Velvet Revolver Rumors Flare, Slash Keeps Quiet

It’s hard to tell where things stand with regards to the status of Velvet Revolver’s ongoing search for a singer.

On hiatus since singer Scott Weiland left the group in April of 2008, VR have been finding it difficult to locate a vocal and stage talent at the caliber of a Weiland, or even an Axl Rose, and they don’t want to settle for anything less..

Having set such high standards for the project, VR held another few rounds of auditions last fall, while Slash was on a break from a
world tour in support of his acclaimed solo album.

Early in January, things looked promising as comments from both Slash and drummer Matt Sorum sounded like the search was in the home stretch, and that an official announcement would be made sometime in January.

Sorum’s Twitter post of January 10 was nothing less than enthusiastic:

“Did 4 days with an amazing singer and VR and have 9 killer demo tracks. Going to make the decision one way or another this week.”

Things got quiet for a few weeks, and then Slipknot/Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor’s name popped up as a candidate (maybe even the candidate). January ended with Taylor doing an interview with Billboard.com where he would neither confirm nor deny that is the “known singer” who’s working under wraps with VR.

“To be continued!” Taylor told Billboard.com with a long, hearty laugh, before declining to say anything further.

VR bassist Duff McKagan’s online chat with ESPN.com readers last week added fuel to the Taylor rumors. When asked by a fan what the most important attribute for the lead singer of a rock band to have, besides their singing voice, McKagan responded:

“Any good artist has to have had some kind of rub in their life, something real. Something you have to get out lyrically or you are going to kill yourself or somebody else. Those are the lyrics that inspire. The ability to tap the dark stuff and have it be real. Great lead singers have the ability to tap that. No inhibitions helps as well. Axl [Rose] and Scott [Weiland] are two of the best front men ever.”

Unprompted, Duff then added:

“Corey Taylor is one of those guys as well. He can tap it. He has to get those lyrics on the paper or his world is going to crash down around him.”

While rumors continue to swirl, Slash has told Australia’s Courier Mail that the rumor mill will have to wait a little longer.

“A couple of people have said one thing or another, but it’s been blown out of proportion. I’ve made no comment on that one,” Slash said of Taylor joining VR. (via rockAAA)