NASHVILLE |FROM: KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/MITCH SCHNEIDER/AMANDA HALE
VELVET REVOLVER TURN UP THE HEAT IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD WITH FREE SURPRISE SHOW THAT ATTRACTS 3000 FANS
“Are you feeling live, Hollywood?…The freedom of rock…The freedom of choice,” said VELVET REVOLVER frontman SCOTT WEILAND from atop of huge stack of speakers at the band’s surprise free show near Sunset and Vine in the heart of Hollywood last night (October 13). Some 3,000 people–filling the lot where the band played and lining the surrounding streets and rooftops–turned out for the massively rocking event that was announced on radio only a few hours before the band took the stage.
This was the explosive band’s way of saying thank you to their fans before launching their tour this Saturday in Nashville. And the crowd, roaring their approval every step of the way, was putty in the band’s hands.
Taking the stage around 8:30 PM, VELVET REVOLVER–lead singer SCOTT WEILAND, guitarist SLASH, bassist DUFF McKAGAN, drummer MATT SORUM and guitarist DAVE KUSHNER—jumped headlong into a powerful seven-song set, with songs from their platinum debut album CONTRABAND (“Suckertrain Blues,” “Do It For The Kids,” “Fall To Pieces” and “Slither”) plus lethal covers of “It’s So Easy” (Guns N’ Roses), “Sex Type Thing” (Stone Temple Pilots”) and “No More, No More” (Aerosmith). As they performed, exotic dancers were positioned on the top level of the stage, lending the show an even more outrageous ambience.
The mounting of this guerilla-style show came with plenty of drama. It was originally intended to happen Tuesday night atop the Hustler Hollywood store on Sunset Blvd., but city of West Hollywood officials refused to grant a permit. The band and their representatives then worked feverishly to find a new location–a parking lot at the corner of Selma and Ivar–with the permit being issued by the city of Los Angeles late Wednesday morning. Radio stations in Los Angeles then leaked news of the show in the mid-afternoon, with fans subsequently lining up around the block.
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This event added to the excitement that’s surrounding the band: their CONTRABAND album is now the biggest-selling rock release of 2004 and “Fall To Pieces”–like the album’s first single, “Slither”–is #1 at rock radio. VELVET REVOLVER recently wrapped a successful and acclaimed European tour. CONTRABAND debuted at #1 on the Billboard album chart, selling over 250,000 copies. Notably, this marks the best-ever debut for a new rock artist in the SoundScan era.
The current tour dates are as follows. Go to www.velvetrevolver.com for up-to-the-minute news.
Date City Venue
Sat 10/16 Nashville, TN Starwood Amphitheatre
Sun 10/17 New Orleans, LA Voodoo Music Experience
Tues 10/19 Tulsa, OK Green on the East End
Wed 10/20 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre
Sat 10/23 Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Coliseum/AZ State Fair
Sun 10/24 Dallas, TX Smirnoff Center
Mon 10/25 McAllen, TX Dodge Arena
Thurs 10/28 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless
Sat 10/30 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Pavilion
Sun 10/31 Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena
Mon 11/1 Austin, TX Austin Music Hall
Fri 11/5 Birmingham, AL Boutwell Municipal Auditorium
Sat 11/6 Memphis, TN Desoto County Civic Center
Tues 11/9 Worcester, MA Worcester Centrum
Fri 11/12 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Tue 11/16 Toronto, ONT Air Canada Centre
Tues 11/23 Detroit, MI Emerald Theatre
Contacts:
MSO 818-380-0400:
Mitch Schneider mschneider@msopr.com ext. 235
Kristine Ashton 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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