Clash Music

It’s a funny old game this thing we call rock and roll. As a completely self-indulgent career move you’d think those at the top would be the epitome of happiness. But given the immense capacity for self-indulgence, plus constant attention and expected excessive anti-social behaviour, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. With almost 200 years experience between them – from alcoholic blacked-out years, debauched groupie knobbing, injecting every chemical substance you can think of, heartache, and death – Velvet Revolver have been to the darkest depths of rock’s Hades, but then rose again like Lazareth. If anyone knows the ups and downs of life it’s them.

On the dawn of the release of their second album, ‘Libertad’, we managed to pin the legends that are Slash, Scott Weiland and Duff McKagan down. Ferried from room to room on one busy press day in the UK they’re slightly over it all, but in the luxe confines of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hyde Park, it’s not a bad way to earn a crust.

So, what for you are the biggest differences between your debut album, ‘Contraband’, and new record, ‘Libertad’?

Scott: It was different because I had this idea in my head of the record I wanted to make. I wanted to make it more cutting edge, and I wanted to you know, I guess, inspire the other guys to step beyond their comfort zone and that happened you know. Slash didn’t even plus into his Slash rig you know - he used smaller amps, smaller guitars. And we wrote songs that were a lot different and introspective than the last record. Also you know, I hadn’t shot dope or done coke or smoked crack for three and half years so I had a lot of different things to write about from a lyricist’s perspective. Basically the last four records I’d made had all been from the perspective of my emotions and how miserable I feel, you know, I hate myself and want to die in a nutshell. So when you erase that it opens up a whole world of options from a lyrical standpoint. It makes it a lot more different from when you were locked up having a spike in your arm.

What’s your writing process like?

Scott: I usually write all the lyrics and the melodies then usually it comes from a guitar lick or something that I hear; a chord progression, then I take it, we come up with a melody idea first then I write lyrics to the melody.

Slash: Scott really has a divine sense of melody, and really encourages you to be creative – working with him can be one of the best experiences. Duff is one of the best rock and roll guitarists ever – he is pure rock and roll. We seem to compliment each other, just because of the chemistry, he’s sort of a piece of me – when everyone comes together it just works.

How do the personalities work together in the band? Do you clash a lot?

Scott: Yeah of course - are you joking me? Everyone in this band comes from other big huge bands that have had a lot of success for a long time. Yeah we definitely row, pull the dukes up and knock each other’s teeth out...

Slash: It’s an interesting band to be in because you’ve got five guys who have pretty colourful careers. Luckily for us on a creative level we don’t clash when it comes to writing or performing – but we do have clashes over professional issues. And you just have to deal with it, get on with the tour, do what works and get on with people…

Do you still enjoy touring?

Slash: I love touring; I love it more than anything. I don’t know – it’s what I do so as long as I’m doing it I’m happy. When we’re not playing or writing I get frustrated. There’s nothing better than having a tour with six days on and six days to rehearse as well.

Did you ever think you’d still be in band now, when you were younger? What would your younger self have thought about it all?

Duff: I couldn’t possibly say to be honest with you; I’m 43 now, and I’ve got this longevity in my career that’s pretty amazing. Back when I started in punk rock bands I couldn’t think much further ahead than the end of the week or where the next beer was. Moving down to LA was a big step for me but I didn’t know music was my calling, but I didn’t know what that calling actually meant. I just kept my head down, worked hard to impress, but then Guns ‘N’ Roses happened, the musical chemistry was really ferocious, from our first rehearsal we knew we wrote great songs, but we didn’t know if anyone else would like them though, but they were great to us. Then we did ‘Appetite For Destruction’ and I thought if we sold as many records as the Circle Jerks that would be a massive success. And that album went on to sell millions. I was suddenly part of rock and roll history. Every step was surreal – it still is surreal. Tomorrow I leave for another leg of this tour and it’s great, I have a place that’s viable that’s right now; it’s not like some classic rock tour. I’m in a band that are still played on modern rock radio. It’s pretty great – I really appreciate where I am at. I don’t take it too seriously – it’s not what defines me. I realised somewhere in the last eight years that my band does not define you. What I do and what I’ve done does not define me.

