FROM:  KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/MITCH SCHNEIDER

VELVET REVOLVER

RECEIVE THREE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS:

BEST ROCK ALBUM, BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE AND

BEST ROCK SONG

VELVET REVOLVER–rock’s most explosive new group–have built on the success of their platinum-plus debut album CONTRABAND (RCA) and two #1 rock singles with an impressive three Grammy nominations.  They’re for: Best Rock Album, Best Hard Rock Performance (“Slither”) and Best Rock Song (“Fall To Pieces”).

This news comes as the band is winding up a major U.S. tour which will be followed by overseas dates beginning in January.  VELVET REVOLVER currently graces the cover of Revolver magazine (February 2005) with the tag line “2004…The Year In Hard Rock…Starring The Band That Beat The Odds!  Velvet Revolver.”

Look for VELVET REVOLVER to perform “Fall To Pieces” on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s outdoor stage Monday, December 13.  This follows the band’s performance at the “Big In ‘04” award show on VH1 which is also airing an hour-long “Inside Out” documentary tracing the group’s formation to their current platinum success.

With one of rock’s most charismatic frontmen SCOTT WEILAND (formerly of Stone Temple Pilots), guitarist SLASH, bassist DUFF MCKAGAN, drummer MATT SORUM (former members of one of rock’s greatest groups Guns N’ Roses), and guitarist DAVE KUSHNER (ex-Wasted Youth, Electric Love Hogs), VELVET REVOLVER have truly dominated the rock world this year.  CONTRABAND entered the Billboard album chart at #1, selling over 250,000 copies.  Notably, this marks the best-ever debut for a new rock artist in the SoundScan era.  CONTRABAND quickly achieved platinum status, spurred by two #1 rock singles “Slither” and “Fall To Pieces.”  Rolling Stone calls the album a “powerhouse,” Newsweek describes the band as “truly explosive” and Maxim says, “Slash and Scott Weiland bring unpredictability back to rock.”

For their incendiary performances, VELVET REVOLVER are earning an array of critical praise.

“Scott Weiland was amazing as lead singer, as he writhed and twisted and splayed himself over speaker cabinets. His dark, ominous voice sounded even better than on the album…Slash lifted every song with his inventive, blues-based guitar solos, especially on the power ballad ‘Fall to Pieces’ and the rocking ‘Set Me Free,’ when he and second guitarist Dave Kushner traded riffs.”

–Patrick MacDonald, SEATTLE TIMES, June 7, 2004

“…Weiland [turned in]…a riveting performance…Weiland sang back to back with guitar ace Slash ripping through tunes, he climbed the drum riser to get up-close appreciation of Sorum’s beats and he worked the front rows like the pro he is.”

–Dan Aquilante, NEW YORK POST, May 28, 2004

“Slash, in particular, was masterful. McKagan and Sorum are still an incendiary rhythm section…”

–Joan Anderman, BOSTON GLOBE, May 31, 2004

“On stage, the wafer-thin Weiland morphs into one of the best lead singers in rock ‘n’ roll.”

–Michael D. Clark, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, November 1, 2004

“Weiland exuded arrogance and sexiness with his machismo swagger while he sang. His magnetic stage presence could not be denied as he careened from side-to-side while dancing his way all over the stage…Slash reminded everyone why his name should be mentioned alongside Hendrix, Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn in the pantheon of guitar gods.”

–Travis Hay, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, June 7, 2004

For more information and current tour dates, go to www.velvetrevolver.com.

Contacts:

MSO   818-380-0400:

Mitch Schneider                    mschneider@msopr.com     ext. 235

Kristine Ashton-Magnuson            kashton@msopr.com                     ext. 233

Amanda Hale (tour press)            ahale@msopr.com              ext. 238

RCA Records:

Pamela Murphy                        pamela.murphy@bmg.com  212-930-4394

Maggie Wang                         maggie.wang@bmg.com       212-930-7007

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