Slash speaks out on Scott Weiland

Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash spoke with RollingStone.com about the band's decision to part with singer Scott Weiland following the final show of their European tour on Tuesday (April 1st) in Amsterdam, Holland. Slash explained, "Everybody's just very relieved. This is something that's been coming down for a while. I know everybody is tying the (Stone Temple Pilots reunion tour) to it, but it started way before that. We just had a lot of commitments to fulfill, so we just had to drag this thing out until the obligations were finished. Basically, we're just excited about finding someone else and moving on."

Slash said that there's "some people" who have been mentioned as a replacement for Weiland, but added, "It's really premature to start naming names. We actually worked with a guy, I won't mention his name, before we left to go to the U.K. and there just wasn't enough to break him in, so we're gonna work with him again some more, and maybe some other guys as well."

In a sarcastic statement issued after Velvet Revolver announced the split, Weiland suggested that the band recruit former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach. Slash commented, "I thought (Weiland) could be a little bit more imaginative. I'm not sure if that was meant to be a pot shot or what. Whatever, it's not worth any real drama."

Speculation about Weiland's future with the group stretched back to last fall, when he was arrested on a DUI charge after several years of sobriety. He also missed a show in January and startled fans two weeks ago in Glasgow by saying they were watching "the last" Velvet Revolver tour.

That led to a brief war of words online with Velvet drummer Matt Sorum, who posted in part at his blog this week, "Feeling good about the future. Going to get back to work right away on some new music and hope to have exciting news soon. As for Scott, I wish him well."

Dark New Day frontman Brett Hestla has been rumored as one possible candidate to take over for Weiland in Velvet Revolver.
Submit the above story to:

Del.icio.us   Digg   reddit   StumbleUpon   Facebook