2005.04.28 - Rockford Register Star - Revolver in Rockford (Slash)

Revolver in Rockford

By GEORGETTE BRAUN
Rockford Register Star

When Slash was 13 or 14, he listened to Cheap Trick's music, and he liked it a lot.

Today on radio stations around the nation, you can hear Slash playing one of Cheap Trick's best-known songs, "Surrender."

"We recorded it in the studio pretty much like their version," Slash said of Velvet Revolver, the group that covered the 1978 Cheap Trick song that helped put the Rockford band on the map.

Slash, 40, whose real name is Saul Hudson, is lead guitarist for Velvet Revolver. The group plays at 8 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Rockford's MetroCentre, with Hoobastank opening.

Slash made his remarks in a telephone interview earlier this month with the Register star.

Slash, who was named "best guitarist" in Esquire magazine's 2005 Esky Music Awards, made his name with Guns N' Roses, as did bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum. The lead singer and front man for Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland, formerly was with the Stone Temple Pilots. Dave Kushner, who played with Wasted Youth, Electric Love Hogs and Dave Navarro's band, plays guitar in the group.

A decade after Slash was first listening to Cheap Trick's "Surrender," he met the man who wrote it.

Slash was playing with Guns N' Roses at a show in the region and hooked up with Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick guitarist and Rockford resident.

Slash traveled to Nielsen's home, partied, and had a good time, Slash said. The two are such good friends that Slash played at Cheap Trick's 1999 25th anniversary celebration at Rockford's Davis Park.

Nielsen said he likes Velvet Revolver's version of Surrender."

"It's a great version," he said. "It's hot and heavy. It rocks. I feel quite honored that they did it."A few months ago in New York City, Robin Zander, vocalist for Cheap Trick, and Nielsen played on stage with Velvet Revolver.

Will Nielsen play with Velvet Revolver Friday night?

"They haven't asked me," he said. But Nielsen said he'll fly home after being out of town for a few days "to see the boys" perform in Rockford.

"Surrender" is just one of the songs Velvet Revolver has covered. Others include tunes by Aerosmith and Nirvana.

In Rockford, Velvet Revolver mostly play original songs off its debut album, "Contraband." The album hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart the week it was released, and has sold more than three million copies. It features the No. 1 rock hits "Slither" and "Fall To Pieces" as well as its new single, "Dirty Little Thing."

Slash said the band has an "altogether different vibe" than either Stone Temple Pilots or Guns N' Roses:
"It's genuine, real, brutally honest at times, not what everybody's used to. It's tough-sounding, but has its moments where its vulnerable at times.

"It's sexy in a gritty way. It's loud," he said. "It has a very in-your-face delivery and packs a punch."