Velvet Revolver

Lore & Background

Velvet Revolver formed after Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum left Guns N' Roses due to disagreements with singer Axl Rose. The trio performed at a benefit concert for Randy Castillo in 2002 and recognized their musical chemistry. They recruited Dave Kushner after McKagan re-introduced him to Slash at a Loaded show. After auditioning numerous singers, including Sebastian Bach and Travis Meeks, they sent music to Scott Weiland, who initially declined but joined after Stone Temple Pilots disbanded in 2003. The band chose the name Velvet Revolver after Slash suggested 'Revolver' and Weiland added 'Black Velvet'.

Reader's Guide

Velvet Revolver's significance lies in bridging the legacies of two major 1990s rock acts—Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots—into a commercially successful 2000s supergroup. Their debut album Contraband debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over four million copies worldwide. The single 'Slither' won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. Despite initial critical skepticism about a 'disconnection' between Weiland and the rest of the band, the group's sound was influential in the hard rock scene. Their legacy is marked by a brief but impactful run, a one-off reunion in 2012, and the subsequent deaths of Weiland in 2015. In 2025, Yardbarker included them among the greatest metal acts formed in the 2000s.

Did You Know?

• Velvet Revolver won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for their single 'Slither'.
• The band's name was chosen after Slash suggested 'Revolver' and Weiland added 'Black Velvet'.
• Scott Weiland was fired from Velvet Revolver in April 2008 and subsequently rejoined Stone Temple Pilots.
• The band performed publicly only once after 2008, a one-off reunion with Weiland on January 12, 2012.