Velvet Revolver's Libertad debuts high on the chart

Velvet Revolver's second album, Libertad, debuted at Number Five on the Billboard album chart on Wednesday (July 11th), selling 92,000 copies in its first week of release. That's a far cry from the 256,000 copies sold of the group's 2004 debut, Contraband, which entered the chart at Number One. But bassist Duff McKagan told us that he doesn't feel he has to live up to anything: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "There's always gonna be doubters. Even before Guns N 'Roses made Appetite, you know. This is back when I was 21 years old. I'm 43 now, they're still saying, 'Well, so now have you finally proven yourself?' You know, it's like, I got nothing to prove, man. I'm making music and I like what I do, and I'm playing with some guys that I really love playing with and inspire me, and it's all good."

Velvet Revolver began working on Libertad with producer Rick Rubin, but scrapped that collaboration due to Rubin's other commitments. The band ended up recording with Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam producer Brendan O'Brien.

Velvet Revolver will begin a summer/fall tour with Alice In Chains on August 5th in Baltimore, with dates confirmed through October 9th in Southaven, Mississippi.
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