VELVET REVOLVER Interview
from BW&BK Magazine

BW&BK spoke to VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan (ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and drummer Matt Sorum (ex-Guns N' Roses, THE CULT) recently about a number of topics including the band's newly-released sophomore effort, Libertad. Watch for a major feature in an upcoming issue of BW&BK. In the meantime, here are a few excerpts from the chat:

What keeps the punky attitude in Velvet Revolver? "That's a great question," McKagan says with a smile. "I think our attitude - maybe it's when we grew up, learning to play music, listening to our first records that we bought as early teenagers. There was a very rich trove to draw from. The energy that keeps this band going comes from somewhere. We don't question it. And we don't try to be angry or ferocious or try to do anything. We don't even talk about music. We just do it. We are really crappy about talking about music and that's when we get into trouble, get into fights and stuff. We don't know how to do it. We know how to communicate musically. And that goes back to the two hours on stage. Matt and I have known each other for a long time. Maybe 20 years. We are good friends. But we communicate on a whole different level musically."

"There are a lot of subtleties on this record," Sorum adds. "There were a lot of approaches that weren't brash, in-your-face or punk rock. We know we can do that all day long. Attacking songs like 'The Last Fight' - this is going down a different road. But that's part of being creative and being a musician and pushing yourself. Our producer Brendan (O'Brien) - we all had a lot of respect for him. The album takes you on a journey sonically, musically and otherwise. We even went after a song by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA called 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' and at first Slash (guitar) said, 'I don't know man.' But now, when you listen to it - first of all, it was a great song to start with. Then give it the right treatment, play it our own way with no string section, listening to it, I think we did it really good justice."

McKagan interjects: "Even with the more subtle songs, there is that underlying edge."

VELVET REVOLVER Interview Page 2