither' enters UK charts at #35, up to #1 on Rock charts!

Thanks to Martin Hughes: 'Slither' entered the official UK singles chart at #35 this week! You can even make it go higher next week by requesting the song to get airplay. You can email jo.whiley@bbc.co.uk as she was one of the first DJ's in the UK to play VR on the radio. Thanks to Gary: 'Slither' made an impressive jump from #25 to #1 (!) on the Rock Top 40!.

July 17

VR on Jay Leno download

The band performed 'Slither' last night on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and thanks to PmV pre, there's a video download available. Check it out through the link below (thanks to Kravdog for hosting the file!) Make sure you right-click / Save As and don't stream it off the server!

7/16 - Slither @ Tonight Show

July 16

VR on Jay Leno tonight!

VR are the musical guests on tonight's 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' on NBC. Other guests include Dennis Leary and Maria Sharapova! If you're able to tape/digitalize this, please let me know! I'd like to be able to share this performance as a download on the site.

NBC.com: Tonight Show

July 15

Scott's press release

Thanks to Thomas and RommeXL: As Velvet Revolver get ready for another round of tour dates, including a European concert tour launching in August, Scott Weiland’s representatives are offering clarification of his court appearance [last week] in Los Angeles. Now clean and sober for over eight months--and recently reunited at home with his wife and children--Scott paid a $390 fine for driving under the influence of prescriptive drugs (DUI) last year (October 27, 2003). “There were no illegal drugs or alcohol in Scott’s system,” says his attorney Anthony Brooklier. “He was taking medication prescribed by his physician.” Scott has also paid restitution to the owner of the parked van which was damaged in the accident.

Scott, as part of his three years probation, will complete a six-month aftercare program that runs concurrent with his Proposition 36 program which includes the two group therapy meetings and two personal therapy sessions per month that he’s already been participating in. Through all of this, the judge has congratulated Scott on continuing to embrace sobriety, complying with his program and for reestablishing a relationship with his children. "This is all behind me now," says Scott, "and I will be able to set the record straight."

RCA Records: Scott's statement (.doc)

July 14

'Contraband' re-enters top 10!

Thanks to John Gardner: 'Contraband' went 5% up in sales this past week, selling 67,201 copies which was good for a return to the HitsDailyDouble album charts' top 10 at number 8, up from number 13 last week!

HitsDailyDouble.com

VR in Blender Magazine August issue.

Thanks to Avril: VR is featured in the August issue of Blender Magazine, the band was ranked #93 on the second annual "Blender 100" list of all things hot! Check out the link below for an article and two new pictures on blender.com!

Blender.com feature

July 13

VR on Jay Leno this Friday!

As previously reported, VR are the musical guests on Friday's (7/16) Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Other guests include Dennis Leary and Maria Sharapova.

NBC.com: Tonight Show

Downloads down

Unfortunately the downloads which were hosted by Razz are down at the moment. I don't know when they will be back up, but I'll post a message here as soon as the files are back!

Razz' page

July 10

More Weenie Roast Downloads

I finished encoding the last few videos from the June 12 performance at KROQ's Weenie Roast 2004. Thanks to Razz, they are available for download from his server. Check them out through the link below!

Download the files from Razz' page

July 8

Scott sentenced to 3 years probation for DUI

Thanks to Jennifer Vineyard and MTV: Nearly eight months after his arrest for driving under the influence of drugs, Scott Weiland was sentenced Thursday in a Los Angeles court to three years' probation, during which he'll be treated for his drug problem. [..] Under the terms of Weiland's latest probation, he'll be required to enroll in a six-month drug-treatment program and attend three Narcotics Anonymous meetings per week for the next three years. Weiland will also be required to submit to regular drug testing, as well as periodic drug testing at the discretion of the police (with or without probable cause), according to the city attorney's office. During this probation, Weiland is prohibited from being in the possession of, or under the influence of, both alcohol and drugs.

How this new probation affects VR's overseas touring plans, I do not know. Hopefully we'll get a press release from the band's management about this soon!

Read the full article @ MTV.com

VR to play Miller's 'Rock Through Time' in NYC.

Miller Beer announced in a press release today that Velvet Revolver will be one of the bands performing at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, NY on September 17 & 18 for the 'Rock Through Time' event, which is the grand finale to Miller's celebration of Rolling Stone's 50 Years of Rock and Roll summer. Other artists include James Brown, Doors 21st Century, Lenny Kravitz, The Strokes and Ben Folds. No tickets will be sold for the event: Miller will give away nearly 1,000 event tickets, along with air and hotel to New York City, to lucky music fans 21 and over across the country. For information on how to win trips and tickets, check out Millerbeer.com!

UK tour date tickets onsale TODAY!

Thanks to Bruce from Carling Live: The tickets to the three U.K. shows are onsale TODAY, 2PM U.K. time, through CarlingLive.com. The shows are August 31st - Carling Academy Glasgow; September 1st - Carling Apollo Manchester; September 2nd - Carling Apollo Hammersmith London. Tickets for all three gigs are priced £17.50 each (plus booking fee) and are available to CarlingLive.com registered members!

CarlingLive.com

July 7

'Contraband' reaches GOLD status!

Thanks to John Gardner and Rob: HitsDailyDouble reports that 'Contraband' has reached GOLD status within a month! The disc has sold 515,000 copies in the first four weeks after it's release! Not bad at all!

HitsDailyDouble sales chart

July 3

VR on VH1 Best week ever.

VR and Contraband were mentioned on last week's VH1 Best Week Ever show. Thanks to CNNV, here's a video clip of the show !

Download the video (Right-click / Save as)

July 2

VR on Top Of The Pops on BBC 1 (U.K.)

BBC1 in the U.K. showed an audience-less performance of 'Slither' on tonight's Top Of The Pops. The video must have been recorded post-soundcheck and pre-show at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas, NV on June 11th. The band put on a killer rendition of the song, but it seems like our fine editing folk cut of part of the song's bridge section. There's no extended instrumental or alternative verse after the guitar solo. Check the video out through the link below. Please right-click and save the file instead of streaming it. Too many streams = file down very soon! The TOTP show airs again this Sunday at 1:15am GMT on BBC1 in the UK.

VR to perform on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno!

According to the RCA Records site and the StreetWise VR Street Team, the band will be playing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 16th!

NBC's Tonight Show