Question marks about Slash

Rumors regarding both Velvet Revolver and Guns N' Roses have boiled over in the last few days, with unconfirmed reports claiming that lead guitarist Slash had left Velvet Revolver. The rumor was first reported by MetalSludge.com, which reportedly received the news from sources close to the band. Other sources, however, told Blabbermouth.net over the weekend that Slash, when asked at a Los Angeles recording studio on Friday (March 31st) about his status, allegedly responded that he was "still in the band." Slash was in the studio recording a solo for an album by a new female singer produced by one-time GNR producer Mike Clink.

The speculation about Slash's status follows reports that Slash, Velvet Revolver and ex-Guns bassist Duff McKagan and Guns singer W. Axl Rose recently attempted to settle their legal issues through mediation. The attempt allegedly failed, according to several sources, when the wife of one of the musicians interjected herself into the business dealings, leaving the problems unresolved and contributing to a rift between Slash and McKagan.

To add to the confusion, England's Classic Rock magazine published a story suggesting that Rose attempted a one-time reunion of himself, Slash, McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Izzy Stradlin' for two upcoming GNR shows in the U.K. Those negotiations ended, however, when it was allegedly revealed that one of the conditions of the deal was that all rights to the Guns name and back catalog would revert solely to Rose.

McKagan recently told us that he really had no idea what was happening with his old band these days: "You probably know more than I do, you know, to tell you the truth. But, you know, I treasure the friendship I have with the people that I've been friends with or have known throughout the years, and there's certain things I will say and certain things I won't, and there's just a lot more things that are more important to me, in my life."

McKagan and Slash sued Rose last year over royalties and licensing issues, with Rose issuing a countersuit and claiming that Slash had come to him privately and slammed the other members of VR.

Our inquiry to Velvet Revolver's record label regarding the band's status went unanswered at press time.

Velvet Revolver is scheduled to enter the studio on April 10th to begin recording the follow-up to its 2004 debut disc, Contraband, while GNR have several European festival appearances on tap for the summer.
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