Velvet Revolver

Reviewer Dave Cook
March 1, 2005
Scott Weiland and Slash still rock

Scott Weiland and Slash still rock
Photo: Domino Postiglione

Vodaphone Arena, February 27

Like a phoenix, Velvet Revolver rose from the self-destructive ashes of two of the best bands of the late '80s and early '90s. On Sunday night they proved why they rightly shun the tag "supergroup" with an exhilarating, over the top rock show.

It's hard to claim you're the most dangerous band in the world when most of your members are in recovery, but these guys play like men who know they should be dead, and they're sucking every last drop out of each opportunity to rock.

Vocalist Scott Weiland (ex-Stone Temple Pilots) made that clear: "You get one shot at this life, so you might as well participate," he urged the crowd in a hit-and-miss motivational speech.

In any other band Weiland would command all the attention. He struts like the bizarre love child of Mick Jagger, Michael Hutchence and Perry Farrell, and few hard rock singers could get away with a fashion ensemble of leather pants, white fluffy shirt, waistcoat, red tie and airline pilot's cap. He's camp as hell with a menacing quality.

But then, most vocalists aren't flanked by two of the most notorious, inimitable musicians in rock, bassist Duff McKagan and guitarist Slash (formerly of Guns N' Roses, for those who have been living under a rock) - all tight leather, cigarette smoke and bad-ass attitude, and never still for a second.

They surged through aggressive tracks like Sucker Train Blues, Do It For The Kids and Headspace, but dropping in Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses songs was a surprising yet brilliant move that proved they are not afraid to look back while heading forward.

Grinding STP song Crackerman brought the show alive and Sex Type Thing was a high point, but when they cranked into the drug-addled GNR tune Mr Brownstone, it was as if Axl Rose had never existed, Weiland making it his own and injecting it with renewed venom.

Time, age and substance abuse have definitely not wearied these guys. More than a star vehicle, Velvet Revolver is the exciting future of rock'n'roll.