2005.06.09 - Associated Press - Velvet Revolver Cuts Short European Tour

Velvet Revolver Cuts Short European Tour

By JANET MORRISSEY
For The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Rock supergroup Velvet Revolver abruptly cut short its overseas tour Tuesday, leaving many wondering if the band's future was in jeopardy.

A newspaper and television station in Finland reported that the band had split, but Velvet Revolver spokeswoman Kristine Ashton-Magnuson disputed those reports.

"The band has not broken up," she said. "In fact, they're coming back to the U.S. early to start the next record."

She cited "family obligations" and album "pre-production work" as reasons for the plug being pulled early. She didn't elaborate on the nature of the "family" matters or why the band had booked a tour if it knew it needed to be in the studio to work on its second album.

The band, which features former members of Guns N' Roses and the Stone Temple Pilots, launched its European tour on June 3 in Germany, and will perform shows through July 2, including an appearance at rock guru Bob Geldof's "Live 8" charity event in London. However, Velvet Revolver has scrapped the final five gigs it had scheduled from July 3 through July 10.

The band has been dogged throughout the tour by talk of ego disputes between singer Scott Weiland and lead guitarist Slash, and rock critics have been running pools on how long Weiland could stay drug-free. In the past, the talented but troubled musician has spent almost as much time in rehab and jail as he has in the studio.

Ashton-Magnuson denied that Weiland was heading back to rehab. "Scott is not back on drugs," she said Tuesday.

Velvet Revolvers "Contraband" album debuted at No. 1 when it was released in June 2004. Since then, it has sold 1.7 million copies in the U.S. alone, and picked up a Grammy for best hard rock performance.

Sp1at via Blabbermouth, June 11, 2005:

VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum has denied reports that the band has broken up following the announcment that they had scrapped the final five shows of their ongoing European tour.

The trek began June 3 in Germany and was scheduled to run through July 10, but will now close July 2 at the London edition of the Live 8 benefit, according to Billboard.com.

A spokesperson told the Associated Press the route was being changed to accommodate ''family obligations'' and ''pre-production work'' on the group's sophomore RCA album. She added that oft-troubled frontman Scott Weiland ''is not back on drugs.''

In an e-mail sent to Sp1at.com, Sorum said of the cancellation, "We did knock a week off the end [of the tour]. Everyone is tired. We never planned on touring Europe more than five weeks but management and the agents kept adding dates and before we know it, it was up to seven weeks and after completing an eight-week run in the States with only a three-day break, we need a real break. So that's the story, other than that all is good, just need a break and some rest."

And Scott Weiland's response on the Velver Revolver official site (via Blabbermouth), June 12, 2005:

Scott Weiland wrote:"Christ! You people are like locusts! Every day there's more bullshit. I must be absolutely mesmerizing! You all seem to be enraptured and in need of your rock & roll fables.

1. A few days ago I was a Nazi.

2. Then the end of the Euro tour is cancelled because Slash and I hate each other.

3. Now I hear I'm going to rehab.

"Get a fucking life!!"