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Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
Exclusive! Slash on Weiland, Velvets, and the new album…
Words: Scott Rowley
Slash was unhappy throughout his entire career in Velvet Revolver – and working on his forthcoming solo album has given him a new creative lease of life. The former GN’R/VR guitarist has been talking to Classic Rock about the dissolution of VR and how the band’s split with Scott Weiland pushed him work by himself on a solo album.
“Now at this point I can talk about it,” says Slash. “I always support whatever group I’m playing with – I’ll never say anything bad about them while I’m in it. But fuckin Velvet Revolver – that was the toughest five years, dealing with that band, just because of the obvious [Weiland] and really, really bad management. Joke management for the entire time.
“For some reason in that entire five years I could never be happy. I could never get comfortable and happy with it because it was such a fucking mess. That last tour in the UK was the first time I ever had any fun in that band – because I knew that Scott was leaving and it was a huge relief.
“But, all things considered, Scott to me is now like George Bush – y’know, I like him now that he’s not here. I have nothing bad to say about Scott, but he doesn’t work well with others in a group situation. So towards the end I had written a bunch of music and there were a lot of restrictions because of him writing in Velvet and a lot of stuff that I wanted to do was just sort of squelched. Y’know Slither happened and Fall To Pieces and a couple of other songs I wrote, but it didn’t have the direction that the group – especially before Scott came into it – really set off in. Especially on that last record – which I still think is a good record, but was a lot mellower than [I would have liked].
“Anyway, so I was writing a lot of material and on that last UK tour I started taping a lot of stuff and when I got home I was like, ‘I need to get away from this group situation – I just need to be in control of something and do things my own way’. So it was a relief. And we’ll see – it’s not really about trying to make the biggest record in the world, but I will support it. I’ll go out there and do what I have to do to make sure that people go out there and listen to it cos I think it’s a cool record.”
How will that affect Velvet Revolver?
“Well Duff’s on tour, I’m doing my record, so it’s sort of at a standstill. I haven’t heard any amazing submissions from singers as of late, so I might… Y’know, Velvet when it finds the right guy will be amazing, but I’m in no rush. I’m not freaking out – because that’s how we got Scott in the first place. He was the first decent guy that came up.”
After the Norway gig everyone is going to think Franky Perez is the guy.
“I thought about that. Yeah, Franky’s fucking bad ass. You know, he did some time with Velvet but I think because I was so preoccupied with my record nothing really came of it. Anyway, we’ll see what happens. When my record comes out there’s going to be a lot of different things that I can do so what happens as far as Velvet is concerned – we’re going to be on a hiatus until we lock together and say, ‘Hey, these are our options, let’s see what we’re going to do’. I don’t know if Franky is going to be the guy or what – he’s just a really, really good singer. Even Ozzy came up and said, ‘Who the fuck is that guy? He’s fucking great!’ He actually said: ‘What the fuck am I doing up here? He’s the one that should be singing…’”
In Norway, Franky Perez confirmed that he had worked with VR in the last six months: “I’ve probably known Slash a little under a year. We have this mutual friend and we’ve run into each other a few times but we met – actually met, met – about six months ago. And then I was working with Velvet Revolver for a little bit and then Slash started doing his solo record…”
So you worked with VR after Weiland left?
“Yes. So I got to hang out with all the guys and started working with them and then about the same Slash had to work on his solo project and Duff was doing Loaded so that dissipated, but the great thing is that I got to have a great relationship with Slash.”
Did he realise that the internet was going to be filled with ‘Franky-is-the-new-Velvet-Revolver-frontman’ stories?
The singer just smiles and shrugs: “Well, you know, if the opportunity comes around, I’m ready.”
http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news … %E2%80%9D/
thanks to sic.
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
It seems he's happy for SOME time, but gets bored or uneasy after awhile. He seems happiest now, solo. Although he always SEEMS happy at the present time. He never comes out and says he's not. He always paints the picture that things couldn't be better than we find out years later he was going through hell the whole time.
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
Slash is a drama queen. Like Faldor said, he sits back and tells us all about how wonderful things are going, then shortly after it ends, we hear about how it's the worst thing he's ever done.
Then he has the audacity to say Weiland doesn't work well in a GROUP situation... hmm, pot... meet kettle.
In the last year or so with his interviews and Axl's chats, it's becoming clearer and clearer why Guns dissolved.
They're both batshit.
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
It seems he's happy for SOME time, but gets bored or uneasy after awhile. He seems happiest now, solo. Although he always SEEMS happy at the present time. He never comes out and says he's not. He always paints the picture that things couldn't be better than we find out years later he was going through hell the whole time.
Or relationships just run their course, then through the media he paints the picture that things were always hell, none of it was ever his fault, and he just soldiered on despite his suffering because he is the poster boy guitar hero 
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
It was after reading Slashs book I realised he spins things to make himself look better. He is the guy who wandered through all those years in a drug and alcohol fueled haze and yet according to his book he never put a foot wrong.
Sorry but I've known and lost too many heroin addicted or alcoholic freinds over the years to swallow that shit.
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
Slash is a drama queen. Like Faldor said, he sits back and tells us all about how wonderful things are going, then shortly after it ends, we hear about how it's the worst thing he's ever done.
Then he has the audacity to say Weiland doesn't work well in a GROUP situation... hmm, pot... meet kettle.
In the last year or so with his interviews and Axl's chats, it's becoming clearer and clearer why Guns dissolved.
They're both batshit.
and they are both spoiled, ridiculously rich rockstars. Too much too soon wrecked Gnr.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
While I enjoy VR, GNR and STP songs, to some extent I've always thought Scott wasn't a great fit with the band.
I pretty much decided it in that interview where scott says he had two full cds of material from izzy and slash and that the only good was song was slither. I just find that hard to believe.
Then there's the song structures, good hooks like scott writes...but lots of repetition and really for slash quite a minimilist approach.
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
Yeah, Scott shouldn't talk shit on anyone because his lyrics on the two albums were pretty shitty and all he did was repeat the chorus 4 times a song.
I really can't express how much I would take Duff and Izzy's songwriting and vocals over that asshat.
Re: Classic Rock talks to Slash about Weiland, VR and Solo Disk
Yeah, Slash is funny
present day: This is the greatest band. We have some amazing material. Everything's GREAT!!!
one year later: Boo hoo!!! It was always a nightmare. Our singer blows, the songs weren't that good. I was being stifled.
