SCOTT WEILAND 'Decided He Needed To Take Care Of Business'
VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum has commented on singer Scott Weiland's decision to enter a rehab facility last week following the band's February 6 performance at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. Sorum told Entertainment Weekly magazine that Scott is "doing okay" in treatment. "He checked himself in to rehab," the former GUNS N' ROSES drummer said on Saturday at Clive Davis's pre-Grammy party. "Scott took the initiative to get in there. Nobody forced him, and that's a good thing. You see shows on TV, like 'Intervention', but until you're really ready to get clean and sober, you're going to do what you're going to do. It could have gone the other way, but he decided he needed to take care of business so he's down there taking care of himself."
Weiland was arrested on November 21, 2007 when he crashed his car while driving on an L.A. highway.
He was charged with driving under the influence of drugs with a prior conviction, and with an allegation that he refused a chemical test as required by law.
According to MTV.com, Weiland has been arrested multiple times over the past decade for a variety of drug offenses in California and New York, and has spent time in jail on several occasions. He was arrested in 2003 in Hollywood after a traffic accident and charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, though those charges were eventually dismissed after he successfully completed a drug rehab program and submitted to drug tests.
Although he was supposed to perform with VELVET REVOLVER on January 20 at a party in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival, Weiland was a no-show for the gig. The vocalist's flight to Utah was diverted because of bad weather. The band carried on with the show, inviting audience members and singer Donovan Leitch to pitch in.
Weiland will reunite with his STONE TEMPLE PILOTS bandmates for the first time at the Rock on the Range festival, to be held May 17-18 at Columbus, Ohio's Columbus Crew Stadium.
Detroit News
Rock out with Velvet Revolver
Ursula Watson / The Detroit News
There is something to be said about the exuberance of young talent making music. But there is even more to be said for successful, experienced musicians coming together and jamming for jamming's sake, like super-group Velvet Revolver.
The band consists of guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum of the iconic band Guns N' Roses; guitarist Dave Kushner played with McKagan in the band Load; and lead singer Scott Weiland was the voice of Stone Temple Pilots.
The guys are touring the globe promoting their album "Libertad," and will make a stop Saturday at the Fillmore Detroit. "Libertad," which means "liberty" and "freedom" in Spanish, is the band's sophomore release, following the 2004 Grammy-winning album "Contraband."
McKagan admits that the first album was just about the band coming together to prove a point. "At the time we made the first record there were a lot of nay-sayers," McKagan says by phone. "We made this really loud abrasive record. By the time we got to the second record and tour, we figured out who we are as a band."
With so much star power locked in one supergroup, you have to wonder about the power struggles. But McKagan seems to take that factor in stride.
"Anytime you have strong personalities you will have a clash, but you learn how to get around it," he says. "Like any relationship, you learn that you can't change a person."
You can reach Ursula Watson at (313) 222-2613 or uwatson@ detnews.com.
