Vanguard

Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Entertainment

According to http://www.mtv.com, hard rock band Velvet Revolver may be on the verge of breaking up. The band, which consists of Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, and Dave Kushner of Wasted Youth, formed in 2002. In January, it was announced that the original line-up of Stone Temple Pilots would be reuniting for a reunion tour, which created uncertainty in the band's future.

The incident that seems to have finally broken the camel's back is frontman Scott Weiland's announcement to the audience of the band's recent sold-out Glasgow, Scotland show that they were "watching something special ... the last tour by Velvet Revolver." Accounts from the show indicate that Weiland's revelation came as news to the other band members, and Weiland's behavior was erratic throughout the night, including throwing his microphone down during a song and walking off the stage, not returning until halfway through the next song and then leaving again.

In response to the incident, drummer Matt Sorum issued a statement on the matter on his personal blog. His comments were then viciously attacked by Weiland. This in-fighting suggests a band that is not getting along well, and it is obvious that Scott Weiland would rather be somewhere else, as he recently revealed his excitement about the recently announced Stone Temple Pilots reunion.

The band has also been unhappy with Weiland's regular trips in and out of rehab. Much like with the announcement of a Rage Against the Machine reunion last year, some believe that, like Audioslave, Velvet Revolver will too inevitably break up. However, this should not be viewed as a bad thing. So what if Velvet Revolver breaks up; at best, they were an average band. Now that it seems like Velvet Revolver is a sinking ship, perhaps this will allow for the much better bands of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses to reunite permanently.

Last year, there was news that the classic five-person Guns N' Roses lineup were to stage a reunion like Stone Temples Pilots is now. This is something that Guns N' Roses fans have undoubtedly been waiting to happen for many years. But, whether or not a Guns N' Roses reunion comes to fruition, Velvet Revolver breaking up is something that couldn't come at a better time for Axl Rose. In reference to the nearly decade-long delay of Guns N' Roses' follow-up album "Chinese Democracy," maybe this is exactly what he's been waiting for all this time.

Of course, that is what I thought until Velvet Revolver founding members Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner announced on April 1 that they are parting ways with singer Scott Weiland, citing his lack of commitment to the band and its fans, erratic on-stage behavior and continuing personal problems as reasons for their decision. My initial reaction was that I thought the announcement to be an April Fool's Day prank. However, as of April 2, the split has been made official, with Slash reassuring fans that Velvet Revolver will continue without Scott Weiland and that there will indeed be a third album, although he does not know how or when this will happen. The most logical step now, it seems, would be for the remaining band members to begin the search for a new singer.

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