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Velvet Revolver Unloads 'Erratic' Weiland

Singer Fires Back: 'I Claimed the Group Dead in the Water' in March

By STEVE GORMAN, Reuters

Posted: 2008-04-02 17:22:15

LOS ANGELES (April 2) - A day after he was dumped from Velvet Revolver, troubled rocker Scott Weiland fired a parting shot at his erstwhile bandmates Wednesday, saying he had already declared the group "dead in the water."

Related: Stone Temple Pilots Announce Tour | Spinner: Velvet Revolver

The rancorous split came as Weiland, 40, who has struggled with heroin addiction for years and faces a court hearing this week for his latest arrest, prepares to return to his original band, Stone Temple Pilots, for their first tour in seven years.

"I find it humorous that the so-called four 'founding members' of Velvet Revolver, better known to themselves as 'the Project' before I officially named the band, would decide to move on without me after I had already claimed the group dead in the water on March 20 in Glasgow," the singer said in a statement issued by his publicist.

A day earlier, Revolver's four non-singing members -- guitarists Slash and Dave Kushner, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum -- announced they were parting ways with Weiland, citing his "increasingly erratic" behavior and personal problems.

Slash, a former member of Gun 'N Roses with McKagan and Sorum, was quoted questioning Weiland's commitment to his music and fans.

Weiland responded by calling their statements a "blatant and tired excuse to cover up the truth ... that the band had not gotten along on multiple levels for some time."

Of his upcoming reunion with Stone Temple Pilots, Weiland said his fans would "much rather watch a group of musicians who enjoy being together as opposed to a handful of discontents who at one time used to call themselves a gang."

Stone Temple Pilots, also known by their acronym, STP, are set to hold a news conference next week to announce details for their first tour since a series of concerts in 2001 to promote their last album of new material, "Shangri-La Dee Da."

But Weiland also faces further legal complications.

Last month, he pleaded innocent to a charge of driving under the influence of drugs stemming from his arrest on a Los Angeles freeway ramp in November. He is free on $40,000 bail and is due in court for a pretrial hearing on Friday.

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2008-04-02 09:32:47

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175 comments

sinnersriver 04:36:18 PM Apr 05 2008

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I THINK THEY ALL HAVE HAD TO MUCH OF THE REALLY GOOD STUFF.

Dickersondeena 12:53:08 PM Apr 04 2008

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SCOTT, WHY DON'T YOU DEAL WITH YOUR DEMONS AND SAVE WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR TALENT?! I JUST HATE TO SEE PEOPLE WITH SO MUCH TALENT SNORT THEIR LIFE AWAY!!

prariwolf 03:31:45 AM Apr 04 2008

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Wow that guy looks like a creepyskanky Dick Cavett.

Barham619 09:48:48 PM Apr 03 2008

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Who cares. Who really cares. They ALL suck big time!!!!!!

pamadeen 06:43:30 PM Apr 03 2008

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ok i am a 54 year old grandmother but what about axel rose? cant they sing with him again

stealingvenus11 02:50:05 PM Apr 03 2008

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What a drag that this guy can NOT get his sh*t together. Scott has nobody to blame but himself. I'm sorry for his addiction but why should a group of great musicians who work hard and love their fans, put up with his crap?
Waste of a great talent, I hope they find someone awesome to replace him.

Wintermouse1389 02:49:58 PM Apr 03 2008

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They are better without him!

Wintermouse1389 02:49:35 PM Apr 03 2008

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They are better without him

melmello0516 01:11:22 PM Apr 03 2008

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slash and duff and matt suffered axl so if they boot you by now you should know your a mess but weiland is gonna do the he said she said and run to stp who booted him sad i think one day weiland will be gone from us for all his drugs and i told you so doesnt cover it i wish the boys from gnr much luck they deserve a singer with out the drama i just dont think theyll ever find him they all suffer from LSD lead singer disease

honeyb4ud 11:25:59 AM Apr 03 2008

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I'd rather go see JOURNEY.. They're one of the best.

kattraxz 11:00:29 AM Apr 03 2008

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How, exactly, are rock musicians and their drug abuse ANY different than the average person in this country who smokes dope, snorts coke, does heroin and other drugs in the ghettos and alleys and homes and cars and at parties and then drives under the influence and kills innocent people, destroys his/her own family, marriage, relationship, and finds him/herself out on the streets dumpster diving for food or panhandling and begging for money for the next fix? Any of you dimwits heard of AA, etc? Who do you think those social services are there to serve? YOU< YOU< YOU.