Ok, so what does define you?

Duff: What does define me is that I became a father and I suddenly realised what a greater calling that is. Especially with my history; in my 20s I was all about live fast and die young and I would have died to that in the throes of my alcoholism or drug addiction. I would’ve been dead by the time I’m 30. And that was cool then – I’d accepted that was they way it was going to be. But fate got involved in there and pulled me out of there.

How has it changed you being a father?

Duff: When my first daughter was born, literally at that moment, this huge light came out and changed everything. The light came around me and I realised that all this drama and crap that was surrounding me was really just bullshit. My two girls look to me for everything – I’m their Dad and they trust me with their lives, which is pretty heavy. So that’s what defines me: I have a life, which is great, but I really appreciate my job, which is rock and roll – and I put everything into that. I’m passionate about it, but my art is also how I make my living. I guess I have everything working for me at the moment.

Has family and commitments outside of the band changed you?

Scott: Yeah it has. That was the main reason that I wanted to become clean. I wanted to man up. I felt for a long time I was locked in this wheel that I couldn’t get out of and I just kept spinning and spinning like a teenager. That’s what the world of rock and roll does; it doesn’t allow you to grow up - especially if you’re not trying very hard to. The people around you can make it easier for them to manipulate you as well, keep you in that perpetual state of confusion. I finally got to a point where I was like ‘I’m not 22 anymore’. I had kids and I wanted to change my life so when I made that decision, I started writing songs differently. Everything, um, started taking on a whole different meaning. And things definitely got a lot better but you know it does make it a lot more difficult to tour though. It’s a lot easier to stay on the road when you’re obliterated or totally numb. When you’re not using or are loaded then the time goes by a lot slower. And you talk to the kids a lot less and you miss them a lot more. All those emotions are kind of inappropriate, as I need to stay on the road for pretty much as long as I need too.

Scott – your brother died when you were making ‘Libertad’. How did that affect you?

Scott: Well he’s my best friend so very heavily and strongly.

Has your perspective changed since you’ve become clean on seeing people in that same situation you were once in?

Scott: No - I know what the whole experience was - and is - like. The only difference, is he had two kids, like I had two kids, but he couldn’t stop for them. He couldn’t stop for his kids, he couldn’t stop for his wife, he couldn't stop for himself... and I just don’t know why. And he obviously knows why, he’s in Heaven with God, like Jimi Hendrix and everyone else up there - he has all the answers now.

What’s your life like outside of music?

Scott: I hang out with the kids, and am a Dad and I do regular stuff at home. I also like to go into my recording studio and still do music. I have a record company, and I record other bands, produce records.

Duff: When I got sober I started kickboxing with my sister. The culture around kickboxing and the styles, there is a culture and a belief system and a spirituality that I’m really fortunate that I got into. I ride my bike, and I go boating, but I do a lot of stuff.

Are you ever tempted to call it day and leave on a high?

Duff: I definitely fantasise about that and say that ‘maybe now would be a good time?’ and walk away into the sunset. But you know, what happens for me is that I always make a record that I’m really into it. ‘Libertad’ – I’m really into it and want to see this one through. I have no idea what’s in store for me in five year’s time. I think my career has always been on a high note; at any time for me what I’ve achieved is well beyond my wildest dreams you know.

Scott: I’m always going to do music. I don’t think there is any time soon where I’ll quit doing this professionally as a musician - or unprofessionally depending on which way you look at it.

Slash: I will always do music, I think there will be a point where I will tour when I want to tour and I’ll make my own records, like my solo records and want to play smaller places and won’t have to feel like... that’s the part of being in a band. It’s not just up to me when I want to tour or when I want to make a record - there are five guys. I have certain big responsibilities to other members of the band.

If you wrote your autobiography what would be the best chapter?

Duff: I know the worst chapter would be ’91 to ’93 as I don’t remember it at all – that’s a complete black out. But it would be kind of fun to interview my friends from the time to find out what did happen. I hope the best one’s still to come..

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