Velvet Revolver — American rock supergroup and its brief mainstream era

Members and roles

• Slash — lead guitar; previously of Guns N' Roses and known for his distinctive solos and top hat image. (Slash profile)
• Duff McKagan — bass and backing vocals; another veteran of Guns N' Roses.
• Matt Sorum — drums and backing vocals; former drummer for Guns N' Roses and other projects.
• Dave Kushner — rhythm guitar; came from the punk-tinged group Wasted Youth and contributed to the band's songwriting.
• Scott Weiland — lead vocals (2003–2008; occasional later appearances); best known as the frontman of Stone Temple Pilots before joining Velvet Revolver. (Scott Weiland)

History and recordings

The instrumental core of Velvet Revolver came together in 2002 when former members of Guns N' Roses decided to form a new group. The search for a singer ended when Scott Weiland, whose band Stone Temple Pilots had been on hiatus, joined in 2003. Their debut album, Contraband, appeared in 2004 and produced radio hits such as "Slither" and "Fall to Pieces." "Slither" earned the band a Grammy and both singles performed strongly on rock charts. A second studio album, Libertad, followed in 2007 and showed a darker, more experimental side of the band while maintaining their hard-rock roots.

Style, songwriting and reception

Velvet Revolver blended the riff-driven attack and guitar virtuosity associated with classic hard rock with melodic and alternative textures carried by Weiland's vocal style. Songwriting was collaborative: McKagan, Slash, Sorum and Kushner contributed material that Weiland shaped with his lyrics and vocal lines. Critics generally praised the musicianship and singles, though some reviews noted tensions between the group's hard-rock pedigree and efforts to sound contemporary.

Departure, later developments and legacy

Scott Weiland left the band in 2008 amid public disagreements and struggles that strained the group's dynamic. He appeared with them for a one-off performance in 2012, but Velvet Revolver subsequently conducted several searches for a permanent vocalist and never announced a long-term replacement. Weiland's later death in 2015 removed one recurring possibility for reunion, and the core members have since pursued other projects, reunions with former bands, and solo work. Despite a relatively short active period, Velvet Revolver is often cited as a noteworthy example of an early-21st-century rock supergroup: its initial commercial success, high-profile lineage, and hit singles left a durable footprint in modern hard rock.

Discography highlights

1. Contraband (2004) — breakthrough studio album with the Grammy-winning single "Slither."
2. Libertad (2007) — follow-up album showing stylistic breadth and continued touring.

For further reading about the band, its members and releases, see profiles and retrospective coverage linked through the band's award listings and the histories of the members' prior groups: award summaries, genre overviews at rock guides, and biographies for Guns N' Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, and the individual artists (Slash, Scott Weiland).