Duff McKagan recently recalled his time with Velvet Revolver and explained why it was a perfect band during an interview with Metal Hammer.
Duff McKagan talks about Velvet Revolver
“Velvet Revolver were a perfect band for the time. Around 2003, you started hearing this ‘Rock ’n’ roll is dead’ chat and it’s like… f*ck that,” he explained.
“It ain’t dead. To who?! We formed that band and once Scott [Weiland] joined it really became a fire-breathing, ‘f*ck you’ kind of band. We put that first record out and went on the road with a chip on our shoulders.”
He then highlighted that Velvet Revolver formed at a critical time, and admitted that the band would ‘never come back’:
“We had a great relationship in [Velvet Revolver] and with the audience. We took Velvet Revolver around the world, but there were things in the band that we just couldn’t get around. I don’t dwell on that stuff – I remember those days fondly – but I don’t think we’ll ever come back together with Scott gone.”
Velvet Revolver had a reunion for a few shows in 2010 and 2012. However, they never discussed getting back together for good. Previously Slash also said that he wasn’t interested in a full-time reunion.
“After Scott was let go from Velvet Revolver, we considered the idea of finding a new singer and carrying on,” Slash said of bringing in a new singer in another interview. “Matt [Sorum] and Duff auditioned a few singers, and we wrote some songs. But for me, once it was over with Scott, it was over for the band.”
Weiland was also fired from Velvet Revolver in 2008 due to his ‘increasingly erratic’ behavior. The band reunited for a final show in 2012, but three years later, the frontman passed away.
