2008.08.08 - Billboard - Velvet Revolver Still Mulling New Frontman (Duff)

Velvet Revolver Still Mulling New Frontman

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Contrary to reports suggesting former Spacehog frontman Royston Langdon is in line to become the new singer of Velvet Revolver, the band is still making up its mind about who will replace Scott Weiland.

Bassist Duff McKagan tells Billboard.com that although Velvet Revolver did play with Langdon and that "he's f*cking awesome, at this point I'd have to say no" on him becoming the new singer.

"We just have to make sure it's the right guy," he says, adding that Weiland's angry departure from the band this spring has brought him closer to group members Slash, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner. "Karmically, we deserve the right guy. It's a tough thing, man. We make a pretty big noise."

Velvet Revolver isn't so much auditioning vocalists as "just seeing how it feels," McKagan says, adding with a laugh, "We wouldn't know how to do an audition. We wouldn't have somebody come in and go, 'Okay, play 'Slither!' Play 'Fall To Pieces!'"

For now, the band is taking inspiration from its recent personnel drama and channeling it into new material. "We have a bunch of stuff finished. It's great. It's killer," McKagan says. "We started getting really productive when a ton of drama started happening on the road. It was like our safe place to go to. Sometimes that's how you get some feelings out."

One thing McKagan hasn't done is listen to any of the online leaks from his former band Guns N' Roses' long-awaited "Chinese Democracy." "I wouldn't even know where to look," he says, chuckling. "Slash said he heard a couple of tunes. I wish [Axl Rose] all the best."

As reported yesterday, McKagan just finished an album with his side band Loaded, and will play a handful of U.S. and European shows in August and September.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080808163029/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003836920

On August 12, The Sun would quote an anonymous source saying that the new VR singer would be Lenny Kravitz:

Itz Lenny for Revolver

LENNY KRAVITZ has got himself a new job – as frontman of hard rock supergroup VELVET REVOLVER.

The rocker, who is playing at the V Festival in Staffordshire and Chelmsford this weekend, has been spotted in the studio with the band. The group, originally made up of former GUNS N’ ROSES and WASTED YOUTH members, including guitar legend SLASH, have been looking for a new frontman since their split from SCOTT WEILAND.

Other names that had been linked to the job include ex- VAN HALEN singer SAMMY HAGAR and SPACEHOG’s ROYSTON LANGDON. A new album is expected early next year.

A source said: “Velvet Revolver’s new album will draw heavily on their messy split with Scott. “The band wanted a big name who could easily hold his own and reckon Lenny is just the man for the job.”

Former wildman Lenny should be able to hold his own all right – he vowed earlier this year to stay celibate until he marries again.

https://web.archive.org/web/20081202212909/http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1545748.ece

Lenny Kravitz would refute the rumor on the same day. Rolling Stone, Aug. 12:

Exclusive: Lenny Kravitz Tells RS “No Truth to the Story” About Joining Velvet Revolver

Contrary to internet reports today, Lenny Kravitz is not set to become the new singer of Velvet Revolver. The singer told RollingStone.com, “I know and love the Velvet Revolver guys but there is no truth to the story about me joining their band.” Rumors out of the U.K. claimed that Kravitz was “spotted” in the studio with the now-singer-less Velvet Revolver and suggested that Kravitz has just enough star power to fill the role vacated by Scott Weiland (who pretty much filled the role vacated by Axl Rose). However, Kravitz has been busy touring Europe and hasn’t had any contact with the VR camp. Kravitz is just the latest vocalist to be essentially handed VR’s microphone by the rumor mill, following artists like Sebastian Bach, Spacehog’s Royston Langdon and that guy who won Rock Star: Supernova.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080815192320/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/08/12/exclusive-lenny-kravitz-tells-rs-no-truth-to-the-story-about-joining-velvet-revolver/