VELVET REVOLVER STRETCHING OUT ON LIBERTAD

Velvet Revolver are currently in the mixing stage of their upcomig release ‘Libertad.’ The band, which consists of former Guns N Roses alumni Slash, Matt Sorem and Duff McKagan, guitarist Dave Kushner and former Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland, will look to build on their tremendous success of their debut album, ‘Contraband.

We recently caught up with Kushner to find out the direction the band is taking with ‘Libertad’ which is Spanish for Liberty.

“You know it’s totally different. It’s totally different yet there’s similar elements obviously, like the five of us but as far as songs I think they’re a little more thought out, they’re trying to stretch in different directions but then it’s still us, so.”

Kushner, who went to grade school and high school with Slash also talked about recording guitars with Slash and how onstage it’s sometimes quite difficult to hear him.

“You know it’s funny, i’ve actually known Slash the longest. We went to Junior High and High School together and we were friends. The funny thing is when I came into the band Duff and Slash play so loud that I’m standing here and Duff’s there and Duff’s bass is so loud that there’s this wall of sound and I could never really hear Slash and I could never really hear what he was doing and everytime we’ve been writing it’s kind of the same actually. You know it’s like I come in with my stuff and he comes in with some of his and we can’t really hear each other then we listen back to it and change stuff around. But I love the guy. I’ve known him since he was one of my early guitar heros in High School because he was that great back then.”

‘Libertad’ is set for a June 4th Release date and it was recently announced Velvet Revolver have recorded two cover songs, a version of The Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” and Electric Light Orchestras'”Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” althought it hasn’t been confirmed if either song will make the album yet. The band is currently in the mixing process with producer Brendan O Brien, who took over duties for Rick Rubin. Look for the band to announce a run of world tour dates in support of ‘Libertad.’