Velvet Revolver: The end?

According to several accounts posted online by fans, as well as media reports, Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland told the audience during the band's show in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday night (March 20th), "You're watching something special...the last tour by Velvet Revolver." Witnesses said that the other members of the band all exchanged glances with each other right after Weiland made his announcement. As the group then went into "Fall to Pieces," Weiland argued with the sound man at the side of the stage and proceeded to throw his mic down and leave the stage a couple of tunes later. There was a brief hiatus before the band began "It's So Easy" with bassist Duff McKagan on vocals. Weiland reappeared halfway through to complete the song before vanishing again.

Drummer Matt Sorum posted at his personal blog on Friday (March 21st), "So last night was interesting. Had a little band turmoil on stage, as you probably all could tell. Being in a band is a lot like being in a relationship. Sometimes you just don't get along. I guess there has been more turmoil lately, I guess, with the cancellations and all. It has been frustrating, I am not going to lie...Everybody could see who was unhappy last night, but all I can say is let's keep the rock alive, people!!!! In this life, you just pick up and keep moving."

Weiland himself responded to Sorum's comments in a statement sent to Blabbermouth on Saturday (March 22nd). Weiland wrote in part, "I've made many attempts to remain cordial with the members of VR, but mainly, the likes of (Sorum). Funny though -- this is your FIRST band, as opposed to being a hired gun. I've been making records (now on my ninth), which have sold over 35 million copies worldwide and have maintained a level of professionalism regardless of how many drugs I've ingested into my system. I have only cancelled one tour during the entire course of my 16-year run and that was the 'make-up' Australia tour...You cancelled the Aussie tour in the fall because you went to rehab, but I won't say why."

Weiland continued, "As for our fans -- I will sweat, bruise, and bleed for you. And will continue to do so until the end of this tour...It's a shame...we were a gang. But ego and jealousy can get the better of anyone. I wish the best and plan to annihilate the stage in the last few shows."

Lead guitarist Slash, who played in Guns N' Roses with McKagan and Sorum, told us that Velvet Revolver could be just as turbulent as G N'R: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "It's been very rock'n'roll, you know. It's one of those kind of bands that is sort of fraying at the seams at different points and when it comes together on a really creative level or performance level or whatever it is, it can be really, really amazing, and it's sort of just riding that same kind of a rollercoaster."

Since launching in 2003, Velvet Revolver has been the focus of speculation over how long the band would stay together. Weiland told us shortly after their first live performances that the band had what it took to go the distance: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "This really is a band, you know. It's kind of like watching the Stones play together, you know. There's just a lot of intangibles that are just pretty amazing. It's something pretty special to be a part of. It's also been connected to part of rock and roll history, which is something that not everybody is able to do."

Weiland spent a month in rehab recently, following an arrest for driving under the influence last November and his failure to show up for a Velvet Revolver gig at the Sundance Festival in January.

Despite concerns about Weiland's health, Duff McKagan told the U.K.'s Journal Live recently, "Velvet Revolver is something that's going to be around for a long while yet...(Guitarist) Slash and I have been doing this job for 20 years and nothing is going to get in the way of what we're doing now."

Weiland will reunite with his previous outfit, Stone Temple Pilots, for a series of shows this spring and summer.
